Never-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 Update: Freshman Phenoms for Kansas and Louisville

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1. Duke

Last week: 1

Losing: Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Maliq Brown, Nikolas Khamenia, Darren Harris

Retaining: Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, Patrick Ngongba, Sebastian Wilkins, John Blackwell

Incoming (3): Cameron Williams (3), Bryson Howard (15), Maxime Meyer (84), Deron Rippey, Jr. (10), Drew Scharnowski (Belmont), Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje (Spain), Jacob Theodosiou (Loyola Md.)

It was another big week for Jon Scheyer as the Blue Devils fortified their already imposing frontcourt further with the addition of Boumtje-Boumtje, a dynamic 7-foot center who plays on a development team for FC Barcelona, averaging 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23 minutes. He’s originally from Florida (his father Ruben played for the Portland Trail Blazers) and moved to Spain a few years ago. He’s only 16, which means he can’t declare for the NBA Draft for another two years. Theodosiou is a 6-foot-4 senior guard who averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists for LMU. Combine that with Ngongba’s decision to turn down being a potential NBA first-round draft pick and Blackwell’s decision to transfer from Wisconsin, and the Blue Devils are an easy choice at No. 1.

2. Michigan

Last week: 2

Losing: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Roddy Gayle, Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter

Retaining: Elliot Cadeau, L.J. Cason, Trey McKenney

Incoming (4): Brandon McCoy (14), Quinn Costello (44), Joseph Hartman (95), Malachi Brown (169), Marcus Moller (Spain), Lincoln Cosby (45), J.P. Estrella (Tennessee), Jalen Reed (LSU), Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati)

Dusty May has had enormous success signing big men out of the transfer portal, and he got another great one in Thiam, a 7-foot-2 junior center from Senegal who averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Bearcats. Reed is a 6-foot-10 senior forward who saw limited action the last two seasons due to ACL and Achilles injuries. Throw in Estrella, and the Wolverines will once again be dominant in the paint. Cadeau entered the draft and is retaining his eligibility because Wasserman projects him to go undrafted. Mara and Johnson were both invited to the NBA Draft combine and are not expected to return. Michigan is a finalist along with Tennessee and North Carolina for one of the remaining prized uncommitted transfers, Wake Forest guard Juke Harris.

3. Arizona

Last week: 7

Losing: Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell’Orso, Dwayne Aristode, Sid Gueye

Retaining: Ivan Kharchenkov, Bryce James, Motiejus Krivas

Incoming: (26): Caleb Holt (4), Cameron Holmes (29), Derek Dixon (North Carolina), J.J. Mandaquit (Washington)

The Wildcats moved up following Krivas’ huge announcement that he is returning for his senior season. He was arguably the best defensive big man in the country last season and averaged 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Kharchenkov said he was coming back as expected. There are rumblings that Peat could do the same as well, although that seems unlikely given that he is a certain first-round pick. Dixon was a terrific pickup for Tommy Lloyd’s program after showing so much promise as a freshman in Chapel Hill.

4. Michigan State

Last week: 3

Losing: Jaxon Kohler, Trey Fort, Carson Cooper, Denham Wojcik, Divine Ugochukwu

Retaining: Jeremy Fears, Kur Teng, Coen Carr, Cam Ward, Jordan Scott, Jesse McCulloch, Kaleb Glenn

Incoming (5): Ethan Taylor (28), Jasiah Jervis (33), Carlos Medlock Jr. (46), Julius Avent (86), Anton Bonke (Charlotte)

Tom Izzo finally got active in the transfer portal with the addition of Bonke, a 7-foot-2 junior center from the South Pacific island of Vanuatu who averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season for the 49ers. Ugochukwu’s decision to enter the portal means the perimeter won’t be quite as deep, but the Spartans are still in position to contend for a Big Ten title. Fears entered the NBA Draft, but since he is not projected to be selected, he is listed as a retained player. If he does come back, he could be the best point guard in the country.

