The anticipation for the 2026-27 college basketball season is building, leading to the commencement of fantasy drafts. Recently, our team of college basketball enthusiasts and writers gathered for our staff draft, and it was an exciting event filled with strategic picks and talent. As I hold the third overall pick in our snake draft, let's dive into the results and insights from each round.
Round 1 Picks
The first round saw the expected top-tier talents being selected, adhering closely to our pre-draft rankings:
- 1. Jeremy Fears, G, Michigan State
- 2. Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
- 3. Thomas Haugh, F/C, Florida - My choice, known for a versatile scoring ability.
- 4. Braden Huff, F/C, Gonzaga
- 5. Jordan Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
- 6. Motiejus Krivas, F/C, Arizona
- 7. Tyran Stokes, G/F, Kansas
- 8. Amari Allen, G/F, Alabama
- 9. Robert Wright, G, BYU
- 10. Josh Hubbard, G, Mississippi State
My selection, Haugh, while perhaps not the best fit in our fantasy format due to stats distribution, remains a solid choice. Following him was Huff, whose value was clear despite Gonzaga not featuring in the top rankings, making him a worthwhile pick.
Round 2 Overview
Picking continued in Round 2 with a notable scarcity of impactful big men, prompting a strategy shift:
- 11. Donovan Dent, G, LSU
- 12. Alex Condon, F/C, Florida
- 13. Thijs De Ridder, F/C, Virginia
- 14. Tounde Yessoufou, G, St. John's
- 15. Pryce Sandfort, F/C, Nebraska
- 16. Nolan Winter, F/C, Wisconsin
- 17. Nigel James, G, Marquette
- 18. Flory Bidunga, F/C, Louisville
- 19. Ivan Kharchenkov, F/C, Arizona
- 20. Jaxon Kohler, F/C, BYU
In this round, big men were highly sought after, revealing a trend as teams scrambled to secure strong interior players. I was tempted to go with John Blackwell but ultimately chose Bidunga, who brings significant promise to the table.
Round 3 Prospects
The third round saw a shift back towards guards, as available big men dwindled:
- 21. PJ Haggerty, G, Texas A&M
- 22. Rodney Rice, G, USC
- 23. John Blackwell, G, Duke
- 24. Filip Borovicanin, F/C, Xavier
- 25. Rueben Chinyelu, F/C, Florida
- 26. Juke Harris, G, Tennessee
- 27. Markus Burton, G, Indiana
- 28. Quinn Ellis, G, St. John's
- 29. Silas Demary, G, Connecticut
- 30. Amani Hansberry, F, Virginia Tech
This round was dominated by guards who have the potential to consistently score. Notably, Ellis emerged as a key sleeper after surmounting early doubts about his eligibility, now rejoining the college level with professional experience under his belt.
Round 4 Selections
As we reached the fourth round, the trend of talented guards continued alongside versatile forwards:
- 31. Tamin Lipsey, G, Iowa State
- 32. Jason Crowe Jr., G, Missouri
- 33. Malik Reneau, F/C, Miami
- 34. Billy Richmond, G/F, Arkansas
- 35. Matas Vokietaitis, F/C, Texas
- 36. Terrence Brown, G, North Carolina
- 37. Finley Bizjack, G, West Virginia
- 38. Delrecco Gillespie, F/C, Houston
- 39. JT Toppin, F/C, Texas Tech
- 40. Patrick Ngongba II, F/C, Duke
Injuries affecting key players influenced these choices, making it a crucial time to closely monitor updates on player availability.
League Format and Participants
This fantasy league features 10 participants drafting with a head-to-head points system. Each manager fields three guards alongside various flex spots, making for an engaging competitive atmosphere.
Participants Include:
- Adam Zdroik (@RotoZdroik)
- Brian Williams (@FPcommish)
- Jake Letarski (@RotoJake) - Author
- Perry Missner (@HoopsByPerry)
- Steve Bulanda (@SteveOnFantasy)
- Andrew Parr (@Parrmaster)
- Se Ho Park (@lionheartshp)
- Steve Peralta (@PeraltaSpeaks)
- Ryan Andrade (@Roto_Ryan)
- D.J. Trainor (@TrainorDJ)
With the fantasy season heating up, don’t miss out on our extensive resources for players, injury updates, and in-depth projections available on our platform.