Can Florida repeat? How good will BYU be? 100-day preview for men's college hoops

It has been much than 100 days since Florida chopped down the nets successful San Antonio. And successful 100 much days, the Gators volition statesman their rubric defence erstwhile the 2025-26 men's assemblage hoops play begins.

Did the Gators bash capable this offseason to bolster their chances of going back-to-back for the archetypal clip since 2006 and 2007? How person Houston and Duke positioned themselves to marque different Final Four run? And volition Auburn and the SEC instrumentality to dominance?

With a caller people of freshman stars -- including A.J. Dybantsa astatine BYU, Darryn Peterson astatine Kansas and Nate Ament astatine Tennessee -- positive plentifulness of endowment transferring to rubric contenders, it should beryllium different entertaining play of hoops arsenic the athletics adapts to changes.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf marque 10 chaotic predictions, positive place 90 much things to cognize astir the upcoming season, from the biggest storylines to the apical players to caller coaches and beyond.

Jump to:
Top storylines | Wild predictions
Contenders | Teams that could marque a jump
Best nonconference matchups
Freshmen | Transfers | Breakouts
All-America candidates | New coaches

10 storylines that could signifier the season

Revenue sharing and imaginable NCAA tourney enlargement thrust much change. College hoops is undergoing a monolithic facelift. Committees for men's and women's Division I hoops did not scope a determination to grow the NCAA tournaments erstwhile they met successful July, but stated that the anticipation of expanding the tract from 68 to 72 oregon 76 teams remains "viable." A tourney enlargement would beryllium the 2nd important improvement for 2025-26, with the House vs. NCAA settlement paving the mode for the first: A restructuring of the compensation model. Schools are present capable to wage their athletes straight done gross sharing, but it remains unclear however galore name, representation and likeness deals volition yet beryllium approved by the caller clearinghouse to supplement rev stock earnings. -- Medcalf

Florida has the endowment to marque different rubric run. Before UConn won the nationalist championships successful 2023 and 2024, men's assemblage hoops hadn't seen a repetition rubric victor since Florida successful 2006 and 2007 -- but Todd Golden's Gators person the players to marque it a trend. Alex Condon withdrew from the NBA draught to instrumentality to Florida, Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh are besides back, and apical transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee were added successful the portal. -- Borzello

Braden Smith could beryllium Purdue's adjacent Wooden Award winner. The Boilermakers came adjacent to title glory successful 2024, erstwhile Zach Edey captured his 2nd Wooden Award and led them to the nationalist rubric game. Smith's instrumentality could assistance Purdue lucifer history: Only Duke has ever produced 3 Wooden Award winners successful a four-year span -- Elton Brand (1999), Shane Battier (2001) and Jay Williams (2002). Smith, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, volition participate the play arsenic the favourite to triumph the Wooden Award. He and manager Matt Painter are besides driven to chopped down the nets; some look imaginable for a programme that could commencement the twelvemonth arsenic the No. 1 squad successful America. -- Medcalf

Duke has placed its Final Four hopes connected freshmen -- again. Jon Scheyer & Co. defied modern-day trends erstwhile freshmen led the Blue Devils to a No. 1 ranking and a Final Four quality past play -- an anomaly successful the epoch of progressively transfer-heavy, experience-focused roster construction. Now, those freshmen were 3 top-10 picks: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. But tin Duke replicate that success? Scheyer again brings successful the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, headlined by projected lottery picks Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr and Nikolas Khamenia, positive Cameron's five-star member Cayden. -- Borzello

It's a caller epoch for BYU with No. 1 enlistee A.J. Dybantsa. The Cougars had the champion violative output successful America for the past 2 months of the 2024-25 campaign, which ended with a travel to the Sweet 16 -- their archetypal second-weekend quality since Jimmer Fredette starred for them successful 2011. Now, Kevin Young's squad adds Dybantsa: a versatile, powerful, explosive 6-foot-10 jock who could beryllium the No. 1 prime successful adjacent summer's NBA draft. A Final Four tally by a squad that wasn't historically a campaigner for players of Dybantsa's caliber could nonstop much elite endowment to Provo, Utah, successful the years ahead. The buzz has generated truthful overmuch involvement that a Hollywood shaper has pitched a documentary astir the 2025-26 play to Young's staff. -- Medcalf

The contention to beryllium the No. 1 prime successful the 2026 NBA draught is on. Cooper Flagg was the odds-on favourite to beryllium the No. 1 prime successful the 2025 NBA draught since the time helium reclassified into the 2024 precocious schoolhouse class, but determination won't beryllium the aforesaid deficiency of play successful the 2026 draft. There are respective morganatic contenders for the apical pick: BYU's Dybantsa, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Duke's Cameron Boozer and Tennessee's Nate Ament -- and don't number retired Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. -- Borzello

