Aaron Torres College Basketball 'Way Too Early Top 25' - post nba draft deadline edition
Credit: Florida basketball/Instagram
The NBA Draft deadline has passed, and with it rosters are officially set for the 2026-2027 college basketball season.
So how does the college landscape look heading into next year?!
Well, we dropped our first “Way Too Early Top 25” about a month ago.
It’s time to do our second (and likely final) edition before the start of the year - here’s our “Post NBA Draft Deadline - Way Too Early Top 25.”
1) Florida Gators
Key Returnees: Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Lloyd, CJ Ingram, Viktor Mikic, AJ Brown, Jones Lay, Isaiah Brown
Key Additions: Denzel Aberdeen (pending waiver), Jones Lay
Key Departures: Xavian Lee, Micah Handlogten, Olivier Rioux
Rueben Chinyelu announced his return right before the NBA Draft deadline, and with it, welcome to the 2026-2027 college basketball season: Aka, the Year of the Gator.
Bluntly, it’s just hard to make the argument that anyone in the sport should be ranked ahead of Florida heading into the year, and transparently I have yet to see anyone do it. They bring back four starters off a team that won the SEC regular season title, got a No. 1 seed and won 16 of their 17 final regular season games. And it’s not like those four starters are schlubs either (do people still use the term (schlub?! Sorry, I’m getting old). Three could’ve conceivably been picked in the first round this year, including one certain lottery pick (Tommy Haugh) and of course the reigning Defensive National Player of the Year (Chinyelu).
When your biggest “weakness” is choosing between a former national champion (Denzel Aberdeen, currently waiting for a waiver) or a couple of serviceable back-ups (Urban Klavzar or Isaiah Brown) for your fifth starter spot, you know you’re stacked.
The question isn’t if Florida is No. 1 heading into 2026-2027. But instead, who their biggest challenger is.
Again, welcome to the Year of the Gator.
2) Duke Blue Devils
Key Returnees: Patrick Ngongba, Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster
Key Additions: John Blackwell (transfer), Drew Scharnowski (transfer), Jacob Theodosiou (transfer), Cameron Williams, Derron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard, Maxime Meyer, Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje
Key Departures: Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Maliq Brown, Darren Harris (transfer), Nik Khemenia (transfer)
So who exactly is Florida’s biggest challenger? To me, it’s the Duke Blue Devils.
Yes, I know Jon Scheyer’s last two teams have taken crippling losses late in the tournament. It doesn’t change the fact however that this might be his most top-to-bottom loaded team at Duke. It might not have a future National Player of the Year, but instead kind of has that Noah’s Arc vibe - two of everything.
Duke is loaded in the backcourt with multiple ball-handlers and playmakers (Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Derron Rippey Jr.) and have added the perimeter scoring pop that they were missing a year ago in John Blackwell. Need a lockdown wing defender? Dame Sarr is your guy. And the four and five spots now includes a veteran who likely would’ve been selected if he had entered the NBA Draft (Patrick Ngongba) and arguably the best big man in both the American high school scene (Cam Williams) and internationally as well (Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje). Oh, and I didn’t mention Bryson Howard, another consensus Top 10 prospect.
Again, this team has two of everything.
And again, Jon Scheyer has a team good enough to get him to college basketball’s final weekend - and maybe Duke’s first national title in over a decade.
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3) Illinois Fighting Illini
Key Returnees: David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis, Andrej Stojakovic
Key Additions: Stefan Vaaks (transfer), Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown, Zavier Zens, Landon Davis
Key Departures: Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous
Yes, there was a little scare at the NBA Draft deadline with Andrej Stojakovic waiting until the last possible minute to return. But he’s now back and Brad Underwood again has a squad that can get to college basketball’s Final Four weekend.
The biggest addition replaces the biggest departure, as Providence guard Stefan Vaaks replaces soon-to-be lottery pick Keaton Wagler. Besides continuing the Eastern Europe-to-Champaign pipeline (Vaaks is from Estonia) Vaaks is the right big guard to lead this offense, after averaging 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 35 percent from three as a freshman last season.
Most impressive is the frontcourt, as the entire lot - Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic - is back after shutting down everyone in March, until they got to UConn in Indianapolis.
This team has more than enough to get back to the final weekend of the season. And maybe win two more games when they get there.
4) UConn Huskies
Key Returnees: Silas Demary Jr., Braylon Mullins, Jayden Ross, Solo Ball (will redshirt)
Key Additions: Nik Khamenia (transfer), Najai Hines (transfer), Oskar Giltay (transfer), Nils Machowski (transfer), Jaye Nash (transfer), Isaiah Shaw (transfer), Elmir Dzafic (transfer) Colben Landrew, Junior County
Key Departures: Tarris Reed, Alex Karaban, Eric Reibe (transfer), Jaylin Stewart (transfer), Jacob Furphy (transfer)
Dan Hurley again proved this March (and April) why he’s the best coach in college basketball, taking an injury-riddled team to within a few possessions of a third national title in four years.
And while there are some key pieces gone (Tarris Reed, Alex Karaban) there are some key pieces back, that could bring title No. 7 to Storrs.
Guards Silas Demary and Braylon Mullins are both back at UConn after averaging double-figures a season ago, and now entering his sophomore year Mullins has “future All-American” written all over him. And in the front court, Hurley replaced Karaban and Reed with transfers Nik Khamenia (Duke) and Najai Hines (Seton Hall), with Hines an especially interesting upside play. He is still relatively new to basketball (after focusing on football most of his life) and showed major flashes in one season at Seton Hall.
While the loss of Solo Ball to a season-ending injury stings, veteran wing Jayden Ross will provide a stronger defensive presence in the starting lineup. And also don’t sleep on wing Colben Landrew, one of the more underrated high school players in the 2026 class.
5) Michigan Wolverines
Key Returnees: Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney, LJ Cason
Key Additions: Moustapha Thiam (transfer), JP Estrella (transfer), Jalen Reed (transfer) Brandon McCoy, Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartman, Malachi Brown, Marcus Moller, Lincoln Cosby
Key Departures: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara (NBA Draft), Morez Johnson Jr. (NBA Draft) Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle, Will Tschetter
Yes, Michigan officially lost its entire frontcourt to the NBA Draft after Morez Johnson Jr. decided to stay in at the deadline.
And yes, Dusty May also did about as good of a job as anyone possibly could've, of replacing those guys.
The big name addition came at the NBA Draft deadline, as Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam announced his decision to commit to Michigan right as the others excited the door. He's not quite as fluid as Mara but comes in even more productive, after averaging 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season. JP Estrella is coming too, and late addition Jalen Reed - who missed most of this past season at LSU - is an underrated piece who averaged 11 points and six rebounds two years ago.
Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau is the key returnee in the backcourt, and will be joined by Trey McKenney, who is on the verge of becoming a breakout star nationally.
6) Michigan State Spartans
Key Returnees: Jeremy Fears, Kur Teng, Coen Carr, Cam Ward, Jesse McCulloch, Kaleb Glenn, Jordan Scott
Key Additions: Anton Bonke (transfer), Ethan Taylor, Jasiah Jervis, Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent
Key Departures: Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper
Like a few teams on this list, Michigan State got a bit of a late NBA Draft deadline scare as Jeremy Fears took things right down to the wire with his selection process. But now that he is back, he’s the final piece of yet another Tom Izzo contender in 2026-2027.
The now senior Fears, averaged 15 points a nation-leading nine assists per game last season, and he'll be joined by fellow vets Coen Carr and Kur Teng. Jordan Scott and Cam Ward are high-upside wings who should both get better after a season in the system. Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke is the exact kind of big, physical low post presence that should thrive in the Spartans’ system.
Admittedly, there will be questions about Michigan State’s ceiling without a lot of obvious NBA talent. But no one can deny that a returning roster full of vets who have been through the wars in the Big Ten will result in a lot of wins next season.
7) Texas Longhorns
Key Returnees: Matas Vokietaitis
Key Additions: Isaiah Johnson (transfer), David Punch (transfer), Elyjah Freeman (Transfer), Mikey Lewis (transfer), Amari Evans (transfer), Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden, Joe Sterling, Coleman Elkins
Key Losses: Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope, Dailyn Swain (NBA Draft), Chendell Weaver, Simeon Wilcher (transfer), Nic Codie (transfer), Cam Heide (transfer)
It's the question ancient philosophers have been asking themselves for centuries: How high is too high in a preseason ranking of the 2026-2027 Texas Longhorns?
Well if you’re asking me, the question is “you really can’t go too high” as Sean Miller is flexing what the right coach can do with Texas’ resources in this era.
