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Men's college basketball Top 25 reset: How transfers, draft decisions change 2026's contenders
Now that the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline for college players has passed and only one unsigned player remains in our top 100 transfers list, most rosters are set for the 2025-26 men's college basketball season. That means it's time to hit refresh on my top 25. It's no longer a dart-throwing exercise. Except for perhaps a few late international signings, this ranking may be nearly identical to the one I submit right before the season. Advertisement In an effort to avoid groupthink, I did not look at any other human rankings, but once I had a top 25 set, I did browse Bart Torvik's list, which is the one computerized data set that has already published rankings for next season. Out of my top 25 teams, 22 appear in Torvik's top 25. That made me feel pretty good about this list. So if you vehemently disagree with me, be prepared to also yell at the computers. Projected starters: Braden Smith, Omer Mayer (freshman), Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Oscar Cluff (transfer) Notable returners: C.J. Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Gicarri Harris, Raleigh Burgess Other newcomers: Liam Murphy (transfer), Antione West One coach told me Omer Mayer was the steal of the international signings, and his performance at the Nike Hoops Summit backed that up. Mayer could start at point guard right now for any team in America. He just happens to be going to the one team that returns the best point guard in college basketball, but I'm convinced he and Braden Smith can coexist. Mayer will allow Smith to get some rest; Purdue's best team of Smith's first three years running point had Lance Jones as a secondary handler. Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen should help address Purdue's '24-25 shortcomings: two-point defense and rebounding. The offense was already championship-level good; if the defense can be top-20ish, the Boilermakers will back up this preseason expectation. Projected starters: Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, Isiah Harwell (freshman), Chris Cenac Jr. (freshman), Joseph Tugler Other returners: Mercy Miller, Ramon Walker, Cedric Lath Other newcomers: Kingston Flemings, Bryce Jackson, Kalifa Sakho (transfer) Kelvin Sampson has had a freshman in his regular starting lineup in only three of his 11 seasons as Houston's head coach. He's never had two. But this is arguably the best freshman class Sampson has ever landed: No. 2 in the country, per 247Sports, behind only Duke. It's tough to bet against the Coogs because of the three veterans in the starting lineup. Joseph Tugler is a defensive player of the year frontrunner; Emanuel Sharp is one of the nation's best shooters; Milos Uzan was one of the best point guards in the country down the stretch this spring. Advertisement The Coogs will miss LJ Cryer's shotmaking, but we say that every year about a departing Houston guard, and someone inevitably fills that void. Uzan's decision to withdraw from the draft was a stabilizer. If Houston had to rely on a freshman at point guard or try to play Pop Isaacs (now at Texas A&M) away from his natural position, its outlook would be a lot less certain. If the freshmen can adjust quickly, the defensive possibilities for this group are pretty scary. Projected starters: Silas Demary Jr. (transfer), Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Notable returners: Jayden Ross Other newcomers: Malachi Smith (transfer), Braylon Mullins, Darius Adams, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy (international), Jacob Ross In 2022 the Huskies returned two starters and three of the top seven scorers from a team that won 23 games and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal and won a title. The 2025-26 Huskies return two starters and four of the top seven scorers from a team that won 24 games and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal. Will the end result be the same? It's not hard to see who slots into each role on the '22-23 champs. Solo Ball could be the Jordan Hawkins, a gifted shooter ready to become one of the nation's best shooting guards. Tarris Reed is capable of carrying the offense like Adama Sanogo could. This year's UConn has a gifted freshman backup center in Eric Reibe; the original model was Donovan Clingan. The '22-23 champs had Alex Karaban; this team has (an older) Alex Karaban. And then Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. seems like the ideal fit to play the Tristen Newton role. I'm not sure Jaylin Stewart can match Andre Jackson, and Reibe might be further along offensively but won't have Clingan's defensive impact, but you could argue the rest of the cast of characters are equals. Last year was a rebuilding season, but I'm betting this group is ready to win now that the core has had time to marinate. Projected starters: Elliot Cadeau (transfer), Nimari Burnett, Yaxel Lendeborg (transfer), Morez Johnson (transfer), Aday Mara (transfer) Notable returners: LJ Cason, Roddy Gayle, Will Tschetter Other newcomers: Trey McKenney, Winters Grady, Patrick Liburd Advertisement Michigan was really good defensively last year and has a chance to be elite after the work Dusty May did in the portal. Per CBB Analytics, the former teams of the three bigs Michigan added were all significantly better with them on the floor last season: Aday Mara (UCLA was 7.6 points per 100 possessions better), Morez Johnson (Illinois, 11 points per 100 possessions better) and Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB, 6.2 points per 100 possessions better). Mara would have had the highest block percentage in the country had he played enough to qualify for the leaderboard. It's going to be difficult to score in the paint with so much positional size and Mara protecting the basket. The stat sheet-stuffing Lendeborg is versatile enough for Michigan to play the three bigs together. Shooting will be the biggest concern. The Wolverines shot just 33.2 percent from deep last season and replaced one of their best shooters (Tre Donaldson) with a point guard (Elliot Cadeau) whom opposing defenses mostly ignore beyond the arc, but freshman Trey McKenney should help. He's one of the most game-ready freshman guards in the country. Cadeau's passing should also help an offense that struggled with turnovers. May has depth at every spot, experience and lineup versatility that should allow the Wolverines to match up with anybody. Projected starters: Boogie Fland (transfer), Xaivian Lee (transfer), Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu Notable returners: Micah Handlogten, Urban Klavzar Other newcomers: Alex Lloyd, CJ Ingram, AJ Brown (transfer) Big is back: Last season's best teams had positional size and elite paint protection. Florida could play a giant lineup that features Thomas Haugh (6-9), Alex Condon (6-11) and Rueben Chinyelu (6-10) up front. Those three played together only three possessions last season, per CBB Analytics, but it'll be hard to justify bringing one of them off the bench, considering Haugh's performance in the NCAA Tournament and the inexperience of the other wing options. That big lineup could also help mask some defensive limitations of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Florida's up-tempo style should help Fland prove he can be a more efficient player than he was under John Calipari. The Gators will contend for another title if Fland and Lee are productive and if Haugh and Condon continue to gain confidence in their playmaking and scoring abilities. They'll be expected to perform more like stars and take some of the heat off perimeter guys who cannot be expected to replicate the production of Walter Clayton. Projected starters: Mikel Brown Jr. (freshman), Ryan Conwell (transfer), Isaac McKneely (transfer), Sananda Fru (international), Kasean Pryor Notable returners: J'Vonne Hadley, Khani Rooths Other newcomers: Adrian Wooley (transfer), Mouhamed Camara (international), Vangelis Zougris (international) Current projections have Aly Khalifa off the roster because the NCAA has ruled he's run out his five-year eligibility clock, but I'm betting Khalifa is eventually allowed to play, whether it's through appeal or a future lawsuit. He's one of the best passing bigs in the country and would be the perfect hub in Pat Kelsey's offense. Without him, Louisville still has some fun options up front with Kasean Pryor, who was looking like one of Louisville's best players before his injury last year, and 21-year-old German big Sananda Fru, who should be ready to contribute right away. Advertisement Ryan Conwell was one of the best guards in the Big East last season, Isaac McKneely is a knockdown shooter and capable of scoring some off the bounce, and Adrian Wooley is one of the highest-upside guards in the portal. The Cards also have a five-star point guard in Mikel Brown Jr. This is one of the most talented rosters on paper, and Kelsey proved last year that he can get a bunch of hired guns to blend quickly. Projected starters: Rob Wright (transfer), Kennard Davis (transfer), Richie Saunders, AJ Dybantsa (freshman), Keba Keita Notable returners: Dawson Baker, Mihailo Boskovic Other newcomers: Dominique Diomande (transfer), Xavion Staton, Chamberlain Burgess, Tyler Mrus (transfer), Nate Pickens (transfer) Not all top-five recruits are created equal. Some years it's Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Some years it's Isaiah Collier and Justin Edwards. This 2025 class — headlined by Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer — is expected to be one of those special classes. BYU is betting big on Dybantsa and has an elite big three with Dybantsa, Rob Wright (one of the best freshman point guards last season at Baylor) and first-team All-Big 12 honoree Richie Saunders. Center Keba Keita gives Wright a good pick-and-roll partner and elevates the defense. Mihailo Boskovic flashed high upside in his first season in the program. Dawson Baker is a solid sixth man who is good enough to start if Southern Illinois transfer guard Kennard Davis struggles with the level change. Anything else BYU gets from newcomers will be gravy. Kevin Young seemed to find his groove as a college head coach about halfway through his first season. You never know how NBA guys will do at this level, but no one since Fred Hoiberg has made the move this seamlessly. Projected starters: Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr (international), Cameron Boozer (freshman), Patrick Ngongba Notable returners: Darren Harris, Maliq Brown Other newcomers: Cayden Boozer, Nikolas Khamenia, Sebastian Wilkins, Ifeanyl Ufochukwu (transfer) Cameron Boozer is probably the surest bet of any incoming freshman. My worry for the Blue Devils is at point guard and on the defensive end. Duke was 19.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Caleb Foster on the floor last season, per CBB Analytics. Last year, guards Kon Knueppel and Sion James were so physical they could switch onto anyone. That won't be the case with Isaiah Evans or Dame Sarr, although Sarr has the length and instincts to be a high-level defender. Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach could clean up a lot of mistakes inside. Boozer should be a solid defender, but he's nowhere close to those two as a rim protector, and neither are Maliq Brown or Patrick Ngongba. Jon Scheyer should be able to figure out how to make the offense work around Boozer. Sarr has lottery-level upside. Foster and Evans are the players who probably control the team's floor and ceiling. Foster flopped in his first chance to be the starting point guard, and Cayden Boozer would be the backup plan. Advertisement Evans had a de facto warmup season this past year, when anything he provided was gravy. Maybe he turns into a star. Maybe he's just a streaky shooter and not much more. The inexperience across the board is worrisome, but Duke's bet on talent usually works out. Projected starters: Jaland Lowe (transfer) Denzel Aberdeen (transfer), Otega Oweh, Andrija Jelavic (international), Jayden Quaintance (transfer) Notable returners: Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah Other newcomers: Mouhamed Dioubate (transfer), Kam Williams (transfer), Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Reece Potter (transfer), Braydon Hawthorne This roster does not have the shooting of Mark Pope's first Kentucky team, but it should be better defensively and have more playmaking on the perimeter. Pope showed in Year 1 that he can microwave chemistry. He's also giving himself a ton of lineup options. Not only will there be position battles for starting jobs, but also Kentucky will have some talented players who struggle to even make the rotation. I'm most intrigued by the frontcourt. Pope likes his bigs to be the playmaking hubs of his offense, and Andrija Jelavic, Mouhamed Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance are all intriguing options, though I'm not sure any of them can fully replace Amari Williams. Jelavic was a double-digit scorer for his professional club overseas, and Quaintance is considered a lottery-level prospect. He'll have to beat out Brandon Garrison after recovering from a torn ACL. You know what you're going to get out of Otega Oweh and Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen, who would have been a starter on most SEC teams last year. Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe is more of a true point guard than Lamont Butler, but he goes through spurts of inefficiency. If Lowe can be an all-league-caliber guard and one or two of the bigs can produce consistently, this could be a title contender. Projected starters: Tahaad Pettiford, Elyjah Freeman (transfer), Keyshawn Hall (transfer), Filip Jovic (Auburn), KeShawn Murphy (transfer) Other newcomers: Kevin Overton (transfer), Abdul Bashir (juco transfer), Emeka Opurum (juco transfer), Sebastian Williams-Adams, Kaden Magwood, Simon Walker Pettiford performed so well at the NBA Draft combine that it's a little surprising he's returning to school. And I like what Bruce Pearl did in the portal. He got a proven scorer in Keyshawn Hall. He got the perfect energy/defensive big man in KeShawn Murphy, who has already shown he can be a winning player in the SEC. Serbian big man Filip Jovic comes from the same pro league that produced Tomislav Ivisic and put up better scoring numbers. Elyjah Freeman is a high upside swing who comes from Division II but was on the radar of NBA folks at Lincoln Memorial University. Texas Tech transfer Kevin Overton is also a starter-level player, and Abdul Bashir, one of the top juco recruits in the country, is another upside swing. Advertisement Pettiford could be in for a usage increase that makes him a National Player of the Year candidate, and I'd bet on at least two of the other additions being consistent scorers. Defense is the concern, but Murphy should help solidify that end, and three of Pearl's last four teams finished in the top 10 of adjusted defensive efficiency. Projected starters: Mihailo Petrovic (international), Kylan Boswell, Andrej Stojakovic (transfer), David Mirkovic (international), Tomislav Ivisic Notable returners: Ben Humrichous, Ty Rodgers, Jake Davis Other newcomers: Zvonimir Ivisic (transfer), Brandon Lee, Keaton Wagler I cannot wait to see how the Balkan Illini come together. Head coach Brad Underwood decided a year ago to put most of his money toward international recruiting instead of top-line high schoolers or transfers, which gave him a head start with some of the top European prospects coming over this year. The headliner is Mihailo Petrovic, a 22-year-old point guard who was an MVP candidate in the Adriatic League, averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 assists playing against professionals. It's the same league where the Ivisic brothers played before coming to the U.S., and Underwood went there to get likely starting power forward David Mirkovic as well. Andrej Stojakovic never played in the Adriatic League, but his dad, Peja, is from Croatia. Andrej averaged 17.9 points for a bad Cal team, but he's meant to be the second or third or fourth option for the Illini. Defense is a question mark, but this team is going to run beautiful offense. Next order of business: Nike needs to make this orange tracksuit for Underwood, and he must coach in it. #NewProfilePic — Brad Underwood (@CoachUnderwood) April 28, 2025 Projected starters: Dylan Darling (transfer) Ian Jackson (transfer), Joson Sanon (transfer), Bryce Hopkins (transfer), Zuby Ejiofor Notable returners: Ruben Prey, Lefteris Liotopoulos Other newcomers: Dillon Mitchell (transfer), Oziyah Sellers (transfer), Handje Tamba (transfer), Kelvin Odih, Imran Suljanovic I wrote this in the offseason's first top 25: 'If Rick Pitino lands a stud guard, I'll probably be inclined to move St. John's into the top 10 because it's Pitino.' Since then he's landed Ian Jackson (averaged 11.9 points as a freshman at North Carolina), Dylan Darling (the Big Sky MVP at Idaho State) and Oziyah Sellers (averaged 13.7 points on a middle-of-the-pack ACC team at Stanford). Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon, who was already committed at the time of April's top 25, is also a nice upside addition from a crummy team. None of the three high-major guys have contributed much to winning outfits, and even Darling was on a fourth-place Big Sky team, so I'm hesitant to move the Johnnies all the way into the top 10. It's also hard to assume Bryce Hopkins is going to be the Bryce Hopkins of his sophomore season at Providence. Hopkins has played four games since the beginning of 2024. Pitino did get some insurance by landing former Texas/Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell, who I think is a great fit for his defense. If Hopkins is healthy, it's a top-10 frontcourt. It's possible I'm underestimating Pitino, but I think I'd take the 2024-25 roster over this one. Advertisement Projected starters: Christian Anderson, LeJuan Watts (transfer), Tyeree Bryan (transfer), JT Toppin, Luke Bamgboye (transfer) Other newcomers: Donovan Atwell (transfer), Josiah Moseley (transfer), Nolan Groves Christian Anderson played with the presence of a veteran as a freshman. JT Toppin will be a preseason All-American. Head coach Grant McCasland once again prioritized shooting, landing three wings who shot 39-plus percent from 3 last season — Tyeree Bryan and Donovan Atwell are proven specialists, while LeJuan Watts is more of an all-around guard. Luke Bamgboye is an elite rim protector, ranking second nationally in block rate as a freshman at VCU. For an offense that tries to capitalize on mismatches, it was a blow to lose Darrion Williams to NC State, but Anderson-Toppin should be one of the best point guard-big combos in the country, and the shooters should give them space to work. Projected starters: Braeden Smith,Tyon Grant-Foster, Adam Miller, Braden Huff, Graham Ike Notable returners: Steele Venters, Emmanuel Innocenti, Ismaila Diagne Other newcomers: Jalen Warley (transfer), Davis Fogle, Parker Jefferson Apologies to Gonzaga, which I mistakenly omitted on my last rankings because I overlooked fifth-year senior Graham Ike's ability to come back for a sixth year. Ike played two years at Wyoming, sat out 2022-23 with an injury, then played the last two years. So four in five and done, right? Nope. He's one of those rare players with an extra season left because his freshman season was the 2020-21 COVID-19 waiver year. This roster is old. Adam Miller, who will play a fifth season in six years, will be a floor spacer. The Zags hope to welcome back 24-year-old sharpshooter Steele Venters, the 2023 Big Sky MVP who has missed the last two seasons — first with a torn ACL, then an Achilles tendon tear. Gonzaga brought in well-traveled 25-year-old Tyon Grant-Foster (Indiana Hills Community College to Kansas to DePaul to Grand