4 Purdue — 24-12 This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning five of the top six scorers – specifically Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Daniel Jacobsen and C.J.
Cox – from a team that finished 24-12 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland and four-star freshmen CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd.
8 Michigan 1 27-10 This ranking is based on the Wolverines returning three of the top eight scorers — specifically Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and L.J.
Cason — from a team that finished 27-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
1.
Houston. .
— 35–5.
This ranking is predicated on the Cougars bringing back three of the top seven scorers from a team that finished 35-5 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament championship game: Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, and Joseph Tugler. A recruiting class that includes five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr., Sam Houston transfer Kalifa Sakho, and Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs will join that core. and Kingston Flemings and Isiah Harwell, two four-star freshmen.
2.
In St. John’s.
The score was 31-5.
The Red Storm’s return of one of the top two scorers, Zuby Ejiofor, from a 31-5 team that made it to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament is the basis for this ranking. Transfers Ian Jackson from North Carolina, Bryce Hopkins from Providence, Joson Sanon from Arizona State, Dillon Mitchell from Cincinnati, Oziyah Sellers from Stanford, Dylan Darling from Idaho State, Handje Tamba from the NAIA, international prospect Imran Suljanovic, and four-star freshman Kelvin Odih will join that core.
3. .
BYU. .
— 26–10.
Based on the Cougars bringing back four of the top 10 scorers from a team that finished 26-10 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, this ranking was determined. The players are Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, and Mihailo Boskovic. A recruiting class that includes Baylor transfer Robert Wright, Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis, UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens, Washington transfer Dominique Diomande, Idaho transfer Tyler Mrus, five-star freshman AJ Dybantsa, and four-star freshman Xavion Staton will join that core.
4. .
Purdue.
— 24-12.
This ranking is predicated on the Boilermakers bringing back five of the top six scorers, namely Daniel Jacobsen, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and C. The J. Cox was a member of a squad that went to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 after finishing 24-12. The recruiting class that will join that core will be led by international prospect Omer Mayer, North Florida transfer Liam Murphy, and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff.
5.
Connecticut University.
24-11.
Four of the top seven scorers—Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed, and Jaylin Stewart—were returned by the Huskies from a squad that finished 24-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which is the basis for this ranking. The recruiting class that will join that core will be led by Silas Demary Jr., a transfer from Georgia. three-star freshman Jacob Ross, four-star freshman Eric Reibe, five-star freshman Braylon Mullins, and Dayton transfer Malachi Smith.
6.
Florida.
9—36–4.
This ranking is predicated on the Gators bringing back five of the top 10 scorers from a team that finished 36-4 and won the 2025 NCAA Tournament: Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Urban Klavzar, and Micah Handlogten. A recruiting class that includes four-star freshmen CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd, Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland, and Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee will join that core.
Seven.
Texas Tech.
28-9.
Based on the Red Raiders bringing back two of the top four scorers from a team that finished 28-9 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, this ranking was determined. These players are JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. Washington State transfer LeJuan Watts, UNC Greensboro transfer Donovan Atwell, Villanova transfer Josiah Moseley, VCU transfer Luke Bamgboye, and redshirt freshmen Marial Akuentok will all join that core.
Eight.
Michigan.
1 27 -10.
This ranking is predicated on the Wolverines, specifically Roddy Gayle Jr., returning three of the top eight scorers. Nimari Burnett, along with L. J. . Cason—from a squad that went to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 after finishing 27-10. A recruiting class led by Illinois transfer Morez Johnson Jr. and UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg will join that core. Four-star freshmen Trey McKenney and Winters Grady, UCLA transfer Aday Mara, and Elliot Cadeau, a transfer from North Carolina.
Nine.
Duke.
135-4.
Three of the top nine scorers, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, and Patrick Ngongba, were returned by the Blue Devils from a team that finished 35-4 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four, which is the basis for this ranking. A recruiting class led by Rice transfer Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, Washington State transfer Cedric Coward, five-star freshman Cameron Boozer, and four-star freshmen Cayden Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia will join that core.
10.
UCLA.
1 23-11.
The Bruins returning three of the top four scorers—Tyler Bilodeau and Eric Dailey Jr.—is the basis for this ranking. and Skyy Clark—from a squad that went to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament after finishing 23-11. Donovan Dent, a transfer from New Mexico, Xavier Booker, a transfer from Michigan State, Jamar Brown, a transfer from Kansas City, Steven Jamerson, a transfer from San Diego, and Anthony Peoples Jr., a transfer from North Carolina Central, will join that core.
11. .
Arizona.
24-13.
This ranking is predicated on the Wildcats bringing back four of the top eight scorers from a squad that finished 24-13 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Motiejus Krivas, and Anthony Dell’Orso. The recruiting class that will join that core includes four-star freshman Dwayne Aristode, five-star freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, and Harvard transfer Evan Nelson.
11.
Kentucky. .
1 24 12.
The Wildcats’ return of two of the top seven scorers, Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison, from a squad that finished 24-12 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 is the basis for this ranking. A recruiting class that includes four-star freshmen Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance, Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate, Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe, Tulane transfer Kam Williams, Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen, and Miami (Ohio) transfer Reece Potter will join that core.
13. .
Iowa Street.
25-10.
This ranking is predicated on the Cyclones bringing back three of the top five scorers from a team that finished 25-10 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s second round: Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic, and Tamin Lipsey. Virginia transfer Blake Buchanan, Purdue Fort Wayne transfer Eric Mulder, Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams, Utah Valley transfer Dominick Nelson, and four-star freshman Jamarion Batemon will be among the recruiting class that joins that core.
