CBS Sports updates top 25 and 1 college basketball rankings after recruiting, transfer portal moves

As the transfer portal slows down, CBS Sports just released its new “Top 25 and 1” college basketball rankings. The list included some surprises based on recent player decisions.

Kentucky was the biggest mover, increasing two spots on the list. Meanwhile, Mississippi State dropped a spot. Not every program shifted. With players like Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar and K.J. Adams returning, Kansas still holds the No. 1 spot in CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish’s rankings.

Before diving into the rankings, Parrish discussed some of the most significant updates in the transfer portal.

“Jarin Stevenson, who was rated by some as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2024, announced a commitment to Alabama and added that he intends to reclassify to the Class of 2023. In other words, the 6-foot-10 forward now plans to play for the Crimson Tide next season, which is why I’ve kept Alabama at No. 17 in Version 18.0 of the 2023-24 CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings despite my decision to (for now) remove North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson from the Crimson Tide’s projected roster.”

Parrish continued.

“The only other movement in Version 18.0 of the Top 25 And 1 is connected to Kentucky, which I removed from Version 17.0 after it was reported that Antonio Reeves was enrolled at Illinois State and planning to graduate and transfer out of John Calipari’s program. Now, Reeves is back at Kentucky and expected to play for the Wildcats next season. So I’ve returned UK to No. 25, which is where the Wildcats were previously ranked. That development pushed St. John’s out of the Top 25 And 1. So Rick Pitino’s Red Storm are now what amounts to No. 27,” Parrish wrote.

Kentucky is one of six SEC teams to make the list, the most from a single conference. Nonetheless, the rankings are diverse with all Power Five conferences represented multiple times. With the main developments out of the way, let’s dive into the rest of the list.

CBS Sports’ updated “Top 25 and 1” college basketball rankings

1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Purdue Boilermakers
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Florida Atlantic Owls
5. Michigan State Spartans
6. Marquette Golden Eagles
7. Houston Cougars
8. UConn Huskies
9. Creighton Bluejays
10. Miami Hurricanes
11. Arkansas Razorbacks
12. USC Trojans
13. San Diego State Aztecs
14. Tennessee Volunteers
15. Texas A&M Aggies
16. Arizona Wildcats
17. Alabama Crimson Tide
18. Baylor Bears
19. Gonzaga Bulldogs
20. Texas Longhorns
21. St. Mary’s Gaels
22. North Carolina Tar Heels
23. Illinois Fighting Illini
24. Villanova Wildcats
25. Kentucky Wildcats
26. Mississippi State Bulldogs