The NBA Draft Declaration deadline passed on Wednesday, and as Jon Rothstein would say, we now have FULL clarity on the 2019-20 college basketball season. While that isn't quite true, there were a lot of important decisions that were made over the last few days that make the college basketball landscape much more clear. If you missed my original Top 25 right after the college basketball season came to a close, check it out here. I chose to not go in depth on some of the teams since not much has changed, so be sure to check it out before reading this. Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter @ThreePointRange for my thoughts on college basketball news as it happens, and let me know your thoughts on these rankings.
Top 25
1. Michigan State
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry, Joshua Langford, Malik Hall, Xavier Tillman
What Changed: Nothing. Everyone who was expected to return did so, and the Spartans are set up as one of the favorites for the national title with potential All-Americans Cassius Winston and Nick Ward looking to lead the way. With Tom Izzo at the helm and a lot of experienced returning talent, they are the clear number one team in my mind.
EDIT: So I somehow missed that Nick Ward is leaving for the NBA. I still think the Spartans are the best team heading into next year, but they will have to rely on freshman Malik Hall and Julian Marble as well as unproven sophomore Marcus Bingham to provide quality minutes, which I think all three are more than capable of doing. My mistake.
Top 25
1. Michigan State
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry, Joshua Langford, Malik Hall, Xavier Tillman
What Changed: Nothing. Everyone who was expected to return did so, and the Spartans are set up as one of the favorites for the national title with potential All-Americans Cassius Winston and Nick Ward looking to lead the way. With Tom Izzo at the helm and a lot of experienced returning talent, they are the clear number one team in my mind.
EDIT: So I somehow missed that Nick Ward is leaving for the NBA. I still think the Spartans are the best team heading into next year, but they will have to rely on freshman Malik Hall and Julian Marble as well as unproven sophomore Marcus Bingham to provide quality minutes, which I think all three are more than capable of doing. My mistake.
2. Duke
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Tre Jones, Cassius Stanley, Wendell Moore, Matthew Hurt, Vernon Carey
What Changed: The Blue Devils gained two more big time commitments in Cassius Stanley and Matthew Hurt. Hurt came first, and he figures to be one of the best big men in the ACC next season. He can space the floor with a good shooting touch but also scores well on the interior, and is a good rebounder. He figures to be a double double threat alongside Vernon Carey in the front court, and with Javin DeLaurier also back, they will make up one of the most talented front courts in the ACC. As for Stanley, his commitment was a mixed bag. While he is very talented, this led to the decommitment of Boogie Ellis due to playing time concerns on his part. However, you could argue that Stanley is even better than Ellis. He is an explosive athlete who will thrive in the open court, where Duke will likely be playing a lot of the time. Stanley also has the potential to be a plus defender with his elite athleticism, and a developing jump shot and solid ball handling skills. He and Tre Jones could be one of the premier defensive backcourts in the ACC, and the two newcomers to the recruiting class bump Duke up to number two.
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Tre Jones, Cassius Stanley, Wendell Moore, Matthew Hurt, Vernon Carey
What Changed: The Blue Devils gained two more big time commitments in Cassius Stanley and Matthew Hurt. Hurt came first, and he figures to be one of the best big men in the ACC next season. He can space the floor with a good shooting touch but also scores well on the interior, and is a good rebounder. He figures to be a double double threat alongside Vernon Carey in the front court, and with Javin DeLaurier also back, they will make up one of the most talented front courts in the ACC. As for Stanley, his commitment was a mixed bag. While he is very talented, this led to the decommitment of Boogie Ellis due to playing time concerns on his part. However, you could argue that Stanley is even better than Ellis. He is an explosive athlete who will thrive in the open court, where Duke will likely be playing a lot of the time. Stanley also has the potential to be a plus defender with his elite athleticism, and a developing jump shot and solid ball handling skills. He and Tre Jones could be one of the premier defensive backcourts in the ACC, and the two newcomers to the recruiting class bump Duke up to number two.
3. Kentucky
Movement: -1
Projected Starting 5: Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, EJ Montgomery, Nick Richards
What Changed: The big loss for the Wildcats in my opinion was Tyler Herro. During the last update, we knew Keldon Johnson and PJ Washington would be going to the NBA, and Ashton Hagans but Herro was a little more up in the air. However, Herro decided to head to the NBA as well, leaving the Wildcats without a go-to scorer heading into next season. They did pick up Johnny Juzang, a high level wing scorer, who should help fill that role, and perhaps more importantly, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards announced their intention to return to school. Montgomery specifically has a very high ceiling, coming to school as a top 10 prospect last season and showing flashes of being a super athletic stretch four type player. They have a lot of returning talent and the #2 recruiting class in the country, so this looks to be another great Kentucky team.
4. Texas Tech
Movement: +8
Projected Starting 5: Jahmius Ramsey, Davide Moretti, Deshawn Corprew, Chris Clarke, TJ Holyfield
What Changed: Chris Beard has leveraged the success the Red Raiders have had in the past two years into a ton of recruiting victories. He picked up top 150 forward Tyreek Smith, late riser Clarence Nadolny, and graduate transfers Chris Clarke from Virginia Tech and TJ Holyfield from Stephen F Austin just since the end of the year, pairing them with Jahmius Ramsey and Terrance Shannon, both top 100 players, in the recruiting class along with some other long term pieces. They also return a lot from their national title team in Davide Moretti, who caught fire from behind the arc down the stretch, Kyler Edwards, a name on seemingly every breakout list this offseason, and Deshawn Corprew, a high level JuCo recruit last season who is in line for a bigger role this season. Add in Chris Beard as one of the best coaches in the country, and I think this is one of the top teams in the nation next year.
