USBWA Unveils Men’s Preseason Watch Lists

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a men’s national player of the year and, since the 1997-98 season the award has been named for the “Big O,” the legendary hall of famer and two two USBWA player of the year. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

“The USBWA is excited to reveal its first Watch List for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which honors the nation’s top men’s college basketball player at the conclusion of every season,” said 2025-26 USBWA President Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. “Our list is stacked with proven talent, returning All-Americans and glitzy freshmen. On the whole, this could be as talented a group of players as we’ve seen in the past five-plus years in college hoops. The voting was done by the USBWA’s 2025-26 board, and our next Watch List will publish in January.”

The list is headed up by two returning second-team USBWA All-Americans, PJ Haggerty, who has transferred from Memphis to Kansas State and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Following is the complete preseason watch list.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

USBWA unveils 2025-26 Wayman Tisdale Award preseason watch list

Contact Malcolm Moran
malcolm@usbwa.com
(814) 574-1485

November 3, 2025INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) — Twenty-five standout first-year players have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Wayman Tisdale Award by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Since the 1988-89 season, the USBWA has named a men’s freshman national player of the year and, since the 2010-11 season the award has been named for Wayman Tisdale, the late Oklahoma All-American. The wward is voted on by the entire membership of the association and is based on regular-season performance.

“The Waman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award could be in for a phenomenal race,” said 2025-26 USBWA President Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. “In some years, finding 25 freshmen to fill out a Watch List at the start of the season proves a little difficult due to uncertainty with impact and playing time. Not this year. This is as loaded of a list as we’ve ever had heading into a season. The USBWA is proud to reveal our first Watch List for 2025-26 and eager to see which newcomers show out and uplift the sport in the months to come.”

Last season Duke’s Cooper Flagg won the award, along with the Oscar Robertson Trophy, joining Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant as the only freshmen to sweep both awards.

Following is the complete 2025-26 Wayman Tisdale Award preseason watch list:

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.