"Keaton Kandidates": Can Arizona's Cameron Holmes & A Pair of NBA Sons BREAKOUT As Freshmen?

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler came out of NOWHERE last season & wound up being the 5th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. What freshmen might do the same this season? Arizona's Cameron Holmes is a "Keaton Kandidate" Are under-the-radar recruits set to become college basketball’s next breakout stars?

Andy Patton and Isaac Schade spotlight “Keeton Kandidates” across the Big 12, ACC, and top mid-major programs, including Holmes, Oklahoma State’s Anthony Felesi, Stanford’s Aziz Olajuwon (son of Hall of Famer Hakeem), and Florida State’s Brandon Bass Jr. They break down how NBA bloodlines, high-upside skill sets, and program fit could lead these players to outshine their rankings. Additional segments examine Josiah Johnson’s bold move to UC Irvine, Alex Costanza’s immediate impact at Pepperdine, and which rising stars may fuel surprise tournament runs.

Can these underrated recruits transform their teams and rewrite expectations for the 2026-27 season?

PHOTO CREDIT: Diannie Chavez - Imagn Images

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