2024-25 Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 3.0: Big NBA Draft, transfer decisions continue

With the 2023-24 season a thing of the past, the transfer portal movement starts to show fans what their team will look like in 2024-25. The time has come for an updated way-too-early Top 25 rankings to showcase the recent movement across the sport.

Before getting into the top contenders next season, there are some rules to the exercise which must be noted. Some teams, players and coaches still have decisions to make before the tip off, so the list is always in flux. Here are the guidelines you need to know:

• All NBA Draft decisions will not be made for the player. They are considered back unless they have been listed in Jonathan Givony’s most recent Top 25 big board published by ESPN. Any other decisions will be accounted for when the player announced their plan moving forward. In addition, this is the final year of COVID eligibility rules, and each roster has been traced the best it can to determine which players hold additional eligibility. Waivers and senior decisions will shape the final roster.

• Teams without a full rotation of returning and incoming players at the time of ranking were not considered. They will be added into the mix after adding to the roster on the recruiting trail or through the transfer portal.

Here is a way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2024-25 season.

1. Houston

Key returns: LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, Emanuel Sharp, Ja’Vier Francis, Terrance Arceneaux
Key additions: Milos Uzan
Key departures: Damian Dunn, Jamal Shead

Houston holds off Kansas, Alabama and Baylor who have begun an arms race in the transfer portal thanks to the continuity they bring. Replacing Jamal Shead will not be easy, but is part of the Kelvin Sampson system.

2. Kansas

Key returns: Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, Hunter Dickinson
Key additions: Zeke Mayo, Riley Kugel, Flory Bidunga, AJ Storr, Labaron Philon, Rakease Passmore
Key departures: Kevin McCullar Jr., Nick Timberlake, Johnny Furphy*

Bill Self again made big splashes in the transfer portal to cement Kansas as a top team in the country. The roster is now taking shape with only a few empty spots left.

3. Alabama

Key returns: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell, Jarin Stevenson
Key additions: Derrion Reid, Aidan Sherrell, Houston Mallette, Chris Youngblood, Naas Cunningham, Aden Holloway
Key departures: Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Nick Pringle, Sam Walters

Alabama made big headlines by not only landing a top point guard from the portal, but getting a former Auburn player to flip sides of the rivalry. NBA Draft decisions remain a topic of discussion, as do key transfer visits coming up.

4. Baylor

Key returns: Jalen Bridges, Langston Love, Jayden Nunn
Key additions: VJ Edgecombe, Rob Wright, Jason Asemota, Jeremy Roach
Key departures: Ja’Kobe Walter, Yves Missi, RayJ Dennis

Despite has been able to replace like for like at several key spots this offseason, and now lands former Duke guard Jeremy Roach. The balance of talent and experience brings them up the board.

5. Duke

Key returns: Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster
Key additions: Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patick Ngongba, Darren Harris, Maliq Brown
Key departures: Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain, Mark Mitchell, Jeremy Roach

The No. 1 recruiting class belongs to Duke and Jon Scheyer. Top-ranked recruit Cooper Flagg is joined by a talented group on the way in, plus a clear transfer portal plan to add around them starting to play out.

6. UConn

Key returns: Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson
Key additions: Tarris Reed, Ahmad Nowell
Key departures: Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle*, Cam Spencer

The back-to-back champions are a tempting pick for No. 1 based on nothing more than recent track record. However, the Huskies have started to rebuild the roster with a splash and plenty more connections still in play.

7. Gonzaga

Key returns: Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Ben Gregg, Braden Huff, Steele Venters
Key additions: Michael Ajayi
Key departures: Anton Watson

Gonzaga spent much of last season answering questions about the level of talent on the roster compared to past years. However, they answered all the questions. Now they enter 2024-25 with an added scoring punch from a healthy Steele Venters and transfer Michael Ajayi.

