2024-25 Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 8.0: Arkansas, Auburn add to roster through transfer portal

The transfer portal is closed, but many college basketball teams continue working on their 2024-25 roster as they recruit the remaining players and wait on NBA Draft decisions. Arkansas is among the last teams to put a full rotation together, joining the national conversation.

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, despite the early entry deadline. They are considered back unless they have been listed in the latest On3 Mock Draft. 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.

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

1. 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, Labaron Philon, Clifford Omoruyi
Key departures: Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Nick Pringle, Sam Walters

Alabama made big headlines by adding former Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi to the starting lineup. The Crimson Tide is now talented and deep at every positions with only two NBA Draft decisions left from Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson.

2. 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 was passed by Kansas for the top spot after more additions over recent weeks, but now moved back toward the top after seeing a conference rival lose a commitment in the transfer portal.

3. Kansas

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

Kansas lost a commitment from former Florida guard Riley Kugel, who will not transfer in. The result is a slight drop below Big 12 rival Houston as the depth of the roster takes a hit.

4. UConn

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

UConn made a splash in the transfer portal, and now on the recruiting trail for landing five-star forward Liam McNeeley after his de-commitment from Indiana. They look to three-peat next.

5. Duke

Key returns: Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster
Key additions: Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patick Ngongba, Darren Harris, Maliq Brown, Mason Gillis, Sion James*, Cameron Sheffield
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 build out with veterans and potential wing options. Rice transfer Cameron Sheffield is the latest depth piece.

6. Baylor

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

Baylor bounced back up the way-too-early Top 25 this month by adding a commitment from former Miami center Norchad Omier. The talent level and experience will make the Bears a contender pending NBA decisions.

7. Gonzaga

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

Gonzaga added to the backcourt multiple times through the transfer portal and helped solidify the defense on the wing by adding Emmanuel Innocenti to the rotation.

8. Auburn

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

Auburn got a transfer portal commitment from Miles Kelly this week to sure up the wing scoring and provide help to the backcourt which includes veteran transfer JP Pegues.

9. Iowa State

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

Iowa State added Joshua Jefferson to a group which already promised to enter the season inside the Top 10 of the preseason rankings. The Cyclones looks ready for another year atop the analytic machines.

10. Creighton

Key returns: Trey Alexander*, Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Miller
Key additions: Jackson McAndrew, Jamiya Neal, Pop Isaacs
Key departures: Baylor Scheierman

Creighton remains in the Top 10 of the updated way-too-early Top 25 thanks to a pair of backcourt additions. Pop Isaacs and Jamiya Neal promise to keep things moving as the team reloads in the Big East title race.

Ranking 11-25

11. North Carolina
Key returns: RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble
Key additions: Ian Jackson, Drake Powell, Cade Tyson, Ven-Allen Lubin
Key departures: Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram*

12. Arizona
Key returns: Pelle Larsson*, Caleb Love*, Jaden Bradley*, KJ Lewis, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant, Jamari Phillips, Trey Townsend*, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell’Orso
Key departures: Keshad Johnson, Oumar Ballo, Kylan Boswell

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Tennessee
Key returns: Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey
Key additions: Darlinstone Dubar, Felix Okpara, Igor Milicic*, Chaz Lanier*
Key departures: Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo, Tobe Awaka

17. UCLA
Key returns: Lazar Stefanovic, Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack
Key additions: Trent Perry, Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau, William Kyle, Dominick Harris
Key departures: Adem Bona

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

19. 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

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

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

22. USC
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Clark Slajchert, Josh Cohen, Bryce Pope, Matt Knowling, Saint Thomas, Isaiah Elohim, Chibuzo Agbo*, Rashaun Agee, Terrance Williams*, Desmond Claude, Kevin Patton
Key departures: Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman, Joshua Morgan, Oziyah Sellers, Vincent Iwuchukwu

23. Arkansas
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Karter Knox, Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond, Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis*, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner
Key departures: El Ellis, Jeremiah Davenport, Jalen Graham, Makhi Mitchell, Trevon Brazile, Devo Davis, Keyon Menifield, Tramon Mark, Khalif Battle

24. Texas A&M
Key returns: Wade Taylor, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman, Solomon Washington, Jace Carter, Manny Obaseki, Hayden Hefner
Key additions: CJ Wilcher, Pharrel Payne, Zhuric Phelps
Key departures: Tyrece Radford

T-25. Cincinnati
Key returns: Day Day Thomas, Simas Lukosius, Aziz Bandaogo, Dan Skillings, Jizzle James, CJ Fredrick
Key additions: Tyler Betsey, Connor Hickman, Dillon Mitchell
Key departures: Viktor Lakhin, Jamille Reynolds

T-25 Ole Miss
Key returns: Matthew Murrell*, Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray, TJ Caldwell
Key additions: John Bol, Mikeal Brown-Jones, Malik Dia, Davon Barnes, Dre Davis, Sean Pedulla
Key departures: Allen Flanigan