The wait is nearly over. A new college basketball season is about to tip off, and Hoops HQ has got you covered.
I’ve picked my top five candidates for Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. And I’ve got one more pre-season ranking for you. With NIL and the explosion of the portal, dozens of big-time players have changed teams this offseason — I’ve ranked the top five biggest moves.
I’ll continue updating this list as the season rolls along.
1. Johnell Davis, Arkansas
Arkansas added one of the biggest names in the portal in Davis, who was the AAC co-Player of the Year last season after averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 41 percent from three for Florida Atlantic. The Razorbacks have a completely revamped roster under new head coach John Calipari, and the backcourt duo of Davis and sophomore D.J. Wagner (who followed Coach Cal from Kentucky to Fayetteville) is at the center of it.
2. AJ Storr, Kansas
The transfer portal was very friendly to Kansas this offseason. Several new faces will play significant roles for head coach Bill Self, including Rylan Griffen and Zeke Mayo, but Storr is the biggest addition. The 2023-24 Jayhawks finished fifth in the Big 12 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Enter Storr, a six-foot-six guard who led Wisconsin in scoring last season (16.8 points per game) for some much-needed juice. The junior will start on the wing and help fill the void left by Kevin McCullar and Johnny Furphy, both in the NBA.
The Top Freshmen for the 2024-25 Men’s College Basketball Season
Cooper Flagg leads the list, and Rutgers wing Ace Bailey right behind3. Kadary Richmond, St. John’s
The Brooklyn native transferred from Seton Hall to conference rival St. John’s to play for the legendary Rick Pitino. The Red Storm get a six-foot-six do-it-all point guard who averaged 15.7 points, 7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior last season, earning All-Big East First Team honors. Richmond gets the chance to play at home, learn from Pitino and lead a new-look Johnnies squad alongside Utah transfer Deivon Smith.
4. Oumar Ballo, Indiana
The Hoosiers went 19-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24, applying some pressure on coach Mike Woodson this offseason. Securing Ballo’s commitment was the splashy move the program needed — a two-time All-Pac 12 First Team selection at Arizona, the seven-foot center will pair with All-Big Ten forward Malik Reneau to form a dangerous frontcourt in Bloomington.
5. Norchad Omier, Baylor
Omier went to the Final Four with Miami in 2023, helping lead the Canes’s impressive run with tournament averages of 13.1 points and 10 rebounds. His decision to commit to Baylor (after two years in Miami and two at Arkansas State before that) was based on a hunger to, in his words, “not only get back there again, but this time help lead my team to a national championship.” Baylor head coach Scott Drew had assembled a roster stacked with perimeter talent but lacking a strong interior presence. The 7-foot Omier fills the gap, having averaged a double-double in each of his four college seasons. Waco is the perfect home for the 5th-year senior to chase a national title.