Hubert Davis' aboriginal astatine North Carolina. It was lone 3 years agone that Davis' squad had a 15-point halftime pb against Kansas successful the nationalist rubric game. But a twelvemonth aft that, the Tar Heels missed the NCAA tourney altogether. And past year, they squeezed into the tract arsenic a polarizing pick earlier losing successful the archetypal round. Davis has reloaded aft losing R.J. Davis and different standouts by adding five-star imaginable Caleb Wilson and cardinal transfers specified arsenic erstwhile Arizona large antheral Henri Veesaar. Yet, portion Davis inked a declaration hold done 2029-30 implicit the winter, North Carolina inactive expects to vie for nationalist titles. If helium can't find a mode to bash that this season, chatter astir his aboriginal volition increase. -- Medcalf

The aboriginal of the aged coaching guard. Three ACC coaches stepped down past season: Virginia's Tony Bennett, Miami's Jim Larranaga and Florida State's Leonard Hamilton. Bennett cited the changing scenery of assemblage sports, portion Larranaga and Hamilton had reached the earthy extremity of their careers. It's pugnacious to foretell who the adjacent Bennett could be, but status could beryllium connected the skyline for a radical of coaches astatine oregon adjacent the apical of the sport: Houston's Kelvin Sampson volition beryllium 70 successful the fall, Tennessee's Rick Barnes is 71, Michigan State's Tom Izzo is 70 and St. John's manager Rick Pitino is 72. It besides wouldn't beryllium a astonishment to spot Gonzaga's Mark Few oregon Kansas' Bill Self telephone it quits successful the not-so-distant future. -- Borzello

Gonzaga's last play successful the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs' postseason occurrence -- including 2 nationalist rubric crippled appearances since 2017 -- has changed the nationalist cognition of mid-majors. They person been 1 of America's apical programs for years, but this volition beryllium the last section of a matrimony that's boosted the full WCC arsenic Gonzaga prepares to articulation the caller Pac-12. The WCC's potency successful the collegiate scenery volition displacement importantly portion the Bulldogs could go the look of the caller Pac-12's hoops lineup. -- Medcalf

The adjacent section of the St. John's vs. UConn rivalry. While Louisville-Kentucky and Duke-North Carolina volition ever person heavy history, the St. John's-UConn rivalry is rapidly gaining nationalist relevance. Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley are 2 of the champion -- and astir headline-grabbing -- coaches successful the country, and some teams should unfastened the play ranked successful the apical 5 nationally. -- Borzello

10 rubric contenders

Teams listed successful bid of Borzello's and Medcalf's statement apical 10

Purdue Boilermakers: Matt Painter's squad is poised for its 3rd 1-seed successful the past 4 years, led by All-America constituent defender Braden Smith, All-America campaigner Trey Kaufman-Renn and three-year starter Fletcher Loyer. South Dakota State transportation Oscar Cluff besides adds a antithetic magnitude down low. -- Borzello

Florida Gators: Connecticut won back-to-back nationalist titles successful 2023 and 2024 aft retaining cardinal players from that archetypal run. Todd Golden's squad could mimic that feat -- with caller stars successful the mix, too. Boogie Fland, a erstwhile five-star imaginable who played astatine Arkansas past season, volition measurement into Walter Clayton Jr.'s relation and play adjacent to Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon -- some apical contributors from past year's rubric squad -- connected a roster built to triumph it each again. -- Medcalf

Houston Cougars: After past season's heartbreaking title-game nonaccomplishment to Florida, Houston should beryllium close backmost successful the premix for a nationalist championship. Kelvin Sampson has 3 starters backmost from that group, led by guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp. The Cougars besides invited the nation's No. 2 recruiting people featuring 3 top-25 prospects. -- Borzello

UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley has acceptable the barroom truthful precocious successful Storrs that past season's 24-win run and NCAA tourney quality summed up a "down year" for the program. Alex Karaban and Solo Ball are backmost for a squad that, connected paper, looks similar a contender again. But the viability of the programme winning its 3rd rubric successful 4 years volition beryllium connected Silas Demary Jr., the 6-foot-5 erstwhile Georgia defender who volition tally UConn's discourtesy this season. -- Medcalf

St. John's Red Storm: Rick Pitino has wholly transformed St. John's since arriving 2 years ago, guiding the Red Storm to their archetypal Big East regular-season and tourney championships since 1992 and 2000, respectively. Now, they'll look to beforehand to the Sweet 16 for the archetypal clip since 1999. Star large antheral Zuby Ejiofor returns, portion Pitino went dense successful the transportation portal to capable retired the remainder of his roster. -- Borzello

BYU Cougars: Kevin Young's squad made 37% of its 3-point attempts and 59% of its shots wrong the arc past play arsenic the Cougars played discourtesy astatine a level nary squad could lucifer successful the last 8 weeks. Now, they adhd A.J. Dybantsa, the recipient of a highly publicized seven-figure NIL deal. Joined by 3 returning standouts from a Sweet 16 squad, Dybantsa could instrumentality BYU to unprecedented heights. -- Medcalf

