As the 2024-25 college basketball season has come to a close and the transfer portal has shaken up rosters, the dust has finally settled, for now, on what the 2025-26 season may look like in college hoops.
Which players will we be hearing about the most? With almost six months until the season is tipped off, we’re here to rank the top 50 players in college basketball next season.
Way-Too-Early 2025 Top 50 Players in College Basketball
Note: Judgement will be used based on what players will be back in college who are currently in the transfer portal or going through the NBA Draft process while maintaining eligibility.
50) G Fletcher Loyer, Purdue
Loyer doesn’t blow you away, but he is hands-down one of the top returning shooters in college basketball after scoring 13.8 points on 44.4% from three-point range.
He’s been an instrumental player for the Boilermakers for the past three seasons because of his ability to space the floor and fire it from deep. While doing that, he attacked closeouts well last season and got to the line for under four attempts a night, a solid number.
49) C Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
Cenac, the consensus top-ranked center in the 2025 class, should see the floor early and often for the Cougars, as they don’t have an accomplished returning center.
Standing 6’10” with a 7’3″ wingspan, he’ll be a force defensively and has the athletic ability to be a lob-catcher and finisher on the other end of the floor. He’s set to be a key contributor for a top 5 team in Houston — and he’s just scratching the surface of his potential.
48) F Mouhamed Dioubate, Alabama
After improving significantly as a bench player for the Crimson Tide, Dioubate will look to move into a more featured role in the starting lineup come next season.
Extremely athletic at 6’7″, 215 pounds, he’s a tremendous individual and team defender and could take on the toughest matchup each night. He scored 7.2 points on 61.7% from the field last season—expect his efficiency to fall slightly, but his points to continue to rise.
47) G Adrian Wooley, Louisville
A major surprise for Kennesaw State as a freshman, Wooley entered the portal as one a player with loads of potential after averaging 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field and 42.2% from beyond the arc.
He joins the Cardinals, where he’ll show off his skills in the ACC. Only a sophomore, he may go through some growing pains early, but late in the season, he could become a go-to scorer and playmaker for Louisville.
46) F Karter Knox, Arkansas
A five-star prospect in the 2024 class, Knox came on late in the season for the Razorbacks and looks poised to have a breakout 2025-26 campaign. On the season, he averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds, but in Arkansas’ three NCAA Tournament games, he put up 13.6 points and five rebounds and was a key player in their Sweet Sixteen run.
45) F Coen Carr, Michigan State
Easily the most explosive player in college basketball, Carr is famous for his rim-rattling jams. Now a junior, he’ll be expected to step into more of a consistent scoring role after coming off the bench his first two seasons.
He averaged 8.1 points on 61.1% shooting, an excellent mark that will likely fall due to more volume. Don’t be surprised to see even more Carr highlights, as he’ll be a double-figure scorer for the Spartans in 2026.
44) G Jaland Lowe, Kentucky
One of the top prospects in the portal after putting up 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, Lowe landed with the Wildcats, where he’ll be in the spotlight right away as the team’s starting point guard.
He likely won’t have the statistical impact he did a season ago with the Pitt Panthers, but his duo and fellow guard Otega Oweh will be the driving force behind many Kentucky wins this upcoming season.
43) G Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Heading into his senior season in Tucson, Bradley will be expected to improve from a steady contributor to a star performer after averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
He’s a strong, physically imposing point guard who will have even more capacity to operate this season with the departures of several players he had to share ball-handling duties with.
42) G/F Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Stojakovic, a dynamic scoring junior who spent last season with the Cal Bears, will take his 17.9 points and 4.8 rebounds to Illinois, where he’ll fill a much-needed void on the wing.
Though he may not have the same volume with the Fighting Illini as he did last season, he can shoot the leather off the ball — in his final three games with the Bears, he averaged 29.0 points.
41) G Pop Isaacs, Houston
Badly needing a replacement for two departing star guards, Isaacs will step right in as Houston’s starting point guard after averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists for the Creighton Bluejays a season ago.
He’s also a significant threat from deep, shooting 38.3% on 7.5 attempts per game. Isaacs’ talent will be on full display as the Cougars head into next season as one of the favorites to win the national championship.
