School basketball rankings: Kansas, UConn, Alabama sit atop preseason high 25

Whereas soccer may be very a lot within the highlight throughout faculty campuses, backstage, one other journey to March is inching nearer. College basketball is simply over three weeks away, and heading into the 2024-25 marketing campaign, the game is in a wholesome place and in for an enchanting yr forward. 

For starters, you’ve a program in Connecticut that’s attempting to do one thing solely John Picket and UCLA can say they’ve executed in males’s faculty basketball historical past: win three consecutive nationwide championships. The Huskies are within the high three of my early high 25 rankings, with Dan Hurley reloading behind returning junior Alex Karaban. 

In Durham, North Carolina, there’s the largest freshman expertise we now have seen since Zion Williamson, with Cooper Flagg arriving at Duke. The 6-foot-9 specimen is an elite defensive participant with an ultra-high IQ and an evolving offensive sport that ought to result in him turning into the primary total decide within the 2025 NBA Draft.

Kansas is about to deliver Hunter Dickinson and a robust core again, whereas Invoice Self crushed it within the switch portal. In the meantime, Mike Woodson is poised to have one of the best crew of his tenure at Indiana with Malik Reneau and Arizona All-American switch Oumar Ballo charging the Hoosiers, and John Calipari begins a brand new period at Arkansas with what seems to be like a top-15 crew. 

After all of the roster turnover, teaching modifications and offseason shakeups, right here’s the place I stand with my preseason high 25.

1. Kansas Jayhawks

When judging a crew’s offseason, roster retention is the toughest space to achieve due to how energetic the switch portal and NIL local weather is, to not point out having the ability to get the correct gamers in your program to reload. Invoice Self and his workers get an A+ this time round, and that’s why I’ve the Jayhawks at No. 1. 

The Jayhawks return Dickinson, level guard Dajuan Harris, energy ahead KJ Adams, and so they deliver within the nation’s No. 3 switch class, per 247 Sports activities, which makes this offseason a slam dunk. The addition of Wisconsin switch AJ Storr, who averaged almost 17 factors per sport for the Badgers this previous season, can’t be overstated. He shall be the most effective scorers within the Big 12, if not the nation. 

2. UConn Huskies

When you’ve received the final two nationwide championships and brought your final 12 March Insanity video games by a mixed 260 factors, you reserve the correct to a top-three spot in my preseason rankings. 

Gone are Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, however Karaban’s return makes him the centerpiece and level guard Hassan Diarra seems to be poised to be the lead engineer of the offense. Saint Mary’s switch Aidan Mahaney and five-star freshman Liam McNeeley will assistance on the perimeter, with the massive query mark being simply how good the frontcourt shall be with Samson Johnson and Michigan switch Tarris Reed. 

One key merchandise for UConn would be the progress of Jaylin Stewart, Solomon Ball and the sophomore class, which might swing this crew’s ceiling upward. 

In speaking with Hurley and his workers, it was very obvious that McNeeley goes to make an affect straight away. “He’s as prepared as any freshman that has are available in,” Hurley mentioned, which is saying one thing contemplating Citadel was the fourth total decide in final June’s draft. “The work ethic, the capturing, a capability to get to the rim that’s higher than we ever thought, it’s all there.”

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Crimson Tide have one of the best participant within the nation in Mark Sears, who returns for his fifth season of faculty basketball after averaging a gaudy 21.5 factors, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per sport this previous season. His microwave scoring capability and dynamic talent set will cleared the path for Nate Oats’ program coming off the college’s first Remaining 4 look. Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell, and Jarin Stevenson are again, amongst others, whereas USF switch Chris Youngblood was an incredible portal add for the backcourt. Rutgers switch Cliff Omoruyi shall be the most effective bigs within the nation. 

4. Houston Cougars

It feels just like the Cougars are going to be a top-10, if not top-five staple yearly so long as coach Kelvin Sampson is round, as a result of he has constructed a juggernaut rooted in toughness down at Houston. 4 of this system’s 5 projected starters — L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis — are returning gamers, whereas Milos Uzan will assist in the playmaking class coming off a season wherein he averaged 9.0 factors and 4.4 assists per sport at Oklahoma. We’ll see how Houston’s bench comes collectively, however that first 5 is de facto sturdy. 

5. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Coming into his twenty sixth season in Spokane, Mark Few ought to have one of many high offensive groups in America. Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman give the Zags nice backcourt continuity, whereas Graham Ike is again following his first yr with this system wherein he averaged 16.5 factors and seven.4 rebounds per sport. The Zags added Arkansas switch Khalif Battle, who averaged almost 15 factors per sport final season within the SEC, and don’t sleep on Pepperdine switch Michael Ajayi’s versatility as nicely. 

