Rosters for the 2014-15 season are closer to being set now that the NBA Draft deadline has passed and we are getting deeper into the regular signing period. Here is an updated version of the Ultra Early Top 25, reflecting roster changes that occured since the previous edition from April 8.
UPDATE (April 30, 4:18 p.m.)—Texas picked up a major addition with big man Myles Turner committing to the Longhorns. The Ultra Early Top 25 has been updated to reflect this.
1. Kentucky
Key losses: Julius Randle, James Young
Key returners: Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, Dominique Hawkins
Key additions: Trey Lyles, Tyler Ulis, Devin Booker, Karl Towns Jr.
2. Wisconsin
Key losses: Ben Brust
Key returners: Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser, Nigel Hayes, Traevon Jackson, Bronson Koenig, Duje Dukan
Key additions: Ethan Happ
3. Arizona
Key losses: Aaron Gordon, Nick Johnson
Key returners: Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, T.J. McConnell, Gabe York
Key additions: Stanley Johnson, Craig Victor, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic, Zach Peters, Kadeem Allen
4. Duke
Key losses: Rodney Hood, Jabari Parker, Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton
Key returners: Quinn Cook, Rasheed Sulaimon, Amile Jefferson, Marshall Plumlee
Key additions: Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Justise Winslow
5. Kansas
Key losses: Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Tarik Black
Key returners: Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr., Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Jamari Traylor, Conner Frankamp, Andrew White III, Brannen Greene
Key additions: Cliff Alexander, Kelly Oubre, Hunter Mickelson
6. Texas
Key losses: None
Key returners: Jonathan Holmes, Isaiah Taylor, Javan Felix, Cameron Ridley, Demarcus Holland, Connor Lammert, Martez Walker, Prince Ibeh, Kendal Yancy, Damarcus Croaker
Key additions: Myles Turner, Jordan Barnett
7. North Carolina
Key losses: James Michael McAdoo, Leslie McDonald
Key returners: Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Nate Britt, Joel James
Key additions: Joel Berry II, Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson
8. Florida
Key losses: Scottie Wilbekin, Patric Young, Casey Prather, Will Yeguete
Key returners: Michael Frazier, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, Eli Carter, Devon Walker
Key additions: Devin Robinson, Brandone Francis, Chris Chiozza, Damontre Harris, Alex Murphy, Jon Horford
9. Virginia
Key losses: Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell
Key returners: Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Justin Anderson, Mike Tobey, London Perrantes, Evan Nolte, Darion Atkins
Key additions: B.J. Stith, Isaiah Wilkins, Jack Salt
10. Villanova
Key losses: James Bell, Tony Chennault
Key returners: Darrun Hilliard II, JayVaughn Pinkston, Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, Daniel Ochefu, Dylan Ennis, Kris Jenkins
Key additions: Phil Booth, Mikal Bridges
11. SMU
Key losses: Shawn Williams, Nick Russell
Key returners: Nic Moore, Markus Kennedy, Keith Frazier, Yanick Moreira, Ben Moore, Cannen Cunningham, Ryan Manuel, Sterling Brown
Key additions: Emmanuel Mudiay, Jordan Tolbert (possibly)
12. Wichita State
Key losses: Cleanthony Early, Chadrack Lufile, Kadeem Coleby, Nick Wiggins
Key returners: Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton, Darius Carter, Evan Wessel
Key additions: Zach Brown, Rashard Kelly, Bush Wamukota
13. Iowa State
Key losses: DeAndre Kane, Melvin Ejim
Key returners: Georges Niang, Dustin Hogue, Monte Morris, Naz Long, Matt Thomas
Key additions: Bryce Dejean-Jones, Darien Williams, Abdel Nader, Clay Custer
14. Louisville
Key losses: Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, Stephan Van Treese
