The country’s top players and coaches are finalists for the three annual awards

ATLANTA (March 27, 2026) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced the finalists for its three prestigious men’s college basketball awards in 2026, including the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, which annually identifies the nation’s most outstanding player, the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award, and the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE.

“This year’s finalists truly embody the pinnacle of men’s college basketball,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Each student-athlete and coach has consistently been part of the national spotlight, making this year’s races some of the most competitive in recent memory and reflecting the exceptional standard they’ve upheld all season.” 

2026 Jersey Mike’s Men’s Naismith Trophy Finalists

The four finalists include a graduate student and three freshmen, showcasing the depth of talent across the nation. These players kept their teams in the national spotlight all year and produced seasons worthy of Naismith Trophy recognition.

The men’s finalists are freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), and graduate student Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan). The three freshmen were Naismith First Team High School All-America selections last year.

Acuff Jr. has delivered one of the nation’s most productive guard seasons; Boozer’s first collegiate season has placed him among the most accomplished newcomers in Duke history; Dybantsa turned in one of college basketball’s most explosive freshman campaigns; and Lendeborg has anchored Michigan’s rise with his all-around game.

Duke has had nine players win this award, which is the most of any school. The last Blue Devil to be honored was Cooper Flagg in 2025. Michigan’s Trey Burke won in 2013 for the only win by a Wolverine, while BYU’s Jimmer Fredette won in 2011. This would be the first Naismith Trophy for an Arkansas student-athlete.

About the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s Player of the Year Finalists:

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

• SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2025-26.
• AP First Team All-American and one of the nation’s most productive lead guards.
• The only player in Division I averaging at least 20 points and 6 assists per game this season.
• Averaged 22.2 points and 6.4 assists while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range.
• According to OptaSTATS, he became the only player in NCAA history to average 20.0-plus points, 5.0-plus assists, 40.0-plus three-point shooting, and a 3.00-plus assist-to-turnover ratio in a season.

Cameron Boozer, Duke

• ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in a remarkable freshman campaign.
• Consensus First Team All-American who helped place Duke atop the national conversation from opening night into the postseason.
• Averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while ranking among the ACC leaders across the box score.
• Became the only Division I player in the last 30 seasons to total at least 700 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the field in a regular season.
• Set Duke’s freshman scoring-average benchmark and continued the Blue Devils’ long tradition of elite national stars.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

• AP First Team All-American and Big 12 Freshman of the Year after a sensational debut season.
• Led the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game.
• Earned All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors.
• Finished the season with 894 points, the third-most ever by a Division I freshman.
• Produced the first 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in program history and closed his NCAA Tournament run with 35 points and 10 rebounds.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

• Big Ten Player of the Year and a First Team All-Big Ten selection by both coaches and media.
• Named to the conference’s All-Defensive Team while serving as the centerpiece of a balanced Michigan team.
• Averaged a team-high 14.6 points per game and shot better than 50 percent from the field.
• Averaged more than seven rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal per game.

2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Finalists

The nation’s top coaches headline this year’s list of finalists as each has directed their programs to remarkable regular seasons and top NCAA Tournament seeds. 

The men’s finalist field highlights the remarkable range and influence of elite coaching throughout college basketball. This year’s finalists are Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg, Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May, and Duke’s Jon Scheyer. 

Lloyd (2022) and Scheyer (2025) have each been finalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award. This is the first time Hoiberg and May have been named finalists for the award.

About the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Finalists

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

• Named the 2026 Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference’s head coaches.
• Led Nebraska to a 26-5 regular season and a 15-5 Big Ten record, tying for second in the league standings.
• The Huskers set or tied school records for total wins, conference wins, and conference road wins.
• Nebraska earned the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the highest postseason conference seed in program history.
• Hoiberg guided the Huskers to the first NCAA Tournament victory in school history and their first trip to the Sweet 16.

Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

• Named 2026 Big 12 Coach of the Year after leading Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.
• Guided the Wildcats to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and their fifth consecutive NCAA appearance under his leadership.
• Arizona also earned the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, continuing one of the nation’s most consistent five-year runs.
• This is the second time in Lloyd’s tenure that Arizona has been awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Dusty May, Michigan

• Named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by the media after leading Michigan to the conference regular-season title.
• Guided the Wolverines to a 29-2 regular season and a 19-1 Big Ten record, finishing four games clear in the league race.
• Michigan earned the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and the program’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2021.
• The Wolverines set a Big Ten record with seven victories by 40 or more points during the regular season.

Jon Scheyer, Duke

• Named 2026 ACC Coach of the Year after leading Duke to a 29-2 regular season and the conference title.
• Guided the Blue Devils to the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a second consecutive No. 1 seed under his direction.
• Duke captured the ACC regular-season crown and repeated as ACC Tournament champion.
• Scheyer has now delivered a top-five NCAA Tournament seed in each of his first four seasons as head coach.

2026 Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Finalists

The four finalists bring an imposing blend of length, physicality, and versatility on the defensive end of the floor. These players represent relentless rebounding, switchability, shot contesting, and effort plays that define the nation’s premier defenses.

The finalist list includes Kansas sophomore forward Flory Bidunga has provided the Jayhawks with energy and rim protection, Florida junior center Rueben Chinyelu has anchored the Gators in the paint, St. John’s senior forward Zuby Ejiofor has delivered a powerful interior presence for the Red Storm, while Houston junior forward Joseph Tugler, a finalist for the award last year, continues to impact games with his activity and toughness.

All three award winners will be announced Sunday, April 5, at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Jersey Mike’s during the Men’s Final Four at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis 

Once again this year, fans will have a say in determining the winner through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s. Starting March 27, fans can visit www.naismithfanvote.com to cast their ballot for one of the finalists for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy and the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on April 1, and fans are limited to one vote per day. The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote.

The four finalists in each category were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, composed of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners, and conference commissioners, all of whom based their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2025-26 college basketball season.

# # #

Media Contact:

Jordan De La Cruz
Atlanta Tipoff Club
jordan.delacruz@naismithtrophy.com
(770) 617-2222

ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB

Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Awards family, annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s, MOLECULE, and Werner Ladder. For more information, visit

www.naismithtrophy.com.

ABOUT JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS

Jersey Mike’s Subs, with locations open and in development throughout the United States, serves authentic, fresh-sliced and fresh-grilled subs on in-store, freshly baked bread – the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike’s local communities is reflected in its mission statement, “Giving … making a difference in someone’s life.” For more information, visit jerseymikes.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

ABOUT WERNER^®

Werner, a ProDriven Global Brand, is the official ladder of NCAA^® March Madness^® and the world leader in ladders with a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, WERNER provides a full line of climbing equipment that is engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.

ABOUT MOLECULE

MOLECULE, a premier performance sleep company, designs products that are Air-Engineered™ for cooler sleep, helping people achieve optimal rest and recovery so they can maximize performance in their active lifestyles. Developed by a team of renowned sleep scientists, neurologists and engineers, MOLECULE products are trusted by elite athletes such as Alex Morgan and Michael Phelps. MOLECULE products are designed in the USA and are delivered directly to your door with free shipping and risk-free trials. For more information, visit us at http://www.onmolecule.com/

FINALISTS

FINALISTS

FINALISTS