NCAA Basketball: Arizona, Indiana, and Ole Miss rise in updated 2024-25 WTE power rankings

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

Like North Carolina and Arizona, Alabama also has a star guard with a 5th-year decision. Mark Sears led the season with 21.5 ppg and 4.0 apg and earned All-American honors after his breakout campaign. He’s currently in the NBA Draft process and could go either way. That decision alone will determine whether or not they’re a top-10 team.

If Sears is back, it’s hard to find a better overall backcourt in NCAA Basketball. And that’s considering that they’re without two starters, with Aaron Estrada gone and Rylan Griffen transferring over to Kansas. In his place are two quality double-digit scoring guards, including Houston Mallette from Pepperdine and Chris Youngblood via South Florida.

Two more high-priority pickups were Labaron Philon, a former Kansas commit and top-40 prospect, and Aden Holloway, who started at Auburn this past season as a freshman and switched over to a rival. Five-star prospects Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherell add to the overall depth as well.

The news that starting forward Grant Nelson is coming back for an extra year is big news for the frontcourt. They’re waiting on freshman forward Jarin Stevenson, who is going through the draft process. With Nick Pringle and Mohamed Wague gone, the Tide needs some frontcourt depth, including someone who can play the 5-spot full-time. Otherwise, they’re in great shape everywhere else.