Canyon and now to Gonzaga), who fits neatly in the bucket-getting role Khalif Battle held last season. Replacing Ryan Nembhard at point guard is Braeden Smith, the 2024 Patriot League Player of the Year who was the rare transfer willing to actually sit out a year, learning the Gonzaga way as Nembhard's understudy. So the Zags have a table setter, an elite wing scorer, a couple of old knockdown shooters and two elite post-up guys in Ike and Braden Huff, who will inevitably end up an All-American by the time he's finished in Spokane. It's possible I haven't overcorrected enough on my previous mistake. Advertisement Projected starters: Darryn Peterson (freshman), Elmarko Jackson, Jayden Dawson (transfer), Tre White (transfer), Flory Bidunga Notable returners: Bryson Tiller, Jamari McDowell Other newcomers: Melvin Council (transfer), Samis Calderon Bill Self told me recently that Kansas was one 14-15-point scorer away from having what he felt was a complete team. The Jayhawks missed on two targets for that spot in Darrion Williams (NC State) and Dame Sarr (Duke). There isn't much left in the transfer portal, so Self could either go shopping overseas or just go with what he has and try to find at least one more big body for depth up front. Self built this roster with 'fit rather than talent' in mind, but he has a surefire pro in Darryn Peterson, who is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft. Self says Peterson is the 'most prepared high school kid' he's signed at Kansas — high praise considering Self has coached Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and multiple other one-and-done lottery picks. Self wisely signed transfers who can either stretch the floor (Jayden Dawson) or put pressure on the rim with their speed (Melvin Council). Freshman forward Bryson Tiller will need to be ready to play right away. But this team is built to be disruptive defensively, and if Peterson lives up to the hype and guys like Flory Bidunga and Elmarko Jackson develop, KU has enough talent to be a Big 12 contender again. Projected starters: Tamin Lipsey, Dominick Nelson (transfer), Milan Momcilovic, Joshua Jefferson, Blake Buchanan (transfer) Notable returners: Nate Heise Other newcomers: Eric Mulder (transfer), Mason Williams (transfer), Jamarion Batemon, Killyan Toure, Xzavion Mitchell, Dominykas Pleta The Clones struggled down the stretch when Keshon Gilbert was out, and Curtis Jones had to go nuclear for the offense to thrive. The good news is that T.J. Otzelberger has nailed the up-transfer market, and Utah Valley's Dominick Nelson and Eastern Washington's Mason Williams are the next guys who really need to hit. Even if they aren't go-to scorers, the offense could be really good if Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic continue to improve. The defense did slip slightly last year — from first to 13th in adjusted efficiency — and that's in part because Iowa State wasn't as physical and deep up front. But the Clones are never going to slip far with Tamin Lipsey at the head of the attack. Otzelberger has a formula that seems to keep working, and returning three starters from a NCAA Tournament team is a great foundation. Advertisement Projected starters: Darius Acuff Jr. (freshman), DJ Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin (transfer) Notable returners: Billy Richmond Other newcomers: Karim Rtail (international), Nick Pringle (transfer), Meleek Thomas, Isaiah Sealy This core should enter the season with some confidence after a surprise Sweet 16 run. John Calipari has a good mix of size, speed and guards who can get their own buckets. The concern is that this group leans into that last category too much and the offense looks disjointed, a common flaw of Calipari's worst teams. Hope for a more cohesive approach comes with the addition of Malique Ewin, assuming the Florida State transfer gets used correctly. Ewin is a perfect fit for an SEC in which the best teams all have playmaking centers. The defense could be elite with so much positional size. Arkansas played its best after Calipari made Trevon Brazile a starter late in the year, and pairing him with Ewin allows Arkansas to play five-out and take advantage of its team speed. It could be another up-and-down season, but as we saw this past year, once the talent figures out how to coexist, the ceiling is pretty high. Projected starters: Donovan Dent (transfer), Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau, Xavier Booker (transfer) Notable returners: Trent Perry Other newcomers: Steven Jamerson (transfer), Jamar Brown (transfer) The Bruins haven't had a true point guard since Tyger Campbell. He was the last UCLA player to post an assist rate higher than 30 percent, in 2021; that's also the last time UCLA made the Final Four. Top-shelf transfer Donovan Dent has had a plus-30 assist rate in each of his last two seasons at New Mexico. Head coach Mick Cronin's best teams usually play elite defense and execute his sets, and it feels like Dent should help in both areas. The Bruins welcome back three starters (Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau and Skyy Clark) who transferred in a year ago and were efficient in Cronin's system. The wild card is Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker, a former five-star recruit who never seemed to live up to the hype. He seems like an odd fit for Cronin, but maybe a change of scenery will unlock his potential. Projected starters: Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries (freshman), Anthony Dell'Orso, Koa Peat (freshman), Motiejus Krivas Other returners: Tobe Awaka Other newcomers: Evan Nelson (transfer), Dwayne Aristode, Bryce James Advertisement Arizona brings in 247Sports' No. 3 high school signing class and will likely throw its two five-stars (Brayden Burries and Koa Peat) into the starting lineup. Peat brings playmaking and athleticism to the frontcourt, and Burries' ability to score is going to be critical with the graduation of Caleb Love. The Cats also need a breakout season from Motiejus Krivas, who played only eight games in 2024-25 because of a foot injury. The Wildcats lost Henri Veesaar to North Carolina after a breakout season, but when healthy, Krivas has always beaten Veesaar out. He and Tobe Awaka could make Arizona one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. The Wildcats showed flashes of elite defense last year but never really leaned into that strength. For this team to hit its ceiling, defense will need to be a calling card, helping the offense get out in transition, where Jaden Bradley and Peat excel. Like Sampson at Houston, head coach Tommy Lloyd prioritized his high school class rather than loading up in the portal. With the COVID-19 waiver year mostly phased out of college basketball, it'll be interesting to see whether more top-tier programs start to prioritize freshmen again. It worked out well for Duke this spring. Projected starters: Kyan Evans (transfer), Seth Trimble, Luka Bogavac (international), Caleb Wilson (freshman), Henri Veesaar (transfer) Other newcomers: Jarin Stevenson (transfer), Jonathan Powell (transfer), Jaydon Young (transfer), Derek Dixon, Isaiah Denis Head coach Hubert Davis whiffed on his front line a year ago, and that's where most of UNC's offseason budget went. Caleb Wilson and Veesaar bring some more interior scoring punch but major upgrades defensively. Wilson is long, quick-twitch and switchable — not quite a young Anthony Davis, but in that mold. Veesaar is also an elite rim protector; Arizona's defense was 10.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor last season, per CBB Analytics. The Tar Heels have the positional size to start 6-foot-11 Jarin Stevenson at the three. Worst-case scenario, he's a backup to Wilson as a stretch four; best case, he continues to emerge as an NBA prospect. With RJ Davis graduating, UNC also addressed the need for shooting in the portal by adding Colorado State point guard Kyan Evans (44.6 percent from 3) and West Virginia guard Jonathan Powell (35.2 percent). Freshman guard Derek Dixon, a good shooter who always plays under control, was one of my favorite players on the EYBL circuit. The Tar Heels are missing a dynamic scorer on the perimeter and will need to score more through execution, but the pieces fit. Projected starters: Jeremy Fears, Trey Fort (transfer), Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper Notable returners: Jesse McCulloch Other newcomers: Cam Ward, Jordan Scott, Kaleb Glenn (transfer), Divine Ugochukwu (transfer) Coen Carr as the starting small forward could cause some spacing issues and make a crummy 3-point shooting team even crummier, but head coach Tom Izzo does not give a damn about your analytics. The Spartans are going to guard and play fast, and we all need more chances to see Carr punishing rims. Advertisement But yeah … the shooting. It's a worry. Izzo at least addressed it in the portal by grabbing Trey Fort (37.9 percent from 3 at Samford) and Kaleb Glenn (41 percent at Florida Atlantic). I'm not sure I buy Glenn as a 40 percent 3-point shooter, but he deserves credit for drastically improving in that area after going 1 of 9 from deep as a freshman at Louisville. Ideally, this team would have been a preseason top-10 outfit led by a sophomore Jase Richardson, but Richardson was too good too fast. Now the Spartans will need to win by guarding, running and playing through the bigs. Old-school Izzo. Projected starters: Nik Graves (transfer), Josh Dix (transfer), Blake Harper (transfer), Jackson McAndrew, Owen Freeman (transfer) Notable returners: Jasen Green, Isaac Traudt Other newcomers: Hudson Greer, Austin Swartz (transfer) Josh Dix and Owen Freeman should be the best two players on this team, and it is worth pointing out both spent last year on an Iowa team that won only seven games in the Big Ten. (The Hawkeyes were 4-6 in conference play before Freeman was lost for the year. Not great, but not awful!) So why am I high on Creighton? One, I think Dix can be one of the best wings in the country. Two, in Gregg McDermott I trust. McDermott landed another talented wing in Blake Harper, who averaged 19.5 points per game as a freshman at Howard. Jackson McAndrew made 69 3s as a freshman, and Nik Graves made 61 last season at Charlotte. Hudson Greer is one of the better shooting wings in the 2025 class. The 'let it fly' Bluejays will be back, which should give Freeman, an elite back-to-the-basket scorer, plenty of room to operate. The Jays are going to really miss Ryan Kalkbrenner, especially on defense, but give McDermott this much offensive talent, and he's going to figure it out. Projected starters: Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell, Taylor Bol Bowen (transfer), Aiden Sherrell Notable returners: Houston Mallette Other newcomers: Jalil Bethea (transfer), London Jemison, Davion Hannah, Amari Allen, Noah Williamson (transfer), Keitenn Bristow (transfer) I had Alabama out of the first version of these rankings, under the assumption Labaron Philon was going to stay in the NBA Draft — he'd previously said he was 'all in.' I was underwhelmed by Alabama's transfer haul, and Nate Oats lost a ton of production off last year's roster, though he still had shooting. And I might have been onto something, considering Bart Torvik's ratings have Bama at 38. But I love, love, love Philon, and his reentry into the lineup changes the equation. Philon's presence takes some pressure off Aden Holloway, and his ability to live in the paint should help set up the shooters. Aiden Sherrell needs to make a leap, but he could be dangerous if he makes enough shots to stretch defenses. The other option at the five is Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson, but I think he's going to have a tough time matching high-major speed and athleticism. Maybe one of Alabama's freshmen is way better than expected, as Philon was a year ago. Oats probably deserves the benefit of the doubt, but this appears to be a drop-off in talent from his last two rosters. Advertisement Projected starters: Anthony Robinson, Sebastian Mack (transfer), Trent Pierce, Mark Mitchell, Jevon Porter (transfer) Notable returners: Jacob Crews, Trent Burns, TO Barrett, Annor Boateng Other newcomers: Shawn Phillips (transfer), Jayden Stone (transfer), Luke Northweather (transfer), Aaron Rowe, Nicholas Randall Missouri returns three starters from a Top 25 team. I was a big fan of Sebastian Mack a few years ago on the EYBL circuit, and while he was solid at UCLA, it feels like he has the potential to be more productive in a high-tempo system like Mizzou's. He should fit nicely in the Tony Perkins role. Jacob Crews should elevate from the second shooter off the bench to take Caleb Grill's sixth-man spot. The Tigers' ceiling could be determined by the productivity of Jevon Porter and Trent Burns at center. Porter, the little brother of former Tigers Michael and Jontay, averaged double figures for three seasons in the West Coast Conference. The 7-foot-5 Burns, who redshirted as a freshman, can step out and hit a 3. To borrow an old Fran Fraschilla line, he could be a year away from being a year away, but he's a fascinating prospect. Dennis Gates got frontcourt reinforcements from Arizona State transfer Shawn Phillips (a rim protector who was a part-time starter last year) and Oklahoma transfer Luke Northweather (another big who can slide out and make a 3). Outside shooting could be a concern with the graduation of Grill and Tamar Bates, but Mitchell-Mack-Robinson could end up being one of the better trios in the SEC. Projected starters: Bruce Thornton, John Mobley, Devin Royal, Brandon Noel (transfer), Christoph Tilly (transfer) Notable returners: None Other newcomers: Joshua Ojianwuna (transfer), Gabe Cupps (transfer), A'mare Bynum, Dorian Jones This is the only team on this list that didn't make the 2025 NCAA Tournament, but there's a lot to like. Ohio State returns three of its top four scorers from a group that showed flashes a year ago, beating Kentucky by 20 at the CBS Sports Classic and winning at Purdue. What the Buckeyes were missing was consistency from the frontcourt, and coach Jake Diebler tried to address that with the additions of Christoph Tilly and Brandon Noel. Tilly was a second-team All-WCC performer at Santa Clara and one of my favorite bigs in the portal. He's an efficient scorer who can get buckets both inside and out. Noel averaged 19 points at Wright State and is a career 37.5 percent 3-point shooter. Diebler also got a solid backup center in former Baylor big Joshua Ojianwuna. This feels like the right mix of roster continuity and inbound veteran productivity. Others under consideration: Tennessee, Iowa, Indiana, NC State, Texas, Ole Miss, Oregon, Wisconsin, Oklahoma. (Top illustration photos: Elsa, Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Purdue Makes Big Announcement For Braden Smith's Senior Season
Braden Smith and the Purdue Boilermakers couldn't get it done in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, falling to the Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16. Following the disappointing exit, the junior guard had a big decision to make regarding the 2025 NBA Draft. After taking some time to think about it, Smith announced he would be returning for his senior season. With the All-American coming back, Purdue has become one of the favorites to win the 2026 title. Advertisement "Running it back one last time," Smith wrote on Instagram. "Purdue has given me everything: memories, challenges, growth, and a family. There's still more to prove, more to accomplish, and more moments to create with my brothers." With excitement brewing for the 2025-26 season in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue announced its non-conference schedule on Tuesday morning. "What's ahead of us," Purdue Men's Basketball wrote on X. "🚂 The non-conference schedule." Along with tough competition in the Big Ten, Purdue will be taking on numerous non-conference teams that made the 2025 tournament. Purdue will open the new season with an exhibition against the Kentucky Wildcats before facing another SEC team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in mid-November. It will also face Iowa State, Marquette and Auburn in December. Advertisement The Boilermakers' full non-conference schedule is as follows: Kentucky – October 24 (Lexington, KY; Exhibition) UIndy – October 29 (Home; Exhibition) Evansville – November 4 (Home) Oakland – November 7 (Home) Alabama – November 13 (Tuscaloosa, AL) Akron – November 16 (Home) Baha Mar – November 20 & 21 (Nassau, Bahamas) Eastern Illinois – November 28 (Home) Iowa State – December 6 (Home) Marquette – December 13 (Home) Auburn – December 20 (Indianapolis, IN) Kent State – December 29 (Home) Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3).Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Smith was one of the better offensive players in the entire nation during his junior year. The 6-footer out of Westfield, Indiana, averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. His assist numbers ranked second in all of college basketball, behind Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard (9.8). Related: 7-foot-1 Center Makes Transfer Portal Decision on Monday
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
College basketball rankings: UConn, St. John's surge in way-too-early Top 25
The quality of play in college basketball has grown tremendously in recent years. One reason for that is NIL (name, image and likeness) dollars and the impact it has had in keeping some potential pros around for another season. Those players can make more money in college and gain more for their profile than a potential trip to the G League to continue development. The flip side is the chaotic climate within the sport, an open market that has increased to dollar figures that seemed unfathomable even two-to-three years ago. But, that's the reality of where things stand: Roster continuity with talent is like buried treasure in this sport, while having the great white whale, a top-shelf donor who can lead the bankrolling efforts for a roster, is the invaluable asset you need to compete with the best sharks during portal season. As one coach told me, "It's challenging, but this is still an amazing sport. I hate when coaches complain because we chose this life." And look at it this way: While changes are needed, the free agency aspect has created buzz around college hoops in late April and into May that we had not seen before. Over 2,500 players entering the portal, though? Well, that could use shifting, and I offer some possible solutions below: As for what has happened in the offseason, it's fascinating when looking at the top of my rankings, because the top-two teams embody the two ways to stay ahead in this day and age: keeping a bevy of talent or outdoing everybody else in the portal. Purdue has done an outstanding job with roster continuity, bringing back the preseason national player of the year front-runner in Braden Smith, who was this past year's Bob Cousy Award winner and the Big Ten Player of the Year. Smith had 15 assists against Houston in the Sweet 16, which was the latest testament to his leadership, playmaking ability and poise against any defense. This past season, he became the second player in NCAA history to record at least 550 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season, joining Murray State's Ja Morant as the only other player that can say that. But the fact Smith has Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG) as a backcourt mate is scary for everybody else, not to mention a veteran stud in Trey Kaufman-Renn, a high-impact transfer in Oscar Cluff, and an intriguing big man in Daniel Jacobsen, who is set to return from a season-ending leg injury that cut his freshman campaign short. There's a lot to like about Matt Painter's team, provided the Boilermakers get enough complementary shooting. If the Boilers are the continuity champs, the transfer