Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 8.0: 2025-26 outlook, first look at projected lineups

The way-too-early Top 25 for 2025-26 is nearing its final form after NBA Draft withdrawals and commitments from the top transfers left on the board. The next step is to put the finishing touches on the rotation and secure commitments from the final international prospects looking to join college basketball.

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:

• 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.

These rankings will continue to be updated as rosters shift throughout the offseason, with many roster changes already confirmed and on campus for summer workouts. Here is another way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2025-26 season.

1. Purdue

Key returns: CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith
Key additions: Oscar Cluff*, Omer Meyer, Liam Murphy*
Key departures: Myles Colvin
Projected lineup:

G: Braden Smith
G: Fletcher Loyer
G: CJ Cox
F: Trey Kaufman-Renn
C: Oscar Cluff

2. Houston

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

G: Milos Uzan
G: Emanuel Sharp
G: Isiah Harwell
F: Chric Cenac
F: JoJo Tugler

3. Duke

Key returns: Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patick Ngongba
Key additions: Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Nikolas Khamenia, Dame Sarr, Sebastian Wilkins
Key departures: Cooper Flagg, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor
Projected lineup:

G: Cayden Boozer
G: Isaiah Evans
F: Dame Sarr
F: Cameron Boozer
C: Patrick Ngongba

4. Florida

Key returns: Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh
Key additions: AJ Brown*, Boogie Fland*, CJ Ingram, Xaivian Lee*, Alex Lloyd
Key departures: Denzel Aberdeen, Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin, Will Richard
Projected lineup:

G: Boogie Fland
G: Xaivian Lee
F: Thomas Haugh
C: Alex Condon
C: Reuben Chinyelu

5. Kentucky

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

G: Jaland Lowe
G: Otega Oweh
F: Kam Williams
F: Mo Dioubate
C: Jayden Quaintance

6. Auburn

Key returns: Tahaad Pettiford
Key additions: Abdul Bashir*, Elyjah Freeman*, Keyshawn Hall*, Filip Jovic, Kaden Magwood, KeShawn Murphy*, Kevin Overton*, Sebastian Williams-Adams
Key departures: Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson, Denver Jones, Miles Kelly
Projected lineup:

G: Tahaad Pettiford
G: Kevin Overson
G: Keyshawn Hall
G: Abdul Bashir
F: KeShawn Murphy

7. St. John’s

Key returns: Zuby Ejiofor
Key additions: Dylan Darling*, Bryce Hopkins*, Ian Jackson*, Dillon Mitchell*, Joson Sanon*, Oziyah Sellers*
Key departures: Brady Dunlap, RJ Luis, Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, Deivon Smith, Simeon Wilcher
Projected lineup:

G: Ian Jackson
G: Joson Sanon
G: Oziyah Sellers
F: Bryce Hopkins
C: Zuby Ejiofor

8. Iowa State

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

G: Tamin Lipsey
G: Dominic Nelson
F: Joshua Jefferson
F: Milan Momcilovic
C: Blake Buchanan

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
Projected lineup:

G: Elliot Cadeau
G: Roddy Gayle
G: Nimari Burnett
F: Morez Johnson
F: Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Alabama

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

G: Labaron Philon
G: Aden Holloway
G: Latrell Wrightsell
F: Taylor Bol Bowen
C: Aidan Sherrell

Ranking 11-25

11. Arkansas
Key returns: Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, DJ Wagner
Key additions: Darius Acuff, Malique Ewin*, Nick Pringle*, Karim Rtail, Maleek Thomas
Key departures: Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis, Boogie Fland, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero
Projected lineup: Darius Acuff, DJ Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin

12. Illinois
Key returns: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic, Ty Rodgers
Key additions: Zvonimir Ivisic*, David Mirkovic, Mihailo Petrovic, Andrej Stojakovic*
Key departures: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson, Will Riley, Tre White
Projected lineup: Kylan Boswell, Ty Rodgers, Andrej Stojakovic, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic

13. Tennessee
Key returns: Felix Okpara
Key additions: Amaree Abram*, Nate Ament, Jaylen Carey*, Ja’Kobi Gillespie*, Clarence Massamba
Key departures: Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic, Zakai Zeigler
Projected lineup: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Amaree Abram, Nate Ament, Jaylen Carey, Felix Okpara

