Word: These rankings don’t at present embody gamers who exhausted their collegiate eligibility, however have entered the switch portal with the hope that the NCAA will tweak its present eligibility guidelines.
1. RJ Luis, SR, G (St. John’s)
The reigning Massive East Participant of the Yr and a Second Crew AP All-American, Luis is one in all a handful of gamers who’s within the switch portal whereas additionally going by the NBA Draft course of. Don’t let his poor efficiency in St. John’s second spherical loss to Arkansas or the drama surrounding him being benched for the final 4 minutes of stated loss distract you from the truth that that is one of the best obtainable participant within the switch portal.
At 6’7, Luis is a three-level scorer and a excessive power defender. His determination making could be iffy and his three-point shot is streaky, however he’s nonetheless a participant who immediately makes whichever workforce lands him (if a workforce lands him) way more of a risk to make a deep run subsequent March than they had been earlier than his addition.
2. Darrion Williams, SR, F (Texas Tech)
Like Luis, Williams has till Might 28 to resolve whether or not or not he desires to remain within the NBA Draft. If he chooses to return to high school, Williams figures to demand one of many highest worth tags of the faculty basketball offseason.
The 6’6 ahead averaged 15.5 factors and 5.5 rebounds per recreation final season for Texas Tech, second most on the workforce in each classes behind All-American J.T. Toppin (who has already introduced a return to Lubbock). Williams was a breakout star within the NCAA Match, the place he averaged 23.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds, and three.0 assists in three video games.
Williams is a real two-way standout who shall be one of the tough gamers within the nation to defend subsequent season, no matter the place he finally ends up.
3. Jamir Watkins, SR, G/F (Florida State)
Watkins is testing the NBA Draft waters for a second straight spring after a 2024-25 season the place he advanced into one of the dynamic offensive gamers within the ACC. The versatile 6’7 wing averaged 18.3 factors and 5.2 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 43 % from the ground for Leonard Hamilton’s ultimate FSU squad. There won’t be a greater participant in faculty basketball relating to attending to the free-throw line.
After transferring in from VCU, Watkins led Florida State in scoring in every of the previous two seasons. The All-ACC Second Crew choice entered the portal with a “don’t contact” tag.
4. Cedric Coward, SR, F (Washington State)
Accidents restricted Coward’s 2024-25 season to simply six video games, however he’s nonetheless one of the coveted gamers within the portal due to the numbers he put up in these six video games in addition to the work he did the prior two seasons at Jap Washington. An elite exterior shooter, the 6’6 Coward is at present going by the pre-NBA Draft course of, however is predicted by most to return college.
The most important giveaway that he’e returning to high school? Coward lately introduced that Alabama, Duke, Florida, Kansas, and Washington are the 5 finalists for his companies.
5. Ian Jackson, SO, G (North Carolina)
A former five-star recruit from the Bronx, Jackson earned All-ACC Freshman honors in 2024-25 after averaging 11.9 factors, the second most on the workforce. Jackson is an explosive athlete who is especially deadly in transition, however he struggled at instances with consistency in his first collegiate marketing campaign. St. John’s and NC State are thought-about by many to be the 2 faculties on the forefront of Jackson’s recruitment, although USC and others have additionally been concerned.
6. Rodney Rice, JR, G (Maryland)
Whereas he was at instances overshadowed by backcourt mate Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rice was nonetheless one of many greatest explanation why Maryland is contemporary off its first run to the Candy 16 in practically a decade. The Clinton (MD) product averaged 13.8 factors, 2.2 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists per recreation as a sophomore final season. He received higher because the 12 months went on, and ascension highlighted by a 7-for-9 three-point efficiency in a Massive Ten Match win over Illinois.
7. Xzayvier Brown, JR, G (Saint Joseph’s)
Brown led St. Joe’s in scoring this previous season at 17.6 factors, whereas additionally including 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per recreation. He entered the switch portal this week with a “don’t contact” tag, main quite a lot of folks to imagine that he’ll be following his stepfather and former St. Joe’s affiliate head coach Justin Scott to Oklahoma. Scott was employed as an assistant on Porter Moser’s workers on Monday.