Louisville Cardinals: After starring Louisville to a singular 19-win turnaround successful his archetypal play with the Cardinals -- including a 15-win betterment successful the ACC -- Pat Kelsey has acceptable his sights higher successful Year 2. They should person 1 of assemblage basketball's elite backcourts, led by top-10 enlistee Mikel Brown Jr. and 3 talented transfers. -- Borzello

Michigan Wolverines: Another second-year caput manager coming disconnected an awesome turnaround successful Year 1, Dusty May guided the Wolverines to a 19-win betterment and a tally to the Sweet 16. Two starters are back, and Michigan was assertive successful the portal, securing a people headlined by Yaxel Lendeborg -- arguably the champion transportation successful the state and a projected first-round pick. -- Borzello

Kentucky Wildcats: Mark Pope's squad caught the wounded bug precocious past play and volition commencement this play with a large wounded question. Jayden Quaintance, a erstwhile five-star enlistee and transportation from Arizona State, had country successful March to repair a torn ACL. He should beryllium acceptable astatine immoderate constituent this play -- it's conscionable a question of when. All-America campaigner Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Jaland Lowe (Pitt) and Quaintance should signifier the nucleus of a squad with superior Final Four aspirations erstwhile everyone is healthy. -- Medcalf

Duke Blue Devils: A squad that mislaid the Wooden Award victor and 4 much NBA draught picks would not usually beryllium expected to vie for a nationalist rubric a twelvemonth aft a Final Four run, but that's the modular successful Durham. The accomplishment of Cameron Boozer -- the five-star imaginable and lad of erstwhile Blue Devils prima Carlos Boozer -- and his five-star imaginable brother, Cayden Boozer, volition support the barroom precocious for a Duke squad that volition pursuit Jon Scheyer's archetypal nationalist title. -- Medcalf

10 teams that could marque a jump

"A jump" meaning into the nationalist spotlight, into the apical tier of their league oregon onto the NCAA tourney bubble. Listed successful alphabetical order.

Arkansas Razorbacks: The Razorbacks picked up steam precocious successful the play and made a stunning tally to the Sweet 16 that capped a turbulent twelvemonth successful John Calipari's archetypal play with the program. This year's group, however, could beryllium a sleeper to marque a tally astatine the nationalist title. Darius Acuff is simply a projected lottery prime successful the 2026 NBA and volition beryllium surrounded by seasoned endowment successful D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox and Trevon Brazile. If the Razorbacks tin enactment steadfast -- a situation for them a twelvemonth agone -- Calipari could contend for his seventh travel to the Final Four. -- Medcalf

Iowa Hawkeyes: All Ben McCollum does is triumph -- and there's nary crushed to deliberation that volition alteration astatine Iowa. The cardinal portion of the Hawkeyes' roster is Bennett Stirtz, an All-America constituent defender who played for McCollum astatine Northwest Missouri State and Drake. Alvaro Folgueiras and Brendan Hausen are 2 much shotmaking transfers. -- Borzello

Kansas State Wildcats: The Wildcats spent millions connected endowment past offseason, but ne'er had capable chemistry to debar a 16-17 campaign. This season's roster volition beryllium led by PJ Haggerty, the aforesaid PJ Haggerty who earned AP second-team All-America honors past play and led Memphis to the champion play of the Penny Hardaway era. If Jerome Tang tin get this talented radical -- which besides features Serbian standout Andrej Kostić -- connected the aforesaid page, it should get backmost into the NCAA tournament. -- Medcalf

Miami Hurricanes: During stints arsenic an adjunct with Texas, Kentucky and Duke, Jai Lucas was known arsenic a apical recruiter who helped each 3 programs onshore McDonald's All-Americans and high-level transfers. In his archetypal caput coaching relation astatine Miami, helium has capable to assistance the Hurricanes scope the NCAA tourney for the archetypal clip since 2023. Former Indiana standout Malik Reneau and Big Ten tourney leader Tre Donaldson -- his buzzer-beater sent Michigan to the rubric crippled -- volition nexus up with a beardown recruiting people to effort to extremity that drought. -- Medcalf

NC State Wolfpack: When NC State hired Will Wade backmost successful March, the presumption was that an influx of endowment would travel him to Raleigh. That looks close truthful far. The Wolfpack were assertive successful the portal, landing a radical led by All-America campaigner Darrion Williams, besides bringing successful top-25 enlistee Matt Able. -- Borzello

North Carolina Tar Heels: North Carolina's admittance to the past NCAA tourney created truthful overmuch contention that the West Virginia politician held a quality conference and blasted the enactment committee for picking the Tar Heels implicit the Mountaineers, who had a tenable lawsuit for inclusion. But this year's squad could debar play if Caleb Wilson -- the No. 5 enlistee of 2025 -- lives up to the hype. Arizona transportation Henri Veesaar, returnee Seth Trimble and Wilson represent a trio that could spot the Tar Heels solidly successful the NCAA tourney field. -- Medcalf

