1
Houston
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler — from a team that finished 35-5 and advanced to the championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs, Sam Houston transfer Kalifa Sakho, five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr. and four-star freshmen Isiah Harwell and Kingston Flemings.
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35-5
2
St. John’s
This ranking is based on the Red Storm returning one of the top two scorers — specifically Zuby Ejiofor — from a team that finished 31-5 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins, Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon, Cincinnati transfer Dillon Mitchell, Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers and international prospect Imran Suljanovic.
2
31-5
3
Purdue
This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning five of the top six scorers – specifically Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Daniel Jacobsen and C.J. Cox – from a team that finished 24-12 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That…..
