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Westfield Today
By the People, for the People
Top Freshmen Earn AP All-America Honors
Boozer, Dybantsa and Acuff Jr. named to first team
Mar. 17, 2026 at 7:33pm
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Duke's Cameron Boozer, BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. were named to the AP's All-America first team, highlighting a standout freshman class in college basketball. They were joined on the first team by Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg and Texas Tech's JT Toppin.
Why it matters
The selection of these three freshmen to the prestigious All-America first team underscores the immense talent and impact of this year's rookie class. Their achievements have helped elevate their teams to new heights, with several earning high seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
The details
Boozer was a unanimous first-team selection, while Dybantsa and Acuff Jr. were named on 57 and 47 of the 61 ballots, respectively. The trio led their teams to conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths, showcasing their well-rounded skills and team-first mentalities.
- The All-America teams were announced on March 17, 2026.
The players
Cameron Boozer
A forward for the Duke Blue Devils, Boozer was a unanimous first-team All-American selection.
AJ Dybantsa
The star player for the BYU Cougars, Dybantsa was named to the first team after leading the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game.
Darius Acuff Jr.
The Arkansas Razorbacks' standout freshman, Acuff Jr. earned a first-team All-America nod, the first for the program since 1978-79.
Yaxel Lendeborg
The Michigan Wolverines' first-team selection, Lendeborg helped lead his team to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
JT Toppin
The Texas Tech Red Raiders' first-team pick, Toppin earned the honor despite missing the end of the season with a torn ACL.
What they’re saying
“He's all about his teammates. He's not about numbers. He's about winning. And I think when your best player's that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.”
— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach
“This has been the best year of my life, honestly. I've had so much fun. Just how much I've learned this year in general has really helped me out, and is really molding me to be better in the future no matter what I'm doing in my life.”
— Yaxel Lendeborg
“When I left the NBA to come to college, one thing I noticed is just a lot of guys, their processing speed was way slower. AJ's is extremely high. So I can tell him something in the game, or in a film session, and he's going to carry it over.”
— Kevin Young, BYU Head Coach
“JT Toppin is genuine. He's an unbelievable competitor. He's real. You know how much JT loves our team and how hard he competed and how much he cared about that group. To understand that this is difficult and JT has a long road, to watch him weep and see how much this meant to him is hard.”
— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach
The takeaway
The selection of these three freshmen to the AP All-America first team is a testament to the immense talent and potential of this year's rookie class. Their achievements have helped elevate their teams and set the stage for what could be an exciting NCAA Tournament.
