The 2024-2025 college basketball season is coming to a close. Fans will be looking forward to next season, even if it is hard to forecast. Things will be even more up in the air with so many players in the transfer portal. Either way, here is the way too early 2025-2026 college basketball top 25.
Note: This will be updated throughout the month.
25. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame didn’t have a great season this past year, but they do have some solid players. Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry are both expected back and Notre Dame has the third-ranked recruiting class for next season, so things could improve quickly.
24. North Carolina Tar Heels
Losing RJ Davis and Elliott Cadeau will be tough, but North Carolina could have enough returning with new additions to have a better season. Henri Veesaar and Jonathan Powell are coming in through the transfer portal. If Ian Jackson and Drake Powell return and their ninth-rated recruiting class pans out, things could look different in Chapel Hill.
23. Baylor Bears
VJ Edgecome is likely off to the NBA and other players are leaving the program. Robert Wright III had a good freshman season and the Bears have a top 10 portal class so far this offseason.
22. Michigan State Spartans
If Michigan State can keep their freshman from this past season, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jase Richardson, together, they could rank much higher on this list. The Spartans are losing Xavier Booker and Tre Hollomon to the portal, but have a decent amount returning next year, including Jaxon Kohler and Coen Carr.
21. Iowa Hawkeyes
Ben McCollum has five transfers coming in from Drake, including one of the best available players Bennett Stirtz. They showed in the NCAA Tournament that they could compete with bigger teams, which is what they’ll have to do in the Big Ten.
20. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois will have Kylan Boswell returning next year, along with Tomislav Ivisic. Kasparas Jakucionis could return as well, but he is likely leaving for the pros. If they retain some others, Illinois could be formidable again next season.
19. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Getting Josh Hubbard back will be huge for the Bulldogs. They are also expected to return Keyshawn Murphy. While others are leaving the program, the Bulldogs have the beginning of a good roster, which is more than a lot of teams can say.
18. Missouri Tigers
Mark Mitchell is currently expected to return, along with Anthony Robinson. Dennis Gates had a great turnaround last season and if he can add some transfers, another good season could be in store.
17. South Carolina Gamecocks
Meechie Johnson is returning to South Carolina after playing a few games for Ohio State and Collin Murray-Boyles has not declared for the NBA Draft at the time of writing. They have four total transfer commitments, including Treysen Eaglestaff from North Dakota.
16. Florida Gators
Florida will need to get more guards, but they can build around Denzel Aberdeen, who has been good off the bench for them. He can run the team and will be aided by Thomas Haugh, Reuben Chinyelu, Micah Handlogten and possibly Alex Condon if he chooses to stay in college.
15. Michigan Wolverines
Elliott Cadeau and Morez Johnson come in as transfers and can team up with Roddy Gayle, who will be looking to be more consistent next season. There is a chance Danny Wolf returns, but it is more likely he goes pro. If he returns, Michigan will move up the rankings.
14. Texas Longhorns
Sean Miller has worked quickly to start building his first roster at Texas. Tramon Mark is returning, along with Chendall Weaver and Jordan Pope. After showing potential on the defensive end, Dailyn Swain will join from Xavier.
13. UCLA Bruins
Getting Donovan Dent in the portal really propels UCLA up the rankings. He will be joined by the Bruins’ top two scorers from last season Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau.
12. Iowa State Cyclones
While some players are leaving, Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic are currently on track to return. They have three portal commits already to help fill in the roster, but Lipsey and Momcilovic will be expected to take steps forward.
11. Kentucky Wildcats
Otega Oweh possibly returning really bolsters Kentucky’s ranking. They also are likely to retain Collin Chandler, Travis Perry and Trent Noah. They have the sixth-ranked recruiting class as well, but they still need to add more through the portal after getting Kam Williams from Tulane.
10. Creighton Blue Jays
Creighton has hit the portal hard already. Nick Graves enters from Charlotte, while Josh Dix and Owen Freeman come in from Iowa to help fill huge voids. Jackson McAndrew is expected to return to give Creighton a good core to work with, although more will be needed.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas has yet to yield a transfer this offseason, but they do have the fourth-highest rated recruiting class. If they can retain DJ Wagner and Adou Thierro, they will have a good start for next season.
8. St. John’s Red Storm
While R.J. Luis has hit the transfer portal, St. John’s has reloaded with Bryce Hopkins and Joson Sanon. More will be needed for next season, but as of now, the Red Storm has a good start with the players coming in and the ones they are expected to retain.
7. BYU Cougars
The Cougars have a top recruit in A.J. Dybansta coming in, but also have a lot of possible returnees. Richie Saunders and Egor Demin could be back in Provo. If BYU gets everyone to return, they will be one of the best teams in the country.
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders
J.T. Toppin had a great season and has eligibility remaining. He could return with a core of Derrion Williams and Christian Anderson. There is work to be done in the portal, but the Red Raiders could have a strong core returning for next season.
5. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue has lost some players to the transfer portal, but they still have Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer returning. Those three by themselves should make them contenders for the Big Ten, but they have some more work to do in the portal to surround them with more talent.
4. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville has hit the transfer portal hard this offseason and are the no. 1 class in that regard. Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely and Aidran Wooley are all impact perimeter players. Pair that with some returning big men and the no. 6 overall player in the class, Mikel Brown and Louisville should be one of the better teams in the country.
3. Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils will surely lose some of their talented freshman this offseason, but they have the best-ranked recruiting class in the country, headlined by the Boozer twins. A few players will need to be retained or more transfers will be needed, but Duke should be competitive at the top of the sport again next season.
2. Houston Cougars
Houston is currently in the Final Four and will lose some star players. They could return Milos Uzan, Joseph Tugler and Emmanuel Sharp. They also have the second-rated recruiting class in the country entering the fold.
1. UConn Huskies
UConn will retain Solo Ball, but is also adding Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr., who was coveted in the portal. Pair that with the third-ranked recruiting class in the country (247), and Dan Hurley has a chance to be near the top of the sport again next season.
Go to our college basketball page for more news and updates like Way too Early 2025-2026 College Basketball Top 25!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