40) F Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State
The ultimate glue-guy, Kohler is entering his senior season and should finally get his recognition as the most crucial player for the Spartans.
Though he averaged just 7.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, the 6’9″, 240-pound Kohler is a force down low and is the conductor of Michigan State’s tenacious defense. Though not a natural scorer, it wouldn’t be crazy to see him be in the double digits next season with more volume.
39) G Robert Wright III, BYU
Wright, the top-ranked point guard in the 2024 recruiting class, had a solid freshman season with Baylor, averaging 11.5 points and 4.2 assists. Now he’s with the Cougars after he accepted a reported $3.5 million NIL offer. The deal says it all: he’ll be handed the reins to the offense and should grow into one of the top point guards in the Big 12.
38) G Kylan Boswell, Illinois
A complementary guard a season ago — in which he averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists — Boswell will be asked to shoulder more volume as he heads into his senior season and second year with the Fighting Illini.
He can do it, as he’s improved his scoring each season and overpowers opposing guards. Boswell also brings that tenacity and physicality to the other end of the court, where he’s an above-average defender.
37) G Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Heading into his third season with the Spartans, Fears will be expected to expand his scoring game, which has been secondary to his passing (he had a team-leading 5.4 assists last season).
He hardly looked for his shot, only attempting five per game — but with the departure of Michigan State’s three-leading scorer, Fears will have to be more aggressive and will therefore solidify himself as one of the top point guards in the Big Ten.
36) F Nate Ament, Tennessee
A five-star prospect, Ament has excellent size at 6’9″, 185 pounds, and will step right in as a scoring threat for the Volunteers.
He may struggle early, as many freshmen do, but come conference play, he’ll be an offensive force who can contribute as a solid team defender.
35) G Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Returning for his junior season with the Ducks, Shelstad has already cemented himself amongst the top guards in the Big Ten after averaging 13.7 points and 2.7 assists. His shot-making ability was a staple in clutch situations last season and will continue to be in 2026.
34) F Thomas Haugh, Florida
Haugh will have a significant role next season with the Gators, seeing a considerable core depart. After serving as a depth piece in the frontcourt, the 6’9″, 210-pound forward played the best when his best was needed, averaging 11.6 points in the NCAA Tournament.
His ability to stretch the floor and athleticism for his size will be key as he matures into a go-to player as a junior.
33) F Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
After transferring from Oregon State, Bilodeau seamlessly transitioned as the Bruins’ top scorer in 2024. He could grab more rebounds by averaging 13.5 points and 4.6 rebounds at 6’9″. Despite that, he was named third-team All-Big Ten and will be expected to produce even more during his senior season.
32) G Jason Edwards, Providence
Playing for Vanderbilt last season, Edwards showed his ability as a tremendous scorer, averaging 17.0 points in the rugged SEC. Next season, he’ll be with the Friars, who finished 8th in the Big East and aren’t returning their top player. The shot attempts will be aplenty—don’t be surprised if Edwards averages over 20 points a game.
31) G Ryan Conwell, Louisville
Another transfer, Conwell spent last season with Xavier, where he was the second-leading scorer at 16.5 points. He’ll bring that dynamic bucket-getting style of play to the Cardinals, who badly need it as they replace outgoing production.
While the 6’4″ guard gets to the rim, he’s also an excellent three-point shooter, nailing 39.3% of his attempts as he heads into his senior season.
30) G Solo Ball, UConn
Ball made a big leap a season ago, upping his scoring from 3.3 to 14.4 points as he started every game for the Huskies during his sophomore campaign. Much of that was his improvement from deep, as he hit 41.4% on 6.8 attempts per game. Ball is a potential Big East Player of the Year candidate heading into 2026.
29) F Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
The Cyclones are losing a lot of production outside of Jefferson, who was steady presence down low for them last season in putting up 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in his first season at Iowa State after beginning his career at Saint Mary’s.
As he prepares for his senior season, much more offensive responsibilities will be on his plate — including creating for others, something he showed he could do last season (3.1 assists).
28) G/F Richie Saunders, BYU
Saunders blossomed as a full-time starter in 2024, proving to be a driving force behind the Cougars’ Sweet Sixteen run. He averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from three-point range and was awarded the Big 12 Most Improved Award for his efforts.
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After producing next to a potential 2025 NBA lottery pick in point guard Egor Demin, Sanders will now play next to Wright, another tremendous distributor.
27) G Mark Mitchell, Missouri
A 6’9″ guard, Mitchell presents a matchup nightmare with his ability to play on the perimeter and use his size to outmatch smaller defenders. He averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds during his junior season and will assume an even bigger role next year with the departure of several top Tigers.
26) G Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
Formerly of Maryland, Gillespie was one of the driving forces behind their 27-win season. He led the charge offensively, scoring 14.7 points and 4.8 assists and stretching the defense past the arc. Now with Tennessee, Gillespie will be tasked with leading the charge again, this time in the SEC, where he enters as one of the top guards.
25) F Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s
Hopkins performed relatively in the shadows with Providence a season ago, putting up an excellent stat line of 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
He decided to join the Red Storm for his fifth-year senior season, where he’ll make a dominant pairing down low with forward Zuby Ejiofor. The 6’7″, 220-pound forward can also stretch the defense, as he shot 40.0% from deep.
24) G Markus Burton, Notre Dame
A bona-fide bucket-better, Burton averaged 21.3 points during his sophomore season with the Irish. He will likely put up an even higher mark in 2026, as he decided to return to Notre Dame and continue to help build a competitive team.
Part of that comes with his playmaking ability. He dished out 3 assists a night last season and could see that number rise as well with continued attention from defenses.
23) C Nate Bittle, Oregon
Bittle was right in the big in terms of top players in the Big Ten last season, scoring 14.2 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds. In the Ducks’ final regular-season game, he put up a career-high 36 points and 12 rebounds, showing his dominant nature.
Currently testing the NBA Draft process, Bittle is expected to return to Eugene to give it one more run for his fifth-year senior season.
22) F Darrion Williams, Transfer Portal
Williams was incredible during Texas Tech’s Elite Eight run, producing 21.0 points in four games, up from the 15.1 points he averaged during the season. At 6’6″, 225 pounds, he’s a physical force with immense skill. He also grabbed 5.5 rebounds and contributed 3.6 assists.
Currently in the transfer portal, Williams will undergo the draft process before making a decision on his future. He expects to capitalize on an NIL deal at the college level.
21) F R.J. Luis Jr., Transfer Portal
The Big East Player of the Year, Luis, faltered down the stretch of last season, scoring just nine points on three of 17 shooting in St. John’s second-round tournament loss. That — and the criticism by head coach Rick Pitino after — may have been a driving force behind his decision to enter the portal while going through the draft process.
If he comes back, like Williams, he’ll have a large sum of NIL deals waiting for him, providing a massive boost for the program that secures his commitment.
20) F Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
The third-leading scorer in the Big Ten (20.1 points), Kaufman-Renn and Boilermakers point guard Braden Smith made for a great combo, as Smith found Kaufman-Renn repeatedly for easy buckets.
Although not much of a jump shooter, the 6’9″ forward is crafty around the rim. With continued improvement, he could average even more points during his senior season after upping his scoring average by over 13 points from 2023 to 2024.
19) F Joseph Tugler, Houston
The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Tugler, took on many of the conference’s best talents and shut them down. At 6’8″ and 230 pounds, he’s strong while not sacrificing his quickness — key components to being a great defender.
Although he only averaged 5.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, he showed improvement offensively as the season went on and could be a double-figure scorer in addition to his invaluable defensive play.
18) G Aden Holloway, Alabama
Replacing star point guard Mark Sears, who graduated, won’t be easy, but Holloway has the talent and has shown the ability in his first two seasons to do so. Leading the second unit last season, he scored 11.4 points and shot 41.2% from beyond the arc in just over 20 minutes a night.
Increase that to 30 minutes and more shot attempts, and he could be pushing 20 points a night for a Crimson Tide team that’s once again expected to be in the mix for an SEC title.
17) F Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
Hall, one of the top players in the portal, landed with the Tigers, and he’ll help fill the shoes of the departed Johni Broome, a Naismith Player of the Year candidate. It couldn’t go to a much better option as Hall put up 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds during his junior season at UCF.