5. Illinois

Last week: 4

Losing: Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Mihailo Petrovic, Toni Bilic, Ty Rodgers, Brandon Lee

Retaining: Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis, David Mirkovic

Incoming (8): Quentin Coleman (34), Lucas Morillo (59), Ethan Brown (164), Landon Davis (243), Zavier Zens (210), Stefan Vaaks (Providence)

Stojakovic declared for the draft last week and was invited to the combine, but he has indicated he is likely to return. If that happens, Brad Underwood will return five of the top eight scorers from his Final Four squad. Vaaks could be an All-Big Ten guard after a terrific freshman season at Providence. Underwood also remains in the hunt for Chinese schoolboy Boyuan Zhang.

6. UConn

Last week: 5

Losing: Tarris Reed, Alex Karaban, Malachi Smith, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy, Jaylin Stewart, Solo Ball

Retaining: Silas Demary, Jayden Ross, Jacob Ross, Braylon Mullins

Incoming (30): Colben Landrew (22), Junior County (36), Najai Hines (Seton Hall), Nik Khamenia (Duke), Oskar Giltay (Stanford), Nils Machowski (Wofford)

Machowski is a 6-foot-3 senior guard who put up 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Terriers. He will give UConn some needed perimeter depth in the wake of Ball’s announcement that he is taking a medical redshirt next season following wrist surgery. Giltay is a 6-foot-10 sophomore forward who averaged 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game for the Cardinal. He and Hines will try to make up for the loss of Reed and Reibe. Mullins’ decision to forego the NBA Draft was huge, as was the addition of Khamenia from Duke.

7. Florida

Last week: 6

Losing: Rueben Chinyelu, Xaivian Lee, Micah Handlogten, Olivier Rioux

Retaining: Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown, C.J. Ingram, Alex Lloyd, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh

Incoming (144): Jones Lay (NA), Denzel Aberdeen (Kentucky), Arturas Butajevas (Lithuania)

Chinyelu was invited to the NBA Draft combine, but he could still return to Gainesville. Just in case he doesn’t, Todd Golden did well to add Butajevas, a 6-foot-10 forward who has excelled for the Lithuanian national teams for several years. He played last season for Unicaja Malaga in Spain, a U22 team. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. The decisions of Haugh and Condon to turn down the NBA put the Gators back in position to make a run at SEC and NCAA championships. Aberdeen is applying to the NCAA for a waiver to grant him an extra season. If that gets denied, the Gators are going to be precariously thin in the backcourt.

8. Louisville

Last week: 16

Losing: Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Kasean Pryor, J’Vonne Hadley, Ally Khalifa, Isaac McKneely, Kobe Rodgers, Sananda Fru, Khani Rooths, Vangelis Zougris

Retaining: Adrian Wooley

Incoming: Obinna Ekezie Jr. (4), London Johnson (NBA G League), Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstead (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas), Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa), De’Shayne Montgomery (Dayton), Gabe Dynes (USC)

Pat Kelsey got yet another piece of great news on Sunday when Ekezie announced that he was reclassifying into the class of 2026 and committing to the Cardinals. Ekezie is an uber-talented 7-foot center who was ranked No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite for what would have been his class. He will make for an imposing duo alongside Bidunga. In addition, Knox was a two-year starter (mostly) at Arkansas who will bring wing athleticism. Folgueris is a 6-foot-9 senior forward who was one of the stars of Iowa’s run to the Elite Eight. Montgomery is a 6-foot-4 senior who averaged 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Flyers. Dynes averaged 11.9 minutes for USC but he stands 7-foot-3 and could emerge as a quality rim protector.

