The 2025-26 college basketball season is almost here, so we at Hoops HQ wanted to do our part to get you ready by ranking the top 100 players in the country. We used a combination of data from our friends at The Portal Report, plus a variety of information and rankings from a host of analytics and ranking sites devoted to the sport. So consider this a scientific exercise mixed in with a dash of art.
The impact that each player has over the course of the season depends not only on his own potential and skill set, but also on how he fits with his team. So consider the primers below to be sneak peeks of the top individual pieces as well as a broader look at what all the puzzles look like. Basketball is a team game, and the main goal of each part is to contribute to the whole.
We are rolling out these rankings in five installments, continuing today with players 61 through 80. Don’t miss our first installment including players 81-100. Check back to Hoops HQ in the coming days for the rest of the rankings.
The Top 100 Players In College Basketball: Part One
Hoops HQ delivers you the definitive, data-driven ranking of the top 100 players in college basketball for the 2025-26 season
Did your favorite player make the list? Did your team get snubbed? Leave us a comment below.
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn
6'11" / 265
Center
61. Tarris Reed Jr., 6-foot-11 senior center, Connecticut
2024-25: 9.6 points, 1.0 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 67.0 FG%
Former four-star recruit Tarris Reed Jr. is the frontcourt engine of Dan Hurley’s new “Big Three,” a worthy follow-up to the 2022 championship trifecta of Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson. Reed is a quality big man with elite touch who charted near the top of the NCAA in rebounds last season on his way to a Big East Sixth Man of the Year award. After playing understudy to Hunter Dickinson at Michigan and Samon Johnson at UConn, Reed looks poised for a breakout year beside Big Three companions Alex Karaban and Solo Ball.
Nick Boyd
Wisconsin
6'3" / 177
Guard
62. Nick Boyd, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Wisconsin
2024-25: 13.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 41.1 FG%, 35.1 3FG% (San Diego St.)
Nick Boyd is making his Big Ten debut after four seasons at the mid-major level. The veteran guard guided San Diego State to the NCAA Tournament last year and reached the Final Four as a starter for Florida Atlantic in 2023. Boyd is a class ball-handler, playmaker and proven winner who looks to make an immediate impact in a backcourt reeling from the loss of star guard John Tonje.
Henri Veesaar
North Carolina
7'0" / 225
Center
63. Henri Veesaar, 7-foot junior center, North Carolina
2024-25: 9.4 points, 1.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 59.2 FG%, 32.7 3FG% (Arizona)
Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar is here to fix North Carolina’s biggest problem: a lack of size which sunk their rebounding efforts last season. Veesaar is a versatile big man and rim protector who finished fourth in the Big 12 in block percentage last season. He is joined by six new (or reinstated) Tar Heels over 6-foot-10.
Mark Mitchell
Missouri
6'9" / 230
Guard
64. Mark Mitchell, 6-foot-9 senior guard/forward, Missouri
2024-25: 13.9 points, 1.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 50.5 FG%, 26.0 3FG%
All-SEC guard Mark Mitchell is an excellent defender with star qualities: versatility, playmaking and an elite finishing touch at the rim. A former Blue Devil and second-season Tiger, Mitchell brings veteran experience and consistency to a rebuilding Mizzou squad, though he remains an inconsistent shooter, posting a dismal 26 percent from the arc in 2024-25. If Missouri hopes to succeed, Mitchell must play his role expertly and guide his wings to standout seasons.
Jaxon Kohler
Michigan State
6'9" / 245
Forward
65. Jaxon Kohler, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Michigan St.
2024-25: 7.8 points, 1.3 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 51.9 FG%, 37.3 3FG%
Jaxon Kohler is a ferocious post player and pet project of Tom Izzo. He was a focal point of last season’s Elite Eight squad, leading the Spartans in rebounds and blocked shots. Nicknamed “The Big Footwork,” Kohler is among the most athletic hoopers in the Big Ten, demonstrating excellent touch, passing and … footwork across three seasons with MSU. With offense guaranteed, Izzo hopes to mold Kohler into a first-rate defender this season.
