With the 2023-24 season a thing of the past, the transfer portal movement starts to show fans what their team will look like in 2024-25. The time has come for an updated way-too-early Top 25 rankings to showcase the recent movement across the sport.
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:
Here is a way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2024-25 season.
Key returns: LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, Emanuel Sharp, Ja’Vier Francis, Terrance Arceneaux
Key additions: Milos Uzan
Key departures: Damian Dunn, Jamal Shead
Houston holds off Kansas, Alabama and Baylor who have begun an arms race in the transfer portal thanks to the continuity they bring. Replacing Jamal Shead will not be easy, but is part of the Kelvin Sampson system.
Key returns: Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, Hunter Dickinson
Key additions: Zeke Mayo, Riley Kugel, Flory Bidunga, AJ Storr, Labaron Philon, Rakease Passmore
Key departures: Kevin McCullar Jr., Nick Timberlake, Johnny Furphy*
Bill Self again made big splashes in the transfer portal to cement Kansas as a top team in the country. The roster is now taking shape with only a few empty spots left.
Key returns: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell, Jarin Stevenson
Key additions: Derrion Reid, Aidan Sherrell, Houston Mallette, Chris Youngblood, Naas Cunningham, Aden Holloway
Key departures: Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, Nick Pringle, Sam Walters
Alabama made big headlines by not only landing a top point guard from the portal, but getting a former Auburn player to flip sides of the rivalry. NBA Draft decisions remain a topic of discussion, as do key transfer visits coming up.
Key returns: Jalen Bridges, Langston Love, Jayden Nunn
Key additions: VJ Edgecombe, Rob Wright, Jason Asemota, Jeremy Roach
Key departures: Ja’Kobe Walter, Yves Missi, RayJ Dennis
Despite has been able to replace like for like at several key spots this offseason, and now lands former Duke guard Jeremy Roach. The balance of talent and experience brings them up the board.
Key returns: Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster
Key additions: Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patick Ngongba, Darren Harris, Maliq Brown
Key departures: Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain, Mark Mitchell, Jeremy Roach
The No. 1 recruiting class belongs to Duke and Jon Scheyer. Top-ranked recruit Cooper Flagg is joined by a talented group on the way in, plus a clear transfer portal plan to add around them starting to play out.
Key returns: Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson
Key additions: Tarris Reed, Ahmad Nowell
Key departures: Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle*, Cam Spencer
The back-to-back champions are a tempting pick for No. 1 based on nothing more than recent track record. However, the Huskies have started to rebuild the roster with a splash and plenty more connections still in play.
Key returns: Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Ben Gregg, Braden Huff, Steele Venters
Key additions: Michael Ajayi
Key departures: Anton Watson
Gonzaga spent much of last season answering questions about the level of talent on the roster compared to past years. However, they answered all the questions. Now they enter 2024-25 with an added scoring punch from a healthy Steele Venters and transfer Michael Ajayi.
Key returns: Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones, Dylan Cardwell
Key additions: Tahaad Pettiford, JP Pegues
Key departures: Jaylin Williams, Aden Holloway, KD Johnson, Tre Donaldson
Auburn got a transfer portal commitment from JP Pegues over the past week, adding to their collection of backcourt talent heading into next season beside Tahaad Pettiford. The Tigers remain in a close race for the final spots inside the Top 10 of the way-too-early rankings.
Key returns: Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Milan Momcilovic
Key additions: Nate Heise, Dishon Jackson, Brandton Chatfield
Key departures: Tre King, Robert Jones, Hason Ward
Iowa State was a darling of the analytic machines this season, and could bring back a majority of the production from the team. They have already started the process of adding pieces through the transfer portal as well.
Key returns: Kam Jones, David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross, Sean Jones, Ben Gold
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Oso Ighodaro, Tyler Kolek
Marquette lost Oso Ighodaro and Tyler Kolek to the NBA Draft, but brings back the rest of their key pieces from the 2023-24 season. Adding one of two pieces could take them over the top in the conversation for a Top 10 spot.
11. Creighton
Key returns: Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Miller
Key additions: Jackson McAndrew
Key departures: Baylor Scheierman
12. North Carolina
Key returns: RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau
Key additions: Ian Jackson, Drake Powell
Key departures: Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, Seth Trimble
13. Providence
Key returns: Bryce Hopkins, Jayden Pierre
Key additions: Bensley Joseph, Christ Essandoko, Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Wesley Cardet
Key departures: Devin Carter, Josh Oduro, Ticket Gaines
14. Florida
Key returns: Walter Clayton, Will Richard, Alex Condon, Micah Handlogten
Key additions: Sam Alexis, Rueben Chinyelu, Alijah Martin
Key departures: Zyon Pullin, Riley Kugel, Tyrese Samuel
15. Texas
Key returns: Kadin Shedrick, Chendall Weaver
Key additions: Tre Johnson, Tramon Mark, Julian Larry, Jayson Kent
Key departures: Max Abmas, Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter, Dillon Mitchell
16. Arizona
Key returns: Pelle Larsson, Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant, Jamari Phillips
Key departures: Keshad Johnson, Oumar Ballo, Kylan Boswell
17. Purdue
Key returns: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn
Key additions: Kanon Catchings
Key departures: Zach Edey, Lance Jones, Mason Gillis
18. Clemson
Key returns: Chase Hunter, PJ Hall, Ian Schieffelin, Chauncey Wiggins, Jake Heidbreder
Key additions: Viktor Lahkin, Jaeden Zackery
Key departures: RJ Godfrey
19. Tennessee
Key returns: Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey
Key additions: Darlinstone Dubar
Key departures: Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo, Tobe Awaka
20. UCLA
Key returns: Lazar Stefanovic, Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack
Key additions: Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau
Key departures: Adem Bona
21. New Mexico
Key returns: Donovan Dent, Nelly Jr. Joseph, JT Toppin, Mustapha Amzil, Tru Washington
Key additions: CJ Noland
Key departures: Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn
22. Indiana
Key returns: Trey Galloway, Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako
Key additions: Bryson Tucker, Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo, Kanaan Carlyle
Key departures: Xavier Johnson, Anthony Walker, Kel’el Ware
23. Texas A&M
Key returns: Wade Taylor, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman, Solomon Washington, Jace Carter, Manny Obaseki, Hayden Hefner
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Tyrece Radford
24. Miami
Key returns: Nigel Pack, Wooga Poplar, Matthew Cleveland, Kyshawn George
Key additions: Jalil Bethea, Lynn Kidd, Brandon Johnson, Austin Swartz
Key departures: Norchad Omier, Bensley Joseph
25. St. Mary’s
Key returns: Augustas Marciulionis, Mitchell Saxen, Luke Barrett
Key additions: N/A
Key departures: Alex Ducas, Joshua Jefferson, Aidan Mahaney, Mason Forbes