14. .
Louisville. .
27-8.
J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor, two of the top five scorers, were returned by the Cardinals from a 27-8 team that qualified for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This ranking is based on that fact. This core will be joined by a recruiting class that includes four-star freshman Sananda Fru, five-star freshman Mikel Brown, Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell, Kennesaw State transfer Adrian Wooley, and Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely.
15. 15.
St.
1 30-7.
Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, Jeremy Fears, and Carson Cooper are the four top eight scorers that the Spartans returned from a team that finished 30-7 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, which is the basis for this ranking. A recruiting class led by Samford transfer Trey Fort, FAU transfer Kaleb Glenn, Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu, and four-star freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott will join that core.
16. 16.
Portland.
25–10.
This ranking is predicated on the Ducks bringing back four of the top ten scorers, namely Kwame Evans Jr., Jackson Shelstad, and Nate Bittle. and Jamari Phillips, from a squad that topped 25-10 and went to the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s second round. Three-star freshman JJ Frakes, Elon transfer TK Simpkins, and Ohio State transfer Sean Stewart will be among the recruiting class that joins that core.
17.
K.C.
21–13.
Flory Bidunga, one of the top seven scorers, was returned by the Jayhawks from a 21-13 team that qualified for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This ranking is based on that fact. A recruiting class that includes Illinois transfer Tre White, Loyola Chicago transfer Jayden Dawson, and St. Elmarko Jackson, a former five-star prospect who missed the previous season due to a knee injury, is joined by Bonaventure transfer Melvin Council, five-star freshman Darryn Peterson, four-star freshman Samis Calderon, and three-star freshman Corbin Allen.
18.
Auburn.
— 32–06.
The Tigers’ return of one of the top three scorers, in this case Tahaad Pettiford, from a 32-6 squad that made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four is the basis for this ranking. A recruiting class that includes four-star freshmen Sebastian Williams-Adams and Kaden Magwood, UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall, Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy, Texas Tech transfer Kevin Overton, Lincoln Memorial transfer Elyjah Freeman, and JUCO transfer Abdul Bashir will join that core.
19. .
Arkansas. .
— 22–14. .
This ranking is based on the Razorbacks bringing back four of the top nine scorers from a team that finished 22-14 and made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: DJ Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, and Billy Richmond III. A class of recruits, led by five-star freshmen Darius Acuff Jr., Nick Pringle, a transfer from South Carolina, and Florida State transfer Malique Ewin, will join that core. Meleek Thomas as well.
Twenty.
Tennessee. .
— 30-8.
According to this ranking, the Vols will return three of the top eight scorers, including Felix Okpara, J. P. . Esterella and Cade Phillips—from a squad that made it to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight with a 30-8 record. This core will be joined by a recruiting class that includes four-star freshmen Amari Evans and DeWayne Brown, five-star freshman Nate Ament, Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram, Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey, and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
20.
Gonzá.
— 26-9.
This ranking is predicated on the Zags bringing back four of the top 10 scorers from a team that finished 26-9 and made it to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament: Graham Ike, Braden Huff, Ismaila Diagne, and Emmanuel Innocenti. A recruiting class that includes Virginia transfer Jalen Warley, Arizona State transfer Adam Miller, Colgate transfer Braeden Smith, four-star freshman Davis Fogle, and three-star freshman Parker Jefferson will join that core. Additionally, Steele Venters, who has missed the previous two seasons due to injury, will return.
21.
Texas. .
— 19–16.
The Longhorns’ return of three of the top six scorers, namely Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, and Chendall Weaver, from a squad that finished 19-16 and advanced to the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, is the basis for this ranking. A recruiting class that includes Purdue transfer Camden Heide, FAU transfer Matas Vokietaitis, Xavier transfer Lassina Traore, and St. Four-star rookie John Clark, Simeon Wilcher, a transfer from John’s, and Dailyn Swain, a transfer from Xavier.
23.
Illinois.
23–13.
This ranking is predicated on the Illini bringing back two of the top four scorers from a 22-13 campaign that advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s second round: Kylan Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic. They will be joined by a recruiting class that includes international prospects David Morkovic and Mihailo Petrovic, four-star prospects Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler, Andrej Stojakovic, a transfer from Cal, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Ty Rodgers, who missed the previous season due to an injury.
24.
Alabama.
28-9.
The Crimson Tide, in particular Latrell Wrightsell Jr., returned two of the top four scorers, which is the basis for this ranking. and Aden Hollowayl – from a squad that qualified for the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight after finishing 28-9. Miami transfer Jalil Bethea, Florida State transfer Tayor Bol Bowen, Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, Tarleton State transfer Keiteen Bristow, and four-star freshmen London Jemison, Davion Hannah, and Amari Allen will be among the recruiting class that joins that core.
25.
Wisconsin.
27-10.
This ranking is predicated on the Badgers bringing back three of the top nine scorers from a squad that finished 27-10 and made it to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament: John Blackwell, Nolan Winter, and Jack Janicki. Four-star freshman Zach Kinziger, international prospect Aleksas Bieliauskas, Portland transfer Austin Rapp, Tulsa transfer Braeden Carrington, San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd, and Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde will all be part of the recruiting class that will join that core.
26.
Ohio Street.
17–15.