Whereas the lack of Anton Watson to the professionals and the season-ending achilles damage to Steele Venters are powerful, Gonzaga nonetheless has Remaining 4 potential. One factor value monitoring is the form of leap we see from the supporting forged of Ben Gregg, Braden Huff and Dusty Stromer. 

One factor is for sure: the Zags are a secure wager in March. They’ve made the Candy 16 in 9 consecutive years and with this system discovering an upgraded residence in 2026 with the newly-renovated Pac-12, which incorporates the likes of event applications San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Washington State, Oregon State and extra, the vibes are sturdy for Few’s program. 

6. Iowa State Cyclones

It was 1944 when the Cyclones made the college’s solely Remaining 4. Eighty years later, the oldsters in Ames, Iowa, can dream of that situation. T.J. Otzelberger has executed an unbelievable job with this program and has wealthy roster continuity, with 4 of his 5 projected starters again from a Candy 16 crew. Tamin Lipsey (12.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.9 APG) is among the greatest guards in faculty basketball, Milan Momcilovic will make a sophomore leap, and the pickup of Saint Mary’s switch Joshua Jefferson was simply what this roster wanted because the 6-foot-8 ahead is coming off sophomore season. 

7. Duke Blue Devils

Whereas all eyes are on Flagg, and rightfully so, the Blue Devils have expertise past him, welcoming the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Middle Khaman Maluach is a specimen, whereas freshman wing Kon Knueppel is past his years on the subject of his IQ and shotmaking. Knueppel might find yourself being a top-five decide in subsequent June’s NBA Draft as a result of he’s past his years in maturity and does all the correct issues. 

My massive query: How constant will the guards play on this crew be? Will Tyrese Proctor be regular operating the purpose with Jeremy Roach gone to Baylor? Will Caleb Foster be constant on the No. 2-spot? One massive potential weapon is Tulane switch Sion James, who averaged 14 factors, 5.4 rebounds and a pair of.7 assists this previous season and may begin. If Flagg is making perimeter photographs, he may very well be the nationwide participant of the yr. It’s an enormous third season for Jon Scheyer, who got here a sport in need of the Remaining 4 final season. 

8. Baylor Bears

Should you can’t inform, the Huge 12 goes to be completely loaded once more this yr. The race for the convention champion shall be a heck of a marathon to look at. Scott Drew ushers within the No. 4-ranked recruiting class within the nation, per 247 Sports activities, highlighted by five-star freshman V.J. Edgecombe, who ought to match completely in Drew’s system and be the most effective rookies within the nation and a high NBA Draft prospect. The Bears additionally welcome a proficient switch class with Roach and Miami (Fla.) switch Norchard Omier. Double-figure scorers Langston Love and Jayden Nunn return to the fold as nicely for a crew that had the No. 2-ranked offense in America final yr, in keeping with KenPom. The large query: Will the brand new additions assist the protection, which was sub-100 final yr? 

9. Arizona Wildcats

Former North Carolina star Caleb Love is within the operating for first-team All-American consideration. The 6-foot-4 guard returns for his fifth season after averaging 18.0 factors, 4.8 rebounds and three.4 assists this previous season, charging the Wildcats to a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event and a Candy 16 journey. Will probably be fascinating to see how Tommy Lloyd, who has gone 88-20 in his first three years however has struggled in March, fares in this system’s first yr within the loaded Huge 12. 

The lack of Ballo places the highlight on Motiejus Krivas at heart, however Oakland switch Trey Townsend must be a extremely productive choice on the 4. Look out for Campbell switch Anthony Dell’Orso, who has a extremely versatile talent set for a wing participant that’ll result in him being on NBA radars. 

10. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels spherical out the highest ten as a result of they’ve a returning famous person pretty much as good as any within the nation with fifth-year guard RJ Davis, however that’s not the one purpose. All indicators level to Davis having a new-and-improved sophomore alongside him in Elliot Cadeau, who was the story of ACC media days after what fourth-year coach Hubert Davis mentioned about him.

How will the Tar Heels deal with life with out Armando Bacot on the glass? Vanderbilt switch Ven Allen-Lubin is positioned to be the beginning 5-man, whereas Belmont switch Cade Tyson may very well be the X-factor, however this crew goes to be smaller as there’s nobody alternative for the manufacturing that their former All-American delivered. One freshman identify to look at: Ian Jackson. The five-star New York native is a 6-foot-4 guard who is hard to deal with in transition, one thing that can play fairly nicely in Chapel Hill.

11. Tennessee Volunteers

We’ve develop into so conditioned to seeing the Volunteers be the most effective defensive groups within the nation, however what allowed them to achieve the Elite Eight for the primary time in 14 years was Dalton Knecht operating a top-30 offense. Veteran guard Zakai Zeigler is again to steer the crew, and he has one other bucket-getting switch guard in Chaz Lanier, who arrived from North Florida after averaging 20.0 factors per sport final season. 

