School basketball rankings: Ohio State lands reclassifying star LJ Smith, returns to preseason High 25 And 1

1

Florida
This rating relies on the Gators returning six of the highest seven scorers — particularly Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Reuben Chinyelu, City Klavsar and Isaiah Brown — from a group that completed 27-8 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kentucky switch Denzel Aberdeen and 7-foot heart Jones Lay.

— 27-8
2

Duke
This rating relies on the Blue Devils returning 4 of the highest six scorers — particularly Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr — from a group that completed 35-3 and superior to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wisconsin switch John Blackwell, Belmont switch Drew Scharnowski, Loyola Maryland switch Jacob Theodosiou, five-star prospects Cameron Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje.

— 35-3
3

Michigan
This rating relies on the Wolverines returning two of the highest 5 scorers — particularly Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney — from a group that completed 37-3 and gained the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Tennessee switch J.P. Estrella, Cincinnati switch Moustapha Thiam, LSU switch Jalen Reed, five-star prospect Brandon McCoy Jr., and four-star prospects Lincoln Cosby, Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman.

— 37-3
4

Illinois
This rating relies on the Illini returning six of the highest 9 scorers — particularly Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovich, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis and Brandon Lee — from a group that completed 28-9 and superior to the 2026 Ultimate 4. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Windfall switch Stefan Vaaks, four-star prospects Quintin Coleman and Lucas Morillo and three-star prospects Ethan Brown and Landon Davis.

— 28-9
5

UConn
This rating relies on the Huskies returning three of the highest seven scorers — particularly Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary and Jayden Ross — from a group that completed 34-6 and superior to the championship sport of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duke switch Nikolas Khamenia, Seton Corridor switch Najai Hines, Stanford switch Oskar Giltay, Wofford switch Nils Machowski, Jacksonville State switch Jaye Nash, Northern Arizona switch Isaiah Shaw, Arkansas switch Elmir Dzafic and four-star prospects Colben Landrew and Junior County.

— 34-6
6

Michigan St.
This rating relies on the Spartans returning 5 of the highest eight scorers — particularly Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, Kur Teng, Jordan Scott and Cam Ward — from a group that completed 27-8 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Charlotte switch Anton Bonke and four-star prospects Ethan Taylor, Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent and Jasiah Jervis.

— 27-8
7

Texas
This rating relies on the Longhorns returning one of many prime two scorers — particularly Matas Vokietaitis — from a group that completed 21-15 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by TCU switch David Punch, Colorado switch Isaiah Johnson, Tennessee switch Amari Evans, Auburn switch Elyjah Freeman, Saint Mary’s switch Mikey Lewis, worldwide prospect Mantas Laurencikas and four-star prospects Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling.

— 21-15
8

Arizona
This rating relies on the Wildcats returning two of the highest 5 scorers — particularly Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov — from a group that completed 36-3 and superior to the 2026 Ultimate 4. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by North Carolina switch Derek Dixon, Washington switch JJ Mandaquit, five-star prospect Caleb Holt and four-star prospect Cameron Holmes and worldwide prospect Endurance Aiyamenkhue.

— 36-3
9

Gonzaga
This rating relies on the Zags returning three of the highest 5 scorers — particularly Braden Huff, Davis Fogle and Mario Saint-Supery — from a group that completed 31-4 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Houston switch Isiah Harwell, Arizona State switch Massamba Diop and four-star prospects Luca Foster, Sam Funches and Jack Kayil.

— 31-4
10

Virginia
This rating relies on the Cavaliers returning 5 of the highest 10 scorers — particularly Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis, Probability Mallory, Johann Gunloh and Elijah Gertrude — from a group that completed 30-6 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by UC Irvine switch Jurian Dixon, Saint Louis switch Kalu Anya and four-star prospect Favour Ibe.

— 30-6
11

St. John’s
This rating relies on the Pink Storm returning two of the highest eight scorers — particularly Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey — from a group that completed 30-7 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Baylor switch Tounde Yessoufou, Syracuse switch Donnie Freeman, Columbia switch Avery Brown, Mercer switch Kyle Cuffe Jr., worldwide prospects Quinn Ellis, Djordije Jovanovic and Lazar Stojkovic, and four-star prospect Theo Edema.

— 30-7
12

Arkansas
This rating relies on the Razorbacks returning one of many prime 4 scorers — particularly Billy Richmond III — from a group that completed 28-9 and superior to the Candy 16 of the NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews and Miikka Muurinen, Furman switch Cooper Bowser, Georgia switch Jeremiah Wilkinson and four-star prospect Abdou Toure. — 28-9
13

Iowa St.
This rating relies on the Cyclones returning three of the highest six scorers — particularly Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan and Jamarion Bateman — from a group that completed 29-8 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Robert Morris switch Ryan Prather Jr., Northwestern switch Tre Singleton, Bradley switch JaQuan Johnson, Kansas State switch Taj Manning, Northern Iowa switch Leon Bond III, four-star prospects Dorian Rinaldo-Komian, Jackson Kiss, Christian Wiggins and Donovan Davis, and three-star prospect Yusef Grey Jr.

