Sam’s Top 100: 100-91

By Sam Federman

Photo by: George Washington Men's Basketball on Twitter

100. Oregon State Beavers (WCC)

Despite losing its top five scorers from last year’s team, Oregon State put together a solid roster for year two in the WCC. The Beavers had just their third 20-win season of the KenPom era in 2024-25, led by a fairly unheralded core of players that Wayne Tinkle did a great job evaluating and developing.

While no starters return, key reserves Josiah Lake and Isaiah Sy will play key roles at the two and three. Both were low-usage offensive players last year, but put up 127.4 and 114.6 offensive ratings, respectively. Lake shot 37% from three, Sy shot 41% in conference play, and Missouri State transfer point guard shot 38% for the Bears last season. Additionally, Oakland transfer Malcolm Christie made 68 threes of his own (albeit at just 32%) as Greg Kampe’s designated sharpshooter. With those four in tow, it’ll be hard to find a better shooting backcourt than the Beavers in this conference.

There is also some serious size in the frontcourt, with Southern Indiana transfer Stephen Olowoniyi, Coastal Carolina transfer Noah Amenhauser, and Pitt transfer Jorge Diaz Graham. The Beavers also have a few frontcourt wild cards in returners Johan Munch and Gavin Marrs along with JUCO transfer Yaak Yaak.

99. Florida Atlantic Owls (American)

John Jakus took a few gambles on players coming off of down seasons or seasons where they didn’t play a ton to build his FAU roster in 2025-26. Niccolo Moretti returns to run the show, but he’ll need to cut down the turnovers and be more consistent in order to reach his full potential.

Kanaan Carlyle needed an up-tempo system like FAU’s, where he’ll be able to get plenty of shots, but also operate in transition and in space. He’s been an extremely inefficient player at both Stanford and Indiana, but a step down from the power conference level could allow his talent and athleticism to shine through like it did during some of his best games at Stanford. He’s not the only highly rated recruit coming to Boca Raton, as former Sierra Canyon and USC wing Isaiah Elohim should be a solid contributor at the three.

UCLA transfer Devin Williams and Oregon State transfer Maxim Logue also have untapped potential in the frontcourt, with Logue in particular showing some tantalizing flashes last season.

98. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (A-10)

Woj’s first St. Bonaventure roster brings players from all different walks of basketball together into one big mix. Dasonte Bowen looked like a stud point guard in non-conference play before missing the last three months of the season. Returning him gives the roster some form of continuity.

He’ll play along with UAlbany transfer Amar’e Marshall, a 6 foot 4 combo guard with high-end scoring ability in America East. Italian freshman Achille Lonati is one of the most exciting international imports into the A-10, as a 6 foot 5 do-it-all offensive guard/wing. The Bonnies didn’t stop there with international recruits, as Russian Ilia Ermakov could figure to play a role backing up Bowen.

Joe Grahovac is one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball. He’ll provide spacing and versatility from the four spot, which will allow Minnesota transfer Frank Mitchell to go to work on the glass.

97. UC Irvine Anteaters (Big West)

The Big West – before last year – had admittedly been a major blind spot for me in my college basketball knowledge. I’m no expert right now either, but I’m done ignoring UC Irvine in preseason rankings. Yes, Russell Turner lost much of the core from the 32-win group last year, but he has a stable of young players who have been developing in the shadows of a winning program.

Torian Lee and Jurian Dixon weren’t the first names you’d think of for the Anteaters last year, but both were freshman rotation pieces – with Dixon even taking Andre Henry’s starting lineup spot for much of the year – that should be ready to take leaps. 6 foot 4 guard Derin Saran pulled off a Marfo after barely suiting up for Stanford last season, returning to the place where he shined as a freshman.

Kyle Evans is ready to step into a starting role at the five, protecting the rim like so many UCI defenses have excelled at in the past. He’ll be aided in the frontcourt by Colorado transfer Harrison Carrington, who is a raw player who plays with an edge.

96. Nevada Wolf Pack (Mountain West)

Though program staples Nick Davidson and Tre Coleman are gone, Nevada should be able to stay in the top 100 in Steve Alford’s seventh season at the helm.

The backcourt of Evansville transfer Tayshawn Comer and UTEP transfer Corey Camper will be a solid one in the Mountain West, especially with returners Tyler Rolison and Chuck Bailey III in the mix, bringing a different pace.

Elijah Price was one of the better freshmen in the Mountain West last year for Fresno State, a double-double threat at the four. Joel Armotrading comes over from UC Riverside to bring size at the five.