Movement: -1
Projected Starting 5: Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, EJ Montgomery, Nick Richards
What Changed: The big loss for the Wildcats in my opinion was Tyler Herro. During the last update, we knew Keldon Johnson and PJ Washington would be going to the NBA, and Ashton Hagans but Herro was a little more up in the air. However, Herro decided to head to the NBA as well, leaving the Wildcats without a go-to scorer heading into next season. They did pick up Johnny Juzang, a high level wing scorer, who should help fill that role, and perhaps more importantly, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards announced their intention to return to school. Montgomery specifically has a very high ceiling, coming to school as a top 10 prospect last season and showing flashes of being a super athletic stretch four type player. They have a lot of returning talent and the #2 recruiting class in the country, so this looks to be another great Kentucky team.
Movement: +8
Projected Starting 5: Jahmius Ramsey, Davide Moretti, Deshawn Corprew, Chris Clarke, TJ Holyfield
What Changed: Chris Beard has leveraged the success the Red Raiders have had in the past two years into a ton of recruiting victories. He picked up top 150 forward Tyreek Smith, late riser Clarence Nadolny, and graduate transfers Chris Clarke from Virginia Tech and TJ Holyfield from Stephen F Austin just since the end of the year, pairing them with Jahmius Ramsey and Terrance Shannon, both top 100 players, in the recruiting class along with some other long term pieces. They also return a lot from their national title team in Davide Moretti, who caught fire from behind the arc down the stretch, Kyler Edwards, a name on seemingly every breakout list this offseason, and Deshawn Corprew, a high level JuCo recruit last season who is in line for a bigger role this season. Add in Chris Beard as one of the best coaches in the country, and I think this is one of the top teams in the nation next year.
5. Ohio State
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: DJ Carlton, Luther Muhammad, Alonzo Gaffney, Andre Wesson, Kaleb Wesson
What Changed: The Buckeyes move up after some teams in front of them in my last rankings lost pieces, but not much has changed with them. Kaleb Wesson made the expected announcement that he is returning to school, and they got a commitment from Justice Sueing, a Cal transfer who won't be eligible next season. Otherwise, this is still a team coached by Chris Holtmann, who I love as a coach, with a really strong recruiting class and good returning talent that should make them a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and nationally next season.
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: DJ Carlton, Luther Muhammad, Alonzo Gaffney, Andre Wesson, Kaleb Wesson
What Changed: The Buckeyes move up after some teams in front of them in my last rankings lost pieces, but not much has changed with them. Kaleb Wesson made the expected announcement that he is returning to school, and they got a commitment from Justice Sueing, a Cal transfer who won't be eligible next season. Otherwise, this is still a team coached by Chris Holtmann, who I love as a coach, with a really strong recruiting class and good returning talent that should make them a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and nationally next season.
6. Arizona
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: Nico Mannion, Terry Armstrong, Josh Green, Zeke Nnaji, Chase Jeter
What Changed: Just like Ohio State, not much has changed for the Wildcats. They have a stacked recruiting class, headlined by Nico Mannion and Josh Green, some solid returning pieces like Chase Jeter and Brandon Williams, and Sean Miller is still a good coach on the sidelines, despite his alleged off the court activities. They also picked up Max Hazzard, a graduate transfer from UC Irvine. He should help right away with his tournament experience, the Anteaters knocked off Kansas State in last year's tournament, and shooting, making 38.7% of his threes last year. He brings on and off the court value to this team, and he cements them as one of the premier teams in the nation next year.
7. North Carolina
Movement: +21
Projected Starting 5: Cole Anthony, Christian Keeling, Justin Pierce, Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks
What Changed: The Tar Heels moved up as much as any team in the nation since the end of the year, adding top recruits Cole Anthony and Anthony Harris and graduate transfers Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce. Anthony is the biggest piece, as a top 5 player in the incoming recruiting class and someone who should be a high level scorer right away for the Tar Heels. Harris is a bit of a different player, as the former Virginia Tech commit is a good athlete and defender who could end up sharing the floor with Anthony at times. They also add over 33 points of scoring with Keeling and Pierce. Keeling comes over from Charleston Southern where he scored over 17 points per game in all three of his seasons while also being a solid rebounder, defender, and shooter, and should be able to play in the ACC right away. Pierce is a stretch forward from William & Mary who can play both the three and the four. He is likely to make less of a statistical impact in Chapel Hill, but he will be a valuable piece. They also bring back Garrison Brooks, Sterling Manley, and Leaky Black as high level players in the front court, and Armando Bacot is a five star big man in the 2019 class. This team came together late, but it figures to be another good team for Roy Williams.
8. Louisville
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Lamarr Kimble, Samuel Williamson, Dwayne Sutton, Jordan Nwora, Stephen Enoch
What Changed: The Cardinals jumped up with the addition of Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble as a graduate transfer from Saint Joe's. They were previously really lacking at the point guard position, but they bring in a really high level player to man that position. He's not a great shooter, but he's a really good slasher and excels with the ball in his hands, and is coming off his best college season yet. The thing I am most interested in with him is if he can adapt to being more of a facilitator on this team. They have a lot of mouths to feed, and Kimble will be tasked with doing that, despite averaging just 2.8 assists per game last season. He also has a long injury history, missing portions of each of the last three years, including missing all but one game in the 2017-18 season. Still, he is a massive improvement over Darius Perry, and he will help them compete at the top of the ACC. They also got Jordan Nwora back from the NBA Draft. He will be considered for All-American teams this season after scoring 17 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds a game while shooting 37.4% from three. He is projected to be a high level player once again in 2019-20, and along with a strong returning cast led by Dwayne Sutton, Stephen Enoch, Ryan McMahon, and Malik Williams, and four top 100 prospects enrolling, and they should break into the Duke and UNC tier of the ACC next season.
