NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2024-25 season

19. Miami Hurricanes

2023-24 season record: 15-17 (6-14 ACC)

It was a rough past season for the Hurricanes, despite having top-25 talent. A few key players have already left, including Norchad Omier (17.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg) and Kyshawn George to the NBA Draft. A few others have also left for the portal including Bensley Joseph and Michael Nwoko.

The good news is that the team has a trio of players set to return, who all averaged over 13 ppg. Guard Nijel Pack is one of the best shooters in the country, while wings Wooga Poplar and Matthew Cleveland are very capable scorers. Plus, they also have some talented newcomers on the perimeter, including five-star and top-10 prospect, Jalil Bethea.

Miami has already added a pair of frontcourt players from the transfer portal who’ll likely start. Lynn Kidd is a 6’10 center from Virginia Tech who is coming off producing 13.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Brandon Johnson is a 6’8 power forward from East Carolina who averaged 14.0 ppg and 8.6 rpg this past season.

If this is the core, Miami should be a top-25 team and get back in the mix of ACC contention. Of course, we thought that of last year’s group so we’ll have to see if the defense gets better months from now.