8. Auburn

Key returns: Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones, Dylan Cardwell
Key additions: Tahaad Pettiford, JP Pegues
Key departures: Jaylin Williams, Aden Holloway, KD Johnson, Tre Donaldson

Auburn got a transfer portal commitment from JP Pegues over the past week, adding to their collection of backcourt talent heading into next season beside Tahaad Pettiford. The Tigers remain in a close race for the final spots inside the Top 10 of the way-too-early rankings.

9. Iowa State

Key returns: Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Milan Momcilovic
Key additions: Nate Heise, Dishon Jackson, Brandton Chatfield
Key departures: Tre King, Robert Jones, Hason Ward

Iowa State was a darling of the analytic machines this season, and could bring back a majority of the production from the team. They have already started the process of adding pieces through the transfer portal as well.

10. Marquette

Key returns: Kam Jones, David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross, Sean Jones, Ben Gold
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Oso Ighodaro, Tyler Kolek

Marquette lost Oso Ighodaro and Tyler Kolek to the NBA Draft, but brings back the rest of their key pieces from the 2023-24 season. Adding one of two pieces could take them over the top in the conversation for a Top 10 spot.

Ranking 11-25

11. Creighton
Key returns: Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Miller
Key additions: Jackson McAndrew
Key departures: Baylor Scheierman

12. North Carolina
Key returns: RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau
Key additions: Ian Jackson, Drake Powell
Key departures: Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, Seth Trimble

13. Providence
Key returns: Bryce Hopkins, Jayden Pierre
Key additions: Bensley Joseph, Christ Essandoko, Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Wesley Cardet
Key departures: Devin Carter, Josh Oduro, Ticket Gaines

14. Florida
Key returns: Walter Clayton, Will Richard, Alex Condon, Micah Handlogten
Key additions: Sam Alexis, Rueben Chinyelu, Alijah Martin
Key departures: Zyon Pullin, Riley Kugel, Tyrese Samuel

15. Texas
Key returns: Kadin Shedrick, Chendall Weaver
Key additions: Tre Johnson, Tramon Mark, Julian Larry, Jayson Kent
Key departures: Max Abmas, Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter, Dillon Mitchell

16. Arizona
Key returns: Pelle Larsson, Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant, Jamari Phillips
Key departures: Keshad Johnson, Oumar Ballo, Kylan Boswell

17. Purdue                                                                              
Key returns: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn
Key additions: Kanon Catchings
Key departures: Zach Edey, Lance Jones, Mason Gillis

18. Clemson
Key returns: Chase Hunter, PJ Hall, Ian Schieffelin, Chauncey Wiggins, Jake Heidbreder
Key additions: Viktor Lahkin, Jaeden Zackery
Key departures: RJ Godfrey

19. Tennessee
Key returns: Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey
Key additions: Darlinstone Dubar
Key departures: Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo, Tobe Awaka

20. UCLA
Key returns: Lazar Stefanovic, Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack
Key additions: Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau
Key departures: Adem Bona

21. New Mexico
Key returns: Donovan Dent, Nelly Jr. Joseph, JT Toppin, Mustapha Amzil, Tru Washington
Key additions: CJ Noland
Key departures: Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn

22. Indiana
Key returns: Trey Galloway, Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako
Key additions: Bryson Tucker, Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo, Kanaan Carlyle
Key departures: Xavier Johnson, Anthony Walker, Kel’el Ware

23. Texas A&M
Key returns: Wade Taylor, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman, Solomon Washington, Jace Carter, Manny Obaseki, Hayden Hefner
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Tyrece Radford

24. Miami
Key returns: Nigel Pack, Wooga Poplar, Matthew Cleveland, Kyshawn George
Key additions: Jalil Bethea, Lynn Kidd, Brandon Johnson, Austin Swartz
Key departures: Norchad Omier, Bensley Joseph

25. St. Mary’s
Key returns: Augustas Marciulionis, Mitchell Saxen, Luke Barrett
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Alex Ducas, Joshua Jefferson, Aidan Mahaney, Mason Forbes