We all know about the return of Matas Vokietaitis, who admittedly needs more consistency, but also averaged nearly 16 points and eight rebounds as a freshman last year.
He will be joined by what can only be defined as an insane portal haul, with four of my personal Top 51 players coming to Texas. Isaiah Johnson is a lead guard who averaged nearly 17 points per game as a freshman at Colorado last year, and David Punch should compliment Vokietaitis down low perfectly. Elyjah Freeman is a wing with NBA upside who should help replace the departed Dailyn Swain and Mikey Lewis is a scorer on the wing from Saint Mary's.
The freshman class will provide depth, but the starting five is not only talented, but compliments each other perfectly.
Texas basketball will be a big-time problem next season.
8) Louisville Cardinals
Key Returnees: Adrian Wooley, London Johnson
Key Additions: Flory Bidunga (transfer), Karter Knox (transfer), Jackson Shelstad (transfer), Alvaro Folgueiras (transfer), De'Shayne Montgomery (transfer), Gabe Dynes (transfer), Obinna Ekezie Jr., Bouyan Zhang, Isaac Ellis
Key Departures: Ryan Conwell, Isaac McNeeley, Mikel Brown Jr., Sanada Fru (transfer), Khani Rooths (transfer)
I started calling Pat Kelsey the portal demon this year, and with good reason: No one gets elite players on campus and closes quite like this guy.
And that isn’t just my opinion.
Louisville has officially closed with the No. 1 portal class in America, according to 247 Sports.
That of course includes most everyone’s No. 1 portal player, Flory Bidunga. The 6’10 transfer from Kansas averaged 13.3 points per game, nine rebounds per contest and 2.6 blocks per game last year. He'll add an interior toughness that the Cardinals simply lacked a season ago. Meanwhile Alvaro Folgueiras is the perfect stretch four to play off of him, with Adrian Wooley and Jackson Shelstad an explosive and versatile backcourt. Karter Knox is a high-upside wing who was a key cog on Arkansas' Sweet 16 team in 2025, before injuries shortened this season. Oh, and the freshman class of Obinna Ekezie, Bouyan Zhang and Isaac Ellis could and will add depth behind them.
Coming off a year where Michigan taught us that it’s ok to take a bunch of transfers, as long as they’re the right ones, I do wonder is Louisville is about to prove the same in 2026-2027.
9) St. John's Red Storm
Key Returnees: Ian Jackson, Ruben Prey, Lefteris Liotopoulos
Key Additions: Tounde Yessoufou (transfer), Donnie Freeman (transfer), Avery Brown (transfer), Quinn Ellis, Djordije Jovanovic, Lazar Stojkovic
Key Departures: Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, Dylan Darling, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon (transfer)
Rick Pitino pulled off the biggest stunner of the NBA Draft deadline, and with it the Red Storm have made the biggest leap among teams in the last poll. They have gone from No. 20 in our original “Way Too Early Top 25” up to No. 9.
And its thanks to the incredible pull of Baylor star Tounde Yessoufou at the draft deadline. Put simply, I really just don’t think most college basketball fans realize how talented this kid is, after he averaged 18 points per game as a freshman in the Big 12 a season ago. If you asked me today, I’d have him as my preseason Big East preseason Player of the Year.
He will be surrounded with the point guard St. John’s lacked last year in British import Quinn Ellis and Ian Jackson at the other guard sport. And of course Donnie Freeman was the big, pre-Yessoufou portal add, after he led Syracuse in both scoring and rebounding this season.
St. John’s will again be a factor on the Big East and national stage, and a true threat to get to the Final Four.
10) Tennessee Volunteers
Key Returnees: DeWayne Brown
Key Additions: Juke Harris (transfer), Terrence Hill Jr. (transfer), Dai Dai Ames (transfer), Jalen Haralson (transfer), Tyler Lundblade (transfer), Miles Rubin (transfer), Braedan Lue (transfer), Chris Washington Jr, Ralph Scott, Manny Green
Key Departures: Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara, Nate Ament (NBA Draft), JP Estrella (transfer), Jalen Carey (transfer), Amari Evans (transfer), Cade Phillips (transfer), Bishop Boswell (transfer)
While I do worry a little bit about how all the pieces fit (Tennessee has a LOT of guys who need the ball in their hands to be successful) there is no doubt the Vols loaded up this off-season.
