John Fanta has unveiled his latest college basketball Top 25 rankings, with Duke leading the way at No. 1.
Florida and UConn round out the top three, followed by Houston and Illinois. Despite the Fighting Illini dealing with injury concerns, Fanta believes they have the most talented roster in college basketball and could challenge for the No. 1 spot.
Michigan State checks in at No. 10, slightly lower than some other rankings. While Fanta expects big seasons from Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jordan Scott, he wants to see more from the Spartans’ frontcourt before rankings them higher.
The 2026 men’s college basketball champion Michigan, sits at No. 21.
One notable omission is North Carolina. Despite leaving the Tar Heels outside his Top 25, Fanta praised the hiring of Michael Malone and highlighted Terrence Brown as a key player to watch.
St. John’s also stands out at No. 8, with Fanta ranking the Red Storm higher than some other college basketball analysts.
Here’s a look at Fanta’s complete Top 25:
1. Duke
2. Florida
3. UConn
4. Houston
5. Illinois
6. Arizona
7. Virginia
8. St. John’s
9. Louisville
10. Michigan State
11. Kansas
12. Miami (FL)
13. Arkansas
14. Texas
15. Missouri
16. Tennessee
17. Texas Tech
18. Gonzaga
19. Alabama
20. Iowa State
21. Michigan
22. UCLA
23. Marquette
24. Purdue
25. Saint Louis
