Colleges With Men's Basketball Teams
587 four-year programs, and how many players each one loses after this season.
- players leave a typical team
- 4
- lose a guard
- 93%
2026-27 rosters, read September 29, 2026
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Most players leaving
Across D1, D2, D3 and NAIA. Players leaving are players in their last season on the 2026-27 roster.
D2Georgian
Lakewood, NJ
11players leaving
Positions
D3Methodist
Fayetteville, NC
11players leaving
Positions
NAIAGovernors State University
University Park, IL
10players leaving
Positions
D2Frostburg State
Frostburg, MD
9players leaving
Positions
NAIAOttawa KS
Ottawa, KS
9players leaving
Positions
D2Tampa
Tampa, FL
9players leaving
Positions
See which positions each school needs.
Roster Needs is part of Pro. It shows the positions each school is losing, so you can email the coaches who need your position.
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Questions
How many colleges have men's basketball teams?
NextCommit's coach data lists 1,169 four-year colleges with men's basketball teams for 2026-27: 347 D1, 286 D2, 328 D3 and 208 NAIA programs. Another 496 junior colleges have teams. These pages show the 587 four-year programs whose 2026-27 rosters we could read in full on September 29, 2026.
How many players does a four-year men's basketball program lose each year?
The typical four-year men's basketball program on this list has 4 players in their last season on its 2026-27 roster. Guards are the most common opening: 93% of these programs lose at least one, then forwards at 81%.
What does "players leaving" mean?
Players in their last season on the college's 2026-27 roster page: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, and sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks do not change the count. Their spots open for recruits who start college in 2027.
Does a player leaving mean an open scholarship?
No. It means a roster spot the coaches have to refill, with high school recruits, transfers or walk-ons. How much athletic aid comes with a spot depends on the level, and Division III schools give none. Some players also get an extra year through a waiver.
Which positions does each school need?
That is Roster Needs, part of NextCommit Pro. It shows the positions each school is losing and filters your coach list to the programs that need your position. This page shows each school's total only.
How should I use this list?
Find schools at your level with players leaving, check which level fits you with the free Men's Basketball Recruit Score, then email the head coach or recruiting coordinator with your highlight film, stats, schedule and GPA. Follow up when you have something new to share.
How often is this data updated?
NextCommit reads college roster pages twice a year, after fall and spring rosters are posted. This page shows the September 29, 2026 read of 2026-27 rosters. Schools we could not read in full join the list when a later read passes.
How we got these numbers
We read each college's own roster page on September 29, 2026. Players leaving are players in their last season on the 2026-27 roster: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, and sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks don't change the count.
This list shows 587 of the 1,169 programs in NextCommit's coach data (50%). Schools whose roster we couldn't read in full aren't listed yet. We call a list complete when we can read at least 75% of its rosters.
Divisions are for the 2026-27 season. Saint Francis (PA) is listed in Division III, where it moved in 2026-27.
A player leaving is a spot to refill, not a scholarship offer. Coaches also fill spots from the transfer portal, some players get an extra year, and a roster page can lag behind the team. Use the numbers to decide where to look, then ask the coach.
Last updated November 3, 2026.
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