Purdue’s trio—Trey Kaufman-Renn, Oscar Cluff, and Daniel Jacobsen—provide strong scoring and rebounding, with Kaufman-Renn adapting to a new role and Cluff anchoring with defensive hustle.

Michigan State’s frontline is nasty and physical, anchored by Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, with Cam Ward and Jesse McCulloch providing depth that fuels elite rebounding.

Arizona exists as a relentless paint-centric squad, led by Koa Peat, Tobe Awaka, and Motiejus Krivas, excelling in offensive rebounding and transition defense to lift overall efficiency despite limited big-man 3-point shooting.

St. John’s frontcourt balance features Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, and Ruben Prey, offering size and offensive glass impact, while defense and consistency remain areas to improve.

Illinois’s frontcourt is a versatile scoring and rim-protecting unit, with Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Ben Humrichous, and David Mirkovic driving 3-point production and space for guards to attack while cleaning the glass.

North Carolina’s Veesaar-Wilson pairing stands out for speed, athleticism, and improved chemistry, delivering a productive guard-frontcourt connection and solid early-season performance.

Florida’s frontcourt, led by Rueben Chinyelu and supported by Tom Haugh, is praised for rebounding, rim protection, and motor, earning a solid first-month grade amid early-season variability.

Gonzaga emphasizes interior scoring and rebounding from Graham Ike and Braden Huff, making the frontline a cornerstone of its offense and resilience against upsets.

Iowa State’s frontcourt features Joshua Jefferson’s playmaking and Blake Buchanan’s emergence, combining interior defense with efficient rim protection and a high turnover-forcing defense.

Michigan leads frontcourt rankings with Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson, anchoring a historic paint presence that supports an undefeated start and strong rim defense.

Duke’s star frontcourt, supported by versatile role players Cameron Boozer, Patrick Ngongba, and Maliq Brown, delivers strong rebounding, rim protection, and defensive versatility that underpins coach Scheyer’s rotations.

The article argues the 2025-26 frontcourts are unusually tall and dominant across major programs, with size and big-man 3-point shooting driving efficiency.