College basketball rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 for 2019-20

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a play against the Auburn Tigers during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Kansas was lucky enough to get one of the best transfers on the market last season in Memphis’ Dedric Lawson. He led the team in scoring with 19.4 points as well as 10.3 rebounds, shooting 49 percent from the field. He was a major question mark heading into the offseason, but he declared for the NBA draft on Monday afternoon.

Without Lawson and departing senior Lagerald Vick, the Jayhawks will be looking for two new leading scorers, but Udoka Azubuike should be back as well as talented freshman Devon Dotson. The former played just nine games in 2018-19 due to injury while Dotson appeared in every contest.

Quentin Grimes also had a strong freshman season and could be one of the best guards in the Big 