It’s been 209 days since the Connecticut Huskies — under the stewardship of Dan Hurley — celebrated their second consecutive NCAA title. The uber-talented Huskies toppled Canadian Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers in last year’s championship game, becoming the NCAA’s first repeat winner since the Florida Gators in 2006-07.
Plenty has changed since then. Edey is immersed in his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected ninth overall in June’s NBA Draft. The Huskies, meanwhile, have replenished their roster after graduating four players to the NBA, including a pair of lottery picks (Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle).
As for Hurley, he turned down the L.A. Lakers head coaching job this summer, ultimately returning to UConn on a lucrative new contract extension.
College basketball hasn’t produced a three-peat winner since 1967-73, when John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins ripped off seven straight national championships. Will the Hurley-led Huskies join that club in 2024-25?
That question, among others, is why the upcoming college basketball season promises to be a highly compelling, drama-filled journey.
Additionally, the NCAA is poised to unveil a plethora of new young stars this season, including highly touted Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
Beyond Flagg, next year’s draft class figures to be one of the deepest and most talent-laden groups in recent memory.
In celebration of the upcoming NCAA season, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the top teams, players and stories that are likely to define the college basketball landscape in 2024-25.
Four teams to watch
Kansas Jayhawks: Rock Chalk nation is very excited about the potential for its 2024-25 squad — and rightfully so. After a season in which Kansas struggled to deploy a serviceable seven-man rotation, long-time head coach Bill Self was very aggressive in retooling his roster in the off-season. In total, the Jayhawks picked up six new players via the transfer portal, including former Wisconsin standout AJ Storr and do-it-all guard Rylan Griffen, who previously played at Alabama. The Jayhawks also return three starters from last year’s team, highlighted by fifth-year centre Hunter Dickinson, who was the only player to average a double-double in the Big 12 last season (17.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG). Barring injury, the Jayhawks project to be one of the deepest and most talented teams in college basketball this season. As such, Kansas has been ranked No. 1 in a plethora of pre-season polls.
Gonzaga Bulldogs: Could this finally be the year that Mark Few leads Gonzaga to the promised land? Apart from the traditional blue-blood programs (Duke, UNC, Kansas, Kentucky), no college basketball team has achieved more success over the last 25 years than the Bulldogs. Under Few, the Zags have appeared in two national championship games and have reached the Elite 8 on five separate occasions. They’ve also made nine straight appearances in the Sweet 16, the longest active streak in college basketball. This year’s Gonzaga team features one of the most talented backcourts in the country, anchored by senior point guard Ryan Nembhard, a native of Aurora, Ont. Nembhard will be joined in the backcourt by returning starter Nolan Hickman as well as graduate transfer Khalif Battle, who averaged 14.8 PPG last season playing for Arkansas in the SEC. This iteration of the Zags could prove to be Few’s best team since Jalen Suggs and Co. reached the NCAA title game back in 2021.
Arkansas Razorbacks: There is widespread optimism in Fayetteville ahead of the season, as John Calipari prepares for his first year as head coach of the Hogs. After spending 15 years at Kentucky, Calipari has shifted his entire operation to Arkansas, where his roster features a bevy of ex-Kentucky players. Calipari was very active in the transfer portal this summer, landing six-foot-11 forward Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee along with senior guard Johnell Davis out of FAU. Additionally, in typical Calipari fashion, the Hogs have a pair of uber-talented freshmen in guard Boogie Fland and forward Karter Knox. This Arkansas team is flush with talented guards and boasts some excellent front-court depth. Despite checking in at No. 16 on most pre-season polls, the Hogs defeated No. 1 Kansas 85-69 in an exhibition game last week. Making his collegiate debut, Fland posted 22 points, five assists, and six steals in the win, showcasing his NBA potential. Provided Calipari can sort out his defence, the Hogs will be a tough out when March Madness rolls around.
UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley’s squad heads into the 2024-25 season with history on its mind. The Huskies are hoping to become just the second team in college basketball history to successfully complete a three-peat. They lost four players to the NBA Draft in June, with Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle each being selected inside the top 10. UConn will rely on the veteran leadership of guard Hassan Diarra and forward Alex Karaban, both of whom have played important roles in each of UConn’s two national championship victories. The Huskies’ most notable addition this season is incoming freshman forward Liam McNeeley, who starred at Montverde Academy last year alongside Cooper Flagg. McNeely, who stands at six-foot-seven, is a pure sharpshooter. His skill set profiles well for UConn’s up-tempo offensive system. The biggest challenge for the Huskies will be finding adequate front-court production. This is the second year in a row that UConn has graduated its starting centre to the pros (Adama Sanogo in 2023, Clingan in 2024). Senior Samson Johnson will likely get first crack at occupying the starting centre spot, but that position might be a revolving door for UConn in 2024-25.
Canadian watchlist
Ryan Nembhard (point guard, senior, Gonzaga): A native of Aurora, Ont., Nembhard is entering his second year at Gonzaga. Before joining the Bulldogs, he spent the first two years of his career at Creighton, where the Bluejays came within one win of reaching the Final Four in 2023. Nembhard is the younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, who also graduated from Gonzaga. Like his brother, Ryan is a pass-first floor general who boasts exceptional court vision and a high basketball IQ. He averaged a career-high 12.6 points and 6.9 assists per game last season. Nembhard’s greatest asset is his ability to play against pressure. Thanks to his vision and ball-handling, Nembhard can cause fits for opposing defences. Despite standing at just six-foot, Nembhard is likely to garner attention from NBA scouts.
