We are a little over a week away from the start of the 2024 -25 college basketball season. This season is set up to be an interesting one, to say the least. While the blue bloods are still blue, the smattering of college basketball talent has reached across the deeper landscape. Parity within this college basketball season is at an all-time high.
The freshman class carries star power, but so do some mid-major programs. A look toward the top of this list, and there are some familiar faces with nine of the top ten players all being seniors.
So, as we gear up for a November 4 college basketball season start date, let’s discuss the preseason’s top 125 players
1. Sr. G Mark Sears, Alabama
2023-24 Stats: 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, 50.8% FG, 43.6% 3P
Mark Sears, a 6-foot-1 guard from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, returns from a Final Four run to lead one of the most talented rosters in the country.
2. Sr. G Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
2023-24 Stats: 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds. 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 48.7% FG, 40.5% 3P
Hunter Sallis, On3’s preseason ACC Player of the Year, will have to carry a lofty load for the Demon Deacons in order for the team to live up to their lofty preseason expectations.
3. Sr. C Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
2023-24 Stats: 27.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks, 54.8% FG, 35.4% 3P
Kansas will have one of the most talented rosters in college basketball, and Hunter Dickinson will be a central figure in the middle of the Jayhawks attack.
4. Sr. G RJ Davis, UNC
2023-24 Stats: 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds. 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 42.8% FG, 39.8% 3P
RJ Davis will spearhead On3’s preseason No. 1 team in the ACC, coming off an ACC Player of the Year season.
5. Sr C Johni Broome, Auburn
2023-24 Stats: 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 blocks, 54.8% FG, 35.4% 3P
Johni Broome is coming off a season where he earned All-SEC and SEC All-Defense honors. Auburn will be one of the top teams in the SEC and Broome will be one of the lead candidates for conference Player of the Year.
6. Sr. G LJ Cryer, Houston
2023-24 Stats: 15.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 41.1% FG, 38.8% 3P
Houston should be a contender for a national title and senior guard LJ Cryer should lead the Cougars in scoring for the second consecutive season. His 112 made threes last season led the Big 12 and his career 40.8 shooting from three is top ten in conference over the past 30 years.
7. Sr. C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
2023-24 Stats: 17.3 points. 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.1 blocks, 64.6% FG
Ryan Kalkbrenner earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors the past three seasons. He is top 15 in the conference in total Offensive Rebounds and Blocks over the past 30 years. He is On3’s preseason Big East Player of the Year.
8. Fr. F Cooper Flagg, Duke
2023-24 Stats: N/A
Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 recruit entering college basketball. He should have ample opportunity to produce numbers for the top 10 ranked Blue Devils. His play style puts stats across the board.
9. Sr. G Wade Taylor, Texas A&M
2023-24 Stats: 19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 36.6% FG, 32.5% 3P
Wade Taylor has finished top five in the SEC in scoring each of the past two seasons, he also finished sixth in assists, and third in steals last season. Taylor will be the focal point of the No. 16 team in KenPom entering the season.
10. Sr. G Kam Jones, Marquette
2023-24 Stats: 17.2 points, 2.9 rebounds. 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 50.1% FG, 40.6% 3P
Kam Jones led last season’s Sweet 16 team in scoring. With two players drafted to the NBA, this will be Jones’ team. His 38.3 career three-point percentage is 19th in the Big East over the past 30 years.
College Basketball’s No. 11-25 Players
11. Sr. G Caleb Love, Arizona
2023-2 Stats: 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 41.3% FG, 33.2% 3P
Caleb Love has scored 2,124 career points. Arizona is the reigning PAC 12 Regular Season Champions, coming off a 27-win season. All eyes will be on Caleb Love as Arizona moves to the Big 12.
