Looking Ahead: Way Way Too Early 2024-25 Rankings

Looking ahead to our early 2024-25 college basketball rankings, we acknowledge the uncertainties inherent in the current landscape, particularly with players navigating their fifth year or considering NBA opportunities amidst the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 era. Below, we’ve compiled a roster of players with remaining eligibility who are, in our estimation, at least 50/50 in their likelihood of returning, based on current mock drafts.

This season presents a unique dynamic with a comparatively weaker draft pool, potentially encouraging some players to forego their remaining college eligibility and declare for the NBA draft. Adding further complexity is the emergence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, which could influence the decisions of players who have the opportunity to secure substantial financial endorsements while in college. Despite the potential financial incentives offered by NIL deals, instances such as those of Oscar Tshiebwe and Drew Timme demonstrate that lucrative opportunities do not universally deter players from pursuing professional careers.

Indeed, the choice to remain in college for five or six years is not suited to every player, and the allure of professional basketball can be compelling. Nonetheless, the impact of these influential players on their respective teams cannot be overstated, as their decisions to stay or depart have significant ramifications for the preseason rankings. The return of any of these top-tier athletes would undoubtedly shape the landscape of college basketball and greatly influence our preseason rankings.

Least Likely To Stay
Zach Edey	Purdue	5th	7-4	23.2 Pts, 11.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast
RJ Davis	UNC	5th	6-0	21.3 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 3.6 Ast
DaRon Holmes II	Dayton	SR	6-10	20.0 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.5 Ast
PJ Hall	Clemson	5th	6-10	19.5 Pts, 7.2 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Caleb Love	Arizona	5th	6-4	18.8 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 3.2 Ast
Hunter Sallis	Wake Forest	SR	6-5	18.3 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 2.5 Ast
Hunter Dickinson	Kansas	5th	7-1	18.2 Pts, 11.0 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Ryan Kalkbrenner	Creighton	5th	7-0	17.1 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Trey Alexander	Creighton	SR	6-4	17.1 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 4.7 Ast
Kyle Filipowski	Duke	JR	7-0	17.0 Pts, 8.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast
Johni Broome	Auburn	SR	6-10	16.1 Pts, 8.5 Reb, 1.9 Ast
Tyler Kolek	Marquette	5th	6-3	15.7 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 7.2 Ast
Rob Dillingham	Kentucky	SO	6-2	14.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Ja’Kobe Walter	Baylor	SO	6-5	14.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Oso Ighodaro	Marquette	5th	6-9	14.2 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 2.8 Ast
Jared McCain	Duke	SO	6-3	13.8 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Oumar Ballo	Arizona	5th	7-0	13.0 Pts, 9.8 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Donovan Clingan	UConn	JR	7-2	12.3 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Reed Sheppard	Kentucky	SO	6-3	12.1 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 4.1 Ast
Grant Nelson	Alabama	5th	6-10	11.9 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Yves Missi	Baylor	SO	6-10	11.2 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 0.4 Ast
D.J. Wagner	Kentucky	SO	6-3	11.0 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 3.5 Ast
Stephon Castle	UConn	SO	6-6	10.7 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 3.1 Ast
Johnny Furphy	Kansas	SO	6-9	8.9 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Justin Edwards	Kentucky	SO	6-8	8.1 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Aaron Bradshaw	Baylor	SO	7-0	5.6 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 0.2 Ast

Freshmen

Per KenPom, only six of the top 100 players in offensive rating are freshmen. In the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, that number was 14. Last season, there were only two freshmen in the top 100. Playing time has remained roughly the same since 2020, though in 2019 nine freshmen ranked in KenPom’s top 100 players in percentage of minutes played — this season, there are two.

We’ve included the top 25 consensuses recruits. We do no however expect major impacts beyond a handful of them. Experience still rules college basketball in the age of the super senior era.

“Everybody’s recruiting top-50 guys,” Mark Few said “Well, they’re still 18, and they’re going against 23-year-olds.”

Rankings

	2024-25 Way To Early Projections
1	Houston
2	UConn
3	Iowa St
4	Arizona
5	Duke
6	Alabama
7	Marquette
8	Tennessee
9	North Carolina
10	Baylor
11	Kansas
12	Saint Mary’s
13	Texas Tech
14	Gonzaga
15	Wisconsin
16	San Diego State
17	Michigan State
18	Purdue
19	Auburn
20	Rutgers
21	Illinois
22	Wake Forest
23	Villanova
24	New Mexico
25	Indiana State

We will update these rankings as players enter the portal or draft as we have in the past.

Houston
LJ Cryer	5th	6-1	15.0 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.9 Ast
Jamal Shead	5th	6-1	13.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 5.8 Ast
Emanuel Sharp	JR	6-3	12.6 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.9 Ast
J’Wan Roberts	5th	6-7	9.0 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Damian Dunn	SR	6-5	6.5 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Ja’Vier Francis	SR	6-8	5.9 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Joseph Tugler	SO	6-7	3.7 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Terrance Arceneaux	JR	6-5	5.5 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 0.7 As

It appears that Cryer, Sheed, and the 6-7 post players Houston relies on are not highly coveted by the NBA to the extent that we would anticipate their departure. If everyone returns, Houston will benefit from maintaining their roster, including players from an exceptional college defense, currently demonstrating their prowess in the Big 12.

Kelvin Sampson’s established culture and system indeed stand out as potentially among the most adaptable and seamless in the nation, guaranteeing continuity even amidst minor roster adjustments. However, the looming question arises with Sampson’s eventual retirement (68 years old). While this season doesn’t appear to mark his departure, the presence of his son as the coach-in-waiting suggests a smooth transition. With such a talented and cohesive team set to return, it seems like an ideal starting point for his son to take the reins if he were wanting to leave a ready made team.

UConn
Cam Spencer	5th	6-4	14.8 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 3.4 Ast
Alex Karaban	JR	6-8	14.3 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Samson Johnson	SR	6-10	5.4 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Hassan Diarra	5th	6-2	5.9 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 2.4 Ast
Ahmad Nowell	FR	6-0	29th Class of 2024
Solomon Ball	SO	6-3	4.3 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Jaylin Stewart	SO	6-7	2.6 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Cam Spencer has the potential option to return (his petition was later denied by the NCAA), and even if Donovan Clingan does not, his absence hasn’t been significantly felt, considering he’s missed parts of this season already. Tristen Newton‘s role at point guard is pivotal for driving the team’s performance. Nevertheless, UConn appears to operate like a well-oiled machine at this juncture and next man up.

Iowa State
Keshon Gilbert	SR	6-4	14.3 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 4.2 Ast
Curtis Jones	5th	6-5	10.2 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Tamin Lipsey	JR	6-1	12.8 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 5.4 Ast
Milan Momcilovic	SO	6-8	11.9 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 1.2 Ast
Jackson Paveletzke	JR	6-3	4.0 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 1.2 Ast
Omaha Biliew	SO	6-8	2.8 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Iowa State’s emergence this season has been unexpected but impressive. With the potential return of most players, the team is poised to maintain a formidable defense, likely ranking near the top three in the league.

Arizona
Pelle Larsson	5th	6-5	13.0 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 3.5 Ast
Kylan Boswell	JR	6-2	10.0 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 3.8 Ast
Motiejus Krivas	SO	7-2	6.7 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast
KJ Lewis	SO	6-4	6.3 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 2.1 Ast
Jaden Bradley	JR	6-3	6.1 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Carter Bryant	FR	6-8	18th Class of 2024
Paulius Murauskas	SO	6-8	3.7 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.2 Ast

While Caleb Love and Oumar Ballo have the option to return, current assumptions suggest they are unlikely to do so. Despite this potential loss, Arizona is anticipated to retain a solid team for the upcoming season. Pelle Larsson is a player that is underrated in college basketball.

Duke
Cooper Flagg	Fr	6-9	1st Class of 2024
Jeremy Roach	5th	6-1	14.0 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 3.2 Ast
Mark Mitchell	JR	6-8	12.9 Pts, 6.4 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Tyrese Proctor	JR	6-5	10.0 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 3.5 Ast
Caleb Foster	SO	6-5	7.5 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Isaiah Evans	FR	6-6	11th Class of 2024
Kon Knueppel	FR	6-5	16th Class of 2024
Patrick Ngongba II	FR	6-11	17th Class of 2024
Sean Stewart	SO	6-9	2.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.1 Ast
TJ Power	SO	6-9	1.9 Pts, 0.8 Reb, 0.2 Ast

Cooper Flagg emerges as one of the most highly regarded high school prospects in recent memory. Nevertheless, his decision to reclassify for early play often presents challenges. While Flagg possesses considerable talent, he faces the hurdle of competing against older players in the COVID-era landscape of super seniors, with some opponents aged 23 or 24. At present, Jon Scherer’s capabilities as an X’s and O’s coach remain unproven and warrant further scrutiny.

Alabama
Mark Sears	5th	6-1	20.6 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Aaron Estrada	5th	6-4	12.8 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 4.1 Ast
Rylan Griffen	JR	6-5	11.2 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Latrell Wrightsell	5th	6-3	9.0 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Derrion Reid	FR	6-7	14th Class of 2024
Sam Walters	SO	6-10	5.8 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Jarin Stevenson	SO	6-11	5.5 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Mohamed Wague	SR	6-10	4.2 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Grant Nelson may have the option to return, but his extensive exploration of the NBA last season suggests he is inclined to pursue other opportunities. While Aaron Estrada and Mark Sears appear more likely to return, there remains a possibility that all three players could opt to leave.

Marquette
Kameron Jones	SR	6-4	14.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 2.1 Ast
David Joplin	SR	6-7	10.4 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Stevie Mitchell	SR	6-2	8.0 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Chase Ross	JR	6-4	6.5 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Ben Gold	JR	6-11	4.7 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Sean Jones	JR	5-10	5.8 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Zaide Lowery	SO	6-5	1.5 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro may opt to return, while Kameron Jones could potentially depart. Their decisions may hinge significantly on feedback from NBA scouts. However, it appears that Kolek and Ighodaro are currently the most inclined to explore other opportunities.

Tennessee
Jonas Aidoo	SR	6-11	11.8 Pts, 7.4 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Zakai Zeigler	SR	5-9	11.0 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 5.5 Ast
Jordan Gainey	SR	6-4	7.5 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Tobe Awaka	JR	6-8	5.1 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jahmai Mashack	SR	6-4	4.8 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast
J.P. Estrella	SO	6-11	1.9 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Freddie Dilione	SO	6-5	2.2 Pts, 0.8 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Cameron Carr	SO	6-5	1.5 Pts, 0.6 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Tennessee will face the loss of Dalton Knecht, yet their defensive prowess remains a cornerstone of their identity. With the depth and experience poised to return, the team is well-positioned to maintain their relevance on the defensive end of the court.

UNC
Harrison Ingram	JR	6-8	12.5 Pts, 9.1 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Elliot Cadeau	SO	6-1	7.8 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Ian Jackson	FR	6-5	8th Class of 2024
Drake Powell	FR	6-6	9th Class of 2024
Seth Trimble	JR	6-3	5.3 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Jalen Washington	JR	6-10	4.4 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.2 Ast

With Bacot’s departure, and the potential exit of Ingram looming, the team’s dynamics are set to undergo notable changes. RJ Davis still has a fifth year left, but considering his current high stock, it may be in his best interest to capitalize on opportunities sooner rather than later. Hubert Davis will likely need to find a big in the portal.

Baylor
Jalen Bridges	5th	6-7	10.9 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Jayden Nunn	SR	6-4	10.8 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2.1 Ast
Langston Love	SR	6-5	11.1 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 1.2 Ast
VJ Edgecombe	FR	6-5	4th Class of 2024
Josh Ojianwuna	JR	6-10	5.1 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Miro Little	SO	6-4	2.2 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Edgecombe appears to be the next freshman guard Baylor will be depending on with potentially some nice experience back in Bridges, Nunn, and Love.

Kansas
KJ Adams	SR	6-7	12.2 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 3.3 Ast
Dajuan Harris	SR	6-1	8.0 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 6.5 Ast
Flory Bidunga	FR	6-8	10th Class of 2024
Elmarko Jackson	SO	6-3	4.3 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast

Kansas maintains its renowned status in college basketball, largely due to the leadership of Bill Self. However, despite their formidable reputation, it’s evident that they will have significant work to undertake in the transfer portal to bolster their roster. Kansas already only had 4 dependable player. If the NIL money is good enough Hunter Dickenson could return, but we wouldn’t expect it at this point.

Saint Mary’s
Mitchell Saxen	5th	6-10	11.3 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Aidan Mahaney	JR	6-3	13.9 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2.5 Ast
Augustas Marciulionis	SR	6-4	12.3 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 4.7 Ast
Joshua Jefferson	JR	6-8	10.2 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Luke Barrett	SR	6-6	5.1 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Harry Wessels	JR	7-1	4.4 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Chris Howell	JR	6-6	1.3 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Saint Mary’s initially faced a slow start, but they have since evolved into the formidable team we anticipated. Furthermore, the prospect of everyone returning next season further solidifies their potential for continued success.

