Thomas Haugh recognized as top contender for National Player of the Year

In a recent survey of 100 college basketball coaches, Thomas Haugh emerged as the leading candidate for National Player of the Year for the upcoming season. The senior forward at Florida Gators garnered 43% of the votes, significantly ahead of competitors such as Jeremy Fears Jr. from Michigan State, who received 15%, and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner with 14%. Haugh's decision to return to college basketball after leading Florida to a national championship in 2025 is seen as pivotal, with sources indicating that he contributes across multiple facets of the game. Florida is currently positioned as the top team in CBS Sports' preseason rankings. Haugh aims to become the first non-freshman to earn the Player of the Year award since 2024.

• 3:59 PMYahoo Sports — Thomas Haugh named favorite to win National Player of the Year