It is that point of yr, when Santa Claus makes desires come true for teenagers internationally. What if he got here to varsity basketball bearing presents? What would he deliver?
The want record is lengthy for gamers, coaches, groups and leagues across the sport. With nonconference play wrapping up for many packages, wants are extra apparent now than they have been earlier than the season. If expectations are going to be met or surpassed, a go to from faculty basketball’s Santa Claus can be excellent for nearly everybody.
Whereas no such gift-bearing phenomenon exists, we’re getting within the vacation spirt for this week’s Dribble Handoff. These are the presents we might give if we might play the function of school basketball’s Santa Claus.
For St. John’s: A degree guard
Until issues dramatically flip round and culminate with a deep run by way of the bracket of the 2026 NCAA Match, this season at St. John’s will without end be remembered because the one which began with Rick Pitino calling Ian Jackson the Crimson Storm’s “subsequent nice level” however shortly changed into one thing that had the Corridor of Fame coach lamenting the concept no one on his roster qualifies as a real high-major level guard.
It is not excellent!
Can St. John’s nonetheless be good and not using a respectable high-major lead-guard? Certain, I assume. The Crimson Storm are nonetheless twentieth at BartTorvik.com and KenPom.com — and twenty sixth within the Prime 25 And 1. They are not dangerous. They’re simply not … nice. And sadly for anyone who may’ve had them No. 1 within the preseason, it seems doubtless that they will at all times fall one thing in need of nice due to some mixture of recruiting failures and miscalculations which have left one of many sport’s most proficient rosters with a gaping gap. — Gary Parrish
For Mick Cronin: Cozy garments, sleeping capsules and an airplane pillow
My colleagues try to present out particular person issues to groups enhance their probabilities of successful over the subsequent three months. However I’m trying on the calendar and making an attempt to be extra sensible. There’s an pressing matter simply over the horizon that wants quick consideration.
A yr in the past, UCLA coach Mick Cronin was livid on the sight of the Statue of Liberty and the state of the Bruins’ journey schedule. He was so miffed by the group’s journey preparations, he made positive of two issues final offseason: he would quietly signal an enormous new contract, and he his group didn’t go away the state of California for any of its nonconference video games this November and December. However Large Ten play begins in earnest the subsequent in lower than two weeks, and I’ve some powerful information for Cronin — It is time to hit the highway
Jan. 3: @ Iowa
Jan. 6: @ Wisconsin
Jan. 10: vs. Maryland
Jan. 14: @ Penn State
Jan. 17: @ Ohio State
The ten-3 Bruins have 4 of their first 5 video games of 2026 not solely on the highway, however two or three time zones away. The brunt of UCLA’s Large Ten journey is early, which might be most popular, however Cronin’s capability to go viral with a postgame rant is all of the extra possible due to this unforgiving begin to January. The group could nicely lose three of its first 5 video games after the New 12 months. That in thoughts, Cronin wants some Lululemon, journey slippers, sleeping remedy for the lengthy flights, a high-end pillow to assist catch some Zs and some podcasts to cross the time/cut back his nervousness. Clearly, Eye on Faculty Basketball needs to be the go-to, but when he is in search of one thing exterior of sports activities, SmartLess and Conan O’Brien Wants a Buddy are as pleasurable as non-sports pods get. — Matt Norlander
For Illinois: A playmaking defender
Illinois is scoring 127.5 factors per 100 possessions, per KenPom knowledge. That is a mark ranked second nationally in adjusted effectivity margin per the web site. That is elite. They’re choosing groups aside by taking good care of the ball, taking pictures it effectively and smashing groups on the offensive glass. What’s not elite for the Illini, and largely why there are 9-3 as a substitute of 12-0: their protection.
They’re surrendering 98.1 factors per 100 possessions — a quantity ranked twenty seventh nationally in adjusted effectivity. That is completely superb and will get Illinois to 25 wins with ease. However it’s nowhere near elite. (Michigan, for comparability, is first, surrendering simply 88.2 factors per 100 possessions.)
They’re useless final amongst main convention groups in steal charge defensively and in turnover charge compelled. (And, for what it is value, it is a theme underneath Brad Underwood going again a number of years.) They do not generate sufficient chaos to create transition alternatives — an space that, per Synergy knowledge, Illinois charges within the 92nd percentile in nationally.
Let’s give the Illini a defensive playmaker or two and simply see what occurs. If this group was even on the Div. I common in steal charge or turnover charge defensively they may degree as much as a juggernaut probably with the way in which their offense is buzzing. That is not the case. And it might be the one space I’d pinpoint that in the end retains this group as a No. 3 or 4 seed within the NCAA Match versus a No. 1 or 2 seed. It is areas on the margin holding Illinois again that separates Illinois from only a good protection to a very nice one. — Kyle Boone
For Kentucky: Magic shoulder cream
If Kentucky might simply have a wholesome and obtainable Lowe, it will alleviate a lot of its issues. With frontcourt gamers Mo Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance again within the rotation after working again from accidents of their very own, a clear invoice of well being for Lowe is the ultimate lacking piece.
That is why I am getting the Wildcats some magic shoulder cream that fixes all shoulder points for level guards. It is the second yr in a row UK is grappling with this downside. Final yr, it was Lamont Butler, who soldiered by way of shoulder points that required him to put on a cumbersome brace. This yr, Lowe has performed in simply six of UK’s 13 video games whereas navigating a problematic shoulder scenario of his personal.
Lowe is the Wildcats’ most impactful offensive participant, in response to EvanMiya.com‘s BPR metric, as a result of he is the straw that stirs the drink. He is this roster’s one true level guard, and life with out him makes for some ugly offense. –David Cobb
Based on KenPom’s wonderful database, there are solely two groups that haven’t received the opening tip in opposition to a fellow Division I membership. Vermont and Mercyhurst. The basketball gods need to rectify this. Vermont is especially complicated. John Becker has trotted out three completely different gamers to try to win the leap to no avail. Gus Yalden (0-1), Ben Michaels (0-2) and Noah Barnett (0-10) have all whiffed.
Oh, and the leap ball is not nothing. Fashions predict that successful the leap ball will increase your probability of successful the sport by 3%. Even with the opening-tip follies, Vermont continues to be projected to be the kings of the America East. Mercyhurst very doubtless will not win the NEC, however it can have that early-November victory over Loyola-Chicago on the ledger without end. — Isaac Trotter
There weren’t many gamers in faculty basketball (in latest reminiscence) who arrived with extra hype coming into the season than Peterson. The projected No. 1 total decide within the 2026 NBA Draft is among the greatest guard prospects of this era and is an elite scorer. Merely put, it has been a disgrace Peterson hasn’t been capable of play extra as a result of I believe individuals are forgetting how good he’s. Peterson has solely appeared in 4 video games this season. For Kansas to be the very best model of itself down the stretch, it will want him to be wholesome.
That is why, for Christmas, I am giving Peterson a contemporary invoice of well being. Faculty basketball followers deserve to look at among the finest gamers within the sport play extra. Kansas coach Invoice Self already stated this week that it is a mutual settlement between Kansas and the Peterson household to maintain him out till he is at full energy. — Cameron Salerno