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: Nico Mannion, Terry Armstrong, Josh Green, Zeke Nnaji, Chase Jeter
What Changed: Just like Ohio State, not much has changed for the Wildcats. They have a stacked recruiting class, headlined by Nico Mannion and Josh Green, some solid returning pieces like Chase Jeter and Brandon Williams, and Sean Miller is still a good coach on the sidelines, despite his alleged off the court activities. They also picked up Max Hazzard, a graduate transfer from UC Irvine. He should help right away with his tournament experience, the Anteaters knocked off Kansas State in last year's tournament, and shooting, making 38.7% of his threes last year. He brings on and off the court value to this team, and he cements them as one of the premier teams in the nation next year.
7. North Carolina
Movement: +21
Projected Starting 5: Cole Anthony, Christian Keeling, Justin Pierce, Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks
What Changed: The Tar Heels moved up as much as any team in the nation since the end of the year, adding top recruits Cole Anthony and Anthony Harris and graduate transfers Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce. Anthony is the biggest piece, as a top 5 player in the incoming recruiting class and someone who should be a high level scorer right away for the Tar Heels. Harris is a bit of a different player, as the former Virginia Tech commit is a good athlete and defender who could end up sharing the floor with Anthony at times. They also add over 33 points of scoring with Keeling and Pierce. Keeling comes over from Charleston Southern where he scored over 17 points per game in all three of his seasons while also being a solid rebounder, defender, and shooter, and should be able to play in the ACC right away. Pierce is a stretch forward from William & Mary who can play both the three and the four. He is likely to make less of a statistical impact in Chapel Hill, but he will be a valuable piece. They also bring back Garrison Brooks, Sterling Manley, and Leaky Black as high level players in the front court, and Armando Bacot is a five star big man in the 2019 class. This team came together late, but it figures to be another good team for Roy Williams.
8. Louisville
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Lamarr Kimble, Samuel Williamson, Dwayne Sutton, Jordan Nwora, Stephen Enoch
What Changed: The Cardinals jumped up with the addition of Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble as a graduate transfer from Saint Joe's. They were previously really lacking at the point guard position, but they bring in a really high level player to man that position. He's not a great shooter, but he's a really good slasher and excels with the ball in his hands, and is coming off his best college season yet. The thing I am most interested in with him is if he can adapt to being more of a facilitator on this team. They have a lot of mouths to feed, and Kimble will be tasked with doing that, despite averaging just 2.8 assists per game last season. He also has a long injury history, missing portions of each of the last three years, including missing all but one game in the 2017-18 season. Still, he is a massive improvement over Darius Perry, and he will help them compete at the top of the ACC. They also got Jordan Nwora back from the NBA Draft. He will be considered for All-American teams this season after scoring 17 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds a game while shooting 37.4% from three. He is projected to be a high level player once again in 2019-20, and along with a strong returning cast led by Dwayne Sutton, Stephen Enoch, Ryan McMahon, and Malik Williams, and four top 100 prospects enrolling, and they should break into the Duke and UNC tier of the ACC next season.
9. Florida
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, Scottie Lewis, Keyontae Johnson, Omar Payne
What Changed: The Gators haven't moved in these rankings, and that's because their roster hasn't changed at all for next season. They got a commitment from transfer Anthony Duruji, who will have to sit out next season, and some developmental prospects in the 2019 class, but the main core is still the same. They have a young, exciting core, with rising sophomores Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, and Keyontae Johnson and incoming top 50 freshman Scottie Lewis, Tre Mann, and Omar Payne. I also really like Mike White as a head coach, and I think this is a really good team that will be one of the top teams in the nation.
10. Memphis
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, DJ Jeffries, Precious Achiuwa, James Wiseman
What Changed: No one has recruited at the level that Penny Hardaway has, especially since the end of the season. He picked up commitments from Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, and Precious Achiuwa, two four stars and a five star respectively, and highly coveted grad transfer Rayjon Tucker. Unfortunately, Tucker announced he was staying in the NBA Draft, but this is still a team with the number one recruiting class in the country. They have two five stars, including the number one player in the country per 247Sports, and five more four star players in this recruiting class. They also return Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax, two solid point guard, and have forward Lance Thomas who transferred from Louisville and is a high upside player as a rim protector and shooter. The bigger question here is Penny's coaching ability, but I think he did fairly well with the hand he was dealt last year, and I think he can get the most out of this talented bunch, so I have them in the top 10.
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, Scottie Lewis, Keyontae Johnson, Omar Payne
What Changed: The Gators haven't moved in these rankings, and that's because their roster hasn't changed at all for next season. They got a commitment from transfer Anthony Duruji, who will have to sit out next season, and some developmental prospects in the 2019 class, but the main core is still the same. They have a young, exciting core, with rising sophomores Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, and Keyontae Johnson and incoming top 50 freshman Scottie Lewis, Tre Mann, and Omar Payne. I also really like Mike White as a head coach, and I think this is a really good team that will be one of the top teams in the nation.
10. Memphis
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, DJ Jeffries, Precious Achiuwa, James Wiseman
What Changed: No one has recruited at the level that Penny Hardaway has, especially since the end of the season. He picked up commitments from Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones, and Precious Achiuwa, two four stars and a five star respectively, and highly coveted grad transfer Rayjon Tucker. Unfortunately, Tucker announced he was staying in the NBA Draft, but this is still a team with the number one recruiting class in the country. They have two five stars, including the number one player in the country per 247Sports, and five more four star players in this recruiting class. They also return Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax, two solid point guard, and have forward Lance Thomas who transferred from Louisville and is a high upside player as a rim protector and shooter. The bigger question here is Penny's coaching ability, but I think he did fairly well with the hand he was dealt last year, and I think he can get the most out of this talented bunch, so I have them in the top 10.
11. Villanova
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Connor Gillaspie, Bryan Antoine, Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
What Changed: The Wildcats are still the same team as they were last time and are similar to a few others on this list, so I'll keep this short. They return some good players like Connor Gillaspie, Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Cole Swider, and Dahmir Cosby-Roundtree. They have the fifth best recruiting class in the nation, headlined by five stars Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, along with top 100 players Justin Moore and Eric Dixon who can also contribute right away. Throw in one of the top coaches in the country in Jay Wright, who has won 2 of the last 4 national titles, and this is clearly one of the better teams in the country for next season.
