Heading into the nerve-wracking yet exciting 2025–26 Horizon League basketball season, it’s only natural that the focus shifts to the title aspirations of the Golden Grizzlies.
After coming up just short of the championship game last season—falling in a tough overtime semifinal contest to eventual tournament winner Robert Morris—Oakland University is determined to reclaim the crown.
This campaign will be headlined by the season-long battle for the Horizon League Player of the Year honor, a race that, while currently led by preseason Player of the Year Tuburu Naivalurua, is poised to be fiercely contested by a handful of the league’s most potent talents.
While Naivalurua currently holds the league’s top individual honor, the Horizon League promises a deep and potentially volatile competition. The Oakland forward is the headline, but the eventual winner must outlast a rare blend of high-scoring veterans, top-tier transfers and emerging international talent.
It is from this elite core of five contenders — each representing a challenge to the preseason favorite — that the eventual 2026 Player of the Year will emerge.
Dayan Nessah, wing, Cleveland State
Nessah’s performances for Switzerland this summer at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup were nothing short of impressive.
The Swiss forward displayed an immense feel for the game, finishing sixth among all scorers at the tournament with averages of 17.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He outpaced major international prospects, including FIBA All-Star Five recipient Hannes Steinbach (17.4 points) and Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson Jr. (17.3 points).
The six-foot-seven-inch transfer arrives at Cleveland State with a high pedigree, having spent five seasons in the FC Barcelona development system before playing his freshman year at George Washington. While he saw limited minutes in the Atlantic 10 last season, his explosive summer immediately places him on a Player of the Year trajectory.
Nessah’s case is built on a unique skill set: he possesses the vision and distribution of a combo guard (3.4 assists per game at the U19 World Cup) while using the physicality of a forward to command rebounds and drive the paint. His positional versatility and high basketball IQ make him a high-efficiency threat who can influence the game on every possession — a quality that historically translates to Player of the Year success in the Horizon League.
Cris Carroll, forward, Youngstown State
As a preseason All-League First Team selection, Carroll represents Youngstown State’s essential anchor in a season where the Penguins are projected third.
His Player of the Year candidacy is driven by his expected ascension to the team’s top scoring option following the departure of high-usage guard EJ Farmer.
The six-foot-six-inch, 230-pound forward is uniquely suited for a leap in production due to his efficient, bruising interior game. Film analysis confirms his strength: he backs down defenders effectively and finishes well with his back to the basket.
As a perimeter threat, he’s a reliable shooter who converts 35.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers with a smooth, steady release.
Defensively, Carroll is a solid contributor whose athleticism translates to key team plays. He has good timing and vertical leap on blocks, and his ability to disrupt passing lanes led to an average of 1.1 steals per game last season.
If Carroll can translate his efficiency and defensive playmaking into a high-usage role, his emergence as the centerpiece of a top-tier Youngstown State contender will make him a direct challenge to Oakland’s Naivalurua.
Amar Augillard, guard, Milwaukee
Augillard’s case is built entirely on elite, proven scoring ability. The six-foot-five-inch, 225-pound guard is a preseason All-League First Team selection and the most decorated newcomer to the Horizon League, arriving as the 2024 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year.
Stylistically, Augillard brings a rare mix of size and shot creation. He’s a physical guard who uses his strength to dominate smaller backcourts and is an effective downhill driver, confirmed by his elite free-throw rate — 82.9% from the line at Fresno State.
More critically, Augillard finished his last Division I season with a usage rate of 37.0%, meaning Milwaukee’s offense should run through him. If he can translate that high-volume command into efficient production for the team projected first in the preseason poll, he’ll be a formidable challenger to Naivalurua.
DeAndre Craig, guard, Purdue Fort Wayne
Craig is the new engine for a Purdue Fort Wayne team that has consistently been a top-half contender, making him a compelling Player of the Year sleeper pick.
The Chicago native, a six-foot guard, transfers in from Denver, where he led the team with 13.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Craig’s case is rooted in his efficiency as a primary ball-handler. He’s a tenacious and savvy finisher who steps into a system that has recently produced elite guards.
More importantly, he’s an effective playmaker who logged 78 assists last season. If Craig can use his quickness and proven late-game reliability to lead the Mastodons to a top three finish, his emergence as a high-efficiency lead guard will place him firmly in the conversation.
Tuburu Naivalurua, forward, Oakland
As the preseason Player of the Year, Naivalurua enters the season with the largest target on his back. The six-foot-eight-inch, 240-pound forward is the centerpiece of Oakland’s offense.
His case is defined by efficiency, durability and poise. He’s the league’s top returning scorer (13.9 points per game) and an elite interior presence who shoots 55.5% from the field while grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game.
Naivalurua is a poised post player whose game features a variety of combo moves and the ability to finish with soft touch around the rim despite contact.
His Player of the Year mandate relies on consistent performance across a high 35.2 minutes per game average, capitalizing on the strength and composure honed through his international journey and experience against high-major competition.
The battle for Horizon League Player of the Year is not merely a contest for a trophy — it’s a showcase of individual brilliance and rising star power that will define the 2026 season.
Naivalurua stands as the ultimate test case: the established preseason favorite whose poise and efficient postgame are set to power Oakland’s title push.
To secure the crown, he must withstand a field of contenders whose individual breakthroughs could reshape the league’s landscape.
A breakout season from Cleveland State’s Dayan Nessah — whose elite international pedigree offers a genuine NBA ceiling — would elevate his program regardless of final standings.
Similarly, the high-volume scoring of Milwaukee’s Amar Augillard and the expanded role of Youngstown State’s Cris Carroll promise the kind of individual campaigns that can drag their teams into championship contention.
Ultimately, the winner of this race will be the player whose brilliance elevates his team the most. The pursuit of the Player of the Year honor won’t just define a single star — it will decide which individual leads his program and captivates fans across the Horizon League all season long.
