College basketball rankings: St. John’s enters top 10, Kentucky enters top 25

The wait is finally over. After months of moves in the transfer portal, recruiting battles and NBA draft decisions, last week’s opt-out deadline brought some clarity. Fans learned which standout players would be returning to campus, who would be moving on to the pros, and what the teams will actually look like when the 2026-2027 season begins. There are still a few dominoes to fall, but the picture is much clearer than it was last month. With that in mind, here’s a look at my updated Men’s College Basketball Top 25 for the 2026-27 season. Previous Ranking: NR Big Blue Nation was starting to worry that Kentucky wouldn’t have a top-25 roster. The late addition of Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic changes that. He was the highest-ranked transfer available in May and Kentucky landed him. The retention of Malachi Moreno, who averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season, is also huge. He should have an exceptional year. A projected starting five of Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye and Moreno looks very solid and should put Kentucky firmly in the top 25. Previous ranking: 24 Losing the program’s all-time leading scorer, Bruce Thornton, to graduation certainly hurts, but the talent is there for Jake Diebler’s team to make some noise in the Big Ten next season. Diebler is expected to welcome a strong transfer class, highlighted by former Cal guard Justin Pippen, who will join returnee John Mobley Jr. in the starting backcourt. He will also welcome five-star freshman Anthony Thompson, the highest-rated recruit to arrive in Columbus since Jared Sullinger in 2010. Previous ranking: 23 After taking a second look at the roster, it became clear that the Cornhuskers deserve a spot in the Top 25. Utah Valley transfer Trevan Leonhardt is a passing wizard and a solid offensive asset in a backcourt that also features Braden Frager and Pryce Sandfort. Belmont transfer Sam Orme adds a valuable shot at fourth. This team will score, but the question remains: can they defend? Previous Rank: 22 Robert Wright III’s decision to return for his junior season dramatically changes the Cougars’ outlook for 2026-27, giving them one of the best field generals in the sport. He will be joined by five-star freshman Bruce Branch III, who is widely considered one of the nation’s top prospects for 2026. The Cougars will also welcome back Collin Chandler, who is expected to return home after two years playing for Mark Pope and Kentucky. Previous Rank: 21 Miami head coach Jai Lucas should have one of the best teams in the ACC heading into next season, but it remains to be seen how quickly it all comes together. Shelton Henderson is a rising star, with the look of a future pro. He will be joined by a loaded transfer class, highlighted by two standout additions in Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis and former Georgia big man Somto Cyril. Previous Rank: 20 Vanderbilt’s offseason revolved around star point guard Tyler Tanner’s decision. The good news for Mark Byington’s team is that Tanner withdrew from the NBA draft and will return next season as a likely preseason first-team All-American. The less good news is that starting forward AK Okereke, who was seeking an extra year of eligibility, will not return next year. Still, Byington had a breakout year in the transfer portal, assembling an impressive five-player class that included TO Barrett (Missouri), Berke Buyuktuncel (Nebraska), Bangot Dak (Colorado), Ace Glass (Washington State) and Sebastian Williams-Adams (Auburn). Previous Rank: 19 Indiana head coach Darian DeVries completely revamped his roster this offseason, assembling a six-man transfer class that ranks sixth in the nation, according to 247Sports. The group is led by a dominant frontcourt duo of Aiden Sherrell (Indiana) and Samet Yigitoglu (SMU). They’ll be joined by former Notre Dame standout Markus Burton, who could be one of the Big Ten’s best newcomers next season if he can stay healthy. Previous ranking: 18 Houston coach Kelvin Sampson faces the challenge of replacing four starters from last year’s team. The Cougars will need Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller to play larger roles next season, and will look to return forward Joseph Tugler to step into an alpha role. Sampson is poised to bring in a trio of impact transfers: Dedan Thomas Jr. (LSU), Delrecco Gillespie (Kent State) and Corey Hadnot II (Purdue Fort Wayne), as well as a top-25 recruiting class highlighted by five-star big man Arafan Diane. Previous Rank: 17th Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes is known as one of the best defensive coaches in the country, but Barnes, 71, is poised to join the nation’s No. 3 portal class this year, and it comes with plenty of offensive firepower. Barnes’ background includes three players – Juke Harris (Wake Forest), Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU) and Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame) – ranked among the top 25 transfers in this country. Previous Rank: 16 Alabama forward Amari Allen withdrew from the NBA draft and will provide the Crimson Tide with a stabilizing force on the perimeter. Beyond that, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Alabama’s roster. Big man Aiden Sherrell transferred to Indiana, while standout guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges on March 16, announced his intention to return to college and hopes to rejoin the team. Jaxon Richardson and Qayden Samuels are both highly touted rookies arriving next season, but their impact remains to be seen. Previous ranking: 15 Continuity has been a central theme for the Cavaliers this offseason. Virginia returns four of its top six scorers from last year, including Thijs De Ridder, a 6-foot-9 forward from Belgium who led the team in scoring as a freshman. His combination of versatility and experience gives the Cavaliers a reliable offensive foundation, while returning guard Chance