Big 12 Roster Reshuffle: The State of the Conference, Part 1

Returnees: Bryce James, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard; Ivan Kharchenkov, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward; Jackson Cook, 6-foot-3 redshirt junior guard; Motiejus Krivas, 7-foot-2 senior center; Mabil Mawut, 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman forward/center; Addison Arnold, 6-foot-3 junior guard

Incoming: Derek Dixon, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from North Carolina); JJ Mandaquit, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Washington); Ugnius Jarusevicius, 6-foot-11 redshirt senior forward (transfer from Nebraska); Evan Otten, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transfer from Idaho State); Caleb Holt, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Cameron Holmes, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Endurance Aiyamenkhue, 6-foot-11 international freshman forward/center

Arizona lost a lot from a historic 36-win team that won the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament titles en route to the program’s first Final Four trip in 25 years. Bradley, Peat and Burries are off to the pros, but the Wildcats have two returning starters in Krivas (10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game), a first-team all-league and Big 12 All-Defensive Team pick, and Kharchenkov (10.4 points per game). The new-look backcourt includes Dixon, Mandaquit and Holt, a five-star guard who is the highest-ranked recruit in Tommy Lloyd’s tenure in Tucson.

Arizona State (17-16, 7-11 in Big 12)

Departures: Marcus Adams Jr., 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore forward (transferred to Hawaii); Trevor Best, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to East Carolina); Massamba Diop, 7-foot-1 freshman center (transferred to Gonzaga); Andrija Grbovic, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transferred to Oklahoma State); Adante’ Holiman, 5-foot-11 redshirt senior guard (transferred to Old Dominion); Jovan Icitovic, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Anthony “Pig” Johnson, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Quentin McCoy, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard; Noah Meeusen, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to DePaul); Allen Mukeba, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Moe Odum, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Kash Polk, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transferred to Jacksonville State); Dame Salane, 7-foot-1 freshman center (transferred to Tulane); Santiago Trouet, 6-foot-11 redshirt sophomore forward (transferred to Ole Miss).

Returnees: Bryce Ford, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Vijay Wallace, 6-foot-5 redshirt junior forward.

Incoming: Marcus Vaughns, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward (transfer from LSU); JRob Croy, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Nate Garcia, 7-foot sophomore center (transfer from Cal Baptist); Emmanuel Innocenti, 6-foot-5 senior forward (transfer from Gonzaga); Joel Foxwell, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Portland); Paulius Murauskas, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Saint Mary’s); Dillan Shaw, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer from Saint Mary’s); Ben Defty, 7-foot junior center (transfer from Boston University); Jonathan Griman, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transfer from Cal Baptist); Ajak Nyuon, 6-foot-10 international freshman forward; Filip Malesevic, 7-foot-2 international freshman center

It’s the start of a new era in Tempe as Randy Bennett returns to his home state after an impressive run at Saint Mary’s. The Sun Devils have an overhauled roster with size, athleticism and international talent, highlighted by Murauskas (18.4 points per game), a first-team All-West Coast Conference player for Bennett in Moraga. One of the nation’s top transfer classes also includes Foxwell (15.6 points and 6.5 assists per game), last season’s WCC assist leader, and Defty (15.1 points per game), a second-team All-Patriot League pick.

Baylor (17-17, 6-12 in Big 12)

Departures: Dan Skillings Jr., 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); JJ White, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Will Kuykendall, 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore guard; Obi Agbim, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Michael Rataj, 6-foot-8 guard (out of eligibility); Tounde Yessoufou, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to St. John’s); Cameron Carr, 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore guard (declared for NBA Draft); Caden Powell, 6-foot-9 center (out of eligibility); James Nnaji, 7-foot freshman center (out of eligibility)

Returnees: Juslin Bodo Bodo, 6-foot-11 redshirt junior center; James Goodis, 6-foot senior guard; Andre Iguodala II, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman guard/forward; Maikcol Perez, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward; Drew Perry, 5-foot-10 sophomore guard; Mayo Soyoye, 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman center; Isaac Williams IV, 6-foot-1 junior guard

Incoming: Isaac Celiscar, 6-foot-6 junior forward (transfer from Yale); Evan Chatman, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from UAB); Brett Decker Jr., 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Liberty); Dylan Mingo, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Kayden Mingo, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer from Penn State); Elijah Williams, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Tegra Makabu, 6-foot-9 freshman forward

Hit hard by injuries, Baylor missed the Big Dance for the first time since 2018, then lost six of its top seven players for various reasons. Enter the Mingo brothers as Dylan, a five-star recruit, and Kayden (13.7 points per game) join Decker (16.9 points per game) in a backcourt returning Isaac Williams (10.4 points per game). The Bears should be better defensively with Kayden Mingo, Celiscar (13.2 points per game) and several returning bigs who redshirted, including Bodo Bodo, a two-time Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year at High Point.

