Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the American Athletic Conference.
American Athletic Conference Offseason Power Rankings
1. Houston
Projected Starting 5:
G Jamal Shead
G Marcus Sasser
G Tramon Mark
F Jarace Walker
C Reggie Chaney
Projected Bench: Terrance Arcenaux, J’Wan Roberts, Kiyron Powell, Ja’Vier Francis, Ramon Walker, Mylik Wilson, Emanuel Sharp
Key Losses: Fabian White, Josh Carlton, Kyler Edwards, Taze Moore
Key Newcomers: Jarace Walker, Terrance Arcenaux, Emanuel Sharp, Mylik Wilson (Texas Tech)
2. Memphis
Projected Starting 5:
G Kendric Davis
G Alex Lomax
G Keonte Kennedy
F DeAndre Williams
C Malcolm Dandridge
Projected Bench: Jonathan Lawson, Tadarius Jacobs, Elijah McCadden, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Jayden Hardaway, Chandler Lawson, Damaria Franklin (UIC)
Key Losses: Jalen Duren, Tyler Harris, Joshua Minott, Earl Timberlake, Landers Nolley, Sam Onu, Emoni Bates, Lester Quinones
Key Newcomers: Kendric Davis (SMU), Elijah McCadden (Georgia Southern), Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (UT Arlington), Keonte Kennedy (UTEP), Ian Granja, Damaria Franklin
3. Cincinnati
Projected Starting 5:
G Rob Phinisee
G David DeJulius
F Jeremiah Davenport
F Landers Nolley
C Kalu Ezikpe
Projected Bench: Mika Adams-Woods, John Newman III, Daniel Skillings, Josh Reed, Sage Tolentino, Ody Oguama, Victor Lakhin, Jarrett Hensley
Key Losses: Mike Saunders, Mason Madsen, Abdul Ado, Hayden Koval
Key Newcomers: Daniel Skillings, Josh Reed, Sage Tolentino, Landers Nolley (Memphis), Rob Phinisee (Indiana), Kalu Ezikpe (Old Dominion)
4. Temple
Projected Starting 5:
G Hysier Miller
G Damian Dunn
G Khalif Battle
F Jahlil White
F Nick Jourdain
Projected Bench: Zach Hicks, Emmanuel Okpomo, Taj Thweatt,, Jamille Reynolds,, Kur Jongkuch, Deuce Roberts, Shane Dezonie
Key Losses: Jeremiah Williams, Jake Forrester, Tai Strickland, Sage Tolbert
Key Newcomers: Taj Thweatt (Coastal Carolina), Jamille Reynolds (UCF), Kur Jongkuch (Northern Colorado), Deuce Roberts, Shane Dezonie (Vanderbilt)
5. Tulane
Projected Starting 5:
G Jalen Cook
G Jaylen Forbes
G Jadan Coleman
G Sion James
F Kevin Cross
Projected Bench: Percy Daniels, Tre Williams, Collin Holloway, R.J. McGee, Tylan Pope, Oton Jankovic, Nobal Days, Braelee Albert
Key Losses: Scott Spencer
Key Newcomers: Percy Daniels, Tre Williams (Oregon State), Collin Holloway (Georgetown)
6. South Florida
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyler Harris
G Selton Miguel
G Jamir Chaplin
F Keyshawn Bryant
C Russell Tchewa
Projected Bench: Ryan Conwell, Dok Muordar, DJ Patrick, Jake Boggs, Trey Moss, Corey Walker Jr., Sam Hines Jr., Lamont Evans IV
Key Losses: Caleb Murphy, Jalyn McCreary, Javon Greene
Key Newcomers: Tyler Harris (Memphis), Selton Miguel (Kansas State), Keyshawn Bryant (South Carolina), Ryan Conwell, Dok Muordar
7. UCF
Projected Starting 5:
G Darius Johnson
G Ithiel Horton
F Brandon Suggs
F C.J. Walker
C Taylor Hendricks
Projected Bench: Lahat Thioune, Michael Durr, Tyler Hendricks, Tyem Freeman, P.J. Edwards, Jayholn Young
Key Losses: Darin Green Jr., Darius Perry, Brandon Mahan, Cheikh Mbacke Diong, Isaiah Adams, Dre Fuller, Tony Johnson Jr., Jamille Reynolds
Key Newcomers: Lahat Thioune (Utah), Brandon Suggs (East Carolina), Ithiel Horton (Pitt), Michael Durr (Indiana), Tyler Hendricks, Taylor Hendricks, Jayholn Young (JUCO)
8. SMU
Projected Starting 5:
G Zhuric Phelps
G Zach Nutall
F Stefan Todorovic
F Samuell Williamson
C Efe Odigie
Projected Bench: Ricardo Wright, Efe Odigie, Jefferson Koulibaly, Keon Ambrose-Hylton, Jalen Smith, Darius McBride, Franklin Agunanne, Emory Lanier, Xavier Foster, Mo Njie
Key Losses: Kendric Davis, Emmanuel Bandoumel, Michael Weathers, Marcus Weathers, Tristan Clark, Isiah Jasey
Key Newcomers: Samuell Williamson (Louisville), Ricardo Wright (Marist), Efe Odigie (Troy), Mo Njie (Eastern Michigan), Jefferson Koulibaly (Washington State), Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Alabama), Emory Lanier (Davidson), Xavier Foster (Iowa State)
9. Wichita State
Projected Starting 5:
G Craig Porter Jr.