14. Louisville
Key returns: J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor, Kobe Rodgers
Key additions: Mikel Brown, Mouhamed Camara, Ryan Conwell*, Sanandra Fru, Isaac McKneely*, Adrian Wooley*
Key departures: Terrence Edwards, Chucky Hepburn, Aly Khalifa, James Scott, Reyne Smith, Noah Waterman
Projected lineup: Mikel Brown, Isaac McKneely, Ryan Conwell, J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor

15. BYU
Key returns: Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, Richie Saunders
Key additions: Kennard Davis*, AJ Dybantsa, Khadim Mboup, Tyler Mrus*, Nate Pickens*, Xavion Staton, Rob Wright*
Key departures: Kanon Catchings, Egor Demin, Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Mawot Mag, Fousseyni Traore
Projected lineup: Rob Wright, Dawson Baker, Richie Saunders, AJ Dybantsa, Keba Keita

16. UConn
Key returns: Solomon Ball, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed, Jaylin Stewart
Key additions: Darius Adams, Silas Demary*, Dwayne Koroma*, Alec Millender*, Braylon Mullins, Eric Reibe, Malachi Smith*
Key departures: Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeeley
Projected lineup: Silas Demary, Solomon Ball, Braylon Mullins, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed

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

18. Creighton
Key returns: Jackson McAndrew
Key additions: Aleksa Dimitrijevic, Josh Dix*, Owen Freeman*, Nik Graves*, Hudson Greer, Blake Harper*, Liam McChesney*, Austin Swartz*
Key departures: Steven Ashworth, Pop Isaacs, Jamiya Neal, Ryan Kalkbrenner
Projected lineup: Nik Graves, Josh Dix, Blake Harper, Jackson McAndrew, Owen Freeman

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
Projected lineup: Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell, LeJuan Watts, JT Toppin, Luke Bamgboye

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

21. 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
Projected lineup: Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau, Xavier Booker

22. Michigan State
Key returns: Coen Carr, Carson Cooper, Jeremy Fears, Jaxson Kohler
Key additions: Trey Fort*, Kaleb Glenn*, Divine Ugochukwu*
Key departures: Jaden Akins, Frankie Fidler, Tre Holloman, Jase Richardson
Projected lineup: Jeremy Fears, Trey Fort, Kalen Glenn, Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler

23. Baylor
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Obi Agim*, Juslin Bodo Bodo*, Cameron Carr*, Caden Powell*, Michael Rataj*, Dan Skillings*, JJ White*, Isaac Williams*, Tounde Yessoufou
Key departures: Jalen Celestine, VJ Edgecombe, Langston Love, Jayden Nunn, Josh Ojianwuna, Norchad Omier, Jeremy Roach, Rob Wright
Projected lineup: Dan Skillings, JJ White, Obi Agbim, Tounde Yessoufou, Michael Rataj

24. Texas A&M
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Rashaun Agee*, Ruben Dominguez, Federiko Federiko*, Rylan Griffen*, Marcus Hill*, Josh Holloway*, Pop Isaacs*, Jacari Lane*, Mackenzie Mgbako*
Key departures: Henry Coleman, Andersson Garcia, Manny Obaseki, Pharrel Payne, Zhuric Phelps, Wade Taylor
Projected lineup: Pop Isaacs, Jacari Lane, Rylan Griffen, Mackenzie Mgbako, Federiko Federiko

T-25. North Carolina
Key returns: Seth Trimble
Key additions: Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon, Kyan Evans*, Jonathan Powell*, Jarin Stevenson*, Henri Veesaar*, Caleb Wilson, Jaydon Young*
Key departures: Elliot Cadeau, RJ Davis, Ian Jackson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Drake Powell, Jalen Washington, Jae’lyn Withers
Projected lineup: Kyan Evans, Seth Trimble, Jonathan Powell, Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar

T-25. Wisconsin
Key returns: John Blackwell, Nolan Winter
Key additions: Aleksas Bielauskas, Nick Boyd*, Braeden Carrington*, Austin Rapp*, Andrew Rohde*
Key departures: Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, John Tonje
Projected lineup: Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, Andrew Rohde, Austin Rapp, Nolan Winter