BYU (23-12, 9-9 in Big 12)

Departures: AJ Dybantsa, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (declared for NBA Draft); Richie Saunders, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Kennard Davis Jr., 6-foot-6 junior guard (transferred to Missouri); Keba Keita, 6-foot-7 center (out of eligibility); Aleksej Kostic, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transferred to Northwestern); Mihailo Boskovic, 6-foot-10 forward (out of eligibility); Tyler Mrus, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transferred to The Citadel); Dominique Diomande, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward (transferred to Pitt); Abdullah Ahmed, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transferred to UMass); Xavion Staton, 6-foot-11 freshman center (transferred to Oregon State); Jared McGregor, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); KJ Perry, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to Fresno State)

Returnees: Dawson Baker, 6-foot-3 redshirt senior guard; Rob Wright III, 6-foot-1 junior guard; Khadim Mboup, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore forward; Brody Kozlowski, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward; Nate Pickens, 6-foot-4 senior guard

Incoming: Collin Chandler, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from Kentucky); Tyler Betsey, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer from Syracuse); Jake Wahlin, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Clemson); Adam Stewart, 6-foot-11 sophomore center (transfer from TCU); Bruce Branch III, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Dean Rueckert, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Brooks Bahr, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard; Will Openshaw, 6-foot-10 freshman forward/center

BYU has reloaded after losing a ton from a 23-win NCAA Tournament team (most notably Dybantsa, a consensus first-team All-American and projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft). Wright (18.1 points and 4.6 assists per game), a third-team all-league pick, returns for Kevin Young, who signed a five-star recruit for the third straight year with the addition of Branch. Chandler (9.7 points per game) and Rueckert add much-needed shooting, while the Cougars might add a few more big men to join Wahlin, a starter at Utah and Clemson, and Mboup.

Cincinnati (18-15, 9-9 in Big 12)

Departures: Jizzle James, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transferred to Charlotte); Moustapha Thiam, 7-foot-2 freshman center (transferred to Michigan); Bryson Buckingham, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Sencire Harris, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Keyshuan Tillery, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transferred to Charlotte); Shon Abaev, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transferred to Florida State); Day Day Thomas, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Jordi Rodriguez, 6-foot-6 freshman forward (transferred to Charlotte); Baba Miiller, 6-foot-11 forward (out of eligibility); Tyler McKinley, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transferred to Charlotte); Jalen Haynes, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transferred to Dayton); Halvine Dzellat, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transferred to Seattle); Jalen Celestine, 6-foot-7 guard (out of eligibility); Kerr Kriisa, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Grant Darbyshire, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility)

Returnees: None

Incoming: Trevian Carson, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from North Dakota State); Elijah Perryman, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Utah State); Akai Fleming, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from Georgia Tech); Myles Colvin, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Wake Forest); Tyler Tejada, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Towson); Adlan Elamin, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Utah State); Tylen Riley, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Tulsa); David Iweze, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward (transfer from Utah State); Deshaun Vaden, 6-foot-11 junior center (transfer from Mount Union); Jayden Hastings, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from Boston College); Eric Mahaffey, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Akron); Riley Allenspach, 6-foot-11 senior center (transfer from George Mason)

After guiding Utah State to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, Cincinnati grad Jerrod Calhoun returned to his alma mater following the firing of Wes Miller. The Bearcats, who haven’t gone dancing since 2019, have a completely revamped roster via the portal. Riley (15.0 points per game), Tejada (17.7 points per game), Allenspach (13.6 points per game) and Carson (11.9 points per game) were all-league a season ago and fit various roles. Calhoun needs Colvin, Fleming and Hastings to be as productive in the Big 12 as they were in the ACC.

