College Basketball Rankings: St. John’s #1 Preseason Top 25
St. John’s Red Storm storms to the top of the preseason college basketball rankings, showcasing a potent mix of returning talent and new recruits, including transfers like Ian Jackson. News Directory 3 delivers a deep dive into why the Red Storm, along with Houston, BYU, Purdue, and UConn, are early contenders for the national championship. Analyze the key players, transfer impacts, and recruiting class strengths shaping the landscape of college basketball. delve into the factors driving these teams’ ambitions.Discover what’s next …
St. John’s Red Storm Leads Preseason College Basketball Rankings
Updated May 28, 2025
The St. John’s Red Storm holds the top spot in preseason college basketball rankings, fueled by the return of Zuby Ejiofor and a strong recruiting class. The team finished 31-5 last season,advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This year’s squad sees an influx of talent, including North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins, and Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon. Cincinnati transfer Dillon mitchell, Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers, Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling, NAIA transfer Handje Tamba, international prospect Imran Suljanovic and four-star freshman Kelvin Odih also join the Red Storm.
Following St. John’s in the college basketball rankings is Houston, coming in at No. 2. The Cougars,who finished 35-5 and reached the championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament,return Emanuel sharp,Milos Uzan,and Joseph Tugler. Their recruiting class features Sam Houston transfer Kalifa Sakho, five-star freshman Chris Cenac jr.,and four-star freshmen Isiah Harwell and Kingston Flemings.
BYU secures the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll. The Cougars, who finished 26-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 last season, welcome back Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, and Mihailo Boskovic.Baylor transfer Robert Wright, Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis, UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens, Washington transfer Dominique diomande, and Idaho transfer Tyler Mrus are among the newcomers. Five-star freshman AJ Dybantsa and four-star freshman Xavion Staton also join the program.
Purdue is ranked No. 4,returning five of their top six scorers from last year’s Sweet 16 team (24-12). Trey Kaufman-Renn,Braden Smith,Fletcher Loyer,Daniel Jacobsen,and C.J. Cox are back for the Boilermakers. South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff, North Florida transfer Liam Murphy, and international prospect omer Mayer will look to contribute instantly.
Rounding out the top five in college basketball is UConn.The Huskies, who finished 24-11 and made it to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, return Solo Ball, Alex karaban, Tarris Reed, and Jaylin Stewart. Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., Dayton transfer Malachi Smith, five-star freshman braylon Mullins, four-star freshman Eric Reibe, and three-star freshman Jacob Ross are set to join the Huskies.
What’s next
With the season approaching, these top-ranked teams will be looking to solidify their positions and make a run at the NCAA Tournament championship. Key matchups and player progress will be crucial in determining their success.