9. Tennessee

Last week: 8

Losing: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Nate Ament, Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips, Jaylen Carey, J.P. Estrella, Bishop Boswell, Amari Evans,

Retaining: DeWayne Brown, Ethan Burg, Troy Henderson

Incoming (15): Chris Washington (49), Ralph Scott (54), Manny Green (100), Marquis Clark (212), Tyler Lundblade (Belmont), Dai Dai Ames (Cal), Miles Rubin (Loyola Chicago), Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU), Braedan Lue (Kennesaw State)

Ament was always projected as a departure, so his decision to enter the NBA Draft did not change Tennessee’s assessment. Rick Barnes added a nice piece in Lue, a 6-foot-8 junior forward who averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. With Lundblade, Haralson and Hill in the backcourt, this is shaping up to be one of the best offensive teams Barnes has coached. Tennessee remains a finalist for Juke Harris along with North Carolina, Louisville and Michigan.

10. Gonzaga

Last week: 12

Losing: Graham Ike, Tyon Grant-Foster, Jalen Warley, Adam Miller, Steele Venters, Emmanuel Innocenti, Braeden Smith

Retaining: Braden Huff, Davis Fogle, Mario Saint-Supery, Parker Jefferson

Incoming (21): Luca Foster (39), Sam Funches (89), Jack Kayil (France), Isiah Harwell (Houston), Massamba Diop (Arizona State)

Mark Few landed a vital addition in Diop, a 7-foot-1 sophomore center from Senegal who averaged 13.6 points and 2.1 blocks in his freshman season. Gonzaga beat out St. John’s to get him. He will make a perfect complement to Huff, who needs to get back to health after missing the last three months of the season with a knee injury. Fogle is poised for a breakout sophomore season. Kayil and Harwell have entered the draft but are projected to stay at Gonzaga.

11. Texas

Last week: 9

Losing: Dailyn Swain, Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, Chendall Weaver, Lassina Traore, Nic Codie, Declan Duru, Cam Heide, Simeon Wilcher

Retaining: Matas Vokietaitis

Incoming (14): Austin Goosby (19), Bo Ogden (38), Joe Sterling (101), Isaiah Johnson (Colorado), David Punch (TCU), Amari Evans (Tennessee), Elyjah Freeman, Auburn, Mikey Lewis (Saint Mary’s)

Sean Miller put together a consensus top-five transfer class, and as a result the Longhorns will go into next season as one of the favorites to win the SEC. Punch has the potential to be an All-SEC forward after he averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Horned Frogs. He and Vokietaitis will comprise one of the top frontcourt tandems in the country. Lewis and Johnson are playing scorers who have proven themselves against top competition. Freeman is a 6-foot-8 rising sophomore forward who averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while starting 21 games as a freshman. It appears Swain is likely to remain in the draft.

12. Iowa State

Last week: 10

Losing: Joshua Jefferson, Dominick Nelson, Tamin Lipsey, Nate Heise, Eric Mulder, Cade Kelderman, Milan Momcilovic, Mason Williams

Retaining: Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan, Jamarion Batemon, Dominykas Pleta, Xzavion Mitchell

Incoming (20): Dorian Rinaldo-Komian (103), Jackson Kiss (106), Christian Wiggins (120), Yusef Gray Jr. (188), Taj Manning (Kansas State), Leon Bond (Northern Iowa), Jaquan Johnson (Bradley), Tre Singleton (Northwestern)

T.J. Otzelberger bagged five guys from the transfer portal over the first weekend, thus ending his roster management process way earlier than many of his counterparts. Momcilovic’s decision to enter both the draft and the portal (he says he is committed to staying in the draft but wants to keep his options open) was a significant blow, but it was not unexpected based on his draft projections.

13. Virginia

Last week: 11

Losing: Malik Thomas, Jacari White, Dallin Hall, Ugonna Onyenso, Devin Tillis

Retaining: Thijs De Ridder, Chance Mallory, Sam Lewis, Johann Grunloh, Elijah Gertrude, Martin Carrere, Silas Barksdale

Incoming: Jurian Dixon (UC Irvine)

Ryan Odom finally added a transfer last week in Dixon, a 6-foot-5 junior guard who averaged 15.7 points and 2.4 assists per game for the Anteaters. The Cavs will return four of the top six scorers from the team that finished second in the ACC.

