The first week of the 2025-26 college basketball season has already delivered some eye-catching individual performances. While team records grab the headlines, a few players are standing out for their efficiency and impact against strong competition. From scoring and rebounding to advanced metrics like true shooting percentage, these athletes are making early statements about their potential for national recognition. Here are the players who have popped off in the model week one, putting together some of the most impressive individual performances so far.
Caleb Wilson has exploded onto the season with elite efficiency and all-around production. The 6’10”, 215-pound forward is averaging 23.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game through two games, already showing why he was a top-five recruit. Wilson has been virtually unstoppable, shooting 81.0% from the field, 50.0% from three, and 73.3% from the line, translating to a true shooting percentage of 83.3%. In the opener against Central Arkansas, he scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a three-pointer, added four rebounds, and dished three assists in a 94-54 win. He followed that with 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting against Kansas, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing four assists in a 87-74 victory. Wilson’s combination of scoring efficiency, playmaking, and rebounding against quality competition immediately makes him one of the early individual standouts of the season.
Koa Peat has picked up right where he left off, delivering high-level production in Arizona’s opening games. The 6’8″, 235-pound forward is averaging 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while posting a true shooting percentage of 70.0%, thanks to 68.0% from the field and 70.0% from the line. He debuted with 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Florida in a 93-87 win, shooting 11-of-18 from the floor and 8-of-12 from the line. In his second outing against Utah Tech, Peat added 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 6-of-7 shooting with 6-of-8 from the charity stripe in a 93-67 victory. Arizona is off to a 2-0 start, but Peat’s scoring efficiency and all-around impact against solid opponents highlight why he’s one of the early individual standouts of the season.
Darryn Peterson has made an immediate impact for Kansas, combining scoring, playmaking, and efficiency in his first two games. The 6’5″, 205-pound guard is averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game through two contests, demonstrating his ability to perform against top-tier competition. Peterson has been highly efficient, shooting 60.0% from the field, 50.0% from three, and 77.8% from the line, which translates to a true shooting percentage of 72.0%. He opened the season with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three, adding four rebounds and three assists in a 94-51 win over Green Bay. At North Carolina, he followed with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, hitting 3-of-5 from deep and 5-of-9 from the line, with three rebounds and three assists in a 74-87 loss. Even with Kansas at 1-1, Peterson’s efficiency and ability to produce against quality opponents mark him as one of the week’s standout individual performers.
Zuby Ejiofor is off to a strong start for St. John’s, averaging 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game through two games. The 6’9″, 240-pound forward is shooting 57.0% from the field, 66.7% from three, and 69.8% from the free-throw line, with an effective field goal percentage of 58.6%. He scored 17 points with six rebounds and three assists on 7-of-10 shooting in a 108-74 win over Quinnipiac, then followed with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists on 9-of-12 shooting in a 96-103 loss to Alabama. Ejiofor’s versatility inside and outside the arc makes him a focal point for St. John’s early in the season.
Thomas Haugh has made an immediate impact for Florida, showing his scoring and playmaking ability as a forward. The 6’9″, 210-pound forward is averaging 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over two games, posting a true shooting percentage of 60.8% thanks to 50.0% field-goal shooting, 30.0% from three, and 77.8% from the line. Haugh opened the season with 27 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 7-of-13 shooting with 12-of-14 free throws in a close 87-93 loss to Arizona. In the second game against North Florida, he added 12 points and eight rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting with 2-of-3 from the line in a 104-64 win. Florida is 1-1, but Haugh’s efficiency, scoring versatility, and ability to contribute across the stat sheet make him one of the early individual standouts of the week.
Jack Karasinski has arguably had the most impressive individual start to the season when factoring in the level of competition. The 6’7″, 206-pound forward has played two games against high-level opponents—Georgia and Kansas State—averaging 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. His scoring has been extremely efficient, boasting a 61.5% field-goal rate, 36.4% from three, translating to a true shooting percentage of 66.8%. In the opener at Georgia, he scored 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting with three triples and grabbed six rebounds in a 59-104 loss. At Kansas State, he added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line and collecting five boards. Despite Bellarmine starting 0-2, Karasinski’s combination of production and efficiency against strong competition has made him one of the early individual standouts of the season.
Dior Johnson has made a strong early-season impression, showing elite scoring efficiency in meaningful minutes. The 6’3″, 180-pound guard has averaged 27.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game over the two games he actually played, sitting out nearly entirely against LSU (only 1 minute) which deflates his scoring average to 18ppg officially. He’s been deadly from the floor, shooting 55.6% overall, 78.6% from three, and 91.7% from the line, translating to a true shooting percentage of 66.1%. In the opener at SMU, Johnson scored 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, adding four rebounds in a 76-96 loss. Against Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, he exploded for 32 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 4-of-5 from three, with six rebounds in an 85-77 win. While Tarleton State sits at 1-2, Johnson’s efficiency and ability to dominate in his minutes against quality competition mark him as one of the week’s standout individual performers.
