In April 2025, the Associated Press released the college rankings for American basketball programs. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is one of the biggest and most active college basketball programs globally. These schools have produced NBA players who have become icons in the game. So, which are the best basketball colleges in the United States?
University of Florida – Florida Gators
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The University of Florida is the best basketball college program in the United States. With a win-loss record of 36-4 and 1,525 points, it tops other schools. They won the 2025 NCAA Championship, their third title, 18 years after their last. Some of its most prominent players who are in the NBA include Joakim Noah, Bradley Beal, Corey Brewer, and David Lee.
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University of Houston – Houston Cougars
The University of Houston ranks among the best basketball colleges in the country. It has a win-loss record of 35-5 and 1,464 points, and hasn’t won the NCAA title. The closest they’ve come is April 2025, when they played against the Florida Gators. This was the third time they finished as runners-up. Some of the NBA players the school has produced are Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Clyde Drexler and Michael Young.
Duke University – Duke Blue Devils
With a 35-4 record and 1,402 points, Duke University joins the list of the best basketball colleges in the United States. The school has won five NCAA championships, with the last coming in 2015. The others came in 1991, 1992, 2001, and 2010. Some Duke alumni who play in the NBA include Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram and Gary Trent Jr.
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Auburn University – Auburn Tigers
Even though Auburn University has yet to win an NCAA championship, it remains one of the best basketball colleges in the country. It has a 32-6 record with 1,343 points, ranking fourth in the AP’s ranking. It has reached the NCAA tournament Final Four twice: 2019 and 2025. Some of its most successful players are Isaac Okoro, Chuma Okeke and Herbert Jones.
Tennessee University – Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee University has a 30-8 record and 1,220 points, ranking fifth in the best basketball colleges in the NCAA Division I. While it hasn’t played in the Final Four, it has appeared thrice in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2010, 2024 and 2025.
Apart from that, they have been Conference Tournament Champions five times, 12 Conference regular-season champions, and five Conference Division regular-season champions. Some of its popular players include Grant Williams, Josh Richardson, and Jaden Springer.
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Alabama University – Alabama Crimson Tide
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Alabama University sits sixth in the ranking of the best basketball colleges with a 28-9 record and 1,198 points. In 2024, it reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time and won the conference tournament championship, the conference regular-season championship, and the conference division regular-season championship. Some of its notable players include Brandon Miller, Collin Sexton, Keon Ellis and Herbert Jones.
Michigan State – Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans have won the NCAA Championship twice, in 1979 and 2000. Apart from this, they’ve won the Conference tournament and the conference regular season. Some of its notable players are Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges and Gary Harris.
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Texas Tech – Texas Tech Red Raiders
In 2019, Texas Tech was the NCAA tournament runner-up, and it’s the furthest they have gone in the competition. Despite that, they have been successful at the conference tournament and the conference regular season. Some of its notable players are Jarrett Culver, Andre Emmett, and Rick Bullock.
Maryland – Maryland Terrapins
Maryland has a 27-9 record and 923 points, making it the ninth-best basketball college team. The team has won one NCAA Championship in its history in 2002. Other than that, the Maryland Terrapins have four conference tournament champions and conference regular-season champions. Kevin Huerter, Jalen Smith, and Aaron Wiggins are alumni of the school.
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The University of Michigan – Michigan Wolverines
The University of Michigan ranks among the best basketball colleges in the United States. In 1989, it won its only NCAA Championship to date, but has won the conference tournament and the conference regular-season. Notable players who’ve made it into the NBA include Cade Cunningham, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner.
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