At 6’7″, 235 pounds, he’s a bit undersized but is a versatile scorer with excellent footwork to get in the lane and draw fouls. He’ll likely be Auburn’s go-to scorer come 2026.
16) G Donovan Dent, UCLA
The Mountain West Player of the Year a season ago, Dent moves from New Mexico to UCLA, where he’ll be handed the reins for a Big Ten squad. Last season with the Lobos, Dent averaged 20.4 points and 6.4 assists and was essentially unguardable in one-on-one situations.
That should be no different with the Bruins, where he can show his talent on a national stage.
15) G Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Though he had a dud of a game and faltered down the stretch in the national championship game, make no mistake, Sharp is one of the best players in the country and will assume an even bigger role as a senior.
He averaged 12.6 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 40.7% from deep in a supporting role — but with two starting guards gone, he and Isaacs are entering next season as one of the top backcourts in the nation with Sharp as the catalyst.
14) G Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Thornton did it all during his junior season with the Buckeyes with 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He still shot over 50% from the field with much defensive attention paid to him, a fantastic feat, especially for a 6’2″ guard. He enters 2026 as arguably the best scorer in the Big Ten — while also finding open teammates at a high rate.
13) G D.J. Wagner, Arkansas
Once again, the former five-star Wagner spurned the NBA and decided to come back to college. He’s now entering his junior season and will have the ball in his hands even more next season after scoring 11.2 points and distributing 3.6 assists.
His talent is evident. He just needs to slow down and put it all together, which he seems poised to do soon enough.
12) F Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Ike’s resume speaks for itself, as he’s been named to the first-team all-conference team in each of his three full seasons (once in the Mountain West Conference and twice in the West Coast Conference).
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He’s a classic bruiser at 6’9″, 250 pounds, as he covered on 59.8% of his shots on the way to averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a season ago. Now back for his fifth-year senior season, Ike is a sleeper candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year award, as it wouldn’t be crazy to imagine him averaging 20 and 10.
11) G John Blackwell, Wisconsin
The sidekick to former Badger guard John Tonje, Blackwell nearly doubled his scoring average from his freshman season and put up 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists. With the departure of Tonje, the 6’4″ combo guard will be expected to shoulder even more of the load as Wisconsin aims to compete for a Big Ten title.
10) F Cameron Boozer, Duke
One of the top recruits in the 2025 class, Boozer enters with sky-high expectations. Standing 6’9″, 235 pounds, he already has the frame to dominate the college game much like he did at the high school and AAU level, where his eye-popping resume speaks for itself.
Boozer will join a Blue Devils squad that is seeing a lot of production leave, opening the door for the freshman to contribute from Day 1. A two-way player, he’ll have the ball in his hands plenty offensively while using his athleticism and IQ to be an additive defender.
9) G Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Ranked right above or below Boozer — depending on which recruiting service you look at — Peterson is an easy mover at the combo guard position and looked to be a man amongst boys at the high school level despite being just 6’5″ and 195 pounds. His talent, matched with maturity, will lead to a very successful season in 2026.
The Jayhawks secured his commitment, and he’ll be expected to help lead the team immediately, as they’re losing a large core of their contributors from last season.
His effortless ability to put the ball in the hoop will be essential as he’ll be expected to help out on the defensive end, where his 6’10” wingspan will come in handy. He has a massive amount of potential with future development — while still projecting as a top player in the country as a freshman.
8) G Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Stirtz’s story has been well covered. The former D-II Northwest Missouri State guard excelled in his first season at the D-I level with the Bulldogs. He was named the Missouri Valley Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while shooting 39.5% from three-point range as the team’s lead guard.
Stirtz was the engine behind Drake’s first-round upset over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament, as he played all 40 minutes and scored 21 points. Standing 6’4″, 180 pounds, Stirtz commanded considerable NBA Draft buzz following the season — yet he decided to follow his head coach Ben McCollum and will join the Hawkeyes next season.
Once again, he’ll have the ball in his hands, this time in the Big Ten. Stirtz represents one of the most interesting stories in college basketball, as his success is now expected after his establishment as a top player in the country.
