2024-25 Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 2.0: Draft, transfer decisions shake up order

James Fletcher IIIby:James Fletcher III•04/15/24•

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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 the way-too-early Top 25 rankings to release.

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. Same for teams currently without a coach.

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
Key additions: Milos Uzan
Key departures: Damian Dunn, Jamal Shead

Houston remains No. 1 despite losing Jamal Shead to the NBA Draft thanks to the transfer portal addition of former Oklahoma guard Milos Uzan. The race remains close for this spot as teams load up with talent.

2. Kansas

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

Bill Self told reporters he had turned his focus to 2024-25 at some point early. The results appear to suggest that Kansas will again contend for the No. 1 overall spot in the preseason rankings when everything shakes out. A key decision from Hunter Dickinson, along with recruiting battles, promise to get fans excited.

3. Alabama

Key returns: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell
Key additions: Derrion Reid, Aidan Sherrell, Houston Mallette, Chris Youngblood
Key departures: Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen

Alabama again added to the 2024 roster with Tuscaloosa native and AAC Player of the Year Chris Youngblood making his commitment. The move offset decisions by Rylen Griffen and other young wings to depart the program over the past week.

4. Duke

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

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, along with some returning talent. However, they cap out at No. 5 in this ranking due to the lack of recent success by young teams in college basketball.

5. UConn

Key returns: Cam Spencer^, Alex Karaban
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle*

The back-to-back champions are a tempting pick for No. 1 based on nothing more than recent track record. However, the Huskies lose more production off the roster and will need a successful transfer portal dive to enter the race for a third title in as many seasons under Dan Hurley.

6. Baylor

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

Despite losing some big-time freshmen from the roster, Baylor looks to add even more perimeter firepower with five-star VJ Edgecombe. Scott Drew has found a successful and repeatable formula, and the biggest question left for the Bears is whether they can fend off Kentucky to keep him.

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
Key additions: Tahaad Pettiford, JP Pegues
Key departures: Jaylin Williams, Aden Holloway

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
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. Texas

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

Texas had the biggest weekend of any team in college basketball, vaulting them into the Top 10 of the way-too-early rankings with transfer portal commitments from Tramon Mark, Julian Larry and Jayson Kent. The roster is starting to take shape with those key pickups in the fold.

Ranking 11-25

11. Marquette
Key returns: Kam Jones, David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Oso Ighodaro, Tyler Kolek

12. Creighton
Key returns: Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Baylor Scheierman

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

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

15. Providence
Key returns: Bryce Hopkins, Jayden Pierre
Key additions: Bensley Joseph, Christ Essandoko
Key departures: Devin Carter, Josh Oduro, Ticket Gaines

16. Arizona
Key returns: Pelle Larsson, Caleb Love
Key additions: Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant
Key departures: Keshad Johnson, Oumar Ballo, Kylan Boswell

17. Purdue                                                                              
Key returns: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Zach Edey, Lance Jones

18. Florida
Key returns: Walter Clayton, Will Richard
Key additions: Sam Alexis
Key departures: Zyon Pullin, Riley Kugel, Tyrese Samuel

19. Tennessee
Key returns: Zakai Zeigler
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo

20. Michigan State
Key returns: Jaden Akins, AJ Hoggard
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Tyson Walker, Malik Hall

21. UCLA
Key returns: Lazar Stefanovic, Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack
Key additions: Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark
Key departures: Adem Bona

22. Texas A&M
Key returns: Wade Taylor, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Tyrece Radford

23. New Mexico
Key returns: Donovan Dent, Nelly Jr. Joseph, JT Toppin
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn

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

25. Illinois
Key returns: Marcus Domask^
Key additions: Jake Davis, Kylan Boswell
Key departures: Terrence Shannon, Coleman Hawkins, Quincy Guerrier