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ESPN’s Jeff Borzello includes 7 SEC teams in latest way-too-early top 25

Published: Apr 27, 2026 · 2:44 PM EDT

The college basketball offseason is in full swing, and many rosters are beginning to take a coherent shape.

Several SEC teams are early winners in the transfer portal while others are building through retention (looking at you, Florida) or top-notch high school classes (looking at you, Arkansas).

On Monday, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello released version 2.0 of his way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2026-27 season, and 7 league programs cracked his early rankings.

Florida, to nobody’s surprise, comes in at No. 1 after securing Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon for another season in Gainesville. Rueben Chinyelu’s potential decision to return would shore up the best frontcourt in America heading into the new season.

Arkansas, Texas and Alabama make up No. 6-8 in Borzellos’s top 25.

In typical John Calipari fashion, the Razorbacks are building through elite high school talent with Billy Richmond and transfer additions Cooper Bowser and Jeremiah Wilkinson in tow.

Texas is a super intriguing team. The Longhorns return Matas Vokietaitis with perhaps the best portal class in the country, having added Colorado’s Isaiah Johnson, TCU’s David Punch, Auburn’s Elyjah Freeman and breakout candidate Amari Evans out of Tennessee. Saint Mary’s transfer Mikey Lewis and a top 5 freshman class (per 247) add to the hype for Sean Miller and Co.

Then there’s Alabama, which returns Aden Holloway and potentially Amari Allen with Drew Fielder (Boise State), Brandon Garrison (Kentucky) and Jaxon Fielder (Top 25 recruit) all incoming.

Here’s a look at the rest of Borzello’s top 25, with SEC teams listed in bold: