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It’s been just over a month since Michigan completed its dominant March Madness run, capping it off with a victory in the national championship game against UConn.
Since then, there has been plenty of roster movement, both in the transfer portal and on the NBA Draft front. And it’s never too early to look head to next season.
Let’s dive into the way-too-early top 25 rankings and look at how each roster has changed during the offseason.
Note – All recruiting rankings for incoming freshmen courtesy of 247 Sports.
1. Florida
Expected to return: Thomas Haugh (17.0 PPG), Alex Condon (14.9 PPG), Boogie Fland (11.7 PPG), Rueben Chinyelu (11.2 PPG), Urban Klavzar (9.7 PPG), Isaiah Brown (5.6 PPG), AJ Brown (13.2 PPG at Ohio in 2024-25, missed 2025-26 season with injury)
Incoming transfers: Denzel Aberdeen (13.5 PPG at Kentucky, pending NCAA waiver)
Incoming freshmen: Jones Lay (not ranked)
Florida flamed out of the NCAA tournament earlier than expected this season, but the Gators should start 2026-27 as the favorites to repeat as long as Chinyelu does end up forgoing the NBA Draft and returning to school. That would undoubtedly give Florida the best front court in the country with Fland returning in the backcourt, and Aberdeen possibly returning to Gainesville as well.
2. Duke
Expected to return: Patrick Ngongba II (10.1 PPG), Caleb Foster (8.3 PPG), Cayden Boozer (7.7 PPG), Dame Sarr (6.4 PPG)
Incoming transfers: John Blackwell (19.1 PPG at Wisconsin), Jacob Theodosiou (13.1 PPG at Loyola Maryland), Drew Scharnowski (10.7 PPG at Belmont)
Incoming freshmen: Cameron Williams (five-star, No. 4 overall), Deron Rippey Jr. (five-star, No. 10 overall), Bryson Howard (five-star, No. 15 overall), Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (five-star), Maxime Meyer (four-star, No. 85 overall)
Duke is once again going to look a lot different in the star player category after its heartbreaking Elite Eight loss to UConn, but Jon Scheyer is still maintaining a good amount of roster continuity. Foster and Cayden Boozer are both back in the backcourt, and the returns of Ngongba and Sarr should make this team elite defensively. Blackwell is one of the best guards in the nation, and the Blue Devils once again have an elite recruiting class coming in headlined by Cameron Williams.
3. Illinois
Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Expected to return: David Mirkovic (13.6 PPG), Andrej Stojakovic (13.5 PPG), Tomislav Ivisic (10.2 PPG), Zvonimir Ivisic (6.4 PPG), Jake Davis (5.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Stefan Vaaks (15.8 PPG at Providence)
Incoming freshmen: Quentin Coleman (four-star, No. 35 overall), Lucas Morillo (four-star, No. 60 overall), Ethan Brown (three-star, No. 165 overall), Zavier Zens (three-star, No. 211 overall), Landon Davis (three-star, No. 244 overall)
Illinois took a major step as a program last season, reaching its first Final Four under Brad Underwood, but the Illini can be even better next season. Replacing Keaton Wagler will be difficult, but Illinois is getting both of the Ivisic brothers back along with Mirkovic and Stojakovic. A recruiting class headlined by a pair of four-stars and the addition of Vaaks, one of the top guards in the portal, should make this Illinois team elite again.
4. Michigan
Expected to return: Elliot Cadeau (10.1 PPG), Trey McKenney (9.5 PPG), L.J. Cason (8.4 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Moustapha Thiam (12.8 PPG at Cincinnati), J.P. Estrella (10.0 PPG at Tennessee), Jalen Reed (9.5 PPG at LSU)
Incoming freshmen: Brandon McCoy Jr. (five-star, No. 14 overall), Quinn Costello (four-star, No. 45 overall), Lincoln Cosby (four-star, No. 46 overall), Joseph Hartman (four-star, No. 90 overall), Malachi Brown (three-star, No. 170 overall), Marcus Moller (Spain)
Michigan is losing four starters from its national title team a season ago, but Dusty May is ready to reload. Cadeau is back as the starting point guard, and McKenney showed flashes of future stardom as a freshman off the bench. Thiam and Estrella provide size out of the portal, while a McCoy led freshman class will be doing a lot of heavy lifting in the rotation.
5. Tennessee
Expected to return: DeWayne Brown II (4.8 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Juke Harris (21.4 PPG at Wake Forest), Dai Dai Ames (16.9 PPG at California), Jalen Haralson (16.2 PPG at Notre Dame), Tyler Lundblade (15.6 PPG at Belmont), Terrence Hill Jr. (15.0 PPG at VCU), Miles Rubin (11.3 PPG at Loyola Chicago), Braedan Lue (10.9 PPG at Kennesaw State)
Incoming freshmen: Chris Washington Jr. (four-star, No. 50 overall), Ralph Scott (four-star, No. 55 overall), Manny Green (four-star, No. 101 overall), Marquis Clark (three-star, No. 213 overall)
Tennessee is losing Nate Ament to the NBA Draft, but arguably nobody did a better job of reloading in the transfer portal than Rick Barnes. Barnes added seven players who scored in double figures on average last season, giving this Volunteers squad a ton of scoring and ball handling on offense. Harris, who was one of the top scorers in the nation last year, is a candidate to become a breakout star.
6. Texas
Expected to return: Matas Vokietaitis (15.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Isaiah Johnson (16.9 PPG at Colorado), David Punch (14.1 PPG at TCU), Mikey Lewis (13.9 PPG at Saint Mary’s), Elyjah Freeman (9.2 PPG at Auburn), Amari Evans (4.1 PPG at Tennessee)
Incoming freshmen: Austin Goosby (four-star, No. 20 overall), Bo Ogden (four-star, No. 39 overall), Joe Sterling (four-star, No. 102 overall), Coleman Elkins (not ranked)
Texas is losing most of the pieces from a very experienced backcourt, but Sean Miller’s second season should still see a major improvement in the regular season. Johnson and Lewis will form a backcourt that can really score, Punch is an experienced wing with a versatile skillset, and Vokietaitis was showing early signs of a breakout near the end of 2025-26.
7. Michigan State
Expected to return: Jeremy Fears Jr. (15.3 PPG), Coen Carr (12.0 PPG), Kur Teng (7.5 PPG), Jordan Scott (5.9 PPG), Cam Ward (5.2 PPG), Kaleb Glenn (12.5 PPG at Florida Atlantic in 2024-25, missed 2025-26 season with injury)
Incoming transfers: Anton Bonke (10.6 PPG at Charlotte)
Incoming freshmen: Ethan Taylor (four-star, No. 29 overall), Jasiah Jervis (four-star, No. 34 overall), Carlos Medlock Jr. (four-star, No. 47 overall), Julius Avent (four-star, No. 87 overall)
Fears is a surefire preseason All-American after a stellar 2025-26 season, and Michigan State returns a lot of experience around him with Carr and Teng. The front court is going to be a work in progress for Tom Izzo and company, the Spartans also have four four-star recruits coming in to ease some of that burden.
8. Vanderbilt
Expected to return: Tyler Tanner (19.5 PPG), AK Okereke (9.6 PPG, pending waiver)
Incoming transfers: Ace Glass (16.4 PPG at Washington State), Bangot Dak (11.5 PPG at Colorado), T.O. Barrett (8.6 PPG at Missouri), Sebastian Williams-Adams (7.0 PPG at Auburn), Berke Buyuktuncel (5.5 PPG at Nebraska)
Incoming freshmen: Ethan Mgbako (four-star, No. 68 overall), Anthony Brown (four-star, No. 75 overall), Jackson Sheffield (four-star, No. 139 overall)
This ranking is assuming Tanner comes back to school. However, the star guard is still considering going pro and is going through the NBA Draft process, so that is still up in the air. If he is back, he is a legitimate Player of the Year candidate who would slot in nicely with Glass and the hyper-athletic Bangot Dak in the starting lineup.