G Colby Rogers
F Jaykwon Walton
F Gus Okafor
C Kenny Pohto
Projected Bench: Isaac Abidde, Jalen Ricks, James Rojas, Quincy Ballard, Xavier Bell, Jaron Pierre, Jacob Wilson
Key Losses: Tyson Etienne, Dexter Dennis, Ricky Council IV, Joe Pleasant, Morris Udeze, Qua Grant
Key Newcomers: James Rojas (Alabama), Quincy Ballard (Florida State), Xavier Bell (Drexel), Gus Okafor (Southeastern Louisiana), Jaykwon Walton (JUCO), Colby Rogers (Siena), Jaron Pierre (New Orleans), Jacob Wilson
10. Tulsa
Projected Starting 5:
G Anthony Pritchard
G Sam Griffin
F Tim Dalger
F Bryant Selenbangue
C Nikita Konstantynovskyi
Projected Bench: Brandon Betson, Charles Chukwu, Jesaiah McWright, Peyton Urbanicic, Sterling Gaston-Chapman, Keyshawn Embery-Simpson, BB Knight
Key Losses: Jeriah Horne, Darien Jackson, Rey Idowu,
Key Newcomers: Brandon Betson (Chicago State), Bryant Selenbangue (JUCO), Charles Chukwu, Jesaiah McWright, BB Knight
11. East Carolina
Projected Starting 5:
G Jaden Walker
G RJ Felton
F Quentin Diboundje
F Benjamin Bayela
C Ludgy Debaut
Projected Bench: Brandon Johnson, Saxby Sunderland, Elijah Jones, Valentino Pinedo, Esra Ausar, Javon Small, David Kasanganay, Kalib Lacount
Key Losses: Tristen Newton, Brandon Suggs, Vance Jackson, J.J. Miles, Alanzo Frink, Tremont Robinson-White
Key Newcomers: Jaden Walker (Iowa State), Quentin Diboundje (Tennessee), Benjamin Bayela (JUCO), Saxby Sunderland, Elijah Jones, Valentino Pinedo, Ezra Ausar, Kalib Lacount
American Athletic Conference Preseason First-Team
Marcus Sasser, Houston
Kendric Davis, Memphis
Jalen Cook, Tulane
DeAndre Williams, Memphis
Jarace Walker, Houston
American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Kendric Davis, Memphis
American Athletic Conference Preseason Sleeper
South Florida
5 Impact American Athletic Conference Freshmen
*In no particular order
Jarace Walker, Houston
Terrance Arceneaux, Houston
Taylor Hendricks, UCF
Daniel Skillings, Cincinnati
Josh Reed, Cincinnati
5 American Athletic Conference Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible to be a breakout player if he’s previously averaged in double figures
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Malcolm Dandridge, Memphis
Zach Hicks, Temple
Zhuric Phelps, SMU
Craig Porter Jr., Wichita State
10 Impact American Athletic Conference Transfers
* In no particular order
Kendric Davis, Memphis (SMU)
Emmanuel Akot, Memphis (Boise State)
Rob Phinisee, Cincinnati (Indiana)
Landers Nolley, Cincinnati (Memphis)
Tyler Harris, South Florida (Memphis)
Keyshawn Bryant, South Florida (South Carolina)
Brandon Suggs, UCF (East Carolina)
Ithiel Horton, UCF (Pitt)
Samuell Williamson, SMU (Louisville)
Colby Rogers, Wichita State (Siena)
Leftovers
- Duke, Michigan finalizing agreement to play in Washington D.C. in February of 2026
- Saint Louis to participate in 2025 Acrisure Series
- List of early season tournaments for the 2025-26 college basketball season
- TCU set to replace Kansas as 4th team in 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational
- Colorado, Providence to begin home-and-home series in Boulder
