NCAA Basketball: Biggest roster needs for each WTE top-25 team for 2024-25 season
We're now in the middle of May of the NCAA Basketball offseason, with nearly two months since the transfer portal originally opened. A ton has happened since, including many players leaving and joining new teams, along with some key NBA Draft and class of 2024 recruiting decisions.
Even for the teams projected to be contenders for next season, there are still some things they need to do to fill up roster holes. Focusing on the teams from my previous top-25 WTE list, here are the needs that still have to be addressed.
25. Maryland Terrapins: Biggest need - Spacing forward
Shooting was a major issue on last year's team but the hope is that they've solved it, landing key guard transfers, Ja'Kobe Gillespie and Selton Miguel. They brought back Julian Reese and added 5-star prospect Derik Queen but there's a question as to whether they can play together on the floor. Outside of GT transfer Tafara Gapare, there's not much depth inside and the Terps don't have frontcourt players that can space the floor, unless they play small. So adding a forward that does something different would make sense.
24. Ole Miss Rebels - True center
Last season, Ole Miss had some of the most size in NCAA Basketball, led by 7'5 center Jamarion Sharp and former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and starter, Moussa Cisse. Both are gone and the team did add a couple of strong transfer forwards in Malik Dia and Mikeal Brown-Jones. But unless top-50 prospect John Bol is ready to play meaningful minutes, Ole Miss may be smaller than most SEC teams. One more big body can fix that.
23. UCLA Bruins - True center
There's a good chance that UCLA is done, having landed six transfers and two freshmen guards, along with the few returning rotation pieces. One of them that's not expected to be back is Adem Bona, the starting center. Assuming that he indeed stays in the NBA Draft, the starting center for the Bruins would be either Aday Mara or Oregon State transfer, Tyler Bilodeau. Another big body would make sense for them.
22. Miami Hurricanes - Power forward
With Nijel Pack and Matthew Cleveland back, Miami has done a good job at surrounding them with more depth, including 21 ppg scoring guard Jalen Blackmon and multiple frontcourt additions, including Brandon Johnson and Lynn Kidd. Although Cleveland can play the combo forward positions, adding one more big body would be helpful.