9. Louisville
Expected to return: Adrian Wooley (8.7 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jackson Shelstad (15.6 PPG at Oregon), De’Shayne Montgomery (13.4 PPG at Dayton), Flory Bidunga (13.3 PPG at Kansas), Alvaro Folgueiras (8.4 PPG at Iowa), Karter Knox (8.1 PPG at Arkansas)
Incoming freshmen: Obinna Ekezie Jr. (five-star, No. 16 overall)
Louisville had a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, but Pat Kelsey brought in one of the best portal classes, which includes a legitimate first-round center prospect in Bidunga and an elite scorer at point guard in Shelstad. Wooley could be due for a leap next season in a bigger role, and Ekezie is one of the top recruits in the country.
10. Arkansas
ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
Expected to return: Meleek Thomas (15.6 PPG), Billy Richmond III (11.1 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.4 PPG at Georgia), Cooper Bowser (13.8 PPG at Fuman)
Incoming freshmen: Jordan Smith Jr. (five-star, No. 2 overall), JJ Andrews (five-star, No. 12 overall), Abdou Toure (four-star, No. 27 overall), Miikka Muurinen (five-star)
No individual is going to replace the production of Darius Acuff Jr., but his running mate Meleek Thomas is back for another year. Richmond also proved to be an excellent two-way player last season, and Wilkinson was very productive in the SEC at Georgia. As always, John Calipari has restocked the cupboard with four top-30 recruits, including an elite talent in Jordan Smith Jr.
11. UConn
Expected to return: Braylon Mullins (12.0 PPG), Silas Demary Jr. (10.6 PPG), Jayden Ross (4.8 PPG), Solo Ball (13.0 PPG, expected to miss 2026-27 season)
Incoming transfers: Nils Machowski (17.2 PPG at Wofford), Nikolas Khamenia (5.7 PPG at Duke), Najai Hines (5.5 PPG at Seton Hall)
Incoming freshmen: Colben Landrew (four-star, No. 23 overall), Junior County (four-star, No. 37 overall)
UConn’s title hopes next season took a massive blow when it was announced that Ball will miss the entire 2026-27 season with a wrist injury, but Mullins and Demary still form one of the best backcourts in the nation. Machowski is also a strong scorer, but UConn will have a lot of work to do to compete with the big boys on the interior.
12. Houston
Expected to return: Joseph Tugler (8.5 PPG), Mercy Miller (5.2 PPG), Chase McCarty (4.0 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Corey Hadnot II (20.4 PPG at Purdue Fort Wayne), Delrecco Gillespie (17.7 PPG at Kent State), Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.3 PPG at LSU), Braden East (12.8 PPG at Lamar)
Incoming freshmen: Arafan Diane (four-star, No. 17 overall), Ikenna Alozie (four-star, No. 56 overall), Tyus Thomas (three-star)
Houston is going with a similar style of roster to last season, when Kelvin Sampson built the interior based on defense and the guard room with a ton of scorers. Hadnot, Gillespie and Thomas will try to replicate what Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan had last season, while Houston waits for a big Joseph Tugler breakout in the front court.
13. Virginia
Expected to return: Thijs De Ridder (15.6 PPG), Sam Lewis (10.6 PPG), Chance Mallory (9.3 PPG), Johann Grunloh (7.1 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jurian Dixon (15.7 PPG at UC Irvine)
Incoming freshmen: N/A
Virginia exceeded expectations in year one under Ryan Odom this season, and now the Cavaliers are getting most of that core back heading into year two. Thijs De Ridder was a First Team All-ACC performer last season and will be arguably the most underrated returning player in all of college basketball.
14. Arizona
Expected to return: Motiejus Krivas (10.4 PPG), Ivan Kharchenkov (10.2 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Derek Dixon (8.5 PPG at North Carolina), JJ Mandaquit (5.2 PPG at Washington)
Incoming freshmen: Caleb Holt (five-star, No. 3 overall), Cameron Holmes (four-star, No. 30 overall)
This ranking is assuming Koa Peat is heading to the NBA. If he does end up forgoing the draft to return to Arizona for his sophomore season, Tommy Lloyd has another top-10 team on his hands. Regardless, the return of Krivas and Kharchenkov combined with Holt gives this team a lot of elite talent again, and Dixon proved to be a very solid point guard last season at North Carolina.