AJ Dybantsa has started the season strong, showing why he was the top-ranked recruit in his class. The 6’9″, 210-pound forward is averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game over two contests, with a true shooting percentage of 63.5%, thanks to 57.1% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 50.0% from the line. He opened with 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a 71-66 win over Villanova, shooting 9-of-18 from the floor, 1-of-1 from deep, and 2-of-7 from the free-throw line. In the second game against Holy Cross, Dybantsa added 17 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting while going 7-of-8 from the line in a 98-53 victory. BYU is off to a 2-0 start, and Dybantsa’s efficiency and versatile contributions highlight him as one of the week’s top individual performers.
Jaden Bradley has made an immediate impact for Arizona, showcasing scoring efficiency and playmaking ability at the guard spot. The 6’3″, 185-pound guard is averaging 17.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists over two games, posting a true shooting percentage of 65.2% thanks to 65.0% field-goal shooting, 0.0% from three, and 75.0% from the line. Bradley opened the season with a 27-point, five-assist performance on 9-of-14 shooting, including 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, in a 93-87 win over Florida. He followed that up with eight points, six assists, and two rebounds on 4-of-6 shooting in a 93-67 win over Utah Tech. With Arizona 2-0, Bradley’s efficient scoring, vision, and ability to run the offense have made him one of the early individual standouts of the week.
Colby Garland has been a scoring machine to start the season, producing at a high level despite San Jose State starting 0-2. The 6’1″, 183-pound guard is averaging 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game across two contests against strong competition. He’s been extremely efficient, shooting 66.7% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 76.9% from the line, resulting in a true shooting percentage of 68.3%. Garland opened at Utah with 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting, adding three rebounds and four assists in a 75-84 loss. He followed that up with 30 points on 11-of-13 shooting, grabbing three rebounds and dishing four assists in a 74-85 loss at UC Santa Barbara. Even though San Jose State is 0-2, Garland’s scoring efficiency, rebounding, and playmaking against solid opponents make him one of the early individual standouts of the week.
Ebuka Okorie is a freshman no one is talking about, not even ranked in the top 100 but has made an immediate statement to start the season, combining high-volume scoring with elite efficiency. The 6’2″, 185-pound guard is averaging 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game through two contests, already showing he can dominate against quality competition. Okorie has been outstanding from the floor, shooting 60.6% overall, 36.4% from three, and 91.7% from the line, resulting in a true shooting percentage of 66.7%. He opened with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting against Portland State, adding seven rebounds and two assists in an 89-79 win. He followed that with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting against Montana, grabbing four rebounds and dishing two assists in a 91-68 victory. With Stanford at 2-0, Okorie’s combination of scoring efficiency, rebounding, and two-way impact immediately makes him one of the top individual standouts of week one.
Jaquan Johnson has had a tremendous individual start to the season, combining scoring, rebounding, and playmaking at an elite level. The 5’9″, 195-pound guard is averaging 23.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game across two games, showing he can carry his team against quality competition. He has been highly efficient, shooting 64.0% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 64.7% from the line, translating to a true shooting percentage of 70.0%. Johnson opened at St. Bonaventure with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding four rebounds and two assists in a 63-69 loss. He followed that with a dominant 33-point, six-rebound, three-assist performance against Central Michigan, going 11-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three in an 85-54 win. Even with Bradley at 1-1, Johnson’s efficiency and all-around production mark him as one of the standout individual performers of week one.
Jayme Mitchell has flashed impressive efficiency in the early season despite Jackson State starting 0-2. The 6’5″, 187-pound guard has averaged 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game over two contests against top-level opponents Illinois and Louisville. Mitchell has been highly efficient, shooting 58.8% from the field, 66.7% from three, and 75% from the line, translating to a true shooting percentage of 70.6%. He opened at Illinois with a modest 7 points on 2-of-7 shooting, adding a rebound and a steal in a 55-113 loss. Against Louisville, he broke out with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, going a perfect 2-of-2 from deep and 6-of-8 from the line, while grabbing four rebounds and recording two steals in a 70-106 defeat. Even with Jackson State struggling as a team, Mitchell’s scoring efficiency and production against high-level competition make him one of the early individual standouts.
Chance Westry has had a strong start to the season, showing his scoring and playmaking ability in two games. The 6’6″, 190-pound guard is averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game across his first two contests. Westry has been efficient, shooting 43.3% from the field, 14.3% from three, and 52.9% from the line, which gives him a true shooting percentage of 45.8%. He opened at Mississippi Valley State with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three, adding five rebounds and three assists in a 106-55 win. At NC State, he followed with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a 70-94 loss, contributing two rebounds and five assists. While UAB sits at 1-1, Westry’s combination of scoring, playmaking, and versatility against quality competition makes him one of the early individual standouts of the week.
Malik Reneau has had an impressive start to the season, blending scoring, rebounding, and playmaking for Miami. The 6’9″, 233-pound forward is averaging 21.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game through two games. Reneau has been highly efficient, shooting 55.8% from the field, 25.3% from three, and 71.4% from the line, giving him a true shooting percentage of 57.0%. He opened with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists on 5-of-9 shooting in a 86-69 win over Jacksonville. He followed that with 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 9-of-12 shooting in a 101-61 rout of Bethune-Cookman. With Miami at 2-0, Reneau’s combination of size, efficiency, and all-around production immediately makes him one of the week’s standout performers.
