Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 5.0: 2025-26 outlook with latest roster changes entering May

The way-too-early Top 25 for 2025-26 continues to shift with each transfer portal commitment, with many rosters close to completion as the calendar turns. With more big decisions over the past week, big changes are on the way again as team’s now await NBA Draft withdrawal decision.

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.

These rankings will continue to be updated as rosters shift throughout the offseason, with many roster changes already confirmed. 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
Key additions: Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Cedric Coward*, Nikolas Khamenia
Key departures: Cooper Flagg, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor

Duke lost its expected group of potential NBA Draft picks over the past week, but started the process of filling out the roster by dipping into the transfer portal to surround star freshman with positional size and length. The formula which put them in the Final Four last season is again on track.

3. 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

Purdue has moved up the board, combining the stockpile of returning talent with two high-level transfers who fit perfectly into the lineup and an international prospect ranked among the best in his class. The Boilermakers have reloaded in a big way already, making them a threat once again.

4. Kentucky

Key returns: Brandon Garrison, Otega Oweh
Key additions: Denzel Aberdeen*, Mo Dioubate*, 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

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. Auburn

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

Auburn has continued to slide up the board with big offseason moves, replacing big pieces of last season’s Final Four run with talented veterans who hope to mesh their styles together. So far, the balance of proven producers at the top level of college basketball with high-upside swings seems to have them primed for another big year.

6. 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

St. John’s easily ranks among the top teams in talent acquisition this offseason, adding big-time transfers to the roster. The challenge now will be finding the best way to maximize each player’s talent on the floor at the same time throughout the season, giving the best position each player prefers.

7. Iowa State

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

Iowa State continues to add plenty potential difference-makers through the transfer portal, looking to complement the returning core of established college basketball stars ready to turn their experience into big success.

8. 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.

9. Louisville

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

Louisville took a hit to its impressive early roster-building efforts when starting center James Scott entered the transfer portal before the final deadline. That leaves a hole to fill at a position which lacks an abundance of options at this point.

10. Florida

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

Florida continued to re-build its backcourt with transfer portal additions, and got good news on the NBA Draft front when Thomas Haugh announced he will not test the waters like his teammates Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon over the coming weeks.

Ranking 11-25

11. Alabama
Key returns: Aden Holloway, 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, Labaron Philon, Derrion Reid, Mark Sears, Jarin Stevenson, Chris Youngblood

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

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

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

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. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. North Carolina
Key returns: Seth Trimble
Key additions: 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

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

25. 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