Way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings 5.0: Juke Harris, more top transfers commit

With the transfer portal closed and the deadline to enter the NBA Draft as an early entrant in the rearview mirror, a majority of teams now have a clear picture where the Top 25 stands. As more top transfers commit to their new team, many programs have already assembled the core pieces they will rely on in 2026-27 via multiple routes.

Before getting into the top contenders next season, there are some rules to the exercise that 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:

• Not all NBA Draft decisions will be made for the player. They are considered back unless they are currently ranked inside the Top 25 of current NBA Draft Big Boards. Any other decisions will be accounted for when the player announces their plan moving forward.

• There are still a number of players whose eligibility for next season remains in question. While most players running out of eligibility face a clear picture, some will still apply for waivers, hoping to gain another year.

• Teams without a full rotation of returning and incoming players (eight scholarship athletes) at the time of ranking were not considered. They will be added to the mix after adding to the roster on the recruiting trail or through the transfer portal. Same for teams currently without a coach.

These rankings will repeatedly be updated as rosters shift throughout the offseason, with transfer portal decisions still coming in. Here is a fifth look at what the way-too-early Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2026-27 season.

1. Florida

Key returns: Isaiah Brown, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Thomas Haugh, Urban Klavzar
Key additions: Denzel Aberdeen*, Arturas Butajevas, Domen Petrovic
Key departures: Xaivian Lee

Florida has plenty of talent set to return for the 2026-27 season, bringing back valuable pieces to the backcourt and frontcourt. The latest news that Thomas Haugh will return for another season alongside Alex Condon is enough to push them into the top spot, with another international reinforcement coming.

2. Michigan

Key returns: Elliot Cadeau, LJ Cason, Trey McKenney
Key additions: Lincoln Cosby, Quinn Costello, JP Estrella*, Brandon McCoy, Jalen Reed*, Moustapha Thiam*
Key departures: Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle, Morez Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara

Michigan looks likely to stay near the top of college basketball next season, with key pieces currently projected to return, along with big additions. The Wolverines have once again invested big in the frontcourt across recruiting and the transfer portal.

3. UConn

Key returns: Solomon Ball, Silas Demary, Braylon Mullins
Key additions: Junior County, Najai Hines*, Nikolas Khamenia*, Colben Landrew, Nils Machowski*
Key departures: Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed, Eric Reibe

UConn could get back the core of a talented backcourt next season, also hitting the recruiting trail for a talented group of players. The addition of Najai Hines was backed up by the return of star freshman Braylon Mullins, while offseason surgery for Solo Ball will hurt.

4. Duke

Key returns: Cayden Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patick Ngongba, Dame Sarr
Key additions: John Blackwell*, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Bryson Howard, Deron Rippey, Drew Scharnowski*, Jacob Theodosiou*, Cameron Williams
Key departures: Cameron Boozer, Maliq Brown, Nikolas Khamenia

Duke puts together another top-end recruiting class with multiple top prospects, all slotting in different areas of the court. The Blue Devils have confirmed the return of Cayden Boozer and Patrick Ngongba while adding a pair of highly-rated transfers.

5. Michigan State

Key returns: Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears, Jordan Scott, Kur Teng, Cameron Ward
Key additions: Anton Bonke*, Jasiah Jervis, Ethan Taylor
Key departures: Carson Cooper, Jaxson Kohler, Divine Ugochukwu

Michigan State will bring back plenty of talent to the backcourt and the wings next season, although the frontcourt will see big turnover. The incoming recruiting class will help fill gaps, but it will be a position to watch in the transfer portal.

6. Houston

Key returns: Mercy Miller, JoJo Tugler
Key additions: Ikenna Alozie, Arafan Diane, Braden East*, Delrecco Gillespie*, Corey Hadnot*, Dedan Thomas*
Key departures: Chris Cenac, Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan

Houston remains a top team year after year, bringing in another talented recruiting class to complement a returning group. The Cougars also did early work in the transfer portal, quickly building out a solid rotation for next season.

7. Arkansas

Key returns: Billy Richmond, Meleek Thomas
Key additions: JJ Andrews, Cooper Bowser*, Miikka Muurinen, Jordan Smith, Abdou Toure, Jeremiah Wilkinson*
Key departures: Darius Acuff, Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin, Karter Knox, DJ Wagner

Arkansas loses plenty scoring punch from last season, but lands one of the top recruiting classes in college basketball. The Razorbacks have added on both ends of the lineup through the transfer portal, also landing international star Miikka Muurinen.

8. Illinois

Key returns: Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic
Key additions: Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo, Stefan Vaaks*
Key departures: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Keaton Wagler

Illinois can bring back a good chunk of its talent next season, setting it up to bring in a talented freshman class ready to run the backcourt. The addition of Stefan Vaaks through the transfer portal will help ease that transition as they build on last season.

9. Virginia

Key returns: Thijs De Ridder, Johann Grunloh, Sam Lewis, Chance Mallory
Key additions: Jurian Dixon*, Christian Harmon*
Key departures: Dallin Hall, Ugonna Onyenso, Malik Thomas, Jacari White

Virginia continues to fill out its rotation around a returning core which features multiple starters from last season’s highly-ranked team. Now on the board with two transfer additions, the depth of this group continues to push them up the rankings.

