Anonymous coaches overwhelmingly predict Thomas Haugh will be the best player in CBB
By Ethan Stone
Published:
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander revealed their latest installment of Candid Coaches on Thursday.
In exchange for honest, candid answers, Norlander and Parrish surveyed “nearly 100” coaches with the guarantee that their answers would be kept completely anonymous. The survey featured 9 questions, including the most interesting of all: Who will be the best player in college basketball this upcoming season?
The overwhelming answer, receiving 43% of the vote, was Florida’s Thomas Haugh. Second place, for reference, was Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears at 15%. Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner placed No. 3 at 14%.
Here’s what one anonymous coach said about the senior Florida forward:
“He’s proven he can perform at the highest level, and what separates him is how complete his game is,” the coach said, via CBS Sports. “He impacts winning in so many different ways — he can score, rebound, defend multiple positions, make plays for teammates and consistently makes the right basketball decisions.”
Haugh has improved each year he’s been at Florida. He was of course a crucial part of Florida’s national championship run in 2025, but had his best year in college basketball last season as he averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Haugh can defend and score from most placed on the court, including a decent 33% clip from range. He’s also great at drawing fouls and making the opposing team pay with a 77% hit rate from the free throw line. The 6-foot-9 small forward does it all alongside Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, who combined make up the most dangerous frontcourt in college hoops.
The 2026 Gators are the most talented team in the country until proven otherwise.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
