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

JOIN the Locked On College Basketball Everydayer Club!
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join the Locked On College Basketball community: https://lockedoncollegebasketball.supercast.com/

Join the Locked On College Basketball Discord: https://discord.gg/bsKxDp8Qqb

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…

🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-college-basketball/

Locked On College Basketball TikTok
Locked On College Basketball Twitter
Locked On College Basketball Instagram
Andy Patton Twitter
Isaac Schade Twitter

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

KALSHI
For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. .

The Game
Don't miss this chance to celebrate 40 years of The Game with 40% off your entire order. Visit https://TheGameCaps.com and use promo code LOCKEDONat checkout.

Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Locked On College Basketball

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