As we grow closer to the start of the men's college basketball season, Andy Katz ranked his top 16 wings heading into the 2024-25 season.
MORE KATZ: Ranking the top 16 bigs for the 2024-2025 season
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
17-year-old Duke commit Cooper Flagg is TORCHING Team USA 🔥
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)
This list kicks off with a true freshman — but for good reason. Flagg is ranked as the unanimous No. 1 recruit in the nation across 24/7 sports, ESPN, Rivals and ON3. The 6-foot-8 17-year-old's highlights went viral countless times in high school, and he was even selected to the 2024 USA Select Team — the only collegiate athlete with this honor.
2. Alex Karaban, UConn
Karaban returned to UConn for his third season with Dan Hurley. The 6-foot-8 forward was a key role player in both of the Huskies' title runs and he is in line for an expanded role this upcoming season as a junior.
3. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Rutgers commit Ace Bailey went OFF last night with 41 POINTS AND 26 REBOUNDS 😳
— Overtime (@overtime)
Coming in two spots behind Flagg is the number No. 2 in the country. The Scarlet Knights are stacking Bailey with guard Dylan Harper, the No. 3 recruit in the nation according to many major recruiting sites. This duo should provide Rutgers with some of the best potential in the country this season.
4. Dawson Garcia, Minnesota
The 6-foot-11 forward is entering his third season with the Gophers after spending his freshman year with Marquette and sophomore season with North Carolina. Garcia has led Minnesota in scoring the past two seasons (17.6 ppg last year), and he will look to give the Gophers the juice they need to climb back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019.
HISTORY: Every men's basketball champion since 1939
5. Liam McNeeley, UConn
The 6-foot-7 small forward is the third true freshman in the top five. He ranked No. 9 in the final ESPN 100 rankings — the highest ranking for a Husky since 2011. He should give Hurley's squad a spark as they start their campaign for a three-peat.
6. Tucker DeVries, West Virginia
One of the top transfer prospects in the country spent his first three seasons with Drake, averaging 21.6 points per game last year — good for sixth in the nation. The 6-foot-7 wing led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament the past two seasons, and DeVries will be teaming up with his dad, Darian DeVries — the new head coach of the Mountaineers.
7. Johnell Davis, Arkansas
Davis is most known for leading Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in the 2023 NCAA tournament. But after spending four seasons with the Owls, Davis is taking his talents to Fayetteville, teaming up with new head coach John Calipari. He is coming off his best season, averaging 18.2 points per game at FAU.
8. Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
After spending his first two seasons with Gonzaga, Sallis is entering his second season with the Demon Deacons. The 6-foot-5 wing flourished in his first season at Wake Forest, averaging 18 point per game. Sallies will look to lead the Deacons back to the NCAA tournament for this first time since 2017.
9. AJ Storr, Kansas
Storr, a standout wing for Wisconsin last season, is playing for his third team in three years in college. He spent his freshman season with St. John's before transferring to Wisconsin, where he led the team in scoring (16.8 ppg). He should provide a veteran boost to Bill Self's squad.
10. Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky
Robinson is kicking off the 2024-25 season on his fourth team in five years. He started his collegiate career with Texas A&M, then Arkansas, before spending the last two seasons with BYU. The 6-foot-7 wing followed former Cougars head coach Mark Pope to Kentucky, looking to rebuild Big Blue Nation in the post-Calipari era.
11. Payton Sandfort, Iowa
Sandfort is coming off his best season with the Hawkeyes, where he averaged 16.4 points per game. As he enters his senior season, the 6-foot-7 forward will look to lead his team back to the NCAA tournament after missing out last season.
12. Bryce Hopkins, Providence
Hopkins is entering his third season with the Friars, averaging roughly 15 points per game in the previous two years. The rising senior is due for a bounce back season as he struggled last year from beyond the arc, shooting 18.9%.
13. Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Grant-Foster found his home last season, averaging 20.1 points per game for the Antelopes — ranking 37th in the nation. The 6-foot-7 wing spent his first two seasons at Kansas and then DePaul. He lead Grand Canyon to the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win last season over Saint Mary's.
14. Tyson Degenhart, Boise State
The 6-foot-8 forward has been a key to the Broncos' recent tournament run. Degenhart has averaged at least 10 points per game since his freshman season, and Boise State has made the tournament each of those years. Prior to Degenhart's arrival, the Broncos missed the tournament for six consecutive seasons.
15. Rylan Griffen, Kansas
Griffen joins Storr as part of Self's top-ranked transfer class for the Jayhawks. The 6-foot-6 wing spent his first two seasons with Alabama, averaging 11.2 points per game with the Crimson Tide last season. He shot 39.2% from beyond the arc in 2023-24, and should be a key to Kansas' success this upcoming season.
16. Tramon Mark, Texas
Mark spent his first three seasons with Houston before heading to the Longhorns after his lone season with Arkansas. He led the Razorbacks in scoring last year, averaging 16.2 points per game. He should provide a lift to Texas in its first season competing in the SEC.