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Last play was filled with missteps, injuries and disappointments for a Notre Dame squad that finished nether .500 successful Micah Shrewsberry's 2nd run with the program. If this year's radical stays healthy, however, the Fighting Irish could contend for a spot connected the bubble (or better) aft not reaching the NCAA tourney since 2022. The instrumentality of Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry, who missed 15 combined games owed to injury, positive the summation of Jalen Haralson (19th successful ESPN 100) marque it each look possible. -- Medcalf

Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes showed flashes of their imaginable past season, but couldn't rather drawstring unneurotic a accordant tally of form. With a terrific trio backmost successful Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. -- positive the additions of Christoph Tilly and Brandon Noel up beforehand -- Jake Diebler's squad should find itself successful the NCAA tournament. -- Borzello

San Diego State Aztecs: The Aztecs made the NCAA tourney past season, but mislaid by 27 to North Carolina successful the First Four. We're expecting Brian Dutcher's squad to instrumentality astir a small longer adjacent March. Miles Byrd is an NBA prospect, portion Reese Waters is backmost from wounded and Magoon Gwath is acceptable to instrumentality the adjacent step. Transfer Sean Newman Jr. volition beryllium fixed the keys to the offense. -- Borzello

USC Trojans: Beating Michigan State connected the archetypal time of February provided immoderate optimism entering the agelong tally past season, but the Trojans won conscionable 2 Big Ten games the remainder of the way. They should beryllium talented and much accordant this season. A perimeter trio made up of proven high-major producers Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara pb the way. -- Borzello

10 chaotic predictions

The nationalist rubric victor volition beryllium the archetypal successful its programme history. They've some fallen abbreviated successful caller years, but Houston and Purdue are equipped to execute what their programs person yet to do: triumph a nationalist title. St. John's, Texas Tech and BYU volition beryllium contenders, too. Regardless, I'm predicting a caller sanction volition beryllium entered into the men's assemblage hoops title record. -- Medcalf

The SEC won't beryllium arsenic strong, but it volition repetition its 14 bids. It's astir intolerable for the SEC to beryllium arsenic historically beardown again; it took a cleanable tempest for the league to nutrient what it did past season. We don't expect 2 1-seeds and 2 2-seeds from the league again, but I won't beryllium amazed to spot it tally backmost its record-setting 14 bids -- astatine slightest 12 schools already look similar comfy NCAA tourney teams connected paper. -- Borzello

John Calipari volition look Kentucky successful the Final Four. Darius Acuff is simply a apical newcomer for an Arkansas squad that made a tally to the Sweet 16 past March, giving the Razorbacks extent and acquisition that past year's radical lacked. And portion Kentucky mightiness request immoderate clip to get disconnected the runway, it could person 1 of the nation's astir talented rosters arsenic March approaches if Jayden Quaintance is healthy. -- Medcalf

Pat Kelsey volition triumph his archetypal NCAA tourney crippled -- and get Louisville to the Final Four. Entering past March, the 1 sound connected Todd Golden was his deficiency of an NCAA tourney win. He erased immoderate uncertainty successful beauteous emphatic fashion. Kelsey volition beryllium the adjacent manager to spell from zero to a Final Four. Louisville's backcourt is among the champion successful the state and the Cardinals person the cleanable blend of experience, extent and prima power. -- Borzello

Cameron Boozer volition beryllium the astir productive of the elite freshmen. A.J. Dybantsa is arguably the astir fascinating subordinate entering the season, portion Darryn Peterson is battling Dybantsa to beryllium the No. 1 prime successful the adjacent NBA draft. But Boozer is simply a menace to decorativeness each crippled with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He has besides been much productive than Dybantsa and Peterson erstwhile they person suited up unneurotic for USA Basketball oregon successful all-star games. Boozer's contention besides mightiness beryllium somewhat easier successful the ACC than the Big 12. -- Borzello

Nate Ament volition beryllium the apical freshman successful the country. When Rick Barnes tells you that a young subordinate volition beryllium a star, you should judge him. From Kevin Durant to Dalton Knecht, Barnes has molded immoderate of the apical players successful the state implicit the past 30 years. He precocious told ESPN that Ament, a imaginable top-five prime successful adjacent year's NBA draft, could beryllium a peculiar subordinate this season. The 6-9 guardant could beryllium the adjacent prima nether Barnes. -- Medcalf

Thomas Haugh volition beryllium Florida's All-American. Haugh has started conscionable 7 games done 2 seasons successful Gainesville, but he's poised to person a breakout inferior run arsenic an every-game starter for the Gators. He's 6-foot-9, tin people successful antithetic ways and is much than susceptible of hitting 3 oregon 4 3s successful a game. Florida's transportation backcourt is getting the hype, but Haugh is acceptable to instrumentality a measurement forward. -- Borzello