14. Arkansas

Last week: 15

Losing: Darius Acuff, Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile, Nick Pringle, Karter Knox, D.J. Wagner, Malique Ewin

Retaining: Billy Richmond, Isaiah Sealy

Incoming (1): Jordan Smith (2), J.J. Andrews (12), Abdou Toure (26), Miika Muurinen (55), Jeremiah Wilkinson (Georgia), Cooper Bowser (Furman)

John Calipari fortified his already-impressive roster by landing Muurinen a native of Finland who played at two different American high schools before heading overseas to play in Serbia. He has played on the Finnish senior national team the last few years. That gave Arkansas the No. 1 recruiting class in the 247 Sports composite. Thomas has entered the draft while maintaining his eligibility. Wasserman has him projected as a late first-round pick. Richmond also declared for the draft but is retaining his eligibility. Wasserman projects him as undrafted. Wilkinson, who averaged 17.4 points for the Bulldogs as a sophomore, was a huge pickup for John Calipari. Arkansas’ fortunes next season will depend heavily on whether Smith can live up to his considerable hype.

15. Houston

Last week: 14

Losing: Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan, Chris Cenac Jr., Emanuel Sharp, Isiah Harwell, Ramon Walker, Kalifa Sakho

Retaining: Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller, Chase McCarty, Cedric Lath, Bryce Jackson, Kordel Jefferson

Incoming (28): Arafan Diane (16), Ikenna Alozie (55), Dedan Thomas (LSU), Delrecco Gillespie (Kent State), Corey Hadnot II (Fort Wayne), Braden East (Lamar)

The Cougars are loaded up for another run at a Big 12 title. Tugler’s decision to return instead of going to the NBA Draft was huge. He and Diane will make for an imposing tandem in the paint. Thomas is going to need to carry a heavy load to offset the losses of Uzan, Flemings and Sharp.

16. USC

Last week: 19

Losing: Chad Baker-Mazara, Ezra Ausar, Jaden Brownell, Kam Woods, Ryan Cornish, Terrance Williams, Jordan Marsh, Jerry Easter, Gabe Dynes

Retaining: Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie, Alijah Arenas

Incoming (7): Christian Collins (9), Adonis Ratliff (17), Darius Ratliff (23), KJ Lewis (Georgetown), Eric Reibe (UConn), Jalen Cox (Colgate), Joshua Hughes (Evansville), Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii)

The big news for the Trojans was the announcement that Arenas was withdrawing from the draft and returning for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 wing only played 14 games due to a knee injury, but he showed great promise while averaging 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Hunkin-Claytor is a 6-foot-2 junior guard who was also injured last season and played 17 games, averaging 6.0 points, 3.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds. Reibe is a 7-foot-1 sophomore forward and former McDonald’s All-American who is poised for a breakout season after averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.8 minutes as a freshman at UConn. Cox was also a solid addition after averaging 17.9 points last season for Colgate. If Rice returns to form after missing most of last season due to a knee injury and the Trojans stay healthy otherwise, they can contend for a Big Ten title. Collins and the Ratliff twins are high-impact freshmen.

17. Kansas

Last week: NR

Losing: Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council, Tre White, Flory Bidunga, Bryson Tiller, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell

Retaining: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya, Samis Calderon

Incoming (2): Tyran Stokes (1), Taylor Kinney (13), Davion Adkins (70), Trent Perry (94), Luke Barnett (140), Grant Mordini (N/A), Keanu Dawes (Utah), Leroy Blyden (Toledo), Christian Reeves (Charleston)

The Jayhawks finally got their long-awaited good news last week when Stokes announced his commitment. He is a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and will have an immediate impact in Lawrence. Bill Self needed that win after losing so much talent to the draft and the portal, but he has put together a roster that can compete for a Big 12 title. Reeves is a 7-foot-2 center who averaged 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He should help make up for the loss of Bidunga. Blyden was the MAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.