Patrick Ngongba II
Duke
6'11" / 250
Center
66. Patrick Ngongba, 6-foot-11 sophomore center, Duke
2024-25: 3.9 points, 0.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 71.9 FG%, N/A 3FG%
Former five-star recruit Patrick Ngongba was Duke’s third center last season and showed glimpses of all-conference playmaking in limited minutes. A standout ACC Tournament performance in which he scored 12 points on 6 of 6 shooting earned him a spot on Hoops HQ’s Breakout Players list. With lottery pick Khaman Maluach departed, Ngongba should expect a spot in the starting lineup and increased attention as he prepares to take over Duke’s frontcourt.
Hannes Steinbach
Washington
6'11" / 229
Center
67. Hannes Steinbach, 6-foot-11 freshman forward, Washington
2024-25: N/A
The pride of Germany’s Bundesliga League, Hannes Steinbach ranks among the highest-regarded international prospects. His dominant performance in this summer’s U19 FIBA World Cup scored him All-Tournament honors and a silver medal, Germany’s highest finish in event history. Given his loaded resume, court vision and NBA-caliber rebounding, Steinbach is expected to make an immediate impact at Washington. Coach Danny Sprinkle’s focus will be on improving his strength and conditioning.
Dame Sarr
Duke
6'8" / 190
Guard
68. Dame Sarr, 6-foot-8 freshman guard/forward, Duke
2024-25: N/A
Another international import, Dame Sarr has played in the FC Barcelona circuit since 2023. A strong showing at April’s Nike Hoops Summit drew interest from top programs and introduced him to Duke teammates Cameron and Cayden Boozer. Physically gifted, Sarr has likened himself to Kon Knueppel: a two-way wing and three-point flamethrower. His playmaking should keep the Boozer twins fed and the Blue Devils winning.
Robbie Avila
Saint Louis
6'10" / 240
Center
69. Robbie Avila, 6-foot-10 senior center, Saint Louis
2024-25: 17.3 points, 4.0 assists, 6.9 rebounds, 49.2 FG%, 35.9 3FG%
Between his frame, vision (don’t mind the glasses) and frontcourt shooting, Robbie Avila may be the unicorn of the Atlantic 10 conference. Avila posted 20-plus points in 11 games last season while leading Division I centers in three-point shots and assists per game. He followed Coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State to Saint Louis in 2024, and now ranks comfortably among the best players in mid-major basketball.
Boopie Miller
SMU
6'1" / 175
Guard
70. Boopie Miller, 6-foot-1 senior guard, SMU
2024-25: 13.2 points, 5.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 41.5 FG%, 34.1 3FG%
Boopie Miller is a star returner for SMU and a point guard with one of the deepest bags in the ACC. In his career-best 2024-25 campaign, he placed third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, fourth in assists per game and ninth in steals. Miller will assume a key role on a Mustang roster which returns three double-digit scorers, and should focus on limiting erratic play and personal fouls.
Malik Dia
Ole Miss
6'9" / 250
Forward
71. Malik Dia, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Mississippi
2024-25: 10.8 points, 0.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 46.7 FG%, 34.5 3FG%
After a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen, Ole Miss looks liable to repeat. The secret is Malik Dia, a bona fide NBA prospect who, alongside Kansas transfer A.J. Storr, will helm the Rebel’s frontcourt this season. A reputed high-motor athlete, Dia led Ole Miss on the boards last year while shooting 47 percent from the field. His defensive capabilities are substandard but have improved noticeably since he transferred to Mississippi.
Josh Dix
Creighton
6'6" / 205
Guard
72. Josh Dix, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Creighton
2024-25: 14.4 points, 2.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 50.7 FG%, 42.2 3FG% (Iowa)
One of the most recruited players in this year’s transfer portal, Josh Dix is an elite all-arounder with an NBA upside. At Iowa, Dix led Big Ten guards in scoring while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. He was inhibited by Iowa’s poor defense, but showed the makings of a star defender. Dix seems likely to excel under Creighton coach Greg McDermott.
D.J. Wagner
Arkansas
6'4" / 190
Guard
73. D.J. Wagner, 6-foot-4 junior guard, Arkansas
11.2 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 40.1 FG%, 30.4 3FG%
A former No. 1 prospect, D.J. Wagner is a reliable position player — ranked second in the SEC by minutes — but lacks standout traits. When he plays aggressive, utilizing his speed and quick first step, Wagner proves he still has the chops to excel in the SEC. If he can play selfishly and showcase the versatility that made him a top recruit, he could be a key guard for Arkansas this season, and the Razorbacks will need him after losing Boogie Fland.