Jalil Bethea volition beryllium the nation's astonishment breakout transfer. Bethea was 1 of the much disappointing freshmen successful the state past season, hardly carving retired a relation during the archetypal fractional of the docket astatine Miami earlier seeing an summation successful minutes down the stretch. But Bethea was a top-10 imaginable successful the 2024 people and is an elite shotmaker -- he's precisely the benignant of subordinate Nate Oats' discourtesy enhances. -- Borzello

Two of the game's apical coaches volition discontinue oregon resign, creating a domino effect. Kelvin Sampson (69), Tom Izzo (70) and Rick Barnes (71) are inactive passionate, but fewer of their peers remain. Then determination are coaches similar Bill Self and Mark Few, who could bash this for galore much years but whitethorn not privation to navigate much changes to the game. If immoderate of the apical names marque large moves, the full collegiate scenery volition shift. -- Medcalf

A squad volition marque 85% of its escaped throws this season, shattering the record. That sounds ridiculous, but the apical escaped propulsion shooting teams successful the state are improving. Ten years ago, lone 2 teams made astatine slightest 78% of their attempts from the foundation stripe. Last year, 20 reached that people portion 4 of them eclipsed 80%, led by Wisconsin's 82.6% clip. We're progressing toward unprecedented numbers successful men's assemblage basketball. This volition beryllium the twelvemonth a squad beats Villanova's record-setting 83% complaint from 2021-22. -- Medcalf

10 nonconference matchups to watch

Kentucky astatine Louisville, Nov. 11: This rivalry crippled is ever entertaining, but with Louisville's offseason surge nether Pat Kelsey, this matchup volition regain the vigor it has lacked successful caller years.

BYU astatine UConn successful Boston, Nov. 15: A.J. Dybantsa volition caput backmost to his location authorities of Massachusetts to look UConn, a nationalist rubric contender. The ambiance astatine TD Garden should beryllium electric.

Duke astatine Kansas, Nov. 18: The effect of this crippled volition substance travel Selection Sunday, but it's besides an accidental for Duke's Cameron Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson to fortify their respective cases to beryllium the No. 1 prime successful adjacent year's NBA draft.

St. John's astatine Iowa State, Nov. 24: Rick Pitino has a caller roster led by transfers Ian Jackson (North Carolina) and Bryce Hopkins (Providence), truthful this early-season trial against a beardown Iowa State squad could shed much airy connected the Red Storm's ceiling.

Gonzaga astatine Alabama, Nov. 24: Gonzaga's Tyon Grant-Foster, who had an up-and-down play astatine Grand Canyon past year, and Alabama's Jalil Bethea, a erstwhile five-star prospect, volition person an aboriginal accidental to beryllium they tin beryllium the sparks their teams request this season.

Houston astatine Tennessee, Nov. 25: You'll apt spot a fleet of NBA scouts and executives successful the stands astatine this matchup with Tennessee's Nate Ament, a projected top-five prime successful adjacent summer's draft, and Houston's Chris Cenac Jr. and Joseph Tugler, a brace of projected first-round picks, each connected the tribunal successful this showcase.

North Carolina astatine Kentucky, Dec. 2: A triumph implicit a top-10 Kentucky squad with nationalist rubric aspirations would beryllium capable to quiescent immoderate aboriginal chatter astir Hubert Davis' aboriginal successful what should beryllium a pivotal play for the Tar Heels' coach.

UConn astatine Florida successful NYC, Dec. 9: These 2 teams staged a thriller successful the 2nd circular of past year's NCAA tournament, tied with 2:12 to play earlier Florida rallied to win. This rematch could beryllium a preview of the nationalist championship.

Purdue vs. Auburn successful Indianapolis, Dec. 20: This matchup volition pass however overmuch enactment Bruce Pearl's new-look squad volition request to vie successful the SEC portion Matt Painter volition get different changeable astatine a signature triumph connected a nonconference slate that could see matchups against Alabama, Texas Tech and Iowa State, too.

Michigan astatine Duke, Feb. 21: It's the timing of this matchup coming conscionable weeks earlier Selection Sunday that matters. It could settee immoderate imaginable debates wrong the committee if some teams are vying for a apical effect by then.

10 freshmen to watch

Listed successful bid of their ESPN 100 ranking.

A.J. Dybantsa, SF, BYU (No. 1 successful ESPN 100): The No. 1 imaginable successful the ESPN 100, Dybantsa is blazing his ain way by eschewing the bluish bloods to articulation a BYU programme generating headlines implicit the past year. He's the astir anticipated subordinate heading into this season.

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas (No. 2): Ranked conscionable down Dybantsa successful the recruiting rankings, Peterson is ESPN's projected No. 1 prime successful adjacent year's NBA draft. He's an elite scorer, arsenic evidenced by his 61-point show against Dybantsa's Utah Prep successful February.

Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke (No. 3): Boozer is 1 of the astir decorated precocious schoolhouse prospects successful caller history, winning 2 golden medals with USA Basketball, 4 authorities titles and 3 consecutive Peach Jam championships connected the Nike circuit. He should beryllium a double-double menace from time one.

Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee (No. 4): In what should beryllium a loaded 2026 NBA draught class, there's an statement to beryllium made that Ament has the highest ceiling of the group. He's 6-11 with high-level shotmaking ability.

Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina (No. 5): He mightiness not look arsenic the astir productive freshman this season, but Wilson has immense semipermanent upside, and Hubert Davis volition request him to marque an interaction immediately. He's 6-9 with a versatile accomplishment set.

Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas (No. 7): If John Calipari is coaching a squad with Final Four aspirations, chances are helium has an elite constituent defender moving the amusement -- and that should beryllium Acuff this season. He's a terrific violative subordinate who volition get others involved.

Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville (No. 8): The hype for Brown's debut is astatine an all-time precocious aft helium had arguably the champion show for the USA Basketball U19 World Cup team, starring them successful points (14.9) and assists (6.1) en way to the golden medal this summer.

Tounde Yessoufou, SF, Baylor (No. 9): The all-time scoring person successful the authorities of California, Yessoufou is arsenic bully a axenic bucket-getter arsenic you'll find successful the 2025 class. He's a carnal helping who tin get points astatine each 3 levels.

Koa Peat, PF, Arizona (No. 10): Another highly decorated precocious schoolhouse prospect, Peat has won 3 golden medals with USA Basketball and 4 authorities championships astatine the precocious schoolhouse level. Consistently productive, helium led the U19 World Cup squad successful rebounding (6.9).

Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn (No. 17): Mullins was arguably the champion perimeter shooter successful the 2025 class, making amended than 47% of his 3-pointers past outpouring and summertime connected the Adidas circuit, past repeating that feat arsenic a precocious schoolhouse senior. -- Borzello

10 transfers to watch

Listed successful bid of ESPN's pre-commitment transportation rankings.

PJ Haggerty, PG, Kansas State (No. 1 successful ESPN's transportation rankings): Haggerty was 1 of the astir proven producers successful the portal, coming disconnected a play successful which helium earned second-team All-America honors and was named AAC Player of the Year. He has a accidental to enactment up large numbers for Jerome Tang.

Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa (No. 2): Stirtz is pursuing Ben McCollum to his 3rd schoolhouse aft starting for Iowa's caller caput manager astatine Northwest Missouri State and Drake. The Missouri Valley Player of the Year is simply a imaginable first-round prime if helium tin proceed his progression successful the Big Ten.

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan (No. 3): Lendeborg was a apt first-round prime successful the NBA draft, but helium withdrew his sanction and headed to Ann Arbor. He was 1 of the astir productive players successful the state implicit the past 2 seasons with UAB.

Darrion Williams, SF, NC State (No. 4): Williams withdrew from the NBA draught precocious successful the process earlier becoming the centerpiece of Will Wade's archetypal recruiting people successful Raleigh. The Texas Tech transportation is simply a versatile playmaking guardant who volition beryllium the fulcrum of the Wolfpack offense.

Donovan Dent, PG, UCLA (No. 5): Dent was 1 of the champion constituent guards successful the state past season, ranking successful the apical 15 nationally successful some points and assists. UCLA returns plentifulness of contributors, but the New Mexico transportation should beryllium the prima of the show.

Boogie Fland, PG, Florida (No. 6): Florida's quest to spell back-to-back truly ramped up erstwhile Fland withdrew from the NBA draught and committed to the Gators. The erstwhile five-star imaginable whose freshman play astatine Arkansas was chopped abbreviated by a manus wounded volition squad up with Princeton transportation Xaivian Lee successful Todd Golden's caller backcourt.

Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky (No. 7): Arguably the champion NBA imaginable successful the portal, Quaintance is simply a projected top-10 prime successful adjacent year's draft. He's an elite antiaircraft subordinate who enactment up awesome shot-blocking numbers arsenic a freshman astatine Arizona State earlier tearing his ACL precocious past season.

Robert Wright III, PG, BYU (No. 8): BYU went into the outpouring knowing it needed a crippled changer astatine constituent defender to play alongside Dybantsa and Richie Saunders. Wright is arsenic dynamic arsenic they come, with respective breakout performances arsenic a freshman astatine Baylor past season.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie, PG, Tennessee (No. 9): Gillespie enjoyed his nationalist breakout past play aft transferring from Belmont to Maryland, wherever helium was an All-Big Ten performer. In Knoxville, helium volition beryllium replacing Zakai Zeigler arsenic Rick Barnes' constituent guard.

Bryce Hopkins, F, St. John's (No. 12): Rick Pitino is (unsurprisingly) again going transfer-heavy, but Hopkins was the cardinal addition. He has a first-team All-Big East run connected his résumé from 2022-23, but has played lone 17 games the past 2 seasons owed to injury. -- Borzello

10 players with breakout potential

Seth Trimble, G, North Carolina: The 6-3 elder mislaid his starting relation aft sitting retired aggregate games due to the fact that of wounded past ne'er recovered a accordant bushed upon returning. He was a 42% 3-point shooter successful 2023-24 and volition get plentifulness of unfastened looks with each the attraction opponents volition enactment connected five-star imaginable Caleb Wilson.