portal championship should be handed out on Utopia Parkway in Queens. Rick Pitino and St. John's, the reigning Big East regular-season and tournament champions, have the No. 1-ranked portal class in the nation, according to 247 Sports. The Johnnies reeled in an All-Big East First Team forward in Bryce Hopkins to make a big early splash. They acquired a rising sophomore who looks the part of a future NBA first-round pick in North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, and they added another sophomore guard with elite upside in former five-star recruit Joson Sanon. Perimeter shooting was the priority for this St. John's team, and Pitino and his staff addressed those areas, but they weren't done there, also adding senior guard Oziyah Sellers from Stanford, who averaged 14 points per game in the ACC this past year. Then there's a stalwart defender and supreme athlete in Dillon Mitchell, and the Big Sky Most Valuable Player, Dylan Darling. And oh, by the way, in the world of "sometimes the best gets are the ones you already have," All-American candidate Zuby Ejiofor returns for his senior season, looking to lead the Johnnies on a deeper NCAA Tournament run. The biggest portal winners after St. John's were Kentucky, Louisville and Iowa. Do not sleep on Ben McCollum in Year 1 at the helm in Iowa City after he brought in one of the most dynamic scorers in the country in Bennett Stirtz, along with a sharpshooter in Brendan Hausen and Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras. They're the first team out of my top 25. In terms of portal losers, Memphis losing PJ Haggerty was a big blow to the Tigers, while Arizona saw six players enter the portal and Alabama saw Mouhamed Dioubate and Jarin Stevenson leave. With that, here is a look at my updated way-too-early rankings: 1. Purdue Can I lend you one more Braden Smith statistic? He broke the Big Ten record for assists in conference play this past season, dishing out 175 of them, which smashed the previous record set by Michigan State's Cassius Winston (157). And yes, he could break his own record in the upcoming year. St. John's rise to the top is happening because of Pitino and the school's lead donor, Mike Repole, whose horse "Grande" will be in this weekend's Kentucky Derby. The founder of Vitamin Water has been invaluable to St. John's, but his money begins and ends with his faith in the Hall of Famer. Pitino has made the Johnnies matter again nationally and Madison Square Garden has once again turned into one of the toughest home-court environments. Emanuel Sharp and JoJo Tugler are back from a Final Four team and, while we await the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline of May 28 for star Milos Uzan, Houston has the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class, according to 247 Sports, headlined by Link Academy product Chris Cenac Jr. With Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs coming in to help their offense, the Cougars will have a go-to bucket-getting guard, who, when healthy, is very hard to stop. Alex Karaban is coming back for another shot at a third national championship. Solo Ball is back for his junior season and poised for a big campaign. Tarris Reed returns and now has a year in Storrs under his belt, while Dan Hurley and his staff made a transfer splash with former Georgia guard Silas Demary. Another transfer in Malachi Smith from Dayton should help with ball-handling duties, while the Huskies welcome in a great freshman class. If you don't know the name Braylon Mullins, you soon will, and I'm intrigued to see what 7-footer Eric Reibe brings to the table. Having All-American JT Toppin back in the fold in Lubbock instantly means the Red Raiders can reach the Final Four, especially when considering what's around him. While we are uncertain about what's next for Darrion Williams, who's testing the draft waters and is in the portal, sophomore Christian Anderson is poised for a big year and LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and Donovan Atwell (UNCG) headline a top-25 portal class. Dusty May is building something special in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines reeled in one of the biggest fish in the portal with UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, who is testing the NBA Draft waters and could be a first-round pick. If he returns to school, he will make Michigan one of the nation's best teams. Last year, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18-11-4 per game. Getting Morez Johnson from Illinois helps the frontline, while Elliot Cadeau still has his best basketball ahead of him after things didn't go as planned at North Carolina. With Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle back, Michigan has good continuity as well. Pat Kelsey laid the foundation for the Cardinals. Now, the pieces are aligning for him to take this program on an NCAA Tournament run. Kelsey ushers in the nation's No. 3 transfer portal class with all-conference players Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) on the way, while five-star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. enters with high expectations. To get J'Vonne Hadley and a healthy Kasean Pryor back is huge for continuity and the frontcourt. Louisville is the front-runner in the ACC. Not to be outdone, Mark Pope, and what sources tell FOX Sports is a bankroll of over $20 million, has led to a star-studded Wildcats roster. Kentucky has the nation's fourth-ranked transfer class, according to 247 Sports. If Otega Oweh returns for his senior season, he'll be right in the mix for SEC Player of the Year. When you combine that with a guy who averaged 17 PPG in Jaland Lowe, a national champion in Denzel Aberdeen out of Florida, a big man with a ton of upside in Jayden Quaintance and intriguing talents Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama) and Kam Williams (Tulane), there's a lot to like about this team. And don't forget about top-20 freshman Jasper Johnson, who is a blur in transition and a guy who is wired to score. Now, the pressure is on Pope in Year 2 to make it all come together after a Sweet 16 season. The Blue Devils will go from the Cooper Flagg Show to the Cameron-and-Cayden Boozer Show in the upcoming year. Cameron is among the best prospects in the sport, a 6-9 forward who is polished and strong with an inside-out game, a willingness to defend and the versatility to flourish. Jon Scheyer knows continuity is big in this sport. That's why guys like Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans coming back helps. Washington State transfer Cedric Coward (17.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG) was an excellent addition to bolster the perimeter with proven talent. Look out for John Calipari and the Razorbacks. Coming off a magical ride to the Sweet 16, the Hogs are slated to get D.J. Wagner, Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond and Karter Knox back, while a pair of five-star freshmen guards in Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas will bolster the offense. The two are prototypical Calipari one-and-done guys who can come in and change the game with their skills. Acuff is a dynamic ball-handler who has a variety of ways to make plays for his teammates and drive the lane, while Thomas is the toughest shotmaker in the national freshman class. Throw in Malique Ewin from Florida State and Nick Pringle from South Carolina and Calipari addressed his interior needs with experience via the portal. John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Draft: Underclassmen are returning to college in record numbers