Richie Saunders is off to a strong start for BYU, combining scoring, rebounding, and playmaking in the early season. The 6’5″, 200-pound guard is averaging 17.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game through two games. He has been highly efficient, shooting 50.6% from the field, 39.1% from three, and 78.0% from the free-throw line, giving him a true shooting percentage of 59.6%. Saunders opened with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on 4-of-13 shooting in a 71-66 win over Villanova. He followed that with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 7-of-10 shooting in a 98-53 rout of Holy Cross. With BYU at 2-0, Saunders’ combination of versatility, efficiency, and rebounding prowess makes him one of the early-season standouts.
Nick Boyd is off to a strong start for Wisconsin, showcasing scoring, playmaking, and rebounding through two games. The 6’3″, 170-pound guard is averaging 23.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 42.3% from the field, 36.9% from three, and 75.5% from the free-throw line, giving him an effective true shooting percentage of 52.1%. Boyd scored 21 points with three rebounds and four assists on 7-of-15 shooting in a 96-64 win over Campbell. He followed that with 25 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 8-of-16 shooting in a 97-72 victory over Northern Illinois. With Wisconsin at 2-0, Boyd’s scoring efficiency and playmaking make him a key contributor early in the season.
John Blackwell – Wisconsin
Braeden Blackwell has had a strong start to the season for Wisconsin, averaging 23.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game through two games. The 6’3″ guard is shooting 51.9% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 85.7% from the free-throw line, with an effective field goal percentage of 63.0%. He posted 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists on 10-of-19 shooting in a 96-64 win over Campbell, then added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and no assists on 4-of-8 shooting in a 97-72 win over Northern Illinois. Blackwell’s ability to score efficiently from both inside and beyond the arc makes him an early-season standout for Wisconsin.
Darrion Williams – NC State
Williams has started the 2025-26 season impressively for NC State, averaging 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game through two games. The guard/forward is shooting 60.0% from the field, 55.6% from three, and 80.0% from the free-throw line, with an effective field goal percentage of 72.5%. In a 114-66 win over North Carolina Central, he posted 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from three. He followed that with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 5-of-10 shooting in a 94-70 victory over UAB. Williams is showing strong efficiency and playmaking ability early in the season.
Nathan Bittle has gotten Oregon off to a strong start, combining scoring, rebounding, and efficient play at the center position. The 7’0″, 215-pound big man has averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assist across two games, producing a true shooting percentage of 62.3% thanks to 43.5% field-goal shooting, 22.2% from three, and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Bittle opened the season with a 12-point, 14-rebound performance in a narrow 60-59 win over Hawaii, adding six offensive boards and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. He followed that with 25 points and eight rebounds against Rice, knocking down 7-of-15 shots and 2-of-8 from three, while making 9-of-12 free throws in a 67-63 win. Oregon is 2-0, but Bittle’s combination of scoring, rebounding, and efficiency against solid competition has made him one of the week’s most impactful individual performers.
Duke Brennan has shown early-season versatility and efficiency, giving Villanova a strong presence inside. The 6’10”, 235-pound forward is averaging 12.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over two games, posting a true shooting percentage of 61.0% thanks to 55.0% from the floor, 33.3% from three, and 60.0% from the free-throw line. Brennan debuted with eight points and 15 rebounds in a narrow 66-71 loss to Brigham Young, grabbing four offensive boards while contributing defensively with two blocks. In his second game against Queens (NC), he recorded 17 points and 20 rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting, adding three assists in a 94-74 win. While Villanova is 1-1, Brennan’s combination of scoring, elite rebounding, and efficiency has made him one of the standout individual performers of the week.
Pharrel Payne has delivered a strong opening week for Maryland, combining scoring, rebounding, and efficient shooting. The 6’9″, 255-pound forward is averaging 19.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over two games, posting a true shooting percentage of 66.8% thanks to 53.3% field-goal shooting and 91.7% from the line. He started with 21 points and six rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, adding nine made free throws in an 83-61 win over Coppin State. In a tougher matchup against Georgetown, Payne recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting, going 13-of-15 from the line in a 60-70 loss. While Maryland is 1-1, Payne’s ability to score efficiently and control the glass against varying levels of competition has made him one of the week’s early individual standouts.
Giovanni Emejuru has made an immediate impact for East Carolina, showcasing his scoring and rebounding prowess in the early season. The 6’10”, 270-pound forward is averaging 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds across two games, with a true shooting percentage of 64.0%, thanks to 58.8% field-goal shooting and 68.0% from the free-throw line. He opened with 17 points and nine rebounds in a 92-89 win over Georgia Southern, adding five offensive boards and seven made free throws. In the second game at Richmond, Emejuru recorded 20 points and 13 rebounds on 5-of-9 shooting, including 10-of-14 from the charity stripe, though East Carolina fell 72-87. Despite the team splitting its first two contests, Emejuru’s efficiency and dominance on the boards make him one of the early individual standouts of the week.