The biggest splash came after the calendar turned to May, as Wake Forest wing Juke Harris joined the fray after averaging 21 points per game and earning the ACC’s “Most Improved Player” award in 2026. He was arguably the best wing in the portal, and will now be joined by a slew of backcourt difference-makers including Terrence Hill Jr. (15 ppg at VCU), Dai Dai Ames (16.9 ppg at Cal) and Tyler Lundblade, the Missouri Valley Player of the Year. Jalen Haralson is a former McDonald’s All-American who also joins on the wing as well.
This will clearly be Rick Barnes’ best offensive team in Knoxville and maybe most talented team overall. We’ll see if they can make that first Final Four in school history.
11) Houston Cougars
Key Returnees: Mercy Miller, Chase McCarty, Joseph Tugler
Key Additions: Dedan Thomas (transfer), Delrecco Gillespie (transfer), Corey Hadnot (transfer), Braden East (transfer) Arafan Diane, Ikenna Alozie
Key Departures: Kingston Flemings (NBA Draft), Chris Cenac (NBA Draft), Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, Kalifa Sakho
Virtually the entire core of Houston's squad a season ago is gone, but honestly are you really questioning Kelvin Sampson?
A couple key pieces return, with Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty both taking big leaps this season and they'll be joined by another elite recruiting class headlined by big man Arafan Diane.
As importantly it's hard not to love the portal pieces, both in production and fit. Dedan Thomas Jr. is a guard who has done it at the highest levels of college basketball (including last year at LSU) and Delrecco Gillespie was one of the nation's leading rebounders a season ago.
At this point we have a decade long track record, that if Kelvin Sampson is the head coach at Houston, they're probably running a Top 10 team out onto the court.
12) Alabama Crimson Tide
Key Returnees: Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, London Jemison, Keitenn Bristow, Collins Onyejiaka
Key Additions: Drew Fielder (transfer), Brandon Garrison (transfer), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (transfer), Cole Cloer (transfer), Jaxon Richardson, Quayden Samuels, Tarris Bouie
Key Departures: Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette, Aiden Sherrell (transfer), Taylor Bol Bowen (transfer)
With Amari Allen returning at the NBA Draft deadline and Aden Holloway’s legal trouble is over, Alabama is officially a team that I believe is maybe the most underrated squad in college hoops heading into the season.
Holloway (despite the off-court issues) is an elite play-making guard who’s role should only get bigger with Labaron Philon now in the pros. And Allen could be a breakout star nationally after averaging 11 points and six rebounds on 35 percent shooting from three as a freshman. Can you imagine how much higher those numbers can go with a year in the SEC now under his belt.
Finally, I truly believe Oats did as good of a job as any coach in college hoops getting smarter, undervalued portal grabs. Drew Fielder (Boise State transfer) and Cole Cloer (NC State transfer who redshirted last season) are big wins who can shoot and Brandon Garrison (previously at Kentucky) and Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State) are two big athletes in the paint. Davis-Fleming particularly, is one of the more underrated players in the portal in my opinion.
13) Gonzaga Bulldogs
Key Returnees: Mario Saint-Supery, Davis Fogel, Braden Huff
Key Additions: Massamba Diop (transfer), Isiah Harwell (transfer), Luca Foster, Sam Funches
Key Losses: Graham Ike, Tyon Grant-Foster, Adam Miller, Jalen Warley, Steele Venters, Braden Smith
The Bulldogs were one of the portal's late winners, as it took until late April but they landed their big man in Massamba Diop. After a back-and-forth with St. John's, the Bulldogs got their man, and with it a preseason Top 10 ranking (at least in our eyes).
Diop is a true game-changer on both ends of the floor, as a 7'1 athlete who averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his freshman season last year in the Big 12. He ranked as one of our Top 10 portal players all off-season long.
Now add him in with a returning core that includes guard Mario Saint-Supery (nine points and four assists as a freshman last year), Davis Fogel and stretch four Braden Huff, who was averaging 17 points and six rebounds prior to a January injury that cost him the remainder of his 2026 season. Houston transfer Isiah Harwell is a former McDonald's All-American who could emerge into a star in the Zags system.
I do worry a bit about the depth (especially with international guard Jack Kayil staying in the NBA Draft) but the frontline talent of Saint-Supery, Huff and Diop is as good as the Zags have had in a LONG time.
