College Basketball Offseason: Transfer Portal Closes, Rankings Shift
As the clock struck midnight on April 22, the first act of the college basketball offseason came to a close with the transfer window officially shutting. While we might still see a few names trickle out over the next day or two, especially for those players who filed their paperwork right at the deadline, the flurry of roster departures is expected to slow down significantly.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that team rosters are now set in stone. There’s still a lot of movement to come with transfer commitments, NBA draft decisions, potential high school reclassifications, a few remaining top-50 recruits, and the international market yet to complete its cycle. It’s a dynamic time in college basketball, and the landscape is still shifting.
Coming out of the portal window, there’s a significant shake-up at the top of our Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings. After Houston held the No. 1 spot in the first two versions, Purdue has now vaulted past the Cougars to claim the top position in the third iteration. This change comes after a close debate over the past couple of weeks, with Milos Uzan entering the NBA draft and the Boilermakers adding much-needed depth to round out their roster, giving them the edge.
It’s important to note that nothing is set in stone, and Purdue is not guaranteed to enter next season atop the rankings. But with the first phase of the offseason complete, Matt Painter’s team leads the top 25 teams we’re projecting for the 2025-26 season.
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Previous ranking: 2
There’s a chance Purdue has the preseason Wooden Award favorite and two All-Americans on its roster next season. Braden Smith will start the season as the best guard in the country after taking the next step in his development this past campaign, while Trey Kaufman-Renn is a dominant paint force.
The addition of South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff should help inside, while a healthy Daniel Jacobsen could be poised for a breakout season. Landing Israeli guard Omer Mayer and North Florida transfer Liam Murphy adds needed depth.
Projected starting lineup:
- Braden Smith (15.8 PPG)
- C.J. Cox (6.0 PPG)
- Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG)
- Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 PPG)
- Oscar Cluff (17.6 PPG at South Dakota State)
2. Houston Cougars
Previous ranking: 1
Milos Uzan declared for the NBA draft earlier this week, but we might not know his final decision until the withdrawal deadline on May 28. Kelvin Sampson has already recruited an experienced guard to help replace Uzan, landing Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs, a scorer who can create opportunities for others.
The Cougars are also bringing in one of the elite recruiting classes in the country, with three top-20 prospects in the fold. Combined with the return of Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler, we’ve got faith in Houston.
Projected starting lineup:
- Kingston Flemings (No. 20 in ESPN 100)
- Pop Isaacs (16.3 PPG at Creighton)
- Emanuel Sharp (12.7 PPG)
- Joseph Tugler (5.5 PPG)
- Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
3. St. John’s Red Storm
Previous ranking: 15
The Red Storm’s NCAA tournament run ended earlier than expected, but Rick Pitino guided them to the Big East regular-season and tournament titles and has St. John’s back in the national discussion moving forward.
The losses of Kadary Richmond, RJ Luis Jr., and Aaron Scott will sting, but Zuby Ejiofor is back. Pitino also has one of the best portal classes in the country with Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Joson Sanon (Arizona State), and Oziyah Sellers (Stanford).
The lack of both depth and a true point guard is the concern.
Projected starting lineup:
- Ian Jackson (11.9 PPG at North Carolina)
- Joson Sanon (11.9 PPG at Arizona State)
- Oziyah Sellers (13.7 PPG at Stanford)
- Bryce Hopkins (15.5 PPG at Providence in 2023-24)
- Zuby Ejiofor (14.7 PPG)
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Previous ranking: 3
Grant McCasland’s team had the biggest rise from the first iteration of the rankings on championship Monday to the mid-April update. The biggest move was the return of JT Toppin, the surefire preseason All-American who dominated the second half of the season. And LeJuan Watts, a versatile and skilled wing forward, would be a seamless replacement for Darrion Williams if he opts to remain in the portal or NBA draft. Christian Anderson should also take a step forward in his sophomore season.
Projected starting lineup:
- Christian Anderson (10.6 PPG)
- Donovan Atwell (13.3 PPG at UNC Greensboro)
- Tyeree Bryan (10.4 PPG at Santa Clara)
- LeJuan Watts (13.7 PPG at Washington State)
- JT Toppin (18.2 PPG)
5. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 4
Pat Kelsey had as strong an offseason as any team in the country through a couple of weeks, landing impact transfers Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia), and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) to go with top-10 recruit Mikel Brown Jr. in next season’s backcourt.
Both Kasean Pryor and J’Vonne Hadley were question marks entering the offseason, but both have since announced their returns. Despite the late portal departure of James Scott, there’s still depth up front behind those two, with plenty of intrigue in Germany native Sananda Fru.
Projected starting lineup:
- Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 8 in ESPN 100)
- Isaac McKneely (14.4 PPG at Virginia)
- Ryan Conwell (16.5 PPG at Xavier)
- J’Vonne Hadley (12.2 PPG)
- Kasean Pryor (12.0 PPG in seven games)
As we continue to navigate the offseason, these rankings are sure to evolve. With the transfer portal closed, teams will now focus on finalizing their rosters, making strategic decisions, and preparing for the upcoming season. The excitement is palpable, and college basketball fans have plenty to look forward to as the 2025-26 season approaches.
Originally Written by: Jeff Borzello
