Preseason Poll Reshaped as Roster Clarity Follows NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline
The close of the NBA Draft withdrawal window has produced significant movement in the men's college basketball preseason rankings for the 2026-27 season. St. John's climbed into the top 10 after adding Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou, while Kentucky re-entered the top 25 on the strength of Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic and the return of forward Malachi Moreno. Florida, whose frontcourt elected to return en masse following a Round of 32 exit, holds the No. 1 position.
The withdrawal deadline clarified rosters across the country, with a series of high-profile players opting to return to campus. Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who led the nation with 9.4 assists per game, withdrew from the draft and returns to a Spartans program that holds the No. 6 position. At UConn, head coach Dan Hurley retained freshman Braylon Mullins following the Huskies' run to the 2026 national title game. Vanderbilt star point guard Tyler Tanner, a likely preseason All-American, also stepped back from the draft process. Illinois benefited from the return of Andrej Stojakovic, who joins David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic to give the Illini a frontcourt ranked among the nation's best, keeping them at No. 2.
St. John's, ranked 11th in the previous poll, rose to the top 10 under head coach Rick Pitino, who has guided the Red Storm to two Big East regular-season titles in three seasons. Yessoufou, a guard who averaged 18 points and 6 rebounds per game at Baylor last season, addresses a size and versatility need the program had been carrying. Kentucky, which had fallen outside the rankings, projects a starting five of Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Momcilovic, Ousmane N'Diaye and Moreno. Moreno averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season and is regarded as a breakout candidate. Momcilovic was identified as the top-ranked transfer available during the spring portal window. Defending champion Michigan, which won a national title under head coach Dusty May, enters the new cycle ranked third, anchored by returning guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney following the departure of multiple frontcourt contributors to the draft.
Louisville, at No. 5, assembled what analysts regard as a title-caliber roster, built around center Flory Bidunga, Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad and Arkansas wing Karter Knox. Arkansas ranks ninth with the nation's top recruiting class, anchored by four top-25 prospects, while Duke, at No. 4, is led by Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell alongside returning core players Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II. Several programs - including Houston, Tennessee and Indiana - rebuilt substantially through the transfer portal after losing multiple starters. The full picture of conference races will sharpen as preseason schedules begin to take shape.