14) Arizona Wildcats
Key Returnees: Mo Krivas, Ivan Kharchenkov
Key Additions: Derek Dixon (transfer), JJ Mandaquit (transfer), Caleb Holt, Cam Holmes
Key Departures: Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell'Orso, Koa Peat (NBA Draft), Brayden Burries (NBA Draft), Dwayne Aristode (transfer)
The Wildcats officially lost Koa Peat at the NBA Draft deadline and still have one or two more big men (likely from the overseas market) to add. But you also can’t deny that the returning talent + freshmen will have them in position to win the Big 12 again in 2027.
The frontcourt will be spearheaded by a pair of returnees in Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, and Caleb Holt has a chance to be the best freshman in college hoops as a power guard. Cam Holmes is a Top 30 recruit that the staff believes is better than the national rankings.
The big question is if North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon can give the Wildcats something close to what the departed Jaden Bradly did at point guard. He had a great back half of the year at North Carolina, including 17 points vs. Duke to end the regular season, 16 vs. Clemson in the ACC Tournament and 11 points, 5 rebounds and six assists in an NCAA Tournament loss to VCU.
15) Kentucky Wildcats
Key Returnees: Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Braydon Hawthorne (redshirt), Trent Noah
Key Additions: Milan Momcilivic (transfer), Zoom Diallo (transfer), Alex Wilkins (transfer), Justin McBride (transfer), Jerone Morton (transfer), Franck Kepnang (transfer), Ousmane N’Diaye, Mason Williams, Zyon Hawthorne
Key Departures: Otega Oweh, Jayden Quaintance (NBA Draft), Collin Chandler (transfer), Jaland Lowe (transfer), Brandon Garrison (transfer), Denzel Aberdeen (transfer), Jasper Johnson (transfer), Mo Dioubate (transfer), Andrija Jelavic (transfer)
It took Mark Pope a little longer to finalize his roster than anyone (including Mark Pope) would’ve hoped. But he has his team, and I’ve got to say: I think it has a chance to be really good. And transparently, the pieces fit much better than they did a year ago.
The big splash was the most recent one, as the Wildcats added transfer star Milan Momcilivic. The former Iowa State star averaged 16.9 points on nearly 49 percent three-point shooting this year and should be able to continue to put up big stats in Pope’s system. Malachi Moreno could be a national breakout star after a productive freshman season and a very productive NBA Draft cycle where he was talked about as a buzzy, fringe first round pick. And I personally believe the transfer backcourt of Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) fits better than most.
Finally, don’t sleep on returnees Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne (who redshirted this past year) as high-upside wings that can knock down shots.
For all the criticism of Pope this off-season -including by me at times - he has put together a very nice roster.
16) Arkansas Razorbacks
Key Returnees: Billy Richmond
Key Additions: Jeremiah Wilkinson (transfer), Cooper Bowser (transfer), Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews, Abdou Toure, Miikka Muurinen
Key Departures: Darius Acuff Jr. (NBA Draft), Meleek Thomas (NBA Draft), Trevon Brazile, Nick Pringle, Karter Knox (transfer), DJ Wagner (transfer), Malique Ewin (transfer)
Arkansas’ off-season is the quintessential case of a glass is half empty, glass is half empty situation.
Should fans be excited about all the incoming talent. Or concerned that now in June, there is still no answer at the five spot.
In terms of the “glass is half full” part, 99 percent of teams would trade their current roster for Arkansas right now. Jordan Smith Jr. was simply the best two-way guard in high school basketball this year, and JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure are competitive wings. Miikka Muurinen is the latest addition as a versatile, four-man from overseas. Jeremiah Wilkinson has high upside scoring pop and let’s not forget that Billy Richmond was one of the most improved players in college basketball over the final few weeks of the season.
But there is the bad news, that there still is no five-man. And barring a last minute waiver or stunning overseas add it’s hard to feel like there are a lot of great options left.
If Cal can somehow land that five-man we’re happy to move this team higher. But unlike most of college basketball, they are still a piece away. If not maybe even more.
17) Virginia Cavaliers
Key Returnees: Thijs de Ridder, Johann Grunloh, Chance Mallory, Sam Lewis, Elijah Gertrude, Martin Carrere, Silas Barksdale, Carter Lang
Key Additions: Jurian Dixon (transfer)
Key Departures: Malik Thomas, Jacari White, Devin Tillis, Dallin Hall, Ugonna Onyenso
Serious question: Has there ever been a quieter, 30-win team than the Virginia Cavaliers a season ago?
