The Big 12 Conference released its men’s basketball preseason honors ahead of the league’s 2026 Basketball Media Days later this month at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year: Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Back to lead Arizona following a Final Four run, Krivas returns to the Tommy Lloyd and Wildcats this season as a First Team All-Big 12 center and a member of the league’s All-Defensive Team. Krivas limited opponents to 36.7% whenever he touched the ball and chipped in 10.4 points (56.9%), 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game as a junior.
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
A top-10 transfer from St. Mary’s, Murauskas – a two-time All-West Coast Conference First Team forward – adds an instant presence to the Sun Devils this season following Randy Bennett’s departure for Tempe. Last season, Murauskas drew 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game as a junior at St. Mary’s
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Tapping Kansas over Kentucky, Stokes broke the internet with his Kansas commitment earlier this year and now becomes the second Jayhawk in a row, following Darryn Peterson, to net the Big 12’s preseason freshman honor. Stokes enters his first year of college basketball as the No. 1 high school prospect in the country; Stokes is a McDonald’s All-American and has three gold medals representing USA Basketball on the global stage.
2026-27 All-Big 12 Preseason Team
• Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
• Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
• Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
• Robert Wright III, BYU
• Dedan Thomas Jr., Houston
• Joseph Tugler, Houston
•Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
• Tyran Stokes, Kansas
• Xavier Edmonds, TCU
• JT Toppin, Texas Tech