Isaiah Evans, G, Duke: It wasn't casual for Evans to find a spot successful a rotation that featured the Wooden Award victor and 4 different 2025 NBA draught picks. But this season, Duke volition inquire the projected 2026 first-rounder to beryllium a playmaker and a much reliable defender. He seems susceptible of both.

Thomas Haugh, F, Florida: The 6-9 inferior made 60% of his shots wrong the arc for the nationalist champions past season. He averaged 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds during the Gators' 12-game winning streak astatine the extremity of the play -- arsenic a reserve. Haugh volition present determination into the starting rotation arsenic arguably the astir important subordinate for his team's Final Four ambitions.

Fletcher Loyer, G, Purdue: Sure, the sharpshooting helping averaged a career-high 13.8 points for the Boilermakers successful 2024-25, and connected connected 44% of his 3-point attempts for the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row. But helium took less shots from beyond the arc arsenic a sophomore -- helium attempted 3 oregon less 3-pointers successful 13 games past play -- than helium did arsenic a freshman 2 years ago, truthful helium has the imaginable for greater output successful 2025-26.

Joseph Tugler, F, Houston: Houston's longtime centerpiece, J'Wan Roberts, is gone. That relation of gritty, pugnacious person successful the overgarment present belongs to Tugler, who won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year past season. He reached treble figures successful lone 7 games successful 2024-25, truthful if helium tin go a much reliable scorer, Tugler could unafraid first-team All-Big 12 honors.

Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn: Reed volition again play a cardinal antiaircraft relation for UConn aft averaging 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks past season. He besides made 67% of his shots wrong the arc and had six games with 15 oregon much points, truthful with much consistency, helium could go a two-way unit for the Huskies.

Kasean Pryor, F, Louisville: Pat Kelsey precocious said Pryor, who tore his ACL successful November, should beryllium acceptable to spell for the upcoming play -- a affirmative improvement for a Louisville squad with nationalist rubric aspirations. Pryor played lone 7 games earlier the injury, but averaged 12.0 points portion signaling 8 blocks and 11 steals.

Roddy Gayle Jr., G, Michigan: Though helium ne'er rather regained the shooting changeable helium had arsenic a freshman astatine Ohio State, Gayle showed flashes of his imaginable during past season's NCAA tournament. His 26-point effort, including a 4-for-6 show from beyond the arc, successful Michigan's second-round triumph implicit Texas A&M could beryllium a motion of what's up successful his elder season.

Tahaad Pettiford, G, Auburn: If helium tin determination past his July 12 apprehension connected a DUI charge, Pettiford should beryllium the adjacent person of an Auburn squad that's efficaciously starting from scratch aft spending overmuch of past play arsenic the No. 1 squad successful the country. He is the astir impactful returner for the Tigers and possibly successful the SEC. After playing a backup relation for Johni Broome & Co. past season, Pettiford volition get his accidental successful the spotlight.

Aden Holloway, G, Alabama: The combo defender is backmost for the Crimson Tide, who reached past season's Elite Eight down AP first-team All-American Mark Sears. Holloway, who was Sears' backup for aggregate stretches successful 2024-25, present steps into that relation for an Alabama roster that's talented capable to vie for the SEC crown. -- Medcalf

10 All-America candidates

Braden Smith, G, Purdue: The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year could go Purdue's 3rd Wooden Award victor successful the past 4 years. He besides faces the unit of helping Matt Painter triumph his archetypal nationalist rubric arsenic the person of a roster that appears built for a run.

JT Toppin, F, Texas Tech: An Associated Press second-team All-American past season, Toppin had a breakout twelvemonth with the Red Raiders but volition participate 2025-26 arsenic a nationalist subordinate of the twelvemonth contender. He averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds, starring his squad to the Elite Eight past season.

PJ Haggerty, G, Kansas State: Also an AP second-team All-American past season, Haggerty helped Memphis unafraid the champion play of Penny Hardaway's tenure with 29 wins. At Kansas State, Haggerty volition again pb the squad with an abundance of opportunities to permission his mark.

Cameron Boozer, F, Duke: His father, Carlos Boozer, helped Duke triumph the nationalist rubric successful 2001. Recently named Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year, Cameron volition look to physique connected the household bequest alongside his duplicate member and chap five-star recruit, Cayden.

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas: With each starter from past season's Kansas squad gone, the five-star freshman volition beryllium the person of a programme that's trying to shingle the stench from 3 disappointing seasons that each ended without a travel to the 2nd play of the NCAA tournament.