Well, the Cavaliers did win 30 games. And the crazy part is, they could be even better next year.
The frontcourt returns largely intact led by Thijs de Ridder who averaged 15 points and six rebounds and Chance Mallory will run things in the backcourt after averaging nine points and nearly 3.5 assists as a freshman a season ago.
Outside of guard Jurian Dixon (who averaged 16 points at UC-Irvine this year) the Hoos were noticeably quiet in the portal.
Frankly, you can be when you return this much talent off a 30-win squad.
18) USC Trojans
Key Returnees: Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie
Key Additions: KJ Lewis (transfer), Eric Reibe (transfer), Jalen Cox (transfer), Christian Collins, Adonis Ratliff, Darius Ratliff
Key Departures: Chad Baker-Mazara, Ezra Ausar, Kam Woods, Jordan Marsh
Eric Musselman's third USC squad is by far his most talented. And there's no reason that after flirting with the bubble all year long, they shouldn't breakthrough and into the 2027 NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans probably would've made the Big Dance this year if it hadn't been for an injury to Rodney Rice, who averaged 20 points per game prior to a season-ending injury just six games in. He's back and so too is Alijah Arenas, who decided to return for another year after knee surgery gave him a late start to his freshman year. Jacob Cofie is an athletic big who averaged nearly 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game a season ago.
Then there are the newcomers, and goodness did Coach Muss go all in, adding three McDonald's All-Americans (Adonis Ratliff, Darius Ratliff and Christian Collins) and two portal stars. Big man Eric Reibe should give USC physicality in the rugged Big Ten, while KJ Lewis is a versatile guard who averaged 16 points per game this year at Georgetown.
19) Miami Hurricanes
Key Returnees: Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen, Marcus Allen
Key Additions: Acaden Lewis (transfer), Somto Cyril (transfer), DeSean Goode (transfer), Nick Dorn (transfer), Caleb Gaskins
Key Departures: Malik Reneau, Enrest Udeh, Tre Donaldson, Tru Washington (transfer)
It was a successful first year for Jai Lucas at Miami, and things should be even better in Year 2.
For starters, Shelton Henderson is back after averaging just under 14 points and five assists per game as a freshman. He'll be surrounded by one of the best portal hauls in the country including Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis (who was All-Big East second team as a freshman) and big man Somto Cyril who led the Big East in blocks.
There isn't a ton of depth now, but the starting five will be able to compete with anyone in college basketball.
20) North Carolina Tar Heels
Key Returnees: Jarin Stevenson, Jaydon Young, Isaiah Dennis
Key Additions: Neo Avdalas (transfer), Matt Able (transfer), Terrence Brown (transfer), Cade Bennerman (transfer), Maximo Adams, Kevin Thomas, Sayon Keita, Alexandros Samodurov
Key Departures: Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, Seth Trimble, Luka Bogavac (transfer), Derek Dixon (transfer) Jonathan Powell (transfer)
It took North Carolina to find its replacement for Hubert Davis, and took Michael Malone even longer to put together his first roster. But now that he has, I like the squad he has built.
Malone’s backcourt is filled with intriguing transfers in Neo Advalas, Matt Able and Terrence Brown who all bring a little bit of everything. Avdalas is a big lead guard who averaged 12 points and 4.6 assists as a freshman last year at Virginia Tech, while Able shot 35 percent from three in his only season at NC State. Terrence Brown is a sheer bucket-getter who averaged nearly 20 per game at Utah, with Jarin Stevenson serving as the key returnee and Maximo Adams as a high-upside McDonald’s All-American.
What will become interesting is how quickly a pair of international imports adjust to the college game. Sayon Keita comes over as an 18-year-old from FC Barcelona who is projected by many as a lottery pick a season from now. Alexandros Samudrov is more of a veteran big, who was projected by some in the second round of this year’s draft. He eventually withdrew and is now the likely final piece for the Tar Heels this spring.
21) Purdue Boilermakers
Key Returnees: Omer Mayer, Jack Benter, CJ Cox, Gicarri Harris, Daniel Jacobsen, Raleigh Burgess
Key Additions: Caden Pierce (transfer), Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber, Sinan Huan, Rivers Knight, Jamyn Sondrup
Key Losses: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufmann-Renn, Oscar Cluff
The Boilermakers lose a historic senior class with Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufmann-Renn, which made the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament three times including the 2024 Final Four. They were a game away from going back this year.
