Helena Frye
Men's basketball rankings are a way to rank the top teams and players in men's basketball. Rankings are often done by sports news organizations and are based on a variety of factors, including team performance, individual player performance, and potential. College basketball rankings, for instance, are particularly dynamic due to the high volume of player transfers and roster changes. Men's basketball rankings are important because they give fans, analysts, and bettors an idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of teams and players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14th April 2025 |
| Source | AP News |
| Top 3 Teams | Drake, Oregon, Illinois |
| Players to watch | Montana guard Malik Moore, Evansville wing Gabriel Pozzato, Florida Atlantic forward Tre Carroll |
| Top-ranked player | Moore |
| Top-ranked player characteristics | 6-foot-5 guard, 40%+ 3-pointers, polished handle, top 80 in 2025 portal class |
| Top-ranked team | Houston Cougars |
| Top-ranked team characteristics | Returned four of the top seven scorers, recruiting class ranked second nationally |
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What You'll Learn
College basketball rankings 2025
As of April 2025, Florida is the reigning champion of the 2024-25 men's college basketball season. The Florida team is currently ranked within the top 5 teams for the upcoming 2025-26 season, alongside other top teams like Houston.
ESPN has released its "Way-Too-Early Top 25" rankings for the 2025-26 season, which includes players who are not ranked in the top 50 of the NBA draft and are considered returnees unless they have announced their departure.
Duke, another top-ranked team, faces questions about the future of players Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans, who are both ranked within the top 50 of the NBA draft rankings but are not projected to be first-round picks. Despite this, Duke has the nation's top-ranked recruiting class, including highly touted players such as Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia.
The University of Florida has also gained Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, one of the top point guards in the transfer portal, who will be a valuable addition to the reigning champion's roster.
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College basketball transfer rankings 2025
The 2025-26 men's college basketball season is just around the corner, with Houston already the favourite to top the rankings. Here is a breakdown of the college basketball transfer rankings for 2025.
New Xavier coach Richard Pitino has made waves with three portal commitments in 12 hours, including Montana guard Malik Moore, Evansville wing Gabriel Pozzato, and Florida Atlantic forward Tre Carroll. Moore, ranked inside the top 80, is a 6-foot-5 guard with a smooth jumper and polished handle, having drained over 40% of his 3-pointers. Carroll, a four-star transfer, averaged 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, and is expected to be one of Xavier's better defenders.
Other notable transfers include Indiana's Malik Reneau, who is a mismatch hunter, punishing switches and finishing through contact, and Robert Morris' Alvaro Folgueiras, a 6-9 Spaniard with a 42% 3-point shooting touch and a 21.9% assist rate. Creighton's scoring guard Pop Isaacs and Sam Houston State's elite shooter Lamar Wilkerson, who hit 43% on 226 3-pointers, are also among the top 100 transfers.
The transfer portal has seen a record-breaking number of entries, with over 750 men's basketball student-athletes entering, combined with the 226 players already in the portal due to coaching changes or graduate transfer status.
While the focus is on transfers, it is worth noting that UConn's national championship streak ended at two, and they will be looking to reload. Solo Ball is expected to receive preseason All-America buzz, and Braylon Mullins is anticipated to be one of the country's more impactful newcomers.
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NCAA Men's College Basketball AP Top 25 Poll
The NCAA Men's College Basketball AP Top 25 Poll is a ranking of the top 25 men's college basketball teams in the US. The poll is based on the votes of sportswriters and broadcasters and is updated weekly. It is one of the most widely recognized and respected rankings in men's college basketball.
As of April 2025, the top 5 teams in the AP Top 25 Poll are:
- Drake
- Oregon
- Illinois
- UConn
- Creighton
The remaining teams in the top 25 are:
- Colorado State
- UCLA
- McNeese State
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- UC San Diego
- Kansas
- Marquette
14-25. Not listed
It's worth noting that these rankings can change frequently, and the poll is typically updated on a weekly basis. The rankings are based on a variety of factors, including team performance, strength of schedule, and individual player performances.