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Connor Gillaspie, Bryan Antoine, Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
What Changed: The Wildcats are still the same team as they were last time and are similar to a few others on this list, so I'll keep this short. They return some good players like Connor Gillaspie, Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Cole Swider, and Dahmir Cosby-Roundtree. They have the fifth best recruiting class in the nation, headlined by five stars Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, along with top 100 players Justin Moore and Eric Dixon who can also contribute right away. Throw in one of the top coaches in the country in Jay Wright, who has won 2 of the last 4 national titles, and this is clearly one of the better teams in the country for next season.
12. Maryland
Movement: +3
Projected Starting 5: Anthony Cowan, Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Jalen Smith, Makhi Mitchell
What Changed: The Terrapins are basically still the same team as last year, except a year more experienced and adding some more depth. Bruno Fernando left for the NBA, but that was expected, and they return Jalen Smith, who has the ability to replicate Fernando's production in the front court, and Anthony Cowan, a really high level point guard who will run the offense. With Eric Ayala, Serrel Smith, Ricky Lindo, and Aaron Wiggins looking to improve on the wing in their sophomore seasons, and Mahki and Mahkel Mitchell, have fun telling them apart this year, and Donta Scott figuring to be immediate contributors, this will be a contender in the Big Ten and a really good team.
Movement: +3
Projected Starting 5: Anthony Cowan, Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Jalen Smith, Makhi Mitchell
What Changed: The Terrapins are basically still the same team as last year, except a year more experienced and adding some more depth. Bruno Fernando left for the NBA, but that was expected, and they return Jalen Smith, who has the ability to replicate Fernando's production in the front court, and Anthony Cowan, a really high level point guard who will run the offense. With Eric Ayala, Serrel Smith, Ricky Lindo, and Aaron Wiggins looking to improve on the wing in their sophomore seasons, and Mahki and Mahkel Mitchell, have fun telling them apart this year, and Donta Scott figuring to be immediate contributors, this will be a contender in the Big Ten and a really good team.
13. Florida State
Movement: -8
Projected Starting 5: Trent Forest, MJ Walker, Patrick Williams, Raiquan Gray, Balsa Koprivica
What Changed: The Seminoles dropped in the rankings thanks to an NBA defection, that of center Mfiondu Kabengele. He was a riser throughout the college basketball season and the draft process, and is starting to appear in the first round of mock drafts. He was excellent in strangely limited minutes for the Noles last season, and he will be missed. Still, Florida State is lucky that they have two solid centers in their recruiting class with Balsa Koprivica and Naheem McCloud as well as bringing in Ole Miss grad transfer Dominik Olejniczak, giving them three seven footers to man the front line. Otherwise, they have the long, athletic play style that has been so successful in the Leonard Hamilton era, so they are still fairly high in my rankings.
Movement: N/A
Projected Starting 5: Devon Dotson, Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Udoka Azubuike
What Changed: The Jayhawks haven't moved since my last rankings, but they are in a much different place. They now know that Quentin Grimes will not be returning to the Jayhawks, instead opting to transfer, and Silvio De Sousa will finally be eligible to play after two years of uncertainty around his status. They also picked up a solid prospect in Tristian Enaruna, who should contribute immediately. However, they missed out on five star prospects Precious Achiuwa, who went to Memphis, and RJ Hampton, who opted to play internationally in Australia. Those misses on the recruiting trail hurt, but they are still in the mix and the likely favorites for Jalen Wilson, the top uncommitted prospect and got Devon Dotson back from the NBA Draft. Plus, Udoka Azubuike is healthy this season, and his presence should help the Jayhawks be more successfully offensively. With added development for Ochai Agbaji, who shined in a limited role last year, and David McCormack, plus Christian Braun, a fairly highly regarded shooter in the 2019 class, and the pieces look to fit a lot more smoothly than last year. There is still a bit of uncertainty around the program, but the picture has become much more clear in the recent weeks, and it hasn't changed all that much.
15. Seton Hall
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Quincy McKnight, Myles Powell, Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ikey Obiagu
What Changed: The Pirates got Myles Powell back from the NBA Draft on the last day, and while that was always the likely outcome, it is still huge. He's got a fairly good shot at being an All-American after averaging 23 points a game last season, and the team around him figures to be better this year. They bring in two new players in the front court in highly regarded Canadian player Tyrese Samuel and Florida State transfer Ikey Obiagu, who will help bolster the rebounding and defense of the Pirates next year and allow Powell to shine. Plus, Myles Cale has always looked like he is on the brink of putting things together, Sandro M is a very solid player with potential for more, and Jared Rhoden showed signs of being an impact player as a freshman, and this is a deep team with a star and players that compliment him well, which is a powerful combination.
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Quincy McKnight, Myles Powell, Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ikey Obiagu
What Changed: The Pirates got Myles Powell back from the NBA Draft on the last day, and while that was always the likely outcome, it is still huge. He's got a fairly good shot at being an All-American after averaging 23 points a game last season, and the team around him figures to be better this year. They bring in two new players in the front court in highly regarded Canadian player Tyrese Samuel and Florida State transfer Ikey Obiagu, who will help bolster the rebounding and defense of the Pirates next year and allow Powell to shine. Plus, Myles Cale has always looked like he is on the brink of putting things together, Sandro M is a very solid player with potential for more, and Jared Rhoden showed signs of being an impact player as a freshman, and this is a deep team with a star and players that compliment him well, which is a powerful combination.