7) G Otega Oweh, Kentucky
After garnering second-team All-SEC honors during his junior season in which he scored 16.2 points and grabbed 4.7 rebounds, Oweh is setting up for an even bigger senior campaign. He came into last season as the Wildcats’ go-to scorer down the stretch of games, supplying multiple game-winning plays when it mattered the most.
After flirting with the NBA, Oweh decided to stay put and continue to develop for one more season. Though teams will know how to defend him better, his quickness and slashing ability are nearly unstoppable. Additionally, he’s one of the best defensive stoppers in the nation, just adding more to what he brings to the table for Kentucky.
6) F Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Ejiofor grew into one of the top players in college basketball last season, being named First-Team All-Big East and the Big East Most Improved Player after averaging 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 57.7% from the field.
At times, the 6’9″, 240-pound forward looked unstoppable in the paint, such as the Big East Tournament semifinal when he put up 33 points and nine rebounds in a victory over Marquette.
One of the lone returners to a No. 2 seed in the tournament, Ejiofor will be even more relied upon for scoring and providing a presence down low. Though Pitino went to work in the portal and added several key players, it’ll start and end with their big, burly forward down low.
5) F A.J. Dybantsa, BYU
Dybantsa is another five-star freshman. Although he is not the top-ranked prospect, he easily enters the best situation for success of the three who find themselves in the top 10. At 6’9″, Dybantsa is extremely athletic and lengthy, making him a versatile two-way wing.
His scoring ability will be on display immediately, as he is configured to be in the starting lineup from Day 1. He’ll have a tremendous point guard feeding him the ball in Wright and a high-level shooter spacing the floor beside him in Saunders. Consider Dybantsa a dark-horse candidate for the 2026 Big 12 Player of the Year award.
4) G P.J. Haggerty, Transfer Portal
One of the top sophomores in the country a season ago, Haggerty averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and led the Memphis Tigers to a No. 5 seed in the tournament. He showed himself to be a true three-level scorer and is extremely fast at 6’3″, 191 pounds.
Haggerty is going through the NBA Draft process while maintaining his college eligibility in the transfer portal. It was reported that he had a steep asking price, financially, including a guarantee of playing point guard full-time.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll be back in college and where, but it would certainly be a feasible decision as he could make guaranteed money and dominate on the floor as a top-five player in college basketball.
3) F Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lendeborg is in a similar position to Haggerty. He’s focusing on the NBA Draft process right now after announcing his commitment to Michigan through the portal. If he does come back, it would immediately make the Wolverines one of the favorites to compete for a national title.
Lendeborg produced eye-popping numbers during his senior season with the UAB Blazers: 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 steals and blocks combined. His all-around, offensive and defensive ability were on full display as he truly made himself into a top player in the sport.
Michigan would be a perfect place for him, as they’re departing with each of their starting big men — opening a spot for Lendeborg to have the ball most of the time.
2) G Braden Smith, Purdue
Smith had long been considered one of the top passers in college basketball, but he took a significant step forward in 2024 by creating his shot and being the best player on the team. While being second in the nation with 8.7 assists, he also scored 15.8 points and grabbed 4.5 rebounds, solidifying himself as a true all-around point guard.
Each of Smith, Kaufman-Renn and Loyer decided to run it back for their senior seasons; expect all three to step up their game but none more than Smith, who has shown improvement in each of his three seasons at Purdue.
He was already a Naismith Player of the Year finalist alongside three other players who aren’t in college basketball, making Smith an easy favorite to take the award come 2026.
1) F J.T. Toppin, Texas Tech
As the Big 12 Player of the Year, Toppin averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in his sophomore season. At 6’9″, 225 pounds, he’s a freakish athlete who can jump out of the gym, constantly overwhelming the opposition with how easily he moves with the ball.
A tremendous roller in the pick-and-roll, Toppin also worked on developing a three-point shot, as evidenced by his two treys in the Red Raiders’ Elite Eight game. After generating NBA Draft buzz, Toppin surprised with his decision to return to Lubbock and make another run at a national title with the Red Raiders.
After improving significantly from his freshman to sophomore season, it remains to be seen how much better he can get — but don’t be surprised if he sweeps the end-of-season conference and national awards as the best player in the country.
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