Texas Tech
Pop Isaacs	JR	6-2	16.2 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 3.7 Ast
Darrion Williams	JR	6-6	10.5 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 2.5 Ast
Chance McMillian	SR	6-2	10.1 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Kerwin Walton	5th	6-5	8.4 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Robert Jennings	JR	6-7	3.7 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Lamar Washington	JR	6-4	2.4 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.7 Ast
KyeRon Lindsay	JR	6-7	3.4 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.1 As

Warren Washington‘s departure will undoubtedly leave a void in the team’s interior presence. They should return most everyone else. They will need to put a premium on finding a quality defensive center in the transfer portal to fill this crucial role.

Gonzaga
Graham Ike	SR	6-9	15.8 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Nolan Hickman	SR	6-2	13.6 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 2.5 Ast
Ryan Nembhard	SR	6-0	12.5 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 6.3 Ast
Braden Huff	SO	6-10	10.8 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Ben Gregg	SR	6-10	8.6 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Dusty Stromer	SO	6-6	4.9 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Jun Seok Yeo	JR	6-8	2.5 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Luka Krajnović	SO	6-5	3.1 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Steele Venters	JR	6-7	Medical Redshirt

Gonzaga is only likely to lose one player Anton Watson.

Wisconsin
AJ Storr	JR	6-6	16.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Steven Crowl	SR	7-0	11.2 Pts, 7.7 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Max Klesmit	SR	6-3	9.6 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Chucky Hepburn	SR	6-2	8.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 3.7 Ast
John Blackwell	SO	6-4	7.8 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Connor Essegian	JR	6-4	3.5 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Nolan Winter	SO	6-11	2.9 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Carter Gilmore	SR	6-7	1.8 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.4 As

Wisconsin will lose Tyler Wahl but he could be the only significant loss.

San Diego State
Reese Dixon-Waters	SR	6-5	11.2 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Lamont Butler	5th	6-2	9.1 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 2.9 Ast
Micah Parrish	5th	6-6	9.6 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Darrion Trammell	5th	5-10	8.0 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 2.6 Ast
Elijah Saunders	JR	6-8	6.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Miles Byrd	JR	6-7	4.4 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Miles Heide	SO	6-9	2.2 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.1 As

Jaedon Ledee will be tough to replace, but SDSU always seems to reload. There will still be a lot of returning experience potentially.

Michigan State
A.J. Hoggard	5th	6-3	11.3 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 5.1 Ast
Jaden Akins	SR	6-4	11.0 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Tre Holloman	JR	6-2	5.6 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 2.7 Ast
Coen Carr	SO	6-6	3.8 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Carson Cooper	JR	6-11	3.8 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Xavier Booker	SO	6-11	3.4 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jeremy Fears Jr.	SO	6-2	3.5 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 3.3 Ast
Jaxon Kohler	JR	6-9	1.8 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.2 Ast

Tom Izzo again could return a lot of experience.

Purdue
Braden Smith	JR	6-0	12.8 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 7.2 Ast
Fletcher Loyer	JR	6-4	10.5 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Trey Kaufman-Renn	JR	6-9	6.8 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Myles Colvin	SO	6-5	3.9 Pts, 0.6 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Camden Heide	SO	6-7	3.0 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Caleb Furst	SR	6-10	2.6 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Zach Edey could return and that would move them into the top 2 teams. What’s there left to prove though. If the NIL money was more than what he could get in the NBA there would be a case but we do not expect it.

Rutgers
Clifford Omoruyi	5th	6-11	11.2 Pts, 9.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Ace Bailey	FR	6-8	2nd Class of 2024
Dylan Harper	FR	6-6	3rd Class of 2024
Derek Simpson	JR	6-3	9.6 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 3.2 Ast
Mawot Mag	5th	6-7	9.5 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Jamichael Davis	SO	6-1	5.5 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 2.1 Ast
Gavin Griffiths	SO	6-8	5.1 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Antwone Woolfolk	JR	6-9	3.5 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.5 Ast

Clifford Omoruyi and two of the top 3 incoming freshmen in the nation gives Rutgers a lot of potential talent to pair with two other 9+ppg scorers.

Wake Forest
Andrew Carr	5th	6-9	13.5 Pts, 6.9 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Kevin Miller	JR	6-0	15.5 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 3.7 Ast
Cameron Hildreth	SR	6-4	13.5 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 2.7 Ast
Efton Reid	SR	6-11	9.0 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Parker Friedrichsen	SO	6-3	5.9 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Zach Keller	JR	6-10	1.9 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Matthew Marsh	SR	7-1	2.0 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Marqus Marion	SO	6-8	1.2 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast

We expect Hunter Sallis to go pro, but Wake will still return a lot of key parts and one of the best coaches in the nation.

Illinois
Coleman Hawkins	5th	6-10	12.4 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 2.8 Ast
Ty Rodgers	JR	6-6	6.8 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Luke Goode	SR	6-7	6.6 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Dain Dainja	SR	6-9	5.4 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn	SO	6-1	2.7 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Amani Hansberry	SO	6-8	2.3 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.4 Ast

There seems to be at least some glimmer of hope Marcus Domask could apply for a 6th season having only played 10 games one of his seasons. I wouldn’t expect a wavier though since that was at the height of covid and what the extra covid year was designed for.

Auburn
Chad Baker-Mazara	SR	6-7	9.6 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Aden Holloway	SO	6-1	8.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 2.8 Ast
K.D. Johnson	5th	6-1	7.5 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Denver Jones	SR	6-4	7.9 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Tre Donaldson	JR	6-2	7.2 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 3.3 Ast
Chaney Johnson	SR	6-7	3.8 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Even if Johni Broome doesn’t return, there are still numerous key players who can, and likely will, contribute significantly. Bruce Pearl remains one of the top coaches in the nation.

Villanova
Eric Dixon	5th	6-8	15.9 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast
TJ Bamba	5th	6-5	10.4 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Mark Armstrong	JR	6-2	8.0 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Brendan Hausen	JR	6-4	7.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast

Villanova has the potential to retain key talent, including one of the best players in the country. While we anticipate Dixon’s return to college basketball, the question arises: will he remain at Villanova? The coaching situation adds another layer of uncertainty.

New Mexico
Jamal Mashburn	5th	6-2	14.6 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Donovan Dent	JR	6-2	15.4 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 5.6 Ast
JT Toppin	SO	6-9	12.7 Pts, 8.8 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Nelly Junior Joseph	SR	6-9	8.5 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Tru Washington	SO	6-4	7.7 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Mustapha Amzil	JR	6-10	7.0 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Braden Appelhans	SO	6-7	3.1 Pts, 0.7 Reb, 0.4 Ast

Richard Pitino may once again out rank his father.

Indiana State
Isaiah Swope	SR	5-10	17.3 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Robbie Avila	JR	6-10	16.6 Pts, 7.4 Reb, 3.8 Ast
Ryan Conwell	JR	6-4	15.7 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Jayson Kent	SR	6-7	12.7 Pts, 8.3 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Julian Larry	SR	6-3	10.8 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 4.1 Ast
Masen Miller	SR	6-2	2.0 Pts, 0.4 Reb, 0.5 As

Josh Schertz is poised to become a highly sought-after name this offseason. However, considering the team he has lined up to return, there’s a possibility that they may all come back for one more season.

Others

FAU
Johnell Davis	SR	6-4	18.6 Pts, 6.7 Reb, 2.8 Ast
Vladislav Goldin	SR	7-1	14.4 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Alijah Martin	SR	6-2	13.4 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Nick Boyd	SR	6-3	10.1 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 1.9 Ast
Giancarlo Rosado	SR	6-8	5.9 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 1.5 Ast

Everyone could comeback, but we expect the players and Dusty May to go their separate ways this season and all leave FAU baring some run back to the Final Four.

Kentucky
Adou Thiero	JR	6-6	7.6 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Jayden Quaintance	FR	6-9	7th Class of 2024
Ugonna Onyenso	JR	6-11	4.3 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Jordan Burks	SO	6-9	2.1 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Billy Richmond	FR	6-5	20th Class of 2024
Boogie Fland	FR	6-2	24th Class of 2024
Zvonimir Ivisic	SO	7-2	5.0 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Kentucky is going to need to get a lot older most likely to compete. The top incoming freshman Jayden Quaintance is only leading a prep team that is 20-10 and ranked 30th in NC on Maxprep. It’s hard to expect him to lead a college team to the top 25. The portal season will be big for them.