Key returners: Montrezl Harrell, Chris Jones, Wayne Blackshear, Terry Rozier, Mangok Mathiang
Key additions: Shaqquan Aaron, Quentin Snider, Anas Osama Mahmoud, Chinanu Onuaku, Jaylen Johnson, Matz Stockman
15. VCU
Key losses: Juvonte Reddic, Rob Brandenberg
Key returners: Treveon Graham, Melvin Johnson, Briante Weber, JeQuan Lewis, Jordan Burgess, Mo Allie-Cox
Key additions: Terry Larrier, Mike Gilmore, Justin Tillman, Jonathan Williams
16. San Diego State
Key losses: Xavier Thames, Josh Davis
Key returners: Winston Shepard, Dwayne Polee II, JJ O’Brien, Matt Shrigley, Aqeel Quinn, Skylar Spencer, Dakarai Allen
Key additions: Angelo Chol, Malik Pope, Trey Kell, Zylan Cheatham, Kevin Zabo
17. Nebraska
Key losses: Ray Gallegos
Key returners: Terran Petteway, Walter Pitchford, Shavon Shields, Leslee Smith, Tai Webster, David Rivers, Benny Parker
Key additions: Jacob Hammond
18. Michigan State
Key losses: Adreian Payne, Keith Appling, Gary Harris
Key returners: Branden Dawson, Denzel Valentine, Travis Trice, Kenny Kaminski, Matt Costello, Alvin Ellis, Alex Gauna
Key additions: Lourawls Nairn, Javon Bess, Marvin Clark
19. Oklahoma
Key losses: Cameron Clark, Tyler Neal, Je’lon Hornbeak
Key returners: Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodward, Ryan Spangler, Frank Booker, D.J. Bennett
Key additions: Gio McLean, Dante Buford, Khadeem Lattin, Jamuni McNeace
20. Kansas State
Key losses: Will Spradling, Shane Southwell, Omari Lawrence
Key returners: Marcus Foster, Thomas Gipson, Wesley Iwundu, Nino Williams, Nigel Johnson, D.J. Johnson, Jevon Thomas
Key additions: Stephen Hurt, Justin Edwards, Malek Harris
21. Harvard
Key losses: Brandyn Curry, Kyle Casey, Laurent Rivard
Key returners: Wesley Saunders, Siyani Chambers, Steve Moundou-Missi, Jonah Travis, Evan Cummins, Agunwa Okolie, Kenyatta Smith
Key additions: Chris Egi, Andre Chatfield
22. Colorado
Key losses: Spencer Dinwiddie
Key returners: Josh Scott, Xavier Johnson, Askia Booker, Wesley Gordon, Xavier Talton, Jaron Hopkins, Dustin Thomas, Tre’Shaun Fletcher
Key additions: Dominique Collier, Tory Miller
23. Gonzaga
Key losses: Sam Dower, David Stockton, Drew Barham
Key returners: Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr., Przemek Karnowski, Kyle Dranginis, Gerard Coleman, Angel Nunez
Key additions: Kyle Wiltjer, Josh Perkins, Silas Melson, Bryan Alberts, Domantas Sabonis
24. Michigan
Key losses: Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Jordan Morgan, Jon Horford
Key returners: Caris LeVert, Derrick Walton Jr., Zak Irvin, Spike Albrecht
Key additions: Kameron Chatman, Ricky Doyle, D.J. Wilson
25. Colorado State
Key losses: Gerson Santo, David Cohn, Dwight Smith, Marcus Holt
Key returners: J.J. Avila, Daniel Bejarano, Jon Octeus, Joe De Ciman, Carlton Hurst
Key additions: Stanton Kidd, Dantiel Daniels, John Gillon
Teams dropped from original Ultra Early Top 25:
- Connecticut—The defending champions were already losing star guard Shabazz Napier and three more important players in Niels Giffey, Lasan Kromah and Tyler Olander. Then forward DeAndre Daniels decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to declare for the NBA Draft. Plus, returning center Amidah Brimah will be coming off shoulder surgery. The Huskies could wind up being a Top-25 team with Ryan Boatright returning and Rodney Purvis and Sam Cassell Jr. joining the backcourt.
- Iowa—I dropped Iowa mainly because I realized I overrated them in my initial Top 25. The Hawkeyes were awful down the stretch of the 2013-14 season, and now they lose leading scorer Roy Devyn Marble, efficient forward Melsahn Basabe and stretch-four Zach McCabe. The Hawkeyes add a high-level junior college transfer in point guard Trey Dickerson, but he will not be enough to get the team into the top third of the Big Ten.