15. Alabama
Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
Expected to return: Aden Holloway (16.8 PPG), London Jemison (6.2 PPG), Keitenn Bristow (3.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Drew Fielder (14.7 PPG at Boise State), Brandon Garrison (4.7 PPG at Kentucky), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (3.7 PPG at Mississippi State)
Incoming freshmen: Qayden Samuels (four-star, No. 19 overall), Jaxon Richardson (four-star, No. 22 overall), Tarris Bouie (four-star, No. 41 overall)
The questions surrounding Aden Holloway’s future are legitimate after the star point guard missed the NCAA Tournament last season due to marijuana charges, but all signs currently point to him being back in Tuscaloosa. If he is, he will be the leader of a rebuilt Alabama squad that includes a number of talented transfers and three four-star recruits.
16. Iowa State
Expected to return: Killyan Toure (8.6 PPG), Blake Buchanan (8.5 PPG), Jamarion Batemon (6.8 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jaquan Johnson (16.9 PPG at Bradley), Ryan Prather Jr. (15.7 PPG at Robert Morris), Leon Bond III (11.9 PPG at Northern Iowa), Tre Singleton (7.6 PPG at Northwestern), Taj Manning (4.2 PPG at Kansas State)
Incoming freshmen: Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan (four-star, No. 104 overall), Jackson Kiss (four-star, No. 107 overall), Christian Wiggins (four-star, No. 121 overall), Yusef Gray Jr. (three-star, No. 189 overall)
Iowa State is losing a lot of its best scorers, including Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic, as well as its heart and soul in Tamil Lipsey. However, Toure will be back to keep TJ Otzelberger’s defensive identity together, and Batemon is an elite shooter who should have a bigger role. Johnson and Prather will be relied on to replace a lot of the bucket-getting in Ames.
17. USC
Expected to return: Rodney Rice (20.3 PPG), Alijah Arenas (14.1 PPG), Jacob Cofie (9.9 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jalen Cox (17.9 PPG at Colgate), KJ Lewis (14.9 PPG at Georgetown), Joshua Hughes (9.3 PPG at Evansville), Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (6.0 PPG at Hawai’i), Eric Reibe (5.9 PPG at UConn)
Incoming freshmen: Christian Collins (five-star, No. 9 overall), Adonis Ratliff (four-star, No. 18 overall), Darius Ratliff (four-star, No. 24 overall)
USC’s 2025-26 season was derailed when Rice went down with a shoulder injury early in the season, but he and Arenas will form a dynamic duo in Los Angeles next season. Lewis brings a ton of experience at guard, and Cox was one of the top scorers in the Patriot League at Colgate.
18. Indiana
Expected to return: N/A
Incoming transfers: Markus Burton (18.5 PPG at Notre Dame), Bryce Lindsay (12.3 PPG at Villanova), Aiden Sherrell (11.1 PPG at Alabama), Samet Yigitoglu (10.7 PPG at SMU), Jaeden Mustaf (10.4 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Incoming freshmen: Vaughn Karvala (four-star, No. 52 overall), Trevor Manhertz (four-star, No. 66 overall), Prince-Alexander Moody (four-star, No. 81 overall)
Darian DeVries will be under a ton of pressure to win in year two next season, and he will have a much more talented roster to do it after going to work in the transfer portal. Burton is coming off of an injury, but has long been one of the best scorers in college basketball. Lindsay and Sherrell were strong players at top programs, and the Hoosiers brought in five double-digit scorers in the portal in total.
19. Miami (FL)
Expected to return: Shelton Henderson (13.8 PPG), Dante Allen (6.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: DeSean Goode (15.2 PPG at Robert Morris), Brent Bland (13.9 PPG at Saint Peter’s), Acaden Lewis (12.2 PPG at Villanova), Somto Cyril (9.3 PPG at Georgia), Nick Dorn (8.1 PPG at Indiana)
Incoming freshmen: Caleb Gaskins (four-star, No. 21 overall)
Miami was another team that exceeded expectations last season in its first year under Jai Lucas, and now the Hurricanes have brought in another loaded portal class. Goode and Bland were great scorers at mid-majors last year, Lewis is a talented guard from Villanova, and Henderson is a potential first-rounder in 2027.
20. Gonzaga
Expected to return: Braden Huff (17.8 PPG), Davis Fogle (8.6 PPG), Mario Saint-Supery (8.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Massamba Diop (13.6 PPG at Arizona State), Isiah Harwell (3.6 PPG at Houston)
Incoming freshmen: Luca Foster (four-star, No. 40 overall), Sam Funches (four-star, No. 90 overall), Jack Kayil (four-star)
Diop has big shoes to fill in Spokane after Graham Ike’s departure, but Mark Few and the Zags should still have a very good team next season. Huff was sorely missed in the NCAA Tournament, but he is one of the best bigs in college basketball and should be back healthy to lead Gonzaga into the Mountain West.
21. Missouri
Expected to return: Trent Pierce (10.4 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jamier Jones (11.9 PPG at Providence), Kennard Davis Jr. (8.5 PPG at BYU), Bryson Tiller (7.9 PPG at Kansas), Jaylen Carey (7.4 PPG at Tennessee)
Incoming freshmen: Jason Crowe (five-star, No. 5 overall), Toni Bryant (four-star, No. 28 overall), Aiden Chronister (four-star, No. 73 overall)
Dennis Gates has built a competitive team year over year at Missouri, but now he has added some top-end talent from the recruiting ranks. Crowe is a top-five recruit and projects to be a star right away, while Tiller and Carey give the Tigers some good size up front.
22. Nebraska
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Expected to return: Pryce Sandfort (17.9 PPG), Braden Frager (11.7 PPG), Connor Essegian (5.4 PPG), Cale Jacobsen (4.6 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Damon Wilkinson (13.9 PPG at South Dakota State), Sam Orme (12.7 PPG at Belmont), Trevan Leonhardt (11.9 PPG at Utah Valley), Boden Kapke (10.6 PPG at Boston College)
Incoming freshmen: Colin Rice (four-star, No. 82 overall), Jacob Lanier (four-star, No. 97 overall)
Nebraska got its first-ever NCAA Tournament win this season, and now it is getting a ton of reinforcements back. Sandfort will be one of the favorites to be the Big Ten Player of the Year next season. Fred Hoiberg also added a number of quality transfers from the mid-major level to fill out the depth on this Cornhuskers roster.
23. Kansas
Expected to return: N/A
Incoming transfers: Leroy Blyden Jr. (16.5 PPG at Toledo), Keanu Dawes (12.5 PPG at Utah), Christian Reeves (11.1 PPG at Charleston)
Incoming freshmen: Tyran Stokes (five-star, No. 1 overall), Taylen Kinney (five-star, No. 13 overall), Davion Adkins (four-star, No. 71 overall), Trent Perry (four-star, No. 95 overall), Luke Barnett (four-star, No. 141 overall), Grant Mordini (unranked)
Kansas is losing a ton of pieces from what was a very good team last season, and Bill Self didn’t do all that great in the portal apart from a solid attrition in Blyden. However, No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes is heading to Lawrence to fill the Darryn Peterson role.
24. Saint Louis
Expected to return: Trey Green (10.7 PPG), Amari McCottry (10.5 PPG), Kellen Thames (9.7 PPG), Quentin Jones (9.1 PPG), Ishan Sharma (9.1 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Elijah Strong (10.0 PPG at South Carolina), Alon Michaeli (7.1 PPG at Colorado)
Incoming freshmen: Jermel Thomas (four-star, No. 136 overall), Jamison White (three-star, No. 216 overall)
Saint Louis is losing Robbie Avila from a team that comfortably got an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament last season, but Josh Schertz and company are bringing back most of the 2025-26 rotation and reloading with a couple of quality transfers. Thomas is a talented recruit who should also contribute right away off the bench.
25. Texas Tech
Expected to return: JT Toppin (21.8 PPG), Josiah Moseley (5.5 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (20.7 PPG at UNLV), Cruz Davis (20.1 PPG at Hofstra), Damarion Dennis (11.2 PPG at Wyoming)
Incoming freshmen: Dakari Spear (four-star, No. 48 overall)
Toppin’s timeline for a return is unclear after tearing his ACL in late February, and it’s at least on the table that he would redshirt and come back fully healthy for the 2027-28 season. However, if he does come back at some point this season, the Red Raiders would have one of the best players in all of college basketball and deserve a mention on this list.
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