Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 7.0: 2025-26 outlook with all eyes on NBA Draft withdrawals

The way-too-early Top 25 for 2025-26 continues to take shape as the final NBA Draft decisions are made and the number of transfer portal prospects dwindles. The next step is to put the finishing touches on the rotation while considering a handful of potential re-classifications over the summer.

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. Here is another way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2025-26 season.

This list was updated to reflect the final decisions of the 2025 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline on Wednesday.

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

Purdue again brings back a wealth of returning talent, including multiple All-Big Ten selections from the past season. Head coach Matt Painter complements what he had with a pair of big-time transfer portal players and an intriguing international prospect.

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

Houston brings a solid combination of retuning production and incoming talent which centers on the No. 1 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Rankings. With head coach Kelvin Sampson running the defense, the offensive upside of these players could make something special.

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

Duke has a clear plan under head coach Jon Scheyer to surround talented freshmen with a specific mold of veterans from the transfer portal. That vision is clear again with top-ranked prospects helped by returning talent and role players who bring length and defensive intensity.

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

Fresh off a national championship, Todd Golden promises to get a large portion of his frontcourt back this season. While they lose a lot at guard, they restocked in the transfer portal with multiple big splashes and got depth in a pair of Top 50 recruits on the way.

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

Kentucky enters Year Two under Mark Pope with high hopes that he can combine the culture of last season’s team with the influx of incoming talent. Multiple Top 50 freshmen round out a group of returning production and high-end transfer portal prospects.

6. 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 had to overhaul its veteran roster which made a deep NCAA Tournament run last season, and did so through the transfer portal. Bruce Pearl complemented some high-profile moves with a combination of Junior College players and incoming freshmen.

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

Under Rick Pitino, there is no question that St. John’s will continue to invest big in the roster, which got multiple top-end additions which promise to pay off big-time this year. How those players mesh with each other and the returning talent will set the tone.

8. 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 gets three major pieces of the roster back this season, setting the tone for the list of incoming freshmen and transfers ready to the lift the team. Under TJ Otzelberger, this team has all the pieces needed to compete in the Big 12 once again.

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 did some big-time work overhauling its frontcourt this offseason, replacing a unique pairing with another dynamic set of players ready to lead the program forward under Dusty May. More additions in the backcourt also promise to help raise the stock.

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

Nate Oats was able to lead Alabama on another deep NCAA Tournament run this season, looking to continue the recent run of success with a new-look group which features a combination of freshmen and transfers. The surprise NBA Draft withdrawal of Labaron Philon could take them to another level.

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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. BYU
Key returns: Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, Richie Saunders
Key additions: Kennard Davis*, AJ Dybantsa, Tyler Mrus*, Nate Pickens*, 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*, Dwayne Koroma*, Alec Millender*, 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. 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

24. 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

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