16. Virginia
Movement: -10
Projected Starting 5: Kihei Clark, Casey Morsell, Braxton Key, Mamadi Diakite, Jay Huff
What Changed: Virginia lost as much as anyone still in the the rankings, with Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De'Andre Hunter all announcing they were leaving early for the NBA Draft, and this ranking is as much about the name on the front of the jersey as it is about that on the back. To be certain, this is a talented team. The Hoos return some key players from their national title team, such as Kihei Clark and Mamadi Diakite, who connected for this memorable shot, along with Braxton Key, who could be the best returner, and Jay Huff, a high upside big man. They also have multiplet young and unproven first and second year players like centers Francisco Caffaro and Kaden Shedrick and guard Casey Morsell. They may not have the star power of last season, but look for them to once again be very good.
Movement: -10
Projected Starting 5: Kihei Clark, Casey Morsell, Braxton Key, Mamadi Diakite, Jay Huff
What Changed: Virginia lost as much as anyone still in the the rankings, with Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De'Andre Hunter all announcing they were leaving early for the NBA Draft, and this ranking is as much about the name on the front of the jersey as it is about that on the back. To be certain, this is a talented team. The Hoos return some key players from their national title team, such as Kihei Clark and Mamadi Diakite, who connected for this memorable shot, along with Braxton Key, who could be the best returner, and Jay Huff, a high upside big man. They also have multiplet young and unproven first and second year players like centers Francisco Caffaro and Kaden Shedrick and guard Casey Morsell. They may not have the star power of last season, but look for them to once again be very good.
17. North Carolina State
Movement: +7
Projected Starting 5: Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverley, CJ Bryce, Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk
What Changed: The Wolfpack lost the commitment of Jalen Lecque, a super athletic guard who chose to go straight to the NBA instead of heading to Raleigh. However, given their excellent guard depth with players like Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverley, and CJ Bryce returning and 2019 recruit David Seabron joining the fray, there is more than enough talent to compensate. They also picked up much needed front court depth in the form of Lehiogh grad transfer Pat Andree. A stretch four, Andree shot over 40% from three each of the past two seasons, and he figures to help space the floor from the forward spot, something neither Jericole Hellems nor DJ Funderburk provides. They mostly jump because of the other teams that dropped, but this is still a team that plays a really fun style under Kevin Keatts and has the personnel to execute it and make it work. I expect them to improve on last season pretty drastically.
18. Oklahoma State
Movement: +7
Projected Starting 5: Isaac Likekele, Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters, Cameron McGriff, Yor Anei
What Changed: Like the Wolfpack, Oklahoma State mostly moves up because of teams around them falling. However, this is a team that the more I think about them, the more I like them. They return the entire starting lineup from a team that really improved as the season went on, and add in four top 150 players, including newcomer Chris Harris, and also grabbed UMass grad transfer Jonathon Laurent, who 46.7% from three and can play at the power forward position in some smaller lineups that could provide a ton of spacing. They have a ton of guard depth, with rising sophomore Isaac Likekele, Thomas Dziagwa, and Lindy Waters all returning along with four star recruits Marcus Watson, Avery Anderson, and Chris Harris. Each player brings something a little bit different, and they should all see minutes in the up-tempo system Mike Boykin runs. I'm a huge believer in this team, and I may have them ranked a little aggressively, but I really like the Cowboys heading into next season.
Movement: +7
Projected Starting 5: Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverley, CJ Bryce, Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk
What Changed: The Wolfpack lost the commitment of Jalen Lecque, a super athletic guard who chose to go straight to the NBA instead of heading to Raleigh. However, given their excellent guard depth with players like Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverley, and CJ Bryce returning and 2019 recruit David Seabron joining the fray, there is more than enough talent to compensate. They also picked up much needed front court depth in the form of Lehiogh grad transfer Pat Andree. A stretch four, Andree shot over 40% from three each of the past two seasons, and he figures to help space the floor from the forward spot, something neither Jericole Hellems nor DJ Funderburk provides. They mostly jump because of the other teams that dropped, but this is still a team that plays a really fun style under Kevin Keatts and has the personnel to execute it and make it work. I expect them to improve on last season pretty drastically.
18. Oklahoma State
Movement: +7
Projected Starting 5: Isaac Likekele, Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters, Cameron McGriff, Yor Anei
What Changed: Like the Wolfpack, Oklahoma State mostly moves up because of teams around them falling. However, this is a team that the more I think about them, the more I like them. They return the entire starting lineup from a team that really improved as the season went on, and add in four top 150 players, including newcomer Chris Harris, and also grabbed UMass grad transfer Jonathon Laurent, who 46.7% from three and can play at the power forward position in some smaller lineups that could provide a ton of spacing. They have a ton of guard depth, with rising sophomore Isaac Likekele, Thomas Dziagwa, and Lindy Waters all returning along with four star recruits Marcus Watson, Avery Anderson, and Chris Harris. Each player brings something a little bit different, and they should all see minutes in the up-tempo system Mike Boykin runs. I'm a huge believer in this team, and I may have them ranked a little aggressively, but I really like the Cowboys heading into next season.
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Abel Porter, Sam Merrill, Brock Miller, Justin Bean, Neemias Queta
What Changed: Looking back, it was a mistake on my part to leave these next two teams out of my initial Top 25. The Aggies return four starters and their top four leading scorers from a borderline Top 25 team by the end of the season, including potential All-American Sam Merrill and NBA prospect and prolific shot blocker Neemias Queta, Utah State may not be the brand name in the Mountain West after the success Nevada and San Diego State have had in recent seasons, but they will be the consensus favorite heading into next season, and with good reason. Craig Smith is an excellent Xs and Os coach who knows this team, and with some intriguing new players, including borderline top 150 forward Liam McChesney, and they are easily a top 25 team.
