PEORIA – The Bradley Braves men’s basketball team has landed three players among the 34 players listed in the 2026 list of players to watch for the Missouri Valley Conference.
The trio of Braves includes redshirt sophomore forward Xander Alarie, junior wing Timothy van der Knaap and redshirt senior Trevon Payton.
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Illinois State, Murray State, UIC and Valparaiso — all among the top contenders in the MVC preseason poll — have four each. Peoria Notre Dame High School star Eoin Dillon is one of two players listed at Belmont.
Team White’s Trevon Payton makes a move to the basket during the annual Bradley Red-White Showcase on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the Renaissance Coliseum.
Why Trevon Payton?
He is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound guard who hails from Arkansas-Pine Bluff as one of 10 newcomers to Bradley’s roster this season.
In 2025-26, he shot 51.9% from the field and 47.1% from 3-point range as the best shooters in the Southern Athletic Conference.
He appeared in all 32 games and led the team in 3-point shooting.
Why Xander Alarie?
He was a 6-foot-8, 235-pounder who was a redshirt freshman last season at Northeastern.
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Initially on the University of Miami roster, Alarie was transferred to the North Side and averaged 10.3 points per game and 42% shooting from the field before suffering a loss for the season.
Why Timothy van der Knaap?
The Italy product got bigger and stronger in the offseason, and began to emerge in a bigger role last season.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pound wing can take turns at the post and forward and made 33 starts last season. Now a junior, Bradley stands out as a key player and could be among the top wings in the conference.
Recovering from a foot injury in good time.
More: The Bradley Braves men’s basketball team ranked sixth in the Valley preseason poll
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Here’s a look at the rest of the MVC player scouts list:
Bello Monte: Jack Smiley, Eoin Dillon.
Bradley: Timothy van der Knaap, Xander Alarie, Trevon Payton.
Drake: Owen Larson, Jon Carroll, Eli Shetlar.
Evansville: AJ Casey, Bryce Quinet.
UIC: Ahmad Henderson II, Andy Johnson, Mekhi Lowery, Rashund Washington Jr.
Illinois state: Johnny Kinziger, Chase Walker, Malik Messina-Moore, Noah Cleveland.
Indiana state: Jackson Cooper, Gregory Karmani.
Northern Iowa: Greyson Uelman, Tate McCubbin, Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, Ian Smikle.
Murray State: Romanus Doman, Brigham Rogers, Marcus Padjen, Mathis Courbon.
Southern Illinois: Jalen Haynes, Donovan Hill.
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Valparaíso: JT Pettigrew, Rakim Chaney, Justus McNair, Carter Hopoi.
More: ‘You’re not there’: Bradley basketball fans to look at the 2026-27 men’s, women’s teams
Dave Eminian is the editor of Star-Zoo Games. Reach him by email at deminian@pjstar.com and follow him on X @icetimecleve.
This article first appeared in the Star Journal: Bradley Braves men’s basketball fields 3-player MVC guard roster for 2026-27