8. Malik Thomas, SR, G (San Francisco)
The West Coast Convention’s reigning scoring champ, Thomas is within the portal after a dynamite 2024-25 marketing campaign that noticed him common 19.9 factors whereas capturing 44.4 % from the sphere and 39.4 % from past the arc. Thomas is a terrific scorer off the bounce and has an general recreation which ought to translate to speedy success on the energy convention degree.
9. Derrion Reid, SO, F (Alabama)
A former 5-star recruit, Reid’s freshman season in Tuscaloosa was largely hampered by a recurring ankle damage. He averaged 6.0 factors and three.8 rebounds per contest, however was sidelined for 13 of the Tide’s 37 video games. Reid is a greater shooter than he confirmed final season, and shall be an efficient downhill offensive participant and general defensive stud wherever he lands.
10. Xaivian Lee, SR, G (Princeton)
Doubtless one of the talked about gamers within the portal, Lee averaged 16.9 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per recreation final season for Princeton. The 6’4 native of Canada shot 43.9 % from the ground and 36.6 % from three. Kansas, Florida and St. John’s are among the many faculties most concerned with the two-time First Crew All-Ivy League choice.
11. Alvaro Folgueiras, JR, F (Robert Morris)
The 2024-25 Horizon League Participant of the Yr, Folgueiras averaged 14.1 factors, 9.1 rebounds and three.2 assists per recreation final season whereas capturing 41.3 % from three. The 6’9 native of Spain seems to be coming into his personal after seeing marked will increase throughout the board in his manufacturing from 12 months one to 12 months two at Robert Morris, and nonetheless has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
After shifting on from Kentucky, Villanova, Iowa and Windfall are the colleges at present most tied to Folgueiras.
12. Blake Harper, SO, F (Howard)
The 6’9 Harper was the best freshman in mid-major basketball this previous season, averaging 19.5 factors and 6.2 rebounds per recreation. The lefty is a fearless driver with a really easy exterior shot. He’ll possible take some lumps shifting from the MEAC to energy convention basketball, however he has the potential to be a giant time contributor over a number of seasons on the sport’s highest degree.
13. Tayton Conerway, SR, G (Troy)
The most effective defensive guards in all of school basketball final season, Conerway led the Solar Belt in steals per recreation (3.0) and ranked third in assists (5.1 per recreation) whereas additionally averaging a team-best 13.7 factors and 4.3 rebounds (tied for second on the workforce) for league champion Troy. He turned the primary Trojan to be named Solar Belt Participant of the Yr, and was the primary convention participant of the 12 months interval for Troy since 2004, when this system was a member of the Atlantic Solar.
14. Mackenzie Mgbako, JR, F (Indiana)
The very best-rated signing of the Mike Woodson period, Mgbako is within the switch portal after two good, however maybe not nice seasons in Bloomington. The previous 5-star recruit earned Massive Ten Freshman of the Yr honors in 2023-24, after which put up practically equivalent stats (12.2 factors in each seasons) as a sophomore on an Indiana workforce that narrowly missed the NCAA Match final season. At 6’9, Mgbako combines measurement, stable capturing skill and offensive versatility to make him an enviable choice for any head coach who hopes to area the ground within the halfcourt.
15. Rylan Griffen, SR, G (Kansas)
Issues didn’t work out for Griffen in Lawrence, however don’t be stunned if he bounces again in a giant manner some other place in 2025-26. He’s a 6’6 extremely succesful exterior shooter who ought to thrive if he can discover his manner again to a tempo and area system with enough expertise round him.
16. Dillon Mitchell, SR, F (Cincinnati)
Maybe one of the best defensive participant within the portal, Mitchell is a 6’8 ahead with a ridiculous mixture of energy and athleticism. That mixture additionally permits him to be a terrific finisher across the rim, which retains him a risk on offense regardless of not possessing a dependable soar shot. His numbers at Cincinnati this previous season (9.9 factors/6.9 rebounds) had been similar to those he posted within the second of his two seasons at Texas.
