Eight Little League® graduates are set to play for a chance to cement themselves in basketball history as they compete for a chance to be crowned champion in the 2026 NCAA Women’s and Men’s Final Four. Set to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the University of Connecticut (UConn), Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois will square off in the Men’s Division I Final Four with six Little Leaguers® stepping onto the court:
- Malachi Smith (UConn) – Co-Op City LL (Bronx, N.Y.)
- Brayden Burries (Arizona) – Wildwood LL (San Bernardino, Calif.)
- Evan Nelson (Arizona) – Western LL (Tucson, Ariz.)
- Tobe Awaka (Arizona) – Hyde Park (N.Y.) LL
- Blake Fagbemi (Illinois) – Naperville (Ill.) LL
- Ty Rodgers (Illinois) – Saginaw Township (Mich.) South LL
Meanwhile, down south in Phoenix, Arizona, the University of Texas, UConn, South Carolina, and UCLA head for tip-off in the Women’s Division I Final Four, and UConn is showing up with a pair of Little Leaguers:
- Kayleigh Heckel (UConn) – Port Chester (N.Y.) LL
- Morgan Cheli (UConn) – Los Altos (Calif.) American LL
Be sure to tune in to both Final Four events this weekend to cheer on your favorite Little League graduates and join in on the conversation by using #LLAlumni on social media.
NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League graduate missing from this list, please complete the above Little League Alumni Submission form.