The word “continuity” has never been rarer in college basketball. The transfer portal, NIL opportunities and the NBA Draft have conspired to produce what is arguably the most tumultuous off-season in the sport’s history.
And yet, some programs have managed to avoid the carnage and retain the core of their rosters. That leaves them well-positioned to pursue hardware during the 2025-26 season. Here, then, are Hoops HQ’s Top 10 Continuity Kings. To qualify for this list, teams had to have lost two or fewer scholarship players and returned at least three rotation players from the 2024-25 campaign.
1. Houston
Returning players: 6-foot-7 junior forward Joseph Tugler, 6-foot-3 senior guard Emanuel Sharp, 6-foot-4 senior guard Milos Uzan (pending NBA Draft decision)
Skinny: Coming off a national title appearance, the Cougars have a great shot at returning to the Final Four weekend. Tugler was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this past season, while both Uzan and Sharp shot over 40 percent from three-point range. Add the current No. 1 incoming recruiting class and expectations should remain high for Houston.
2. Notre Dame
Returning players: 5-foot-11 junior guard Markus Burton, 6-foot-3 junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry, 6-foot-10 senior forward Kebba Njie, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard Sir Mohammed, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Cole Certa
Skinny: The Irish finished 15-18 last season, and history tells us that an exodus could’ve been possible. Yet that didn’t happen with Coach Micah Shrewsberry’s team, which will bring back the starting duo of Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry, who combined to average 35.3 points per game. There will be pressure for this group to take the leap into the top half of the ACC and be a postseason contender, but it’s an impressive start to the offseason for the program.
3. Northwestern
Returning players: 6-foot-7 senior forward Nick Martinelli (pending NBA Draft decision), 6-foot-3 sophomore guard K.J. Windham, 6-foot-6 senior guard Justin Mullins, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Jordan Clayton
Skinny: The Wildcats went 17-16 this past season but they have kept most of their eligible players, including a good group of young guards who are set to have more significant roles. The future of Martinelli, who led Northwestern with 20.5 points per game, is big because if he stays in the draft, the team will not be able to find an adequate replacement.
4. San Diego State
Returning players: 7-foot junior forward Magoon Gwath, 6-foot-7 junior guard Miles Byrd, 6-foot-1 junior guard BJ Davis, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Pharoh Compton, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Taj DeGourville, 6-foot-9 junior forward Miles Heide, 6-foot-5 senior guard Reese Waters
Skinny: The Aztecs lost leading scorer and 6-foot-3 guard Nick Boyd to Wisconsin, but everyone else is back, including Magoon, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a former Kentucky transfer target. Plus, not only are the other starting guards returning, but San Diego State will also be bringing back Waters, who was second on the team with 9.6 points per game for the 2023-24 season. He missed this past year with a foot injury.
5. SMU
Returning players: 6-foot junior guard Kevin Miller, 6-foot-4 senior guard Kario Oquendo, 6-foot-3 senior guard BJ Edwards, 7-foot-2 sophomore center Yamet Yigitoglu
Skinny: The Mustangs are the only team in college basketball to return four double-digit scorers (Edwards was at 9.9 points per game). That should make them an ACC contender. If Miller and Oquendo are healthy, they will be one of the top returning backcourts, while Yigitoglu produced 10 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his first year and will be a national breakout candidate to watch.
6. Duke
Returning players: 6-foot-6 sophomore guard Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-5 junior guard Caleb Foster, 6-foot-8 senior forward Maliq Brown, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Darren Harris
Skinny: As expected, Duke has lost several key players to the NBA, including three projected lottery picks. Yet, even with another top-ranked incoming recruiting class, the ones who aren’t going pro are sticking around. That includes former five-star prospect Evans, a sharpshooter who could be a breakout player. Despite the yearly constant turnover, Coach Jon Scheyer deserves credit for keeping as many rotation pieces as possible.
7. Nebraska
Returning players: 6-foot-4 senior guard Connor Essegian, 6-foot senior guard Sam Hoiberg, 6-foot-9 junior forward Berke Buyutuncel, 6-foot-10 senior forward Reink Mast
Skinny: The winners of the inaugural Crown Postseason Tournament had a late start to the transfer portal, yet only one rotation player opted to leave. The rest of the non-seniors are set to return, including Essegian, who averaged 10.7 points per game as the team’s sixth man. The most important returning player is Mast, who missed all of this past season with a knee injury. He produced 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Cornhuskers in 2023-24 and will be one of the top bigs in the Big Ten next year.
8. Kentucky
Returning players: 6-foot-5 senior guard Otega Oweh (pending NBA Draft decision), 6-foot-11 junior center Brandon Garrison, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard Travis Perry, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Collin Chandler, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Trent Noah
Skinny: Kentucky has one of the top incoming transfer classes so far this offseason. They are also bringing back several rotation pieces, including four who came off the bench. That will allow them to have some of the best depth in the nation next season. If any of Perry, Chandler, or Noah manage a breakout sophomore campaign, combined with the stars coming in from the portal, this could be the team to beat in the SEC.
9. Saint Mary’s
Returning players: 6-foot-8 junior forward Paulius Muraskas, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Mikey Lewis, 7-foot-1 senior center Harry Wessels
Skinny: One of the reasons why Saint Mary’s has been able to get the best of Gonzaga in the WCC many times is the continuity that coach Randy Bennett has been able to maintain, which allows him to avoid complete rebuilds. That remains the same for next year as the Gaels bring back All-WCC starting forward Muraskas and Lewis, who will be on many national breakout watchlists this offseason.
10. Stanford
Returning players: 6-foot-6 junior guard Ryan Agarwal, 6-foot-8 senior forward Chisom Okpara, 6-foot-1 senior guard Benny Gealer, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Aidan Cammann, 6-foot-7 freshman forward Evan Stinson, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Donavin Young
Skinny: Yes, Stanford will be without its top three players who were responsible for over 75 percent of the offensive production from this past season. But a team has to start somewhere, and the Cardinal are set to bring back everyone else. That includes freshmen such as Cammann and Young who are set to have larger roles. Stanford’s rigorous academic standards make it difficult to bring in transfers, so having so many players return should be considered a big win for coach Kyle Smith.
