NCAA Basketball National Player of the Year: 2026-27 Wooden Award Odds & Picks
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Thu Oct 29, 2026, 6:20 pm ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
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College Hoops returns very soon to our screens. Be sure to read about three teams I am high on and the National Championship odds here, however we've got to look at the awards market. Of course I am talking about the Wooden Award, the trophy given to the National Player of the Year, the Heisman of College Hoops, if you will. Below are the odds to win said award, as well as my takes on players who stand a chance.
2026-27 NCAA Basketball Wooden Award
Jeremey Fears is the betting favorite to win this year's Wooden Award
Past 10 Wooden Award Winners
- 2026: Cameron Boozer, FR, Duke
- 2025: Cooper Flagg, FR, Duke
- 2024: Zach Edey, SR, Purdue
- 2023: Zach Edey, JR, Purdue
- 2022: Oscar Tshiebwe, JR, Kentucky
- 2021: Luka Garza, SR, Iowa
- 2020: Obi Toppin, SO, Dayton
- 2019: Zion Williamson, FR, Duke
- 2018: Jalen Brunson, JR, Villanova
- 2017: Frank Mason, SR, Kansas
Despite freshmen winning this award in back to back seasons, it doesn't happen very often. Only five freshman have ever won this award, the three listed in the last decade, Anthony Davis in 2012 and Kevin Durant in 2008. Even sophomore's struggle to succeed, with Toppin, Trey Burke and Blake Griffin being the only second year players to win over the past two decades.
Point being… generally speaking… this is an upperclassmen award. It also tends to be geared towards big men as well, as Brunson and Mason are the last two true guards to win the award.
Betting Odds to Win the 2027 Wooden Award
- Jeremey Fears (Michigan State) +1000
- Tyran Stokes (Kansas) +1100
- Thomas Haugh (Florida) +1200
- Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) +1200
- Joaquim Boumtje (Duke) +1200
- Braylon Mullins (UConn) +1600
- Jordan Smith Jr. (Arkansas) +2200
- John Blackwell (Duke) +2500
- David Mirkovic (Illinois) +2800
- Ivan Kharchenkov (Arizona) +2800
- Tounde Yessoufou (St. John's) +3300
- Braden Huff (Gonzaga) +3300
- Nikola Kusturica (UCLA) +3300
- Alex Condon (Florida) +4000
- Matas Vokietaitis (Texas) +4000
- Isaiah Johnson (Texas) +4000
- Motiejus Krivas (Arizona) +4000
Further down the list are names like Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Stefan Vaaks (Illinois), Silas Demary Jr. (UConn), Elliot Cadeau (Michigan) and JT Toppin (Texas Tech), all at 50-1. Robert Wright, PJ Haggerty and Milan Momcilovic are the next few as well.
If I were taking sprinkles on a few guys, here is how I would do it.
Thomas Haugh will lead the Gators this year, and could have the nation's best stat line
NCAA Basketball Players to Watch
Thomas Haugh, Florida (+1200)
We actually bet Haugh to win this award at 125-1 last year, and I'm afraid we may have been one season early. Haugh returns to Florida with a star-studded cast, but he is the main character. He led the Gators in scoring, putting up 17.1 per game, adding 6.1 boards, 2.1 assists, as well as 1.1 steals and a block. Haugh did this while shooting 46% from the field and 77% from the stripe, averaging just 1.5 turnovers despite playing over 33 minutes.
Even with a ton of talent around him, Haugh could break out and put up bigger numbers this year. He was already projected to be a late lottery pick this past NBA Draft, but he might play his way into a top five pick this season.
Tyler Tanner might average 20 points per game for Vanderbilt without Tyler Nickel to help
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt (+1200)
Tanner might be the best guard in the country. Like Haugh, he would've been drafted this past season had he not returned to school. He led the Commodores with 19.5 points per game, adding 3.6 boards, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals in the process. Tanner shot 48.5% from the field and over 85% from the charity stripe. Without Tyler Nickel to help with the scoring, Tanner will likely be asked to provide at least 20 points per game, if not more.
An average stat line of 25 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals is very much in play, which could put him in the mix for player of the year. But like I said, it takes a special kind of guard to win this award. Tanner fits the mold.
Motiejus Krivas could be the best big man in college basketball this season, making him a threat to win the Wooden Award
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona (+4000)
I had to throw a "longshot" in here, but ultimately I think this is an incredible number. There is a 50-1 out there. Krivas started all 39 games for Arizona last season, and in just 25 minutes per game, the Lithuanian seven footer put up 10.4 points alongside 8.2 boards and two blocks. He shot over 56% from the field, and a career best, 78% from the stripe.
Krivas could also compete for Big 12 and National Defensive Player of the Year as well, adding to his resume for the Wooden Award. Again, it's a long shot, but we could see this guy with odds less than 15-1 before conference play begins.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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