18. Alabama

Last week: 13

Losing: Labaron Philon, Amari Allen, Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette, Noah Williamson, Taylor Bol Bowen, Jalil Bethea, Aiden Sherrell, Davion Hannah

Retaining: Aden Holloway, London Jemison, Keitenn Bristow, Collins Onyejiaka

Incoming (12): Qayden Samuels (18), Jaxon Richardson (21), Tarris Bouie (40), Cole Cloer (NC State), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State), Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Drew Fielder (Boise State)

The Crimson Tide moved down a few spots following the release of Torvik’s rankings, where they are No. 19. Nate Oats shored up his frontcourt with the addition of Fielder, a 6-foot-10 senior forward who averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Broncos last season. He should be a nice complement for Garrison to help offset the loss of Sherrell. The other big question is Holloway, whose season ended early after he was arrested on drug charges but recently announced his intentions to return.

19. Ohio State

Last week: 17

Losing: Bruce Thonrton, Devin Royal, Christoph Tilly, Brandon Noel, Puff Johnson, Colin White, Gabe Cupps, Taison Chatman

Retaining: John Mobley, Amare Bynum, Ivan Njegovan, Josh Ojianwuna

Incoming (34): Anthony Thompson (7), Alex Smith (122), Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky), Justin Pippen (Cal), Jimmie Williams (Duquesne), Curtis Givens (Memphis)

The hits keep coming for Jake Diebler, who added depth to his backcourt with the signing of Givens, a 6-foot-3 junior who started 15 games for the Tigers and averaged 9.4 points and 2.3 assists on 36.5-percent three-point shooting. Williams averaged 15.1 points per game as a sophomore for the Dukes. Mobley has said he is entering the NBA Draft but Wasserman projects him as undrafted, so he is projected to return. Bynum should be headed for a breakout sophomore season, and Ojianwuna could be a major defensive presence as he comes off a knee injury that sidelined him last season following his transfer from Baylor.

20. UCLA

Last week: 20

Losing: Donovan Dent, Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, Jamar Brown, Steven Jamerson

Retaining: Trent Perry, Eric Dailey, Xavier Booker, Brandon Williams, Eric Freeny

Incoming (44): Joe Philon (71), Javonte Floyd (193), Sergej Macura (Mississippi State), Filip Jovic (Auburn), Jaylen Petty (Texas Tech), Azavier “Stink” Robinson (Butler)

Once again, Mick Cronin is relying heavily on the transfer portal instead of recruiting freshmen. His strategy appears to be paying off as the Bruins have landed several top players. Robinson will slide into the starting point guard role as a replacement for Dent.

21. Indiana

Last week: 21

Losing: Lamar Wilkerson, Tayton Conerway, Tucker DeVries, Reed Bailey, Sam Alexis, Conor Enright, Nick Dorn, Aleksa Ristic, Jasai Miles

Retaining: Trent Sisley

Incoming (16): Vaughn Karvala (51), Trevor Menhertz (65), Prince-Alexander Moody (80), Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Aiden Sherrell (Alabama), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Darren Harris (Duke), Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech)

It took a couple of weeks, but Darien DeVries pulled off a huge portal haul in mid-April to put the Hoosiers back into the top 25. Lindsay and Burton are high-scoring guards, and Harris would have had more impact at Duke if he weren’t playing with so much talent. Yigitoglu is an experienced big who can finish at the rim and protect it on defense. The Hoosiers are one of six finalists to land Ladarius Given, a three-star forward from Virginia, and DeVries is also trying to land Junjie “Barry” Wang, a 6-foot-9 forward from China who averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds for San Francisco last season.

22. Miami

Last week: 22

Losing: Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington, Noam Dovrat, Timo Malovec, Salih Altuntas, John Laboy

Retaining: Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen, Marcus Allen

Incoming (67): Caleb Gaskins (20), Acaden Lewis (Villanova), Somto Cyril (Georgia), DeSean Goode (Robert Morris), Quin Berger (Bucknell), Quin Berger (Bucknell), Nick Dorn (Indiana), Brent Bland (St. Peter’s)

Jai Lucas has done a great job replenishing a roster that lost seven players to the portal. He had yet another great week as the Hurricanes continue to move up the rankings. Bland is a three-point specialist who averaged 13.9 points per game for the Peacocks, while Dorn is a 6-foot-7 senior forward who averaged 8.1 points on 38-percent three-point shooting for the Hoosiers. Lewis was one of the top freshmen in the country last season and should be a top-three ACC point guard. Shelton has the potential to play his way into the lottery as a sophomore. The 6-foot-11 Cyril was a starter last season for Georgia, where he averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21.2 minutes.

23. Purdue

Last week: 18

Losing: Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Oscar Cluff

Retaining: Omer Mayer, Daniel Jacobsen, C.J. Cox, Gicarri Harris, Jack Benter, Antoine West Jr., Raleigh Burgess

Incoming (9): Luke Ertel (41), Jacob Webber (64), Sinan Huan (83), Jemyn Sondrup (134), Rivers Knight (211), Caden Pierce (Princeton)

I moved the Boilermakers down a few spots because they are ranked No. 30 on BartTorvik. This team did not lose any significant players in the transfer portal. Matt Painter made a run at Kansas forward Flory Bidunga and Saint Mary’s center Paulius Murauskas, but both landed elsewhere. The Boilemakers’ fortunes in the Big Ten will depend heavily on whether Pierce can make an immediate impact and whether Mayer takes a big leap forward.

24. Nebraska

Last week: NR

Losing: Rienk Mast, Jamarques Lawrence, Sam Hoiberg, Jared Garcia, Berke Buyuktuncel

Retaining: Connor Essegian, Pryce Sandfort, Braden Frager, Cale Jacobsen, Leo Curtis, Ugnius Jarusevicius

Incoming (34): Collin Rice (81), Jacob Lanier (96), Sam Orme (Belmont), Kadyn Betts (Montana), Trevan Leonhardt (Utah Valley), Boden Kapke (Boston College), Taj DeGourville (San Diego State), Damon Wilkinson (South Dakota State)

The Cornhuskers are No. 15 in BartTorvik’s preseason ratings. The heart of this team will be in its returning core. Essegian is a sharp shooter who is returning from a season-ending ankle injury he sustained in November. Wilkinson was a nice addition. He is a 6-foot-10 junior forward who averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Jackrabbits. Nebraska is one of the finalists for 6-foot-7 forward Donovan Davis, who is ranked No. 39 in the 247Sports Composite.

25.  BYU

Last week: 23

Losing: A.J. Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, Mihailo Boskovic, Kennard Davis, Abullah Ahmed

Retaining: Aleksej Kostic, Dominique Diomande, Khadim Mboup, Tyler Mrus, Brooks Bahr, Robert Wright, K.J. Perry

Incoming (29): Bruce Branch (6), Dean Rusckert (77), Abdullah Ahmed (NBA G League), Will Openshaw (NA), Jake Wahlin (Clemson), Tyler Betsey (Syracuse), Collin Chandler (Kentucky), Adam Stewart (TCU)

No one should expect Branch to match what Dybantsa did as a freshman, but he will have an immediate impact. Wright’s decision to return after entering the portal and considering Kentucky was huge. Wahlin is a 6-foot-10 senior forward who was a starter at Clemson last season.

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Notable Omissions

Missouri: The Tigers are already bringing in arguably the best recruiting class in history, and last week they added another quality transfer in former BYU guard Kennard Davis.

St. John’s: Rick Pitino has gone more international during this cycle, but he did add a strong transfer in former Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels creeped closer to the top 25 by adding Mali big man Sayon Keita. Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas could be an All-ACC player.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores dropped out of the rankings when they lost Tyler Tanner to the NBA Draft.

Kentucky: Mark Pope added another pair of transfers in Justin McBride (James Madison) and Jerone Morton (Washington State), but he has lost out on a number of key targets after losing nine players to the portal and NBA Draft.