Dick Vitale’s 2024-25 Men’s College Hoops Preseason Picks

College basketball is awesome, baby! Buckle up, men’s hoops fans, because we’re just weeks away from tip-off for the 2024-25 season, and I know you feel the same way I do. Excitement is building as a new batch of diaper dandies prepare to hit the hardwood and show what they’ve got.

We’ve seen more player moves than ever before, and how about that shock — John Calipari is at Arkansas! Can you believe it?! The stories this season are out of this world, and I’m here to give you a glimpse of what I’ve been waiting for

Dicky V’s PtPears (Prime-Time Players)

Last season, there was no doubt: Jack Eddy was a man among boys, taking home his second national player of the year honor. Tennessee’s Dalton Netchett gave him a run, but nobody stopped Eddy. This season, the race is wide open! Get ready, because here’s who I see:

Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks
RJ Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels
Mark Sears, Alabama Crimson Tide
AJ Storr, Kansas Jayhawks
LJ Crear, Houston Cougars

Dickey V’s Floor Generals

Now, we all know come NCAA Tournament time, you have to have guys who can handle the rock under pressure. Teams are dancing on the march with the best distributors. These are my watchers to watch this season:

Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Dajuan Harris Jr., AJ Store (Kansas Jayhawks)
RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson (North Carolina Tar Heels)
Braden Smith, Fletcher Lauer (Purdue Boilermakers)
Ryan Namebird, Khalif Battle, Nolan Hickman (Gonzaga Bulldogs)
LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan (Houston Cougars)

Dickie V’s Low Post Enforcers

And let’s not forget the big boys downstairs. Dominating the paint, baby — it’s an art form! You need lane length to succeed. Check out these big men who will control the paint this year:

Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams Jr., Rylan Griffin (Kansas Jayhawks)
Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Malik Brown (Duke Blue Devils)
Omar Ballo, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Renew (Indiana Hoosiers)
Clifford Omorui, Grant Nelson (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Alex Karaban, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeely (Yukon Huskies)
Ryan Kalbrenner, Mason Miller, Jamia Neal (Creighton Bluejays)

Dickey V’s Marco Polo team

NIL’s impact is game changing. Teams are finding it harder to keep their key players, but that means more impact transfers! Here are my top transfers that are going to make an immediate impact:

Johnel Davis, Arkansas Razorbacks (from Florida Atlantic Owls)
Clifford Omorui, Alabama Crimson Tide (from Rutgers Scarlet Knights)
AJ Storr, Kansas Jayhawks (from Wisconsin Badgers)
Cadary Richmond, St. John’s Red Storm (from Seton Hall Pirates)
Omar Ballo, Indiana Hoosiers (from Arizona Wildcats)
Norchad Omier, Baylor Bears (from Miami Hurricanes)

Dickie V’s Frank Lloyd Wright team

Finally, let’s give a standing for the coaches Hey, baby! These sideline masters are doing double duty, not just coaching, but also managing their rosters through the NIL maze. Here is my list of architects of success looking for the golden ring in 2025:

Dan Hurley, UConn Huskies
Mark Few, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks
Nate Oates, Alabama Crimson Tide
Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars
Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers

It’s going to be an awesome season! Can’t wait to see it unfold!