17. Jacob Ognacevic, SR, F (Lipscomb)
The Atlantic Solar Participant of the Yr, Ognacevic is coming off a season the place he averaged 20.0 factors and eight.1 rebounds per recreation whereas main Lipscomb to the NCAA Match. He shot 40.2 % from three final season, whereas changing on practically 73 % of his pictures on the rim. Ognacevic held his personal in video games in opposition to Arkansas, Kentucky and Iowa State final season, scoring 16 or extra in all three contests.
18. Tyon Grant-Foster, SR, G (Grand Canyon)
The 6’7 guard is trying to find his fourth and ultimate faculty residence after stints at Kansas, DePaul, and a pair of seasons at Grand Canyon. After averaging 20.1 factors and being named WAC Participant of the Yr in 2023-24, Grant-Foster was hampered by accidents all through final season. He’s a tricky shot taker and hard shot maker, which might scare off coaches who prioritize effectivity numbers. Nonetheless, there are few gamers at present obtainable within the portal with a lengthier observe report of with the ability to persistently put the ball within the basket.
19. Kennard Davis Jr., JR, F (Southern Illinois)
A flexible 6’6 wing, Davis is coming off a breakout sophomore season that noticed him common 16.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per recreation for Southern Illinois. A 3-level scorer who can create his personal shot in a wide range of other ways, Ohio State, Miami, DePaul and Ole Miss are among the many faculties most hotly in pursuit of Davis.
20. Duke Miles, SR, G (Oklahoma)
After initially committing to Virginia in early April, Miles is again available on the market. The well-traveled level guard began all 34 video games for Oklahoma final season, averaging 9.4 factors, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per recreation.
21. Terrance Arceneaux, JR, G (Houston)
At 6’6, 205-pounds, Arcenaux is able to enjoying both ahead place on offense and guarding as much as 4 positions on protection. He’s a stable scorer in any respect three ranges who ought to profit from being additional faraway from an ACL tear restoration that appeared to have an effect on the early a part of his sophomore season.
22. Barrington Hargress, JR, G (UC Riverside)
One of many West Coast’s most dynamic pure scorers, “B-Sheisty” led the Massive West in scoring final season at 20.2 factors. He dropped 40 in Riverside’s upset of league champion UC San Diego and in addition scored 31 and hit a halfcourt overtime-forcer in a victory over a Colorado State workforce that might go on to win a recreation within the NCAA Match.
Hargress lately visited Colorado, and has future visits deliberate to Seton Corridor and Georgia Tech.
23. Dylan Darling, JR, G (Idaho State)
After hardly seeing the court docket over two seasons at Washington State, Darling earned Massive Sky Participant of the Yr honors final season in his first 12 months at Idaho State. The 6’1 guard averaged 19.8 factors, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals for the Bengals in 2024-25. Protection and measurement are query marks for Darling, who has two seasons of eligibility after getting a medical redshirt for his second season at Wazzu. Nonetheless, his exterior shot and pure scoring skill ought to enable him to carve a pleasant at any of the foremost applications pursuing him.
24. Nick Dorn, JR, G (Elon)
The 6’7 Dorn turned heads with robust performances in opposition to each North Carolina and Notre Dame within the non-conference portion of the season. He shot over 35 % from three in each of his seasons at Elon, regardless of all the time being one of many main focuses of the opposite workforce’s defensive scouting report.
25. Josh Ojianwuna, SR, C (Baylor)
Massive males are at a premium within the portal, which is why the 6’10 Ojianwuna, who entered the portal on Tuesday, figures to be in such excessive demand. The native of Nigeria performed in 87 video games for Baylor over three seasons, and is a profession 70.7 % shooter from the sphere. Ojianwuna was averaging 7.4 factors and 6.4 rebounds per recreation earlier than struggling a season-ending knee damage on Feb. 8.
