Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 2.0: Transfer decisions shape 2025-26 projection

One week after the 2024-25 season finished, there has been plenty transfer portal movement and recruiting news which promises to reshape how the top contenders are viewed entering next season. The latest movement warrants a fresh look at the way-too-early rankings for 2025-26.

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 currently ranked inside the Top 25 of On3’s current NBA Draft Big Board. Any other decisions will be accounted for when the player announces their plan moving forward.

• There are still a number of players whose eligibility for next season remains in question. Waivers and senior decisions will shape the final roster. At the moment, those expected to run out of eligibility are out, but could return if granted another year.

• 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. Same for teams currently without a coach.

These rankings will repeatedly be updated as rosters shift throughout the offseason, starting with transfer portal decisions already under way. Here is a way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2025-26 season.

1. Houston

Key returns: Emanuel Sharp, JoJo Tugler, Milos Uzan
Key additions: Chris Cenac, Kingston Flemings, Isiah Harwell, Pop Isaacs*, Kalifa Sakho*
Key departures: Terrance Arceneaux, LJ Cryer, Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts, Mylik Wilson

Houston sits atop this ranking based on the amount of talent they can return from 2024-25 and the major commitment they made to young talent. Kelvin Sampson’s group has veteran leadership and high-end talent together like few teams will be able to assemble.

2. Duke

Key returns: Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patick Ngongba, Tyrese Proctor,
Key additions: Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Shelton Henderson, Nikolas Khamenia
Key departures: Cooper Flagg, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach,

Duke puts together another top-end recruiting class which features some of the top prospects, and promises to surround that group with veteran talent and positional size. The formula for Jon Scheyer worked, and he now looks to set up a repeat performance next season.

3. Louisville

Key returns: J’Vonne Hadley, Aly Khalifa, Kobe Rodgers, James Scott
Key additions: Mikel Brown, Ryan Conwell*, Isaac McKneely*, Adrian Wooley*
Key departures: Terrence Edwards, Chucky Hepburn, Reyne Smith, Noah Waterman

Louisville gets a bigger boost than any team in the country based on early transfer portal returns, locking up three coveted guard to complement a huge recruiting win. Pat Kelsey overachieved in Year One, and now might just build a roster that can leap them further up the pecking order.

4. Kentucky

Key returns: Brandon Garrison, Otega Oweh
Key additions: Mo Dioubate*, Jasper Johnson, Jaland Lowe*, Malachi Moreno, Jayden Quaintance*, Kam Williams*
Key departures: Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, Jaxson Robinson, Amari Williams

Kentucky took a slight step backward in the roster building process when Acaden Lewis decommitted. Mark Pope has plenty options left in the transfer portal to move back up the board over the coming weeks depending on how things land.

5. Alabama

Key returns: Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell
Key additions: Amari Allen, Jalil Bethea*, Taylor Bol Bowen*, Davion Hannah, London Jemison, Noah Williamson*
Key departures: Mo Dioubate, Grant Nelson, Clifford Omoruyi, Derrion Reid, Mark Sears, Jarin Stevenson, Chris Youngblood

Alabama lost two more key pieces to the potential rotation recently, leaving more left to do in the transfer portal. Nate Oats has plenty to use as a starting point, but must now replace the outgoing production to compete for a championship.

6. Florida

Key returns: Denzel Aberdeen, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh
Key additions: CJ Ingram, Alex Lloyd
Key departures: Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin, Will Richard

Florida might lose three massive pieces from the roster, but the entire supporting cast could come back with an influx of young talent backing them up. Todd Golden got the formula right and has everything in place to repeat it next season.

7. Iowa State

Key returns: Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic
Key additions: Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan*, Eric Mulder*, Mason Williams*
Key departures: Keshon Gilbert, Nate Heise, Dishon Jackson, Curtis Jones,

Iowa State loses more of its production than last season, but continues to draw back top producers in a rare formula across college basketball. TJ Otzelberger has already done plenty of his roster-building too, giving a good idea what the group will look like next season.

8. North Carolina

Key returns: Ven-Allen Lubin, Drake Powell, Seth Trimble
Key additions: Derek Dixon, Kyan Evans*, Jonathan Powell*, Jarin Stevenson*, Henri Veesaar*, Caleb Wilson
Key departures: Elliot Cadeau, RJ Davis, Ian Jackson, Jalen Washington, Jae’lyn Withers

North Carolina got off to a nice start addressing needs in the transfer portal, landing one of the top available centers and a solid veteran wing to complement the recruiting class. However, for Hubert Davis the big potential comes with returning talent which saw a down year hurt their draft stock and leave a potential return on the table.

9. Michigan

Key returns: Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle, Will Tschetter
Key additions: Elliot Cadeau*, Morez Johnson*, Yaxel Lendeborg*, Aday Mara*, Trey McKenney
Key departures: Tre Donaldson, Vlad Goldin, Sam Walters, Danny Wolf

Michigan took another step forward while building its roster, adding more frontcourt depth to one of the best projected groups in the country. Dusty May has a great combination of returning talent and incoming players ready to repeat the success of Year One in a new way.

10. Kansas

Key returns: Flory Bidunga
Key additions: Jayden Dawson*, Darryn Peterson, Bryson Tiller, Tre White*
Key departures: KJ Adams, David Coit, Hunter Dickinson, Rylan Griffen, Dajuan Harris, Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr

Kansas loses almost every bit of production from last year’s roster, including some promising young players. However, Bill Self starts in good positions regardless with a talented group of young players and some transfer activity already done.

Ranking 11-25

11. St. John’s
Key returns: Zuby Ejiofor, Simeon Wilcher
Key additions: Bryce Hopkins*, Joson Sanon*
Key departures: Brady Dunlap, RJ Luis, Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, Deivon Smith

12. Purdue                                                                              
Key returns: CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith
Key additions: Oscar Cluff*
Key departures: Myles Colvin

13. UConn
Key returns: Solomon Ball, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed, Jaylin Stewart
Key additions: Darius Adams, Silas Demary*, Braylon Mullins, Eric Reibe
Key departures: Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeeley

14. Auburn
Key returns: Chad Baker-Mazara, Tahaad Pettiford
Key additions: Abdul Bashir*, Keyshawn Hall*, Kaden Magwood, Sebastian Williams-Adams
Key departures: Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson, Denver Jones, Miles Kelly

15. Arkansas
Key returns: Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, DJ Wagner
Key additions: Darius Acuff, Maleek Thomas
Key departures: Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis, Boogie Fland, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero

16. BYU
Key returns: Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, Richie Saunders
Key additions: AJ Dybantsa, Xavion Staton, Rob Wright*
Key departures: Kanon Catchings, Egor Demin, Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Mawot Mag, Fousseyni Traore

17. Creighton
Key returns: Jackson McAndrew
Key additions: Josh Dix*, Owen Freeman*, Nik Graves*, Hudson Greer, Austin Swartz*
Key departures: Steven Ashworth, Pop Isaacs, Jamiya Neal, Ryan Kalkbrenner

18. Tennessee
Key returns: Felix Okpara
Key additions: Jaylen Carey*, Ja’Kobi Gillespie*
Key departures: Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic, Zakai Zeigler

19. Texas Tech
Key returns: Christian Anderson, JT Toppin
Key additions: Donovan Atwell*, Tyeree Bryan*, LeJuan Watts*
Key departures: Devan Cambridge, Federiko Federiko, Elijah Hawkins, Chance McMillian, Kevin Overton, Kerwin Walton, Darrion Williams

20. Illinois
Key returns: Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, Will Riley, Ty Rodgers
Key additions: Zvonimir Ivisic*
Key departures: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Ben Humrichous, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson, Tre White

21. Arizona
Key returns: Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Dwayne Aristode, Brayden Burries, Evan Nelson*, Koa Peat
Key departures: Carter Bryant, KJ Lewis, Caleb Love, Trey Townsend, Henri Veesaar

22. Wisconsin
Key returns: John Blackwell, Nolan Winter
Key additions: Nick Boyd*, Austin Rapp*, Andrew Rohde*
Key departures: Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, John Tonje

23. Michigan State
Key returns: Coen Carr, Carson Cooper, Jeremy Fears, Jaxson Kohler
Key additions: Kaleb Glenn*
Key departures: Jaden Akins, Frankie Fidler, Tre Holloman, Jase Richardson

24. UCLA
Key returns: Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey
Key additions: Jamar Brown*, Donovan Dent*, Steven Jamerson*
Key departures: Dylan Andrews, Kobe Johnson, Sebastian Mack, Aday Mara

25. Gonzaga
Key returns: Braden Huff, Graham Ike, Braeden Smith, Steele Venters
Key additions: Davis Fogle, Jalen Warley*
Key departures: Michael Ajayi, Khalif Battle, Ben Gregg, Nolan Hickman, Ryan Nembhard