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SEC Sports
Ranking 25 men's college basketball breakout stars in 2025-26
From injury comebacks to bigger roles than forecasted, these players are outperforming preseason expectations.
3. Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama
Nate Oats coached Alabama to top-five finishes in offensive efficiency with former All-America guard Mark Sears running the show the previous two seasons. Now Philon is the catalyst who has helped the Crimson Tide sustain that production. He's averaging 21.3 points as a sophomore, effectively doubling his 10.6 PPG mark as a freshman.
13. Aden Holloway, G, Alabama
As the backup for All-America point guard Mark Sears last season, Holloway looked the part of a future leader for an Alabama team that reached the Elite Eight a year ago. He has become much more than that, as evidenced by the 16.4 points and 4.9 assists he has averaged over the Tide's current seven-game winning streak.