Still, despite the production leaving out the door we'll bet on pedigree here and that Matt Painter has the next group lined up ready to go. Omer Mayer should slide over to the point guard spot to replace Smith, with CJ Cox back after averaging 8.5 points per game. Jack Benter gave the Boilermakers good minutes on the wing and don't sleep on the addition of transfer Caden Pierce, who was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2024.
22) Kansas Jayhawks
Key Returnees: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya
Key Additions: Tyran Stokes, Taylen Kinney, Davion Adkins, Trent Perry, Luke Barnett, Keanu Dawes (transfer), Dennis Parker Jr. (transfer), Leroy Byden Jr. (transfer), Christian Reeves (transfer)
Key Departures: Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council Jr., Tre White, Flory Bidunga (transfer), Bryson Tiller (transfer), Elmarko Jackson (transfer)
For the second year in a row, Kansas is built around arguably the best freshman in college basketball. Let’s hope it works out slightly better with Tyran Stokes than it did with Darryn Peterson.
To his credit, Stokes is just a wildly talented wing that can do a bit of everything. He’ll be surrounded by an interesting group of transfers that includes high-scoring guard Dennis Parker Jr. (who began his career at NC State and averaged 18 a game at Radford last year), as well as physical forward Keanu Dawes.
It will take Stokes fully reaching his potential for the Jayhawks to fully reach theirs. But the talent is definitely there.
23) Iowa State Cyclones
Key Returnees: Killyan Toure, Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan
Key Additions: Leon Bond (transfer), Jaquan Johnson (transfer), Taj Manning (transfer), Tre Singleton (transfer), Ryan Prather (transfer)
Key Departures: Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Nate Heise, Milan Momcilovic (transfer)
Iowa State lost a bunch of last year's Sweet 16, but they still return quite a bit. And few find underrated pieces that fit in the portal quite like TJ Otzelberger does.
First on the retention front, Killian Toure and Jamarion Bateman are both and athletic guards who should make a leap heading into their sophomore years and Blake Buchanan was the Cyclones starting five man this past year.
What will be interesting is how Otzelberger integrates the transfers and who pops. Three of the five come from the mid-major level and the other two (Singleton and Manning) played limited minutes on bad high-major teams.
Still, as said above, Otzelberger always finds these underrated pieces. And it'll be fascinating to see how they all fit.
24) Indiana Hoosiers
Key Returnees: Trent Sisley
Key Additons: Markus Burton (transfer), Aiden Sherrell (transfer), Samet Yigitoglu (transfer), Bryce Lindsay (transfer), Darren Harris (transfer), Jaeden Mustaf (transfer)
Key Departures: Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker Devries, Tayton Conerway, Sam Alexis, Nick Dorn
After a disappointing first year in Bloomington, Darian DeVries needed a big off-season. And boy did he get it with a MONSTER portal that should address basically all of Indiana’s issues from a season ago.
Markus Burton is the creative lead guard this team lacked a season ago, and Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu are the one-two punch in the paint that this team definitely lacked a season ago as well. Bryce Lindsey and Darren Harris should provide plenty of scoring pop in the backcourt as well.
25) Saint Louis Billikens
Key Returnees: Trey Green, Amari McCottry, Kellen Thames, Ishan Sharma, Quentin Jones
Key Additions: Sheek Pearson (transfer), Alon Michaeli (transfer), Elijah Strong (transfer)
Key Losses: Robbie Avila, Dion Brown, Paul Otieno, Brady Dunlap (transfer)
Certified ball knowers understand just how good Saint Louis was last year, and the rest of the country got to learn when the Billikens blew the doors off of Georgia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Well what if I told you that of SLU's top seven scorers off last season's 29-5 team, five were back in 2026-2027? That includes a pair of double-figure scorers in Trey Green and Amari McCottry and several others who can put the ball in the basket (Saint Louis shot a blistering 41 percent from three, while averaging 90 points per game).
The Billikens needed to add size in the portal and did it with Marquette’s Sheek Pearson and Colorado’s Alon Michaeli. And because of it, they are again the overwhelming favorites in the A-10.
Next five:
26. Vanderbilt
27. Missouri
28. Providence College
29. BYU
30. Nebraska