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Early Big East Player of the Year Candidates

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Jack Belanger | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 8:00 AM ET

It seems like college basketball just started, but we are already entering the fourth week of the season. Most teams completed 5-7 games to this point, marking the halfway point of non-conference play. It’s been an uneven start, at best, for the Big East. Even though the league has three teams in the preseason top-25, only Georgetown and Seton Hall remain undefeated.

While the majority of the games have come against lower-tier mid-majors, players across the Big East are starting to emerge as big-time contributors. Several players from the Preseason All-Big East First-Team are performing as expected, meanwhile a few under-the-radar guys are carrying their squads. Once conference play starts, it will be a whole new challenge for these guys. In the meantime, here are some candidates that could vie for Big East Player of the Year.

Five Early Big East Player of the Year Candidates

KJ Lewis, Georgetown

Don’t look now, but the Hoyas are 5-0, their best start under head coach Ed Cooley. Arizona transfer KJ Lewis is a huge reason why. His 17.2 scoring average leads Georgetown and is fourth in the conference. On defense, his 14 steals are tied for the league lead. In Georgetown’s win over Clemson, he scored 26 points on 7-15 shooting. Among the Hoyas’ starting five, his 49.1% field goal percentage tops the group.

Michael Ajayi, Butler

Butler wasn’t expected to be competitive this season. However, much like Michael Ajayi, the Bulldogs are having a resurgence year. With back-to-back wins over South Carolina and Virginia, Butler is no pushover. Ajayi is one of two Big East players averaging a double-double. He averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds in the two big wins. After a bad 2024-25 campaign at Gonzaga, it looks like Pepperdine Ajayi is running the floor for the Bulldogs. He’s also improved his passing, dishing out a career-high 3.8 assists a game.

Alex Karaban, UConn

Nov 23, 2025; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) drives the ball against the Bryant Bulldogs in the first half at Peoples Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Yes, Tarris Reed leads the team in points and rebounds, but who knows how his ankle injury will affect him. Alex Karaban, a four-year starter for the Huskies, is certainly the heart of the team, and they will go as far as he carries them. He went 4/4 from three and dropped 21 points in the win over BYU. He’ll probably cool down from his 61% clip behind the arc, but his shooting is much improved.

Chase Ross, Marquette

It’s been a disappointing start for the Golden Eagles, but Chase Ross is carrying the weight on offense. Through the Nov. 22 games, his 20.9 points per game were the highest for all Big East players. Marquette avoided the transfer portal, meaning it needed all its returners to step up. Ross has made the biggest jump, doubling his scoring output from last season. His 4.3 assists per game are fifth best in the conference.

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s

It would seem unfit to leave out Zuby Ejiofor, Big East Preseason Player of the Year, off the list. As of Nov. 23rd, the Red Storm had one game against a power conference team. In the loss against No. 11 Alabama, the senior did everything he could. He picked up his first double-double of the season with 27 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs. He also picked up two steals and two blocks. Few players can match up with the six-foot-nine big man.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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