Arizona finds itself top 10 in ESPN’s latest way-too-early 2026-27 rankings

The Arizona Wildcats are viewed as a top-10 squad heading into the 2026-27 season, but head coach Tommy Lloyd still has a major roster hole to fill.

According to ESPN’s latest “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 rankings released Monday by insider Jeff Borzello, Arizona came in at No. 10.

Borzello’s rankings were later updated on Tuesday after Arizona missed out in the Milan Momcilovic sweepstakes, but Borzello kept Arizona’s spot unchanged.

Kentucky vaulted from outside the top 25 to No. 17 in Borzello’s rankings with the addition of Momcilovic.

The biggest pieces of news for Arizona in the past week have been freshman forward Koa Peat remaining in the NBA draft ahead of last Wednesday’s deadline to withdraw and Momcilovic picking the Wildcats of Kentucky over Arizona and Louisville on Monday evening.

Without the addition of Momcilovic and with Peat’s departure, there is a void at the power forward position Lloyd must address.

But despite the uncertainty, Borzello projects Arizona to field a formidable starting lineup anchored by returning starters Ivan Kharchenkov (10.4 PPG) and Motiejus Krivas (10.4 PPG). They will be joined by five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt, the No. 3 overall recruit in the ESPN Next 100.

Borzello suggested freshman wing Cameron Holmes could start but that could change if Arizona brings in a starting-caliber international prospect.

The ESPN insider sees Lloyd looking to his familiar international recruiting pipeline as a way to bolster the roster before November.

Similarly, after Carter Bryant departed for the NBA draft last season, Arizona announced the signing of Ivan Kharchenkov to play the small forward position, a deal that had been in the works for a while as Kharchenkov finished up his season with Bayern Munich.

With many European professional leagues beginning their respective postseasons, Arizona could pivot again and sign an international player to help fill Peat’s shoes.

Elsewhere in Borzello’s list, Florida took the spot, followed by Duke, Michigan, Illinois and UConn to round out the top five.

What could Arizona’s starting lineup look like?

ESPN projections list these five as the starters under Lloyd:

• G Derek Dixon
• G Caleb Holt
• F Cameron Holmes
• F Ivan Kharchenkov
• C Motiejus Krivas

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