12. Jr. F Alex Karaban, UConn
2023-24 Stats: 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks, 49.5% FG, 37.9% 3P
Alex Karaban is the only returning starter for the back-to-back NCAA Champions. Dan Hurley raved at Big East Media Day about how tough and how much of a winner Karaban is. This will be his team.
13. Sr. F Tucker DeVries, West Virginia
2023-24 Stats (Drake): 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 44.4% FG, 36.3% 3P
Tucker DeVries, son of new West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries, is the 2x defending Missouri Valley Player of the Year. The 6-foot-7 true senior has scored over 1,800 career points while knocking down 2.4 threes per contest.
14. Sr. F Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
2023-24 Stats: 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 blocks, 44.6% FG, 33.1% 3P
Tyon Grant-Foster made his reputation last season as one of college basketball’s top one-on-one scorers. The 6-foot-7 fifth-year senior is back as NBA scouts will have eyes on him.
15. Fr. G Dylan Harper, Rutgers
2023-24 Stats: N/A
Dylan Harper, son of former NBA guard Ron Harper, is a top-five recruit in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-6 lefty will have the ball in his hands from day one with Rutgers asking him to make decisions.
16. Sr. C Oumar Ballo, Indiana
2023-24 Stats (Arizona): 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.3 blocks, 65.8% FG
After earning 1st-Team All-Pac 12 and All-Pac 12 Defense honors last season, the 7-foot-0 Oumar Ballo was one of the most coveted players in the portal this off-season. Each of Indiana’s past two centers has been drafted. Ballo enters this season as the focal point of an Indiana team that has high expectations.
17. So. F Collin Murray Boyles, South Carolina
2023-24 Stats: 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 59.7% FG
Collin Murray-Boyles returns as the unquestioned leader of this South Carolina team. Lamont Paris, the reigning SEC Coach of the Year has raved about Murray-Boyle’s offseason. This South Carolina team is looking to build on last season’s run to the NCAA Tournament.
18. So. G Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
2023-24 Stats: 17.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 38.5% FG, 35.5% FT
Josh Hubbard earned 2nd-team All-SEC as a freshman last season. The 5-foot-11 guard kept getting better as the season wore on averaging 18.8 points in SEC plays. Mississippi State has made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and there are expectations of a sophomore step for Hubbard.
19. Sr. F/C Grant Nelson, Alabama
2023-24 Stats: 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 blocks, 48.8% FG
Alabama will have one of the deepest rosters in college basketball. Grant Nelson should have a post spot locked up after a 91-point, 15-rebound performance in the Final Four. Nelson has length, skill, and toughness and could be slated for a step in his second season of high-major basketball.
20. Sr. G Kadary Richmond, St. John’s
2023-24 (Seton Hall): 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.2 steals, 44.1% FG
Kadary Richmond earned 1st-Team All-Big East honors last season, leading his Seton Hall team to an NIT Championship. Year two of Rick Pitino at St. John’s have lofty top-25 expectations and a lot of what the Red Storm will do surrounds Richmond.
21. Sr. G Walter Clayton, Florida
2023-24 Stats: 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 43.2% FG, 36.5% 3P
Walter Clayton, a native of Orlando, came home to lead Florida in scoring last season. The Gators return two of their top three perimeter scorers from last year and they got bigger in the transfer portal. Todd Golden’s team has improved each of his first two seasons as Florida’s head coach. Another step is expected in year three with Walter Clayton back to carry the load.
22. Fr. G VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
2023-24 Stats: N/A
Baylor lost four of its top five players and Star their 2024-25 campaign No. 8 in the A.P Preseason Top 25. VJ Edgecombe was On3’s No. 4 overall player in the 2024 On3 150. He had a huge summer playing with the senior team from his home country, the Bahamas, bringing a lot of expectations into his freshman season.
23. Jr. G Braden Smith, Purdue
2023-24 Stats: 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 44.1% FG, 43.1% 3P
Purdue made a run to the National Championship game last season. Reigning College Player of the Year Zach Edey was a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Purdue enters the season ranked No. 14 in the preseason A.P Poll and Braden Smith returns as a 1st-team All-Big 10 performer. Matt Painter said that in the off-season, there is a lot to Smith’s game that we have not been able to see yet. This will be his team and the Boilermakers have expectations.
24. Sr. F/C Norchad Omier, Baylor
2023-24 Stats (Miami) 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 55.2% FG, 35.3% 3P
Norchad Omier finished top 10 in the ACC in points (7th), rebounds (2nd), steals (7th), and blocks (8th) last season. Omier started 67 games at Miami with 44 wins and a run to the Final Four. He comes to Waco as one of the better defensive bigs in the college game with an expanded offensive repertoire.
25. Sr. C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
2023-24 Stats: 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks, 56.7% FG, 36.1% 3P
Maxime Raynaud entered the transfer portal becoming one of its most coveted players prior to new Stanford head coach Kyle Smith convincing him to stay. Raynaud was last season’s PAC 12 Most Improved Player after earning 2nd-team All-Pac 12 honors. He will enter the ACC as one of the league’s top big men.
College Basketball Top Players 26-50
26. Sr. PF Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
2023-24 Stats (Illinois): 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.1 blocks, 45.1% FG, 36.9% 3P
27. Sr. PF Eric Dixon, Villanova
2023-24 Stats: 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, 46.5% FG, 34.6% 3P
28. Jr. F/C Robbie Avila, St. Louis
2023-24 Stats (Indiana State): 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 53.6% FG, 39.4% 3P
29. Sr. G Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss
2023-24 Stats: 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 46.4% FG, 39.8% 3P
30. Sr. G Max Shulga, VCU
2022-24 Stats: 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 44.6% FG, 41.5% 3P
31. Fr. SG Tre Johnson, Texas
2023-24 Stats: N/A
32. Sr. F Bryce Hopkins, Providence
2023-24 Stats (14 games): 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 42.9% FG
33. Sr. G Johnell Davis, Arkansas
2023-24 Stats (FAU): 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 48.3% FG, 41.4% 3P
34. So. G PJ Haggerty, Memphis
2023-24 Stats (Tulsa): 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, 49.3% FG
35. Jr. PG Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
2023-24 Stats: 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 42.7% FG, 33.3% 3P
36. Sr. F Tyson Degenhart, Boise State
2023-24 Stats: 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 50.3% FG, 31.6% 3P
37. Sr. G Jeremy Roach, Baylor
2023-24 Stats (Duke): 14.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 46.8% FG, 42.9% 3P
38. So. G Markus Burton, Notre Dame
2023-24 Stats: 17.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 42.1% FG, 30.0% 3P
39. Fr. F Egor Demon, BYU
2023-24 Stats: N/A
40. Fr. F Ace Bailey, Rutgers
2023-24 Stats: N/A
41. Fr. C Derik Queen, Maryland
2023-24 Stats: N/A
42. Sr. F Cedric Coward, Washington State
2023-24 Stats (Eastern Washington): 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks, 56.5% FG, 38.3% 3P
43. Sr. PG Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
2023-24 Stats: 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 44.5% FG, 32.1% 3P
44. Jr. C Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
2023-24 Stats: 4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.1 blocks, 48.9% FG, 37.5% 3P
45. Sr. PF Great Osobor, Washington
2023-24 Stats (Utah State): 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 blocks, 55.7% FG
46. Sr. G Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
2023-24 Stats: 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 steals, 2.0 steals, 43.8% FG, 34.6% 3P
47. Jr. G Desmond Claude, USC
2023-24 Stats (Xavier): 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 42.6% FG, 23.9% 3P
48. Jr. PG Aidan Mahaney, UConn
2023-24 (St. Mary’s): 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 38.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
49. Sr. SF Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky
2023-24 Stats (BYU): 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 42.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
50. Sr. SF Payton Sandfort, Iowa
2023-24 Stats: 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 44.6% FG, 37.9% 3P
College Basketball Top Players 51-125
51. Fr. SG Kon Knueppel, Duke
52. So. PG Dedan Thomas, UNLV
53. So. PF JT Toppin, Texas Tech
54. Sr. PG Chucky Hepburn, Louisville
55. Sr. PG Dajuan Harris, Kansas
56. Jr. PG Dug McDaniel, Kansas State
57. Sr. SF Brandon Murray, McNeese State
58. So. F Tucker Anderson, Utah State
59. Sr. F/C Dawson Garcia, Minnesota
60. Sr. G Tramon Mark, Texas
61. Sr. C Cliff Omoruyi, Alabama
62. Sr. PG Zakai Ziegler, Tennessee
63. Jr. G Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
64. Sr. F Nate Santos, Dayton
65. Jr. F Malik Reneau, Indiana
66. So. G DJ Wagner, Arkansas
67. Jr. F Jevon Porter, Loyola Marymount
68. Sr. SF Jamir Watkins, Florida State
69. Sr. C Vlad Goldin, Michigan
70. Sr. PG JP Pegues, Auburn
71. Jr. PG Tyrese Proctor, Duke
72. Sr. SF Nique Clifford, Colorado State
73. So. C Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
74. Jr. SG Emanuel Sharp, Houston
75. Sr. F Chris Youngblood, Alabama
76. Sr. PG Ace Baldwin, Penn State
77. Jr. G Pop Isaacs, Creighton
78. Fr. PG Boogie Fland, Arkansas
79. Sr. G Erik Reynolds, St. Joseph’s
80. So. G Caleb Foster, Duke
81. Sr. F/C Andrew Carr, Kentucky
82. Jr. PG Dylan Andrews, UCLA
83. Sr. PF Ian Schieffelin, Clemson
84. Jr. SG Riley Kugel, Mississippi State
85. Sr. SF Adama Bal, Santa Clara
86. Jr. PG Donovan Dent, New Mexico
87. Sr. C Graham Ike, Gonzaga
88. So. PG Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
89. Jr. G Jayden Epps, Georgetown
90. Sr. G/F Kobe Johnson, UCLA
91. Fr. SF Liam McNeeley, UConn
92. Sr. G Nijel Pack, Miami
93. Sr. F/C Julian Reese, Maryland
94. Fr. G Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
95. Jr. G Ryan Conwell, Xavier
96. Jr. F Darrion Williams, Texas Tech
97. So. PG Myles Rice, Indiana
98. So. G Jaland Lowe, Pittsburgh
99. So. F Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
100. Jr. C Danny Wolf, Michigan
101. So. F Darren Buchanan, George Washington
102. So. PG Elliot Cadeau, UNC
103. So. G Malik Mack, Georgetown
104. Jr. G/F AJ Storr, Kansas
105. Jr. G/F Dan Skillings, Cincinnati
106. Jr. F Dillon Mitchell, Cincinnati
107. So. Kwame Evans, Oregon
108. Jr. F Mark Mitchell, Missouri
109. Sr. PG Dayvion McKnight, Xavier
110. Sr. PF Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
111. Jr. Malik Dia, Ole Miss
112. Sr. PF Kasean Pryor, Louisville
113. Jr. F Kimani Hamilton, High Point
114. Jr. G Xaivian Lee, Princeton
115. So. PG Jizzle James, Cincinnati
116. Sr. G Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern
117. Sr. C Jonas Aidoo, Arkansas
118. Sr. F Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn
119. Fr. C Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
120. Jr. F Caden Pierce, Princeton
121. Sr. G Augustas Marciulionis, St. Mary’s
122. Sr. PG Posh Alexander, Dayton
123. So. PF Miles Rubin, Loyola-Chicago
124. So. C Owen Freeman, Iowa
125. Jr. G Robert McCray, Jacksonville