20. Baylor
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Davion Mitchell, Macio Teague, Mark Vital, Mario Kegler, Tristian Clark
What Changed: The Bears were another team that I probably should have given a little more love. They were the first team out of my Next 5 last time, and after looking at their roster more, I like them a lot. The backcourt made up of two impact transfers in Davion Mitchell from Auburn, who I really like and I think could be a star for the Bears, and Macio Teague, a scorer from UNC Asheville. There is also Jared Butler, who was solid as a freshman, and Devontae Bandoo, a solid shooter from deep. Mark Vital feels to me like he's been in college for 8 years, and he's just a junior, and he's a gritty wing who will share minutes with freshman Jordan Tucker. Mario Kegler and Tristian Clark feature as one of the premier front courts in the Big 12, with both being legitimate studs, and they have lots of depth with guys like Matthew Mayer and Flo Thamba. I really like this roster and I think Scott Drew is a super underrated coach, so I have course corrected to rightfully putting them into the Top 25.
21. Xavier
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Jason Carter, Naji Marshall, Tyrique Jones
What Changed: Xavier was a team I was probably a little too low on last time I did my rankings. They return their four core players from a team that really surged late in the season, and add talent around them. The foursome of Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, and Tyrique Jones is incredibly talented, although it has problems with consistency and shooting, and they have some talent coming in around them. Ohio transfer Jason Carter figures to provide floor spacing to a team that needs in and will play right away, while four star guards KyKy Tandy and Dahmir Bishop bring some more shot making to the backcourt, and the rest of the five man recruiting class provides front court depth, although they likely won't make a large impact in year one. This is a rising team, and I think they could sneak up on some people this year with their overall talent level.
22. Georgia
Movement: -4
Projected Starting 5: Donnell Gresham, Anthony Edwards, Jaykwon Walton, Christian Brown, Rayshaun Hammonds
What Changed: The Bulldogs had two key changes: they added Donnell Gresham, but lost Nic Claxton. As you can tell by them falling off, I think Claxton is the more significant move. He was underratedly really good last year, probably because he played on a bad Georgia team, but he had star potential this year. However, he's heading to the NBA, leaving them with a hole in the front court that can either be filled by the undersized Rayshaun Hammonds or freshman Rodney Howard, who is a late riser but isn't the type of player who makes a big impact immediately. They also added Gresham, a grad transfer from Northeastern, who is a perfect foil to Anthony Edwards. He's experienced, a good floor spacer and passer, and a good defender. He fits like a glove next to the ball dominant Edwards and should allow him to thrive in Tom Crean's offense. They also got Sahvir Wheeler, a quick point guard who will also see minutes. The lack of a front court will come back to haunt this team, but they have a lot of talent in the backcourt and on the wing, and I think they will make noise in the SEC this year.
23. Alabama
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Kira Lewis, James Bolden, John Petty, Herb Jones, Raymond Hawkins
What Changed: The Crimson Tide hired Nate Oats, one of the best young coaches in college basketball, from Buffalo, where he had transformed the Bulls into a Top 25 team last season. He also convinced a lot of key players, like Kira Lewis and John Petty, to stay on board with him after they announced their intention to transfer. Oh, and he has three top 100 players, one of the top JuCo players in the country, a late rising big man in Raymond Hawkins, and James "Beetle" Bolden transferring from West Virginia providing a lot of new talent in the program. His style of play, running up and down and playing tough, physical defense, fits a lot of the players perfectly, and I think Kira Lewis can emerge as one of the better players in the SEC next year. I'm not completely sold on their front court, as it lacks high end talent, but Oats prefers to play small lineups, and I think they will be fine. They seem like a Top 25 team to me.
Movement: +9
Projected Starting 5: Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Jason Carter, Naji Marshall, Tyrique Jones
What Changed: Xavier was a team I was probably a little too low on last time I did my rankings. They return their four core players from a team that really surged late in the season, and add talent around them. The foursome of Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, and Tyrique Jones is incredibly talented, although it has problems with consistency and shooting, and they have some talent coming in around them. Ohio transfer Jason Carter figures to provide floor spacing to a team that needs in and will play right away, while four star guards KyKy Tandy and Dahmir Bishop bring some more shot making to the backcourt, and the rest of the five man recruiting class provides front court depth, although they likely won't make a large impact in year one. This is a rising team, and I think they could sneak up on some people this year with their overall talent level.
Movement: -4
Projected Starting 5: Donnell Gresham, Anthony Edwards, Jaykwon Walton, Christian Brown, Rayshaun Hammonds
What Changed: The Bulldogs had two key changes: they added Donnell Gresham, but lost Nic Claxton. As you can tell by them falling off, I think Claxton is the more significant move. He was underratedly really good last year, probably because he played on a bad Georgia team, but he had star potential this year. However, he's heading to the NBA, leaving them with a hole in the front court that can either be filled by the undersized Rayshaun Hammonds or freshman Rodney Howard, who is a late riser but isn't the type of player who makes a big impact immediately. They also added Gresham, a grad transfer from Northeastern, who is a perfect foil to Anthony Edwards. He's experienced, a good floor spacer and passer, and a good defender. He fits like a glove next to the ball dominant Edwards and should allow him to thrive in Tom Crean's offense. They also got Sahvir Wheeler, a quick point guard who will also see minutes. The lack of a front court will come back to haunt this team, but they have a lot of talent in the backcourt and on the wing, and I think they will make noise in the SEC this year.
23. Alabama
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Kira Lewis, James Bolden, John Petty, Herb Jones, Raymond Hawkins
What Changed: The Crimson Tide hired Nate Oats, one of the best young coaches in college basketball, from Buffalo, where he had transformed the Bulls into a Top 25 team last season. He also convinced a lot of key players, like Kira Lewis and John Petty, to stay on board with him after they announced their intention to transfer. Oh, and he has three top 100 players, one of the top JuCo players in the country, a late rising big man in Raymond Hawkins, and James "Beetle" Bolden transferring from West Virginia providing a lot of new talent in the program. His style of play, running up and down and playing tough, physical defense, fits a lot of the players perfectly, and I think Kira Lewis can emerge as one of the better players in the SEC next year. I'm not completely sold on their front court, as it lacks high end talent, but Oats prefers to play small lineups, and I think they will be fine. They seem like a Top 25 team to me.
