Who are the top Playmakers in the 2027 NBA Draft Class?

The 2027 draft could feature two players who were among the NCAA's top passers in 2025-26.

Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. directs teammates during the first half in the game against Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Over the past four seasons, college basketball has featured one of the greatest playmakers in the sport's history.

Braden Smith, a second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft who recently signed a two-way deal with the Indiana Pacers, completed his four-year career at Purdue in 2026 after becoming the NCAA's career assists leader with 1,103.

Smith led the NCAA in total assists during the 2025-26 season, racking up 345 assists as a senior. While the Boilermakers' star is no longer in the NCAA, a few of the top passers from last season are still coming back to college basketball for the 2026-27 campaign.

Elliot Cadeau, Michigan

Cadeau is one of the lone starters returning from the Wolverines' 2026 national championship team.

After Michigan lost Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and even head coach Dusty May to the NBA, the team will look much different in 2026-27. Cadeau should help the Wolverines' new pieces adjust early on, entering his second year as the team's floor general.

In 2025-26, the former five-star recruit averaged 10.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range.

As a junior, Cadeau was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after helping Michigan win the title. The veteran point guard notched at least seven assists in five of the Wolverines six NCAA tournament games, including a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Final Four.

Cadeau ranked No. 6 amongst NCAA Division I players last season in total assists with 234.

Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State

The brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, Jeremy Fears Jr. has the potential to join his brother in the NBA following the 2026-27 season.

Across his first three years at Michigan State, the Spartans' standout has appeared in 83 games and made 71 starts. As a junior, the veteran point guard enjoyed a breakout campaign, averaging 15.2 points, 9.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc.

The Spartans will replace a few starters from MSU's 2025-26 team, but retained Fears and athletic wing player Coen Carr while adding a few highly touted incoming freshman and transfers.

With a strong roster alongside Fears, the former four-star recruit should be in for another big season and could surpass his assist totals from his junior year.

During the 2025-26 season, Fears led Division I in assists per game and was second in total assists with 328.