March Madness is the ideal time to watch what the future of the NBA could look like. The NCAA Tournament features the best college basketball programs, which tends to mean we get to see some of the top players in action. Cooper Flagg dominated last year’s 2025 March Madness for Duke, leading them to the Final Four with tournament averages of 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and strong defensive contributions including multiple blocks per game across their six contests. In key matchups, he posted 16 points and nine rebounds against Alabama in the Elite Eight, 18 points with nine boards and six assists versus Baylor in the Sweet 16, and big outings like 21 points per game over five games leading to the Final Four loss to Houston. Kon Knueppel complemented Flagg as Duke’s sharpshooting wing, averaging around 14-15 points, with efficient 3-point shooting (over 36%) and 2.8 rebounds, highlighted by their deep run, where his perimeter threat effectively spaced the floor. Both players have excelled in the NBA since being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, respectively.
Now, it’s the turn of the next generation of basketballers, which has led to further interest on top of the usual betting hype the NCAA Tournament typically receives. Many like to place bets on brackets, while in-play props can often produce value because of the competition’s nature. It’s why so many continue to ask where to bet on March Madness online in the best way possible, ensuring they don’t leave that value on the table. So, which players are worth keeping a track of in the 2026 March Madness competition? Although teams are yet to be confirmed (March 15), we’ve taken a look at some of the players who are most likely to be involved based on their college program’s records:
Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson, Kansas’ top freshman guard and projected No. 1 NBA pick, enters March Madness with strong scoring upside but health as the key variable. Averaging 19.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.6 APG over 19 games (27.9 MPG), his efficiency dips lately at 32% FG in recent 30+ minute outings. His 3-point shooting hovers at 37-38% efficiency, with standout highs like 32 points (8-18 FG, 3-8 3PT) in OT win vs. TCU on Jan 6 and 26 points (8-17 FG, 3-9 3PT) at WVU on Jan 10, though recent form shows volatility; he had 15 points on poor 3-18 shooting (16.7%) at ASU on Mar 3, 24 points (8-21 FG) at Arizona on Feb 28, and 14 points (5-14 FG) vs. Houston on Feb 23.
Recent Big 12 performances include 23 points on efficient 7-12 FG shooting with 6-10 3PT shooting at OKST on Feb 18, but struggles like 10 points (3-10 FG) at ISU on Feb 14 highlight durability concerns, amid a 31-point double-double effort (15 PTS, 10 REB) in a loss. Kansas relied on his scoring bursts, such as 27 points in a likely Allen Fieldhouse finale vs. KSU on Mar 7, positioning him as a high-upside tournament X-factor if healthy. His health is a concern. Chronic cramps and illness have limited Peterson to partial games, missing 11 contests and exiting early in others. Kansas performs solidly without him (5-2 in high-major games missed), but experts stress full availability for deep tournament runs, meaning he should aim for 30+ minutes per night. Coach Bill Self expects improvement, calling prior issues “past,” yet reliability remains in question. Kansas projects as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest, facing tournament-level physicality that tests his durability in a title-contender path. Recent outputs (e.g., 24 PTS at Arizona) show star potential, but the upside is capped by inconsistent minutes.
AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa enters March Madness as BYU’s dominant freshman forward and national scoring leader at 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 51.2% FG through the 2025-26 regular season, logging heavy minutes around 35 per game across 30+ outings with consistent 20+ scoring in 20 games.
His elite efficiency shines in highs like 43 points (15-24 FG, 4-5 3PT) vs. Utah on Jan 24, 40 points with nine rebounds and six assists in Big 12 Tournament vs. Kansas State on Mar 10, 36 points twice (14-20 at Baylor on Feb 10, 13-20 at OKST on Feb 4), and 35 points (13-28 FG) at Arizona on Feb 18, though occasional off-nights include 13 points (6-17 FG) at Texas Tech on Jan 17 and 17 points (6-12 FG) at Kansas on Jan 31. Recent form features 21 points (8-25 FG) vs. Texas Tech on Mar 7, 23 points (7-21 FG) at Cincinnati on Mar 3, and 20 points (7-15 FG) at WVU on Feb 28, pairing volume scoring with playmaking bursts like 10 assists vs. Iowa State on Feb 21 and Eastern Washington on Dec 22. BYU’s No. 10 seed run in the Big 12 Tournament underscores his all-around impact, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors amid 20+ point consistency that positions him for tournament stardom. It’s also a reason why he is projected to be among the first picks in the upcoming 2026 NBA draft. A solid performance in the NCAA Tournament will see him go off the board quickly.