With it being late April, it’s time for schools to start rebuilding their rosters and preparing for the next season. Teams like the University of Louisville and the University of Southern California already have full rotations of transfers coming in. The portal is still very active, but as teams stand right now, these are my current 2024 preseason rankings.
1. University of Kansas
After a disappointing season, Bill Self is returning three of his top six scorers and has a loaded transfer portal class. Headlined by AJ Storr, their four transfer commits fill in well for the Jayhawks, who had a major depth issue last year.
2. Houston University
This team will look very similar to the one that just won the Big 12 Conference and was a No. 1 seed in March Madness, unlikely to lose many of their top ten scorers. This could be the year Kelvin Sampson gets back to the Final Four.
3. University of Connecticut
The Huskies just won back-to-back championships but could lose all five of this year’s starters. Still, I ranked them this high because Dan Hurley faced this same issue last offseason and ended up with a second ring.
4. Iowa State University
Returning all of their top four scorers, the Cyclones will likely have two candidates for Big 12 Player of the Year in Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey. Along with a strong transfer class, this team has the potential to be the best in the nation.
5. University of North Carolina
Hubert Davis is bringing back RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble from the best team in the ACC last season. Furthermore, the Tar Heels have the eighth-best 2024 recruiting class in the country.
6. Duke University
This team will be very reliant on first-years, with six commits coming in next year and losing several starters from last season’s roster. What keeps the Blue Devils up here is the fact that they’re bringing in one of the best prospects in recent history in Cooper Flagg.
7. Gonzaga University
The Bulldogs went to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2024 tournament and are essentially only losing Anton Watson. After a strong end to the season, Mark Few could very well make another Final Four in 2025.
8. University of Alabama
Nate Oats has the ninth-best transfer portal class and will likely bring back Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. after reaching the 2024 Final Four. Not only that, but the Crimson Tide also have the second-best recruiting class for the upcoming season.