24. Washington
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Marcus Tsohonis, Raequan Battle, Naz Carter, Jaden McDaniels, Isaiah Stewart
What Changed: The Huskies have one of the best front courts in the nation, with two five star recruits in Jaden McDaniels, a long, versatile player who stands 6'10" but plays like a wing and has as much potential as anyone in the 2019 class, and Isaiah Stewart, a double double machine who is a little more polished and has a college ready body and motor. Those two alone vaulted the Huskies into the top 25. They also have top 75 guard Raequon Battle committed, along with returning wings Naz Carter and Jamal Bey who will contribute. Plus, Kentucky transfer Quade Green will be eligible mid season, although point guard could be a problem before that, as Marcus Tsohonis is a sub 300 recruit and the only true point guard on the roster. Still, once Green is eligible, this will be a talent laden team, and Mike Hopkins' 2-3 zone causes a lot of problems, especially with all the length and athleticism on this team. They will be a problem out west.
25. LSU
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Skyler Mays, Ja'vonte Smart, Marlon Taylor, Emmitt Williams, Trendon Watford
What Changed: Will Wade survived a recruiting scandal, and now has a shot at being a really good team in 2019-20. The guard play will be excellent, with Skyler Mays and Ja'vonte Smart back and ready to contribute in a big way this season, along with talented recruit James Bishop. The wing is also well manned, with Marlon Taylor, Emmitt Williams, and Darius Days all returning to the Tigers, and JuCo prospect Charles Manning also joins the Bayou Bengals. However, the front court is a major issue. They do have five star recruit Trendon Watford, who is really more of a power forward but will be relied on to play center. And.... that's it. Williams is strong and can play as a four, but they will be very undersized heading into the year. There's a ton of talent here and the potential for a really good and fun team, but I don't see them being an elite team nationally without reinforcements down low.
Next 5
26. Gonzaga
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Joel Ayayi, Admon Gilder, Corey Kispert, Andre Watson, Killian Tillie
What Changed: The Bulldogs lost a lot to the NBA Draft with Zach Norvell, Rui Hachimura, and Brandon Clarke all departing. The latter two were expected, but losing Norvell hurts, as he was expected to be relied on pretty heavily as a bucket getter on this young Bulldogs teams. They have a ton of talent, but most of it comes in the freshman class, with Corey Kispert and Killian Tilllie as the only two players who have played significant minutes for the Bulldogs before. Texas A&M graduate transfer Admon Gilder should help with experience and shooting, and players like Filip Petrusev, Drew Timme, Andre Watson, Oumar Ballo, and Pavel Zakharov have bright futures and at least one of them should be able to produce in the front court, but the main issue is still point guard. They have been connected to multiple options at the position, but as things stand now the options just aren't adequate for Gonzaga, as they have inexperienced sophomore Joel Ayayi, Brock Ravet, a sub-150 recruit, and playing Gilder out of position as their only point guard options. If they can improve there, they will vault into the Top 25.
27. Mississippi State
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: Tyson Carter, Nick Weatherspoon, Robert Woodard, Reggie Perry, Abdul Ado
What Changed: The Bulldogs have a really solid team for next season. They won't be flashy, and they lose Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters, but this is a talented outfit. Reggie Perry is an immense talent who came on strong last season, and he can be a star in the SEC. Tyson Carter and Nick Weatherspoon are proven performers in the backcourt. On the wing, Robert Woodard showed flashes as a freshman and four star recruit Elias King and Siena transfer Prince Oduro will provide help there as well. Perry and Adbul Ado is a very talented front court, and they have good talent and a potential star, but I worry about depth and whether they can outperform preseason expectations.
28. VCU
Movement: -5
Projected Starting 5: Marcus Evans, De'Riante Jenkins, Isaac Vann, Vince Williams, Marcus Santos-Silva
What Changed: The one thing that has changed about the Rams since the last iteration is the depth. Starting four man Sean Mobely and backup point guard PJ Byrd both announced their intentions to transfer, leaving Mike Rhoades with the starting lineup and little more for offensive production. This was already a team that struggled to score, and losing some key contributors can only hurt their cause for next season. The backcourt is still very good, and they figure to be really good defensively once more, but their ceiling is lower and you could argue that a team like Davidson should be the new favorite in the A-10.
29. Providence
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Luwane Pipkens, David Duke, AJ Reeves, Alpha Diallo, Nate Watson
What Changed: The Friars had a disappointing year, missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. However, things are shaping up to be better this year. They will have a full season of AJ Reeves, a talented freshman who missed time with injury. His shooting was the missing ingredient at times for the Friars, and along with David Duke, should form a great partnership in the backcourt. They also return stars Alpha Diallo and Nate Watson, who figure to be a dynamic front court pairing, and Maliek White and Khalif Young add depth. Emmitt Holt was granted a sixth year due to injuries, and if he can recapture his 2016-17 form, then this team can find another gear. Even if he can't, newcomers Luwane Pipkens, a UMass grad transfer guard, and Greg Gantt, a talented freshman wing, should provide good production. This is a similar roster to last season with some nice additions, which vaults them into the limelight once more this year.
30. Mississippi
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Devontae Shuler, Breein Tyree, Blake Hinson, KJ Buffin, Khadim Sy
What Changed: Kermit Davis did an excellent job at Ole Miss last season, and while they went up and down, they showed a lot of promise for year two. Devontae Shuler and Berlin Tyree will be a super dynamic backcourt that take and make a lot of shots, and they will be really fun to watch. On the wing, Blake Hinson showed a lot of promise as a freshman, and he can step into a bigger role this year. They also have four star wing Austin Crowley coming in, who should make an immediate impact. The front court is a little weaker, with KJ Buffen needing to step into a bigger role and JuCo big man Khadim Sy coming in who was formerly at Virginia Tech. The depth isn't great, and they aren't the most talented team, but they play a really fun style and I trust Kermit Davis as a coach, so I think they can have a really good year.