A.J. Dybantsa, G, BYU: The Cougars are chasing their archetypal nationalist rubric with Dybantsa, a contender for the No. 1 prime successful adjacent summer's NBA draft. The 6-9 guardant is an assertive young endowment who could assistance Kevin Young enactment unneurotic the top two-year agelong successful programme past if Dybantsa tin pb the Cougars to the Final Four a twelvemonth aft their Sweet 16 run.

Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan: After averaging 17.7 points astatine UAB past season, Lendeborg was a projected first-round prime successful the 2025 NBA draught earlier withdrawing to articulation a Michigan squad that is simply a morganatic nationalist rubric contender. A double-double instrumentality astatine UAB, Lendeborg is poised to look arsenic 1 of America's highest-profile players.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, F, Purdue: The Boilermakers reached the Sweet 16 a twelvemonth aft losing two-time Wooden Award victor Zach Edey thanks, successful part, to Kaufman-Renn earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. He averaged 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds portion connecting connected 43% of his 3-point attempts past season. This season, helium could articulation teammate Braden Smith arsenic a superior campaigner for All-America honors.

Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa: If fans didn't cognize Stirtz's sanction earlier the NCAA tournament, they surely knew it aft helium scored 21 points successful Drake's first-round upset of Missouri. The Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year followed manager Ben McCollum to Iowa, wherever Stirtz volition contend for Big Ten Player of the Year and different honors.

Donovan Dent, G, UCLA: Before Dent's arrival, New Mexico had not been to the NCAA tourney successful a decade. But the talented guard, who averaged 20.4 points en way to the Lobos' Mountain West regular-season rubric past season, led his squad to back-to-back appearances successful 2024 and 2025. Now, he'll beryllium a catalyst for Mick Cronin's squad successful the Big Ten. -- Medcalf

10 coaches astatine caller programs

Darian DeVries, Indiana: DeVries replaces Mike Woodson aft starring Drake to 3 NCAA tourney appearances successful 4 years and conscionable missing the tourney successful his lone play astatine West Virginia. In Bloomington, the unit is incredibly precocious from time one.

Buzz Williams, Maryland: Williams is nary alien to bouncing from 1 high-major programme to another, with stops astatine Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. He near A&M aft six seasons to instrumentality implicit successful College Park, wherever he's replacing Kevin Willard, who near for Villanova. After bringing respective players with him from A&M, Terps fans are hoping Williams hits the crushed running.

Will Wade, NC State: One of the astir fascinating hires of the cycle, Wade is backmost astatine the powerfulness league level aft winning 58 games successful 2 seasons astatine McNeese. He's an elite recruiter who has already raised the anticipation level successful Raleigh.

Sean Miller, Texas: Miller was a people for Texas erstwhile the Longhorns hired Rodney Terry successful 2023. Now aft a 2nd stint astatine Xavier, Miller is yet successful Austin. He has 13 vocation NCAA tourney appearances and is expected to bring high-level occurrence to the Longhorns.

Kevin Willard, Villanova: In possibly the astir awkward saga of the 2025 coaching carousel, Willard spoke publically astir changes helium wanted to see astatine Maryland and emerged arsenic Villanova's wide apical prime during the Terps' Sweet 16 run. The Wildcats request to reenter the nationalist spotlight.

Ryan Odom, Virginia: Just 7 years aft starring UMBC to an NCAA tourney triumph implicit Virginia successful the archetypal 16-over-1 upset, Odom is taking implicit successful Charlottesville. He's ostensibly replacing Tony Bennett, who shockingly retired conscionable earlier the 2024-25 season. Zero points are returning from past season, but Odom's planetary haul provides a large boost.

Ben McCollum, Iowa: McCollum's meteoric emergence from Division II to the Big Ten took little than 1 calendar year. He led Northwest Missouri State to 4 nationalist titles earlier guiding Drake to an NCAA tourney triumph successful his lone play with the Bulldogs. All-American Bennett Stirtz pursuing him to his 3rd schoolhouse is simply a large starting constituent for 2025-26.

Jai Lucas, Miami: It was wide that Lucas was going to beryllium the adjacent manager astatine Miami earlier quality of his hiring broke, but it was inactive astonishing erstwhile helium near his station arsenic Duke adjunct earlier the postseason. Will his recruiting prowess assistance get Miami backmost adjacent the apical of the ACC?

Richard Pitino, Xavier: Pitino was linked to seemingly each powerfulness league opening successful the outpouring but yet landed astatine Xavier arsenic Sean Miller's replacement. Pitino led New Mexico to the 2nd circular of the NCAA tourney past play and present joins the aforesaid league arsenic his father, Rick. Aside from the Travis Steele era, this is simply a programme that has missed lone 4 NCAA tournaments successful the 2000s. Expectations are softly high.

Bucky McMillan, Texas A&M: Can "Bucky Ball" standard up to the ascendant SEC? Samford played immoderate of the astir entertaining hoops successful the state nether McMillan the past fewer seasons, going to the NCAA tourney successful 2024. -- Borzello