But the ceiling changers for Nevada are the non-NCAA transfers. JUCO stud Vaughn Weems was one of the best scorers in the country last year. The 6 foot 5 guard/wing got wherever he wanted off the bounce and was efficient at the rim. Meanwhile, NAIA transfer Kaleb Lowery has some positional flexibility at the forward spot, as he did everything for Master’s University at 6 foot 8 with a high-level shot.

95. Illinois State Redbirds (Missouri Valley)

While the Redbirds won the CBI last season, that may not have even been the biggest win of the month after Selection Sunday for Ryan Pedon’s crew. That’s because sophomore studs Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger decided to return to Bloomington-Normal for their third seasons with Illinois State.

Walker might be the preseason Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley thanks to his massive size, touch around the rim, overall feel for the game, and gravity. Kinziger is a sharpshooting guard who can also attack downhill despite his 5-11 frame.

Landon Wolf, Boden Skunberg, Ty Pence, and Jack Daugherty also return, giving Illinois State more returning production than just about anybody in the Valley. Pedon didn’t need to add much to the roster, but Landon Moore should figure to be a solid replacement for the graduated Dalton Banks in the backcourt.

94. George Washington Revolutionaries (A-10)

Easily Chris Caputo’s best-built roster since taking over at George Washington, this could be the year that the Revolutionaries break through and crack the upper echelon of the A-10 if things go right.

It all starts with Rafael Castro, one of the best big men in the conference. He’s likely a shoo-in for the preseason first team, as the most physically dominant interior presence in the league offensively. Garrett Johnson’s return from injury gives GW an elite shooter to pair with him in the frontcourt.

Even with Christian Jones, Trey Moss, and Trey Autry returning – all who started >14 games last year – the backcourt got a talent infusion from Duquesne transfer Tre Dinkins and Hofstra transfer Jean Aranguren. Tarleton State transfer Bubu Benjamin might have a higher upside than both of them though, coming over after an impressive sophomore campaign.

93. Yale Bulldogs (Ivy League)

This year’s runaway preseason Ivy League favorite, Yale is set up just fine in the first year of the post-Bez Mbeng/John Poulakidas era. James Jones hasn’t had a losing season in the Ivy League since 2010, and the Bulldogs have made three of the last four NCAA Tournaments.

Nick Townsend is this team’s senior leader. The matchup–problem four man gives Yale a unique look. His versatile offensive game allows him to be a trigger man, a post-up threat, or a screener with the ability to roll and pop. He’ll play alongside the ruthless five-man, Samson Aletan, who led the Ivy League in Block% last year.

With Casey Simmons and Isaac Celiscar on the wings, the Bulldogs have athleticism, scoring, rebounding, and poise. Simmons in particular could have the chance to take a huge step forward, as he showed major flashes in his junior year.

The point guard spot is the biggest question mark, but Trevor Mullin won’t need to be everything that Bez Mbeng was in order for this team to succeed. There isn’t a ton of shooting in the starting group, but Riley Fox is a dangerous threat off the bench.

92. UCF Knights (Big 12)

For as bland as UCF has felt over the last few seasons, Johnny Dawkins has guided the program to three consecutive finishes in KenPom’s Top 70.

With a lineup full of transfers, Dawkins put together what should be a competent enough roster to finish in the top 100 again, but I don’t think the ceiling is as high as last year. Milwaukee transfer point guard Themus Fulks is a steady, experienced leader who has led his conference in assist rate in three of his four seasons of college basketball. Last season, though, he had by far his highest offensive rating thanks to improved scoring inside the arc.

Riley Kugel might’ve never become what we thought he could be after his freshman season, but he’s a solid complement with plenty of high-major experience. Devan Cambridge is another piece with a ton of experience. Jamichael Stillwell doesn’t have high-major experience, but Fulks’ teammate at Milwaukee is a maniac on the glass who will fight for every possession.

Big man Jeremy Foumena, sharpshooter Carmelo Pacheco, four-man Jordan Burks, and combo guard George Beale will round out the main rotation.

91. Stanford Cardinal (ACC)

Most of this Stanford roster isn’t well-known, but Kyle Smith has made a career out of floor-raising unproven rosters. There’s no reason to believe he can’t do it again in his second season at the helm.

Despite losing the top three scorers, much of the rest of Stanford’s rotation remains. Ryan Agarwal, Anthony Batson, Benny Gealer, and Evan Stinson should all take steps forward in season two in the system, complementing Division II All-American point guard Jeremy Dent-Smith in the backcourt and on the wings.

The Cardinal returns good size at the four, with the duo of Donavin Young and Chisom Okpara – who I’m expecting a big season from. There’s no replacing Maxime Raynaud, not even recreating him, but Aidan Cammann was a solid rotational piece as a freshman.

This ranking is a gamble on player development, which I’m comfortable with given the coach.