Eleven days after squandering a late nine-point lead in an agonizing Elite Eight loss to Florida, Texas Tech received a much-needed morale boost. JT Toppin, a second-team All-American and the reigning Big 12 player of the year, announced earlier this month that he intends to return to the Red Raiders for his junior season. Advertisement Projected as a potential second-round pick by NBA scouts and draft analysts, Toppin is exactly the sort of prospect who might have turned pro in the pre-NIL era but now can benefit financially from remaining in college. The 6-foot-9 forward is expected to make about $4 million in NIL earnings at Texas Tech next season, according to Matt Norlander , a sum that exceeds the 2025-26 rookie salary scale for all but the NBA's top 15 draft picks. The skyrocketing NIL market for proven talent across college basketball has made decisions like Toppin's more and more common this draft cycle. Underclassmen who are fringe NBA prospects are returning to college in record numbers rather than chasing NBA two-way contracts or paydays overseas. Only 106 players entered the 2025 NBA Draft as early entry-candidates , the league announced on Tuesday morning. That's the lowest number of early entrants since 2015, down from a peak of 353 in 2021. Advertisement Braden Smith, a first-team All-American and the nation's best point guard, revealed earlier this month that he's 'running it back one last time' at Purdue, potentially cementing himself as the preseason Wooden Award favorite. Thomas Haugh, one of the pillars of Florida's national title run, recently said that he's returning to the reigning champs despite wowing NBA scouts during a breakout NCAA tournament. Alex Karaban, the last remaining stalwart from UConn's back-to-back title teams, announced on Tuesday that he's coming back for his senior season in hopes of solidifying himself as a 2026 NBA draft pick while chasing a third championship. Isaiah Evans is returning to Duke. Flory Bidunga is doing the same at Kansas. So is Trey Kaufman-Renn at Purdue, Richie Saunders at BYU and Jackson Shelstad at Oregon. You'll also see Big East player of the year RJ Luis, Mountain West player of the year Donovan Dent and Missouri Valley player of the year Bennett Stirtz, albeit all playing for different college teams than they did this past season. Both Trey Kaufman-Renn #4 and Braden Smith #3 are returning to Purdue next season rather than try their luck in the NBA Draft. (Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) (Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The glut of returning talent to college basketball reflects the money that deep-pocketed, top-tier programs are spending to try to build the best possible rosters. The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported earlier this month that as many as 15 teams will have $10 million rosters next season. Those in the NIL space who have spoken to Yahoo Sports say that it will take up to $6-8 million just to be competitive in a power conference. Advertisement That's a big leap from even a year ago when only the most coveted transfers and prized freshmen could expect to earn seven figures. It's an even more enormous jump from a few years ago when college basketball's biggest brands helped arrange six- or low-seven-figure NIL deals to tempt back-to-the-basket centers Armando Bacot, Hunter Dickinson, Drew Timme and Oscar Tshiebwe back to college. 'There's not that big of a market in the NBA for a certain type of big man,' Bacot told Yahoo Sports in 2022 , 'so being able to come back to college and make money is a really good option.' Is this salary structure sustainable? Will fringe pro prospects continue to earn more as college stars than they can yoyoing between the G-League and the end of an NBA bench? We'll see. But for now, this current setup is a coup for players who are finally able to earn market value and for the sport of college basketball as a whole. Talented underclassmen are returning to college basketball at the highest rate in a decade plus. That can only drive interest in the sport.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rematch set for Alabama basketball vs Purdue in 2025: What day is the game?
Another date has been set for Alabama basketball's 2025-26 schedule. Yea Alabama, the university's NIL collective, announced that the Crimson Tide will host Purdue in Coleman Coliseum for a Thursday showdown on Nov. 13. Advertisement The news was later confirmed in a post to X by the Purdue men's basketball account, who teased "a top-10 showdown early in the season" with guard Braden Smith's deciding to return for his senior year after seeing the Boilermakers to the Sweet 16 for a fateful meeting against Houston. REQUIRED READING: Can Nate Oats make Alabama a basketball school? Or does football loom too large? LOOKING AHEAD! C.M. Newton Classic will return in 2025: Who will Alabama basketball play? What to know Date officially set for Alabama basketball vs. Purdue The game will be the second part of a home-and-home series, following up the Boilermakers' 87-78 defeat of Alabama last November to give Nate Oats and company their first loss on the road to the Elite Eight. Advertisement Another confirmed matchup on Alabama's non-conference schedule for the upcoming year includes Arizona, who will meet UA in the C.M. Newton Classic on Dec. 13. Next season is also set to feature a continuation of a three-game series against North Dakota, as well as a return to the Players Era Festival after the Crimson Tide lost the inaugural championship to Oregon in Las Vegas last season. Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Date announced for Alabama basketball vs Purdue on 2025-26 schedule