Mallory will be asked to take on a larger role as the team’s primary initiator and playmaker. Previous ranking: 14 Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Ames through 2036, but Iowa State will enter 2026-27 with a different roster. The departures of Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic leave significant holes to fill, although the return of guards Killyan Touré and Jamarion Batemon, coupled with a five-player transfer, should help. Previous ranking: 12 Guard Rodney Rice returns from injury, while Alijah Arenas begins his second season with the benefit of a full offseason in the weight room. Jacob Cofie is back to anchor the frontcourt, and the additions of Georgetown’s KJ Lewis, UConn’s Eric Reibe and three top-30 freshmen give the Trojans one of the most intriguing rosters in the country. How quickly coach Eric Musselman can turn this talent into a contender will be one of the biggest storylines in the sport. Previous ranking: 10 Meleek Thomas’ exit to the NBA hurt, but Billy Richmond III’s return was significant. This team should still be a lot of fun. Arkansas has Elite Eight potential thanks to its mix of veteran talent and the nation’s top recruiting class, which includes four top-25 prospects led by guard Jordan Smith Jr. Previous ranking: 11 Texas’ ceiling depends on center Matas Vokietaitis returning to become a star, but the pieces around him are in place. The Longhorns have been aggressive in the transfer portal, landing David Punch from TCU and Isaiah Johnson from Colorado. Punch should pair with Vokietaitis to give Texas a solid frontcourt, while Johnson provides a steady hand at point guard. Previous ranking: 10 Gonzaga will get a huge boost from Braden Huff, one of the most talented players in the country, returning from an injury that kept him out of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Around Huff, coach Mark Few and the Bulldogs added Arizona State’s Massamba Diop and Houston’s Isiah Harwell. Both endured disappointing freshman seasons and will look to bounce back in Spokane. Previous Rank: 9 After reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2001, Arizona lost four key pieces, including freshman Koa Peat, who opted to remain in the NBA draft. Head coach Tommy Lloyd will rely on returning starters Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, who give the Wildcats a high floor, especially on defense. The backcourt of North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon and five-star freshman Caleb Holt will bring a new look to the offense. Previous Rank: 11 The Red Storm are breaking into the top 10. I already loved their roster last month, but the surprising addition of Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou is exactly what they needed. He is a strong guard who can impact the game on both ends of the court, averaging 18 points and 6 rebounds per game last season. Previous Rank: 7 Michigan State star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. will return after withdrawing from the NBA draft. Fears, an extension of coach Tom Izzo on the field, could be a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award. He’s the Spartans’ floor general, but for them to go the distance, forwards Coen Carr and Cam Ward, as well as shooting guard Kur Teng, will need to step up. Anton Bonke, transferred from Charlotte, could help offset the departures of Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler. Previous Rank: 7 Head coach Dan Hurley convinced freshman Braylon Mullins to return to UConn after a magical run to the 2026 national title game. Point guard Silas Demary Jr. and forward Jayden Ross are also back. Transfers Nikolas Khamenia and Najai Hines should help fill the void left by the departures of Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban. Previous Rank: 5 The Cardinals went out and spent a lot of money to build a team that I think deserves the title. Let’s start with the best defensive center in the country: Flory Bidunga. He’s flanked by Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, fresh off his breakout performance in the NCAA tournament. In the backcourt, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad leads the point and Arkansas wing transfer Karter Knox rounds out a roster that has a little bit of everything. Previous Rank: 4 Duke’s roster combines star power and depth. Headlining is Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who withdrew from the NBA draft and will help replace the lost Isaiah Evans. Head coach Jon Scheyer also signed a new class of five-star freshmen, as well as international prospect Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje from Spain. The foundation is Duke’s returning group: Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II. Previous Rank: 3 A year after relying on an elite frontcourt, the core of this Michigan team will reside in its returning backcourt of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. Head coach Dusty May had to replace a trio of forwards projected as first-round NBA draft picks, and he did so with Tennessee’s JP Estrella and Cincinnati’s Moustapha Thiam. It is unfair to aim for the Wolverines to match last year’s defensive dominance, but don’t underestimate May’s ability to build another elite unit. Previous Rank: 2 Illinois head coach Brad Underwood should feel good about this group after Andrej Stojakovic withdrew from the NBA draft and returned to the Illini. Alongside David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic, Stojakovic gives Illinois one of the best frontcourts in the country. The addition of Stefan Vaaks from Providence should help offset the loss of Keaton Wagler. Previous ranking: 1 The Gators moved into first place after their entire frontcourt opted to return. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, all key contributors to Florida’s 2025 national championship team, are back after last season ended with a Round of 16 loss to Iowa. Guards Boogie Fland and Urban Klavzar will also return to Gainesville.