Naithan George (point guard, sophomore, Georgia Tech): George is coming off a strong freshman campaign at Georgia Tech, where he made 28 starts for Damon Stoudamire’s squad, averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. The next challenge for George is to develop a consistent jump shot. As a freshman, the Scarborough, Ont., native shot just 31.4 per cent from three-point range on 3.5 attempts per game. His shooting woes were also reflected in his free-throw percentage where he shot just 69.0 per cent from the stripe. George’s uncle, Mike, is a well-known NBA player agent, representing the likes of Jamal Murray, Shaedon Sharpe, Daniel Gafford, among others.
Will Riley (forward, freshman, Illinois): Following in the footsteps of Jamal Murray, Will Riley is looking to become the latest Kitchener, Ont., product to make it big in basketball. Regarded as the top-ranked Canadian prospect in this year’s high school recruiting class, Riley enters his freshman year at Illinois with ample expectations. Standing at six-foot-eight, Riley is a highly explosive wing player with NBA-level athleticism. Earlier this year, Riley was named MVP of the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during NBA All-Star weekend. There is a good chance Riley’s name will begin to surface in NBA Draft chatter as the college season progresses.
Olivier Rioux (centre, freshman, Florida): When Olivier Rioux steps on the court this season for Florida, he will make NCAA history. Standing at seven-foot-nine, Rioux will become the tallest player in college basketball history, supplanting former UNC Asheville big man Kenny George, who measured in at seven-foot-seven. Similar to Zach Edey, there will be questions about Rioux’s athleticism and mobility. Will he be agile enough to match the speed and physicality of a college game? The Terrebonne, Que., native is likely to see limited minutes early in his college career, but the long-term potential is evident. In Edey’s case, he managed to make gradual improvements year-over-year at Purdue, particularly with his fitness and mobility. If Rioux can follow a similar trajectory, there’s a chance he becomes a very interesting pro prospect down the line.
Top prospects
Cooper Flagg (forward, freshman, Duke): There will be an abundance of NBA teams strategically lining up for their shot at the “Capture the Flagg” sweepstakes. Heralded as a generational talent, Flagg enters his freshman year at Duke as the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Montverde product showcased his diverse skill set earlier this summer at Team USA’s Olympic training camp, where he participated in scrimmages against the American Olympic squad. Even as a 17-year-old, Flagg did not look out of place. Basketball-wise, the only real question surrounding Flagg’s game is his shooting ability. Playing at Montverde, Flagg spent most of his time tormenting opposing defences inside the paint — a product of his preternatural athleticism and strong frame. If Flagg can acquit himself as an adequate perimeter shooter in college, he’ll be in good shape to make an immediate impact at the NBA level next fall.
Ace Bailey (forward, freshman, Rutgers): Bailey is one of two highly touted freshmen suiting up for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights this season. Next to Cooper Flagg, Bailey was the No. 2-ranked prospect in the 2024 high school class. As a senior at McEachern High School in Georgia, Bailey averaged 33.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. The six-foot-10 jumbo guard has a knack for scoring, as evidenced by his 25-point output against St. John’s in an exhibition game on Oct. 17. Given his unique frame and athleticism, Bailey’s upside is that of an elite two-way player at the NBA level.
Dylan Harper (guard, freshman, Rutgers): The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper, Dylan is a high-IQ floor general with terrific court awareness and playmaking ability. In his unofficial Rutgers debut, on Oct. 17, Harper posted 20 points and four rebounds in a win over St. John’s. Harper — ranked No. 3 in this year’s high school class — is a dynamic three-level scorer who also serves as a calming presence on the court. Given his role for Rutgers, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harper have a more productive freshman campaign than Ace Bailey. However, Bailey remains more likely to have a higher long-term ceiling.
Tre Johnson (guard, freshman, Texas): There are two words that can be used to describe Johnson’s skill set: walking bucket. Johnson scored 2,563 points in four years of high school basketball. The six-foot-six combo guard is a potent scoring threat, possessing a diverse offensive repertoire that will likely make him a go-to option for Texas this season. As he transitions from high school to college, it will be interesting to see if Johnson can improve his playmaking ability. The 18-year-old is likely to be a one-and-done at Texas before entering the NBA Draft next June.
Boogie Fland (guard, freshman, Arkansas): Fland is the crown jewel of John Calipari’s inaugural recruiting class at Arkansas. The six-foot-two New York native is a crafty finisher around the basket, utilizing his quickness and creativity to score the ball over bigger defenders. ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg has compared Fland to Kyrie Irving, who boasts an impressive NBA resume with eight All-Star selections and an NBA championship. Fland also stands to benefit from sharing a backcourt with the likes of Johnell Davis and D.J. Wagner. There will be no shortage of playmakers and offensive threats on this year’s Arkansas team. Projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, it would not be surprising to see Fland soar up draft boards as he showcases his talent in the SEC.
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