Colorado (17-16, 7-11 in Big 12)

Departures: Isaiah Johnson, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transferred to Texas); Bangor Dak, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transferred to Vanderbilt); Sebastian Rancik, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transferred to Florida State); Fawaz Ifaola, 7-foot freshman center (transferred to Florida Atlantic); Felix Kossaras, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to George Washington); Andrew Crawford, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman guard (transferred to Northern Colorado); Alon Mitchell, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (transferred to Saint Louis); Jon Mani, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to UNC Greensboro); Leonardo Van Elswyk, 7-foot-1 freshman center; Elijah Malone, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility)

Returnees: Barrington Hargress, 6-foot senior guard; Jalin Holland, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Ian Inman, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Josiah Sanders, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard

Incoming: Justin Neely, 6-foot-6 senior forward (transfer from UNC Greensboro); David Gomez, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward (transfer from Charlotte); Noah Feddersen, 6-foot-10 redshirt senior center (transfer from North Dakota State); Chase Hill, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Alex Dickeson, 6-foot-4 international freshman guard; Goc Malual, 6-foot-8 international freshman forward; Rider Portela, 6-foot-6 freshman guard/forward; Luke Mirhashemi, 6-foot-5 freshman guard

After a hot start, Colorado stumbled in Big 12 play to miss March Madness for the second straight year. The Buffaloes had major personal losses via the portal but return a solid scorer and playmaker in Hargress (14.7 points and 4.5 assists per game) and a potential shotmaker in Inman. Improvement is needed defensively, and that’s where Holland and Sanders must step up along with Neely (17.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game) and Feddersen, last season’s Summit League Sixth Man of the Year. Portela has upside as a versatile four-star recruit.

Never-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 Update: Florida Jumps to No. 1

May 26: Seth Davis’ rankings see a big change at the top as big-time players drop out of the NBA Draft and head back to school

Houston (30-7, 14-4 in Big 12)

Departures: Kingston Flemings, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (declared for NBA Draft); Emanuel Sharp, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Milos Uzan, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Chris Cenac Jr., 6-foot-11 freshman center (declared for NBA Draft); Isiah Harwell, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transferred to Gonzaga); Kalifa Sakho, 6-foot-11 forward (out of eligibility); Ramon Walker, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Cedric Lath, 6-foot-9 redshirt senior center (transferred to Nevada); Jacob McFarland, 6-foot-10 redshirt junior center (transferred to Pacific)

Returnees: Joseph Tugler, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Mercy Miller, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Chase McCarty, 6-foot-6 junior forward; Bryce Jackson, 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman guard; Kordel Jefferson, 6-foot-1 redshirt sophomore guard

Incoming: Corey Hadnot II, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Purdue Fort Wayne); Delrecco Gillespie, 6-foot-8 redshirt senior forward (transfer from Kent State); Dedan Thomas Sr., 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from LSU); Braden East, 6-foot junior forward (transfer from Lamar); Arafan Diane, 7-foot-1 freshman center; Ikenna Alozie, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Tyus Thomas, 6-foot freshman guard; Djafar Silimana, 6-foot-10 freshman center

Most of the main contributors from a Sweet Sixteen team are gone, but Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars added a strong group of newcomers. Tugler, a two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, returns in a frontcourt that now has Gillespie (17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game), East and Diane, a McDonald’s All-American. Dedan Thomas (15.3 points and 6.5 assists per game) must replace Flemings – a consensus second-team All-American – at the point, with Hadnot (20.4 points per game), Miller and McCarty also needing to play key roles.

Iowa State (29-8, 12-6 in Big 12)

Departures: Milan Momcilovic, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Joshua Jefferson, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Tamin Lipsey, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility); Nate Heise, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Dominick Nelson, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Eric Mulder, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Cade Kelderman, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer to South Dakota); Mason Williams, 6-foot-5 redshirt junior (transferred to Seattle)

Returnees: Killyan Toure, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Blake Buchanan, 6-foot-11 senior forward; Jamarion Batemon, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Dominykas Pleta, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward; Xzavion Mitchell, 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman forward

Incoming: Jaquan Johnson, 5-foot-11 junior guard (transfer from Bradley); Ryan Prather Jr., 6-foot-5 redshirt senior guard (transfer from Robert Morris); Leon Bond III, 6-foot-5 redshirt senior guard/forward (transfer from Northern Iowa); Tre Singleton, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Northwestern); Taj Manning, 6-foot-7 redshirt senior forward (transfer from Kansas State); Jackson Kiss, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Christian Wiggins, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Yusef Gray Jr., 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan, 6-foot-10 freshman center

T.J. Otzelberger suffered big losses with the departure of an all-conference trio (Momcilovic, Jefferson and Lipsey) following a Sweet Sixteen appearance, but the Cyclones have a nice blend of returning players, incoming transfers and prep signees. Toure, Buchanan and Batemon should have bigger roles next season. Johnson (16.9 points per game), Prather (15.7 points per game) and Bond (11.9 points per game) must adjust to Big 12 competition, while Singleton – a former four-star recruit – has the strength and skills to make an immediate impact.