— 29-8
14

Houston
This rating relies on the Cougars returning three of the highest seven scorers — particularly Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty — from a group that completed 30-7 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by LSU switch Dedan Thomas Jr., Kent State switch Delrecco Gillespie and four-star prospects Arafan Diane and Ikenna Alozie and

— 30-7
15

Louisville
This rating relies on the Cardinals returning one of many prime 5 scorers — particularly Adrian Wooley — from a group that completed 24-11 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kansas switch Flory Bidunga, Oregon switch Jackson Shelstad, Arkansas switch Karter Knox, Iowa switch Alvaro Folgueiras, Dayton switch De’Shayne Montgomery, USC switch Gabe Dynes, former G League participant London Johnson, five-star prospect Obinna Ekezie Jr., four-star prospect Boyuan Zhang and three-star prospect Isaac Ellis.

— 24-11
16

Tennessee
This rating relies on the Vols returning two of the highest 10 scorers — particularly Dewayne Brown II and Ethan Burg — from a group that completed 25-12 and superior to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wake Forest switch Juke Harris, Notre Dame switch Jalen Haralson, Cal switch Dai Dai Ames, Belmont switch Tyler Lundblade, VCU transfers Terrence Hill Jr. and Christian Fermin, Loyola Chicago switch Miles Rubin, Kennesaw State switch Braedan Lue, four-star prospects Christopher Washington Jr., Ralph Scott and Manny Inexperienced, and three-star prospect Marquis Clark.

— 25-12
17

Kentucky
This rating relies on the Wildcats returning one of many prime six scorers — particularly Malachi Moreno — from a group that completed 22-14 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State switch Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State switch Jerone Morton, James Madison switch Justin McBride, Windfall switch Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams and worldwide prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.

— 22-14
18

USC
This rating relies on the Trojans returning three of the highest 5 scorers — particularly Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie — from a group that completed 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Christian Collins, four-star prospects Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff, Georgetown switch KJ Lewis, UConn switch Eric Reibe, Colgate switch Jalen Cox, Lindenwood switch Jadis Jones and South Dakota switch Isaac Bruns.

— 18-14
19

Alabama
This rating relies on the Crimson Tide returning 4 of the highest 10 scorers — particularly Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, London Jemison and Keitenn Bristow — from a group that completed 25-10 and superior to the Candy 16 of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Boise State switch Drew Fielder, Kentucky switch Brandon Garrison, NC State switch Cole Cloer, Mississippi State switch Jamarion Davis-Fleming and four-star prospects Qayden Samuels, Jaxon Richardson and Tarris Bouie.

— 25-10
20

Purdue
This rating relies on the Boilermakers returning 5 of the highest 9 scorers — particularly C.J. Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Omer Mayer, Gicarri Harris and Jack Benter — from a group that completed 30-9 and superior to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by 2024 Ivy League Participant of the 12 months Caden Pierce, and four-star prospects Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber and Sinan Huan.

— 30-9
21

Miami
This rating relies on the Hurricanes returning three of the highest seven scorers — particularly Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen and Marcus Allen — from a group that completed 26-9 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Villanova switch Acaden Lewis, Robert Morris switch DeSean Goode, Georgia switch Somto Cyril, Indiana switch Nick Dorn, Saint Peter’s switch Brent Bland and four-star prospect Caleb Gaskins.

— 26-9
22

Indiana
This rating relies on the Hoosiers returning one of many prime eight scorers — particularly Trent Sisley — from a group that completed 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Notre Dame switch Markus Burton, Villanova switch Bryce Lindsay, Alabama switch Aiden Sherrell, SMU switch Samet Yigitoglu, Duke switch Darren Harris, Georgia Tech switch Jaeden Mustaf and four-star prospects Vaugn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz.

— 18-14
23

BYU
This rating relies on the Cougars returning two of the highest eight scorers — particularly Robert Wright III and Khadim Mboup — from a group that completed 23-12 and superior to the primary spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Bruce Department III, four-star prospect Dean Rueckert, Kentucky switch Collin Chandler, Clemson switch Jake Wahlin, Syracuse switch Tyler Betsey and UC Riverside switch Nate Pickens, the final of whom dedicated to BYU final Could however missed the season with an ankle harm.

— 23-12
24

Ohio St.
This rating relies on the Buckeyes returning two of the highest 5 scorers — particularly John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum — from a group that completed 21-13 and superior to the primary spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duquesne switch Jimmie Williams, Kentucky switch Andrija Jelavic, Cal switch Justin Pippen, Memphis switch Curtis Givens III, five-star prospects Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith, four-star prospect Alex Smith and worldwide prospect Vuk Lazarevic.

NR 21-13
25

N. Carolina
This rating relies on the Tar Heels returning three of the highest 11 scorers — particularly Jarin Stevenson, Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Younger — from a group that completed 24-9 and superior to the primary spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia Tech switch Neoklis Avdalas, Utah switch Terrence Brown, NC State switch Matt Ready, worldwide prospects Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov, and four-star prospect Kevin Thomas.

1 24-9
26

Vanderbilt
This rating relies on the Commodores returning two of the highest 9 scorers — particularly Tyler Tanner and Chandler Bing — from a group that completed 27-9 and superior to the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Match. That core will likely be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Nebraska switch Berke Buyuktuncel, Washington State switch Ace Glass, Auburn switch Sebastian Williams-Adams, Colorado switch Bangot Dak, Missouri switch T.O. Barrett and four-star prospects Ethan Mgbako, Anthony Brown and Jackson Sheffield.

1 27-9