More than 200 days will have passed between the end of the 2024–25 men’s college basketball season and the start of the 2025–26 campaign.
As the offseason begins – with the final wave of recruits making their commitments, veteran players finding new homes through the portal and reports coming in from early practices – Bilestrator is evaluating what to expect from the new season tips off on Monday, November 3.
From the first team that shares only three selections AP preseason selection For an All-Defensive team (which no governing body actually awards on a national level), let’s dive into my preseason All-America teams.
first team
The best point guard in college basketball averaged 8.7 assists per game last season (second in the country). Unanimous AP Preseason All-America honors Entering my final year at Purdue. Smith is tough, clutch performer and key to Boilermakers’ first preseason AP Top 25 No. 1 Ranking,
Dent, one of the best pick-and-roll guards in the country, should be a difference-maker for Mick Cronin and the Bruins, a year after lifting the New Mexico Lobos to the NCAA Tournament bubble with top-15 points (20.4 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg).
Haggerty must surpass his already elite scoring production from the past two seasons to boost himself from second to first-team All-America honors. He averages 21.2 ppg for Tulsa in 2023-24 and 21.7 ppg for Memphis in 2024-25 (good for third in the country).
The only player who was in the top 3 in the Big 12 in scoring (18.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) last season, Toppin is one of the best players in the country. Walking’s highlight reel averaged a double-double (19.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg) while leading the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight in March.
After one season at UAB, Lendeborg saw his NBA draft stock drop to the bottom of the first round this June. A dominant rim protector (his 11.4 blocks per game ranked third in the country), the big man also led the Blazers in scoring (17.7), rebounds (11.4) and assists (4.2). He decided to return to college and be a presence on both ends of the floor for Michigan.
second team
The No. 1 recruit in the SC Next 100 Class of 2025, DiBantsa has the length and athletic ability to go along with a competitive drive to lead the Cougars to an even deeper NCAA Tournament appearance after making the Sweet 16 less than eight months ago. Expect to hear a lot about BYU’s biggest star since Jimmer Fredette.
Another highly touted recruit with a real case to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Peterson may be the most talented freshman to ever play for the Bills. He is a dynamic scorer and playmaker and should provide offense in Lawrence.
Boozer and the newly led Blue Devils have big shoes to fill in Durham. But the son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer has experience to rely on. A double-double threat, he is one of the most decorated high school players of all time.
Oweh flourished under coach Mark Pope, increasing his scoring from 11.4 ppg with Oklahoma in 2023-24 to 16.2 ppg with Kentucky in 2024-25. The big man provides offense in transition and should have an even bigger season as the roster gets closer to full health.
Coach Rick Barnes has called Ament — the fourth and final freshman to make the second team — the No. 1 player in this 2025 class. Whether that’s true or not, it’s clear that Ament will have an important role for the Volunteers heading into the season.
third team
Recently named ACC Preseason Player of the Year after earning All-Big 12 honors with Texas Tech on 15.1 ppg and 3.6 apg points last season, Williams will have even more opportunities to generate offense as a cornerstone of Will Wade’s first team in Raleigh.
One of the key leaders in Houston’s comeback from last season’s title game loss, Sharp should take over enough of the offensive portion left by LJ Cryer to better his 12.6 PPG scoring performance over the past two seasons.
One of college basketball’s most accomplished big men has once again returned to play a leading role for the defending champion Gators. Expect more from Condon on the glass (7.5 rpg in 2024-25) and offense (10.6 ppg in 2024-25).
After earning an honorable mention and finishing in the top 20 nationally in scoring (20.1 ppg), Kauffman-Renn should be on his way as an All-America selection — if he and Smith can lead Purdue to a season worthy of the Boilermakers’ preseason No. 1 ranking.
Tahad Pettiford, golden brown color
The only returning player from last season’s Final Four team, Pettiford should see a significant increase in his workload. He stepped up for the Tigers during the NCAA Tournament with 15.2 points and 3.4 assists – higher averages than his regular season averages.
honorable mentions
Bennett Sturtz, iowa
alex karban, Yukon
zubi ejiofor, st johns
graham ike, Gonzaga
lebron fillon jr, alabama
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Ja’coby gillespie, tennessee
tucker davis, Indiana
Ryan Conwell, louisville
richie saunders, BYU
all-defensive team
joseph tugler, houston
tammin lipsey, iowa state
miles bird, san diego state
mohammed diaubet, kentucky
malik brown, ruler
All-Freshman Team
darrin peterson, kansas
AJ DiBantsa, BYU
cameron boozer, ruler
Nate Ament, tennessee
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