Dropped Out
Michigan (4), Marquette (10), Auburn (13), Cincinnati (20), Oregon (21), Iowa (22), Houston (26)
What Changed: This is a combination of losing coaches (Mick Cronin at Cincinnati), key players (The Hauser brothers at Marquette, Jared Harper at Auburn, Louis King and Kenny Wooten at Oregon, Tyler Cook, Isaiah Moss, and potentially Jordan Bohannon at Iowa, Armani Brooks at Houston) or both (Michigan lost John Beilein on the sideline and Jordan Poole and Ignas Brazdeikis on the court). They aren't all lost causes, some I still think will be really good, but I couldn't justify ranking any of these teams at the moment.
Also Considered
Auburn, Cincinnati, Creighton, Davidson, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Miami, Oregon, Purdue, Saint Mary's, Syracuse, Texas
Movement: +1
Projected Starting 5: Joel Ayayi, Admon Gilder, Corey Kispert, Andre Watson, Killian Tillie
What Changed: The Bulldogs lost a lot to the NBA Draft with Zach Norvell, Rui Hachimura, and Brandon Clarke all departing. The latter two were expected, but losing Norvell hurts, as he was expected to be relied on pretty heavily as a bucket getter on this young Bulldogs teams. They have a ton of talent, but most of it comes in the freshman class, with Corey Kispert and Killian Tilllie as the only two players who have played significant minutes for the Bulldogs before. Texas A&M graduate transfer Admon Gilder should help with experience and shooting, and players like Filip Petrusev, Drew Timme, Andre Watson, Oumar Ballo, and Pavel Zakharov have bright futures and at least one of them should be able to produce in the front court, but the main issue is still point guard. They have been connected to multiple options at the position, but as things stand now the options just aren't adequate for Gonzaga, as they have inexperienced sophomore Joel Ayayi, Brock Ravet, a sub-150 recruit, and playing Gilder out of position as their only point guard options. If they can improve there, they will vault into the Top 25.
27. Mississippi State
Movement: +2
Projected Starting 5: Tyson Carter, Nick Weatherspoon, Robert Woodard, Reggie Perry, Abdul Ado
What Changed: The Bulldogs have a really solid team for next season. They won't be flashy, and they lose Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters, but this is a talented outfit. Reggie Perry is an immense talent who came on strong last season, and he can be a star in the SEC. Tyson Carter and Nick Weatherspoon are proven performers in the backcourt. On the wing, Robert Woodard showed flashes as a freshman and four star recruit Elias King and Siena transfer Prince Oduro will provide help there as well. Perry and Adbul Ado is a very talented front court, and they have good talent and a potential star, but I worry about depth and whether they can outperform preseason expectations.
28. VCU
Movement: -5
Projected Starting 5: Marcus Evans, De'Riante Jenkins, Isaac Vann, Vince Williams, Marcus Santos-Silva
What Changed: The one thing that has changed about the Rams since the last iteration is the depth. Starting four man Sean Mobely and backup point guard PJ Byrd both announced their intentions to transfer, leaving Mike Rhoades with the starting lineup and little more for offensive production. This was already a team that struggled to score, and losing some key contributors can only hurt their cause for next season. The backcourt is still very good, and they figure to be really good defensively once more, but their ceiling is lower and you could argue that a team like Davidson should be the new favorite in the A-10.
29. Providence
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Luwane Pipkens, David Duke, AJ Reeves, Alpha Diallo, Nate Watson
What Changed: The Friars had a disappointing year, missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. However, things are shaping up to be better this year. They will have a full season of AJ Reeves, a talented freshman who missed time with injury. His shooting was the missing ingredient at times for the Friars, and along with David Duke, should form a great partnership in the backcourt. They also return stars Alpha Diallo and Nate Watson, who figure to be a dynamic front court pairing, and Maliek White and Khalif Young add depth. Emmitt Holt was granted a sixth year due to injuries, and if he can recapture his 2016-17 form, then this team can find another gear. Even if he can't, newcomers Luwane Pipkens, a UMass grad transfer guard, and Greg Gantt, a talented freshman wing, should provide good production. This is a similar roster to last season with some nice additions, which vaults them into the limelight once more this year.
30. Mississippi
Movement: New
Projected Starting 5: Devontae Shuler, Breein Tyree, Blake Hinson, KJ Buffin, Khadim Sy
What Changed: Kermit Davis did an excellent job at Ole Miss last season, and while they went up and down, they showed a lot of promise for year two. Devontae Shuler and Berlin Tyree will be a super dynamic backcourt that take and make a lot of shots, and they will be really fun to watch. On the wing, Blake Hinson showed a lot of promise as a freshman, and he can step into a bigger role this year. They also have four star wing Austin Crowley coming in, who should make an immediate impact. The front court is a little weaker, with KJ Buffen needing to step into a bigger role and JuCo big man Khadim Sy coming in who was formerly at Virginia Tech. The depth isn't great, and they aren't the most talented team, but they play a really fun style and I trust Kermit Davis as a coach, so I think they can have a really good year.
Michigan (4), Marquette (10), Auburn (13), Cincinnati (20), Oregon (21), Iowa (22), Houston (26)
What Changed: This is a combination of losing coaches (Mick Cronin at Cincinnati), key players (The Hauser brothers at Marquette, Jared Harper at Auburn, Louis King and Kenny Wooten at Oregon, Tyler Cook, Isaiah Moss, and potentially Jordan Bohannon at Iowa, Armani Brooks at Houston) or both (Michigan lost John Beilein on the sideline and Jordan Poole and Ignas Brazdeikis on the court). They aren't all lost causes, some I still think will be really good, but I couldn't justify ranking any of these teams at the moment.
Also Considered
Auburn, Cincinnati, Creighton, Davidson, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Miami, Oregon, Purdue, Saint Mary's, Syracuse, Texas
Comments
Post a Comment