ESPN, NBC, and CBS all released top 25 lists for next season within hours of Villanova’s championship victory. These rankings of course mean nothing and are more influenced by program prestige. Rankings of any substance won’t come out until after recruiting has finished and NBA declarations are finalized before the summer, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t collectively look forward.
Looking at next year’s top 25 is particularly difficult when there is a multitude of players in flux that could go pro, but have not yet said much. For example, Maryland’s Melo Trimble, Indiana’s Troy Williams, Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett and Texas’ Isaiah Taylor are just some of the recent talent that have declared for the draft, but have the option to return to school.