12. Creighton Bluejays

The Bluejays, who’ve been one of many nation’s most constant applications with three Candy 16 appearances previously 4 years, have a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award candidate in Ryan Kalkbrenner again at heart and Steven Ashworth to run the purpose. Texas Tech switch Pop Isaacs will slot in completely in Greg McDermott’s system. 

13. Arkansas Razorbacks

Let the Calipari Period start. After one of the stunning teaching strikes in faculty basketball historical past, the Corridor of Famer takes over the Razorbacks with a high-impact switch in guard Johnell Davis, together with Tennessee switch Jonas Aidoo. The large query: Can the fellows who adopted Calipari from Kentucky — D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic — evolve and make a constant affect? Wagner is so necessary as to whether or not Arkansas is a top-15 crew or only a event crew. 

14. Purdue Boilermakers

The Big Ten preseason favorites will certainly look totally different from a personnel standpoint as a result of back-to-back nationwide participant of the yr Zach Edey is gone to the NBA. However the Boilermakers have considered one of America’s greatest backcourts with Huge Ten preseason participant of the yr Braden Smith alongside Fletcher Loyer. Matt Painter says junior Trey Kaufman-Renn is poised to make a leap. The breakout scoring candidate for Purdue shall be sophomore Cam Heide, who shot 45% from 3-point land in restricted minutes as a freshman. 

15. Auburn Tigers

Bruce Pearl returns an All-American in Johni Broome from a 27-8 crew that’s out for redemption after a first-round loss to Yale within the NCAA Event final season. The important thing for the Tigers shall be Furman switch JP Pegues, who averaged 18.0 factors, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per sport final season. 

16. Indiana Hoosiers

Yr 4 of the Woodson Period brings a wealthy quantity of buzz that the Hoosiers might contend for the Huge Ten title. They reeled within the nation’s No. 2-ranked switch class headlined by massive man Ballo (Arizona) together with guards Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and Myles Rice (Washington State). With Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and veteran Trey Galloway within the fold, every thing is on the desk for an enormous yr in Bloomington. 

17. UCLA Bruins

Because the Bruins enter the Huge Ten, they need to be one of many league’s greatest groups with Dylan Andrews as one of many high guards within the convention and a pacesetter on the wing in Kobe Johnson. I wouldn’t wager towards Mick Cronin to have a second straight down yr.  

19. Xavier Musketeers

Just like Cronin, Sean Miller just isn’t having a second consecutive disappointing season. In reality, I feel Xavier can contend for the Big East crown and be a top-10 crew if every thing goes proper. Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter are again, whereas Indiana State switch Ryan Conwell may very well be a first-team All-Huge East choice this season. 

19. Cincinnati Bearcats

This feels just like the yr for the Bearcats to make the Huge Dance for the primary time since 2019. 4 of their 5 projected starters are again, headlined by Dan Skillings, Simas Lukosius and Day Day Thomas. 

20. Texas A&M Aggies

The Wade Taylor present has one other act, because the senior guard shall be one of many nation’s most impactful gamers. Can the Aggies keep away from a gradual begin to the season? 

21. Marquette Golden Eagles

Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro is likely to be gone, however Shaka Sensible has purchased into participant improvement and never diving into the switch portal. He has a Huge East Participant of the Yr and All-American candidate in Kam Jones. My X-factor: Ben Gold. 

22. Kentucky Wildcats

The Mark Pope Period is right here, and the Wildcats have quite a lot of depth. Individuals appear to neglect he took BYU into the nation’s high convention, the Huge 12, and went to the event with a top-25 caliber crew. Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea are going to make a deadly duo, and I feel the Cats may very well be an actual darkish horse come March. 

23. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Grant McCasland is aware of tips on how to coach protection at a excessive degree and usher in versatile expertise. Search for Minnesota switch Elijah Hawkins to be one of many nation’s help leaders at level guard and New Mexico switch JT Toppin to get on NBA Draft radars. 

24. Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels have a extremely proficient roster with veteran items in Matthew Murrell, Virginia Tech switch Sean Pedulla and Seton Hall switch Dre Davis. I might see this program making its first Candy 16 since 2001, and solely the second in its historical past, if every thing goes proper. 

25. Illinois Fighting Illini

Sure, the Illini misplaced a number of vital items, however I’m shopping for Brad Underwood and his workers’s capability to reload. Arizona switch Kylan Boswell is so crucial to this crew’s success within the backcourt with the X-factor being Evansville switch Ben Humrichous. The 6-foot-9 ahead might have an identical affect to what Marcus Domask had final yr in Champaign.

John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in a wide range of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Discipline of 68 Media Community. Observe him on at @John_Fanta.

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