10. Arizona

Key returns: Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Derek Dixon*, Cameron Holmes, Caleb Holt, JJ Mandaquit*
Key departures: Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, Anthony Dell’Orso, Koa Peat

Arizona projects to lose plenty of talent from its Final Four run, including two freshmen with lottery potential in the NBA Draft. However, the Wildcats retain important pieces on the wing and in the frontcourt, with another star-studded list of freshmen on the way.

Ranking 11-25

11. Gonzaga
Key returns: Davis Fogle, Braden Huff, Mario Saint-Supery
Key additions: Massamba Diop*, Jack Kayil
Key departures: Tyon Grant-Foster, Graham Ike, Emmanuel Innocenti, Adam Miller, Braeden Smith, Steele Venters, Jalen Warley

12. Purdue
Key returns: CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Omer Mayer
Key additions: Luke Ertel, Caden Pierce*
Key departures: Oscar Cluff, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith

13. Texas
Key returns: Matas Vokietaitis
Key additions: Elyjah Freeman*, Austin Goosby, Isaiah Johnson*, Mikey Lewis*, Bo Ogden, David Punch*
Key departures: Camden Heide, Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope, Dailyn Swain, Chendall Weaver, Simeon Wilcher

14. Louisville
Key returns: Adrian Wooley
Key additions: Flory Bidunga*, Obinna Ekezie, Alvaro Folgueiras*, Karter Knox*, De’Shayne Montgomery*, Jackson Shelstad*
Key departures: Mikel Brown, Ryan Conwell, Sanandra Fru, J’Vonne Hadley, Isaac McKneely, Khani Rooths

15. Tennessee
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Dai Dai Ames*, Jalen Haralson*, Juke Harris*, Terrence Hill*, Braedan Lue*, Tyler Lundblade*, Miles Rubin*, Chris Washington
Key departures: Nate Ament, Bishop Boswell, Jaylen Carey, JP Estrella, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara

16. Vanderbilt
Key returns: Tyler Tanner
Key additions: TO Barrett*, Berke Buyuktuncel*, Bangot Dak*, Ace Glass*, Sebastian Williams-Adams*
Key departures: Frankie Collins, Tyler Harris, Devin McGlockton, Duke Miles, Tyler Nickel, AK Okereke, Jalen Washington

17. Indiana
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Markus Burton*, Bryce Lindsay*, Jaeden Mustaf*, Aiden Sherrell*, Samet Yigitoglu*
Key departures: Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey, Tayton Conerway, Tucker DeVries, Nick Dorn, Lamar Wilkerson

18. Alabama
Key returns: Aden Holloway, London Jemison
Key additions: Cole Cloer*, Drew Fielder*, Jaxon Richardson, Qayden Samuels
Key departures: Amari Allen, Taylor Bol Bowen, Houston Mallette, Labaron Philon, Aiden Sherrell, Latrell Wrightsell

19. Texas Tech
Key returns: Christian Anderson, Josiah Moseley, JT Toppin
Key additions: Cruz Davis*, Damarion Dennis*, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn*, Dakari Spear
Key departures: Donovan Atwell, Tyeree Bryan, Jaylen Petty, LeJuan Watts

20. Iowa State
Key returns: Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan, Killyan Toure
Key additions: Leon Bond*, Jaquan Johnson*, Ryan Prather*, Tre Singleton*
Key departures: Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, Nate Heise

21. Miami
Key returns: Dante Allen, Marcus Allen, Shelton Henderson
Key additions: Brent Bland*, Somto Cyril*, Nick Dorn*, Caleb Gaskins, DeSean Goode*, Acaden Lewis*
Key departures: Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington

22. Nebraska
Key returns: Braden Frager, Pryce Sandfort
Key additions: Taj DeGourville*, Boden Kapke*, Trevan Leonhardt*, Sam Orme*, Damon Wilkinson*
Key departures: Berke Buyuktuncel, Connor Essegian, Sam Hoiberg, Ugnius Jarusevicius, Jamarques Lawrence, Rienk Mast

23. Missouri
Key returns: Trent Pierce
Key additions: Toni Bryant, Jaylen Carey*, Jason Crowe, Kennard Davis*, Jamier Jones*, Bryson Tiller*
Key departures: TO Barrett, Jacob Crews, Sebastian Mack, Mark Mitchell, Shawn Phillips, Jevon Porter, Anthony Robinson, Jayden Stone

24. Iowa
Key returns: Kael Combs, Isaia Howard, Cooper Koch, Cam Manyawu, Tate Sage
Key additions: Tyreek Coleman*, Andrew McKeever*
Key departures: Tavion Banks, Alvaro Folgueiras, Bennett Stirtz

25. USC
Key returns: Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie, Rodney Rice
Key additions: Christian Collins, Jalen Cox*, KJ Lewis*, Adonis Ratliff, Darius Ratliff, Eric Reibe*
Key departures: Ezra Ausar, Chad Baker-Mazara, Jaden Brownell, Jordan Marsh, Kam Woods