In addition to the AP Top 25 Poll, there are other rankings and polls that are used to evaluate men's college basketball teams, such as the Coaches Poll and the NET rankings. These rankings take into account factors such as win-loss record, strength of schedule, and other metrics to determine the relative strength of each team.
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Top 25 and 1 for 2025-26 season
The 2024-25 men's college basketball season has just ended, with the Florida Gators taking the national championship. The Gators' win was historic, as their coach, Todd Golden, became the youngest coach to win a national championship since 1983.
With the 2025-26 season about 210 days away, ESPN and Sports Illustrated have released their early rankings for the top 25 teams. These rankings are based on several factors, including the transfer portal, NBA draft decisions, and late-signing freshmen.
Florida Gators
The Gators are coming off a historic championship win and will look to rebuild their perimeter with Todd Golden. They will be without key players Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin, who have all moved on. However, they still have a strong lineup with Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Denzel Aberdeen.
Houston Cougars
The Cougars ended the 2024-25 season with a disappointing loss to Florida in the title game. This season, they will be coached by Kelvin Sampson, who will be leading a talented group of freshmen, including three top-20 prospects. The Cougars will also benefit from the return of Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler.
UConn Huskies
The Huskies' national championship streak ended at two, but they are reloading for another run. Solo Ball is expected to receive preseason All-America recognition, and they have added impact newcomers Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins. Tarris Reed Jr. is also a player to watch, as he is a double-double threat.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders suffered Elite Eight heartbreak but are a program on the rise under Grant McCasland. Their roster for the upcoming season will be influenced by NBA draft decisions, as they could lose All-America candidates JT Toppin and Darrion Williams. However, they have added transfers LeJuan Watts, Donovan Atwell, and Tyeree Bryan to their lineup, which will be headed by guards Kevin Overton and Christian Anderson.
BYU Cougars
BYU made it to the Sweet 16 last season under coach Kevin Young. This year, they have added elite freshman AJ Dybantsa, who has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant. Dybantsa will be supported by Richie Saunders, who was one of the Big 12's best players last season. They have also added Baylor transfer Robert Wright III at the point guard position, providing dynamism to their offense.
These are just a few of the top teams to watch out for in the 2025-26 men's college basketball season. As the season draws closer, the rankings may change due to roster moves, player development, and other factors.
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Top 25 Men's College Basketball Poll
As of April 2025, here is the ranking of the top 25 men's college basketball teams:
Drake, Oregon, Illinois, UConn, Creighton, Colorado State, UCLA, McNeese State, Missouri, New Mexico, UC San Diego, Kansas, and Marquette. The point values in parentheses indicate the number of first-place votes.
Some notable transfers in the 2025 college basketball season include:
- Montana guard Malik Moore, Evansville wing Gabriel Pozzato, and Florida Atlantic forward Tre Carroll to Xavier
- G Pop Isaacs from Creighton
- G Lamar Wilkerson from Sam Houston State
- C Aday Mara from UCLA to Michigan
- F Nick Davidson from Nevada to Clemson
- F Malik Reneau from Indiana to Miami
- F Alvaro Folgueiras from Robert Morris
- PG Nait George transferring from Georgia Tech to Syracuse
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Frequently asked questions
The NCAA Men's College Basketball rankings are rankings of the top teams in men's college basketball. The rankings are based on a number of factors, including the team's performance, the strength of their roster, and the quality of their players.
The rankings can change regularly, depending on the source. Some sources may update their rankings daily, while others may only update them weekly or monthly. It's important to note that the rankings are not static and can fluctuate throughout the season as teams perform differently and players transfer.
The AP Top 25 Men's College Basketball Poll is a ranking of the top 25 men's college basketball teams in the United States. It is published by the Associated Press (AP) and is based on the votes of sportswriters and broadcasters.
College basketball transfer rankings refer to the rankings of players who are transferring from one college basketball program to another. These rankings evaluate and compare players based on their skills, potential, and impact on their new team.