Jayden Quaintance
Kentucky
6'10" / 255
Forward
74. Jayden Quaintance, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward, Kentucky
2024-25: 9.4 points, 1.5 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 52.5 FG%, 18.8 3FG% (Arizona St.)
Jayden Quaintance committed to Kentucky a month after tearing his ACL with the hope that he would be cleared for play by September. While he remains in rehab, staffers have expressed confidence that he will make a full recovery by December. Before his injury, Quaintance made a thunderous Big 12 debut, setting ASU freshman records for blocked shots (63) and rebounds per game (7.9) and scoring All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team nods. The consensus five-star prospect has NBA upside and lots to learn, so Kentucky will eagerly await his return.
Derrion Reid
Oklahoma
6'8" / 226
Forward
75. Derrion Reid, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, Oklahoma
2024-25: 6.0 points, 0.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 45.0 FG%, 26.3 3FG% (Alabama)
A Hoops HQ breakout candidate, Derrion Reid was a quality rotation piece for Alabama before a debilitating hamstring injury. Five double-digit outings, reliable shooting and a revamped frontcourt have Reid primed to take on a key role for Oklahoma this season. Expect more minutes, more points and a clean bill of health.
Michael Rataj
Baylor
6'8" / 230
Guard
76. Michael Rataj, 6-foot-8 senior guard, Baylor
2024-25: 16.9 points, 2.0 assists, 7.2 rebounds, 48.4 FG%, 35.1 3FG% (Oregon St.)
One of the most decorated players in the West Coast Conference, Michael Rataj is a voracious rebounder with top-notch defensive capabilities. Rataj ranked fifth in the WCC in steals and fourth in scoring, landing just shy of 1,000 career points all told. After losing all 10 of last season’s scholarship players, Baylor is relying on Rataj to invigorate its frontcourt and rain hellfire from the paint.
Owen Freeman
Creighton
6'10" / 240
Forward
77. Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 junior forward, Creighton
2024-25: 16.7 points, 1.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, 63.8 FG%, 31.3 3FG% (Iowa)
Owen Freeman famously feuded with Josh Dix (No. 72), but both Hawkeyes opted to nest at Creighton. While Dix is an all-arounder, Freeman is a pure athlete — a seasoned point-getter whose finishing ability made him one of the most lethal scorers in the Big Ten. While his rebounding is passable, Freeman struggles on free throws and from the arc. He will need to diversify his game if he hopes to lead Creighton’s frontcourt this season.
Isaiah Evans
Duke
6'6" / 180
Guard
78. Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard/forward, Duke
2024-25: 6.8 points, 0.5 assists, 1.1 rebounds, 43.2 FG%, 41.6 3FG%
Isaiah Evans is an explosive catch-and-shoot guard with intriguing upside. The former North Carolina Mr. Basketball shot 41.6 percent from the arc last season, the eighth-highest mark among freshmen in Duke history. Shooting aside, Evans struggles with creating, defense and IQ. He was routinely benched by March and saw almost no playing time in the NCAA Tournament. If he is to improve his stock, Evans must fix his creation and shot selection.
Markus Burton
Notre Dame
6'0" / 190
Guard
79. Markus Burton, 6-foot junior guard, Notre Dame
2024-25: 21.3 points, 3.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 44.2 FG%, 37.5 3FG%
Small but mighty, Markus Burton led the ACC in scoring last season on his way to All-ACC honors. After a controversial choice to forego the transfer portal, Burton will marshal an awkward Notre Dame roster that lacks a center and reliable shooters. Burton should focus on becoming a facilitator, ensuring that ND’s new pickups — namely senior forward Carson Towt — have opportunities to excel.
Desmond Claude
Washington
6'6" / 201
Guard
80. Desmond Claude, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Washington
2024-25: 15.8 points, 4.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 48.2 FG%, 30.7 3FG% (USC)
Washington poached USC’s two leading scorers in Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III. Their chemistry and joint playmaking were highlights on an otherwise middling Trojans roster. Claude is a reliable shooter with good vision and a high upside. He logged two 30-plus point games last season and was a key contributor in USC’s 17 victories. At Washington, he must fine-tune his three-point shot and learn his role on one of the deepest rosters in the Big Ten.
