Braden Smith, AJ Dybantsa Headline 2025 AP Preseason MCBB All-American Team

Purdue's Braden Smith was named a unanimous men's preseason All-American on Monday, per the Associated Press, and was joined on the first team by Texas Tech's JT Toppin (52 votes), Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (30 votes), BYU's much-hyped freshman AJ Dybantsa (22 votes) and Florida's Alex Condon (16 votes).

"That's just how Purdue has always been, how every player has always been," Smith said about his decision to return to school after being an All-American last season. "[Head coach Matt Painter] recruits players recruits the same people and that's how they think, how we think. We always want to be a part of a program like this, a culture like this."

Smith averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals for the Boilermakers last season, leading them to the Sweet 16. His return for his senior season is a major reason why Purdue was ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press' preseason men's basketball poll.

Houston is No. 2 on that poll, followed by Florida, UConn and St. John's. Toppin's Texas Tech is ranked No. 10, Lendeborg's Wolverines are No. 7 and Dybantsa's BYU is ranked No. 8.

Toppin returns to Texas Tech after averaging 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Red Raiders in his first season with the team following a transfer from New Mexico. His arrival helped fuel a run to the Elite Eight before losing to Condon's Flordia, the eventual champions.

Condon was fantastic for the Gators last season, putting up 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, including his fantastic showing in the title game (12 points, seven rebounds, four steals). He'll once again patrol the paint for Florida in 2025-26.

Dybantsa was the No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2025, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings, behind only Kansas' Darryn Peterson. It was Dybantsa who got the preseason All-American nod, however, and both players will be closely monitored as the two favorites to go No. 1 overall in next year's NBA draft.

Lendeborg is entering his first season with Michigan after transferring from UAB, where he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game last season.

The 2025-26 men's college basketball season kicks off on Monday, Nov. 3.