The 2025-26 men's college basketball season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with numerous transfers and freshmen poised to make significant impacts on their new teams. Here’s a breakdown of the most impactful newcomers for each team in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings.

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Impact Newcomer: Oscar Cluff Matt Painter needed a partner for All-American forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Cluff fits the bill. The South Dakota State transfer is expected to start immediately after averaging 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds last season.

2. Florida Gators

Impact Newcomer: Boogie Fland Fland, a transfer from Arkansas, could be one of the best guards in college basketball if he replicates his early-season form from last year.

3. Houston Cougars

Impact Newcomer: Isiah Harwell Harwell’s scoring and perimeter shotmaking will be crucial for Houston, especially with the loss of LJ Cryer.

4. UConn Huskies

Impact Newcomer: Silas Demary Jr. Demary will look to restore UConn’s big, playmaking point guard model that led to back-to-back national championships.

5. St. John's Red Storm

Impact Newcomer: Bryce Hopkins Hopkins, a first-team All-Big East player at Providence, will be key for St. John’s if he can stay healthy.

6. BYU Cougars

Impact Newcomer: A.J. Dybantsa The No. 1 player in the 2025 ESPN 100, Dybantsa has the potential to live up to the immense hype surrounding him.

7. Louisville Cardinals

Impact Newcomer: Mikel Brown Jr. Brown, a highly-touted freshman, has already shown he can be one of the best shotmakers and playmakers in his class.

8. Michigan Wolverines

Impact Newcomer: Yaxel Lendeborg Lendeborg, who passed up being a first-round NBA draft pick, will be the focal point of Michigan’s offense.

9. Kentucky Wildcats

Impact Newcomer: Jaland Lowe Lowe, a third-team All-ACC selection at Pitt, will need to adjust to Mark Pope’s offense but has the potential to be more efficient.

10. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Impact Newcomer: LeJuan Watts Watts will look to fill the void left by Darrion Williams and create matchup problems for opponents.

11. Arkansas Razorbacks

Impact Newcomer: Darius Acuff Acuff could be the game-changer at point guard that John Calipari’s best teams have always had.

12. Duke Blue Devils

Impact Newcomer: Cameron Boozer Boozer, one of the most decorated high school players, could be the most productive freshman in college basketball next season.

13. Arizona Wildcats

Impact Newcomer: Koa Peat Peat, a highly successful high school player, will be Arizona’s frontcourt anchor.

14. Auburn Tigers

Impact Newcomer: Keyshawn Hall Hall, a second-team All-Big 12 performer at UCF, will be a key offensive option for Auburn.

15. UCLA Bruins

Impact Newcomer: Donovan Dent Dent, one of the best players in the portal, will be UCLA’s primary offensive playmaker.

16. Illinois Fighting Illini

Impact Newcomer: Andrej Stojakovic Stojakovic, a transfer from Cal, should assume a go-to role immediately for Illinois.

17. Alabama Crimson Tide

Impact Newcomer: Jalil Bethea Bethea, a former top-10 prospect, could determine Alabama’s ceiling this season.

18. Iowa State Cyclones

Impact Newcomer: Dominick Nelson Nelson, the WAC Player of the Year, will be crucial for Iowa State’s offense.

19. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Impact Newcomer: Tyon Grant-Foster Grant-Foster could make Gonzaga’s offense thrive and give them one of the best frontcourts in the country.

20. Wisconsin Badgers

Impact Newcomer: Nick Boyd Boyd will take over point guard duties and determine the look of Wisconsin’s offense.

21. Kansas Jayhawks

Impact Newcomer: Darryn Peterson Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, will be needed to carry Kansas’ offense.

22. Creighton Bluejays

Impact Newcomer: Owen Freeman Freeman will be crucial at both ends of the floor for Creighton.

23. Tennessee Volunteers

Impact Newcomer: Nate Ament Ament, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA draft, has an incredibly high ceiling.

24. NC State Wolfpack

Impact Newcomer: Darrion Williams Williams will be the fulcrum of NC State’s offense in Year 1 of the Will Wade era.

25. North Carolina Tar Heels

Impact Newcomer: Henri Veesaar Veesaar has "breakout season" written all over him and could be a key player for North Carolina.

Next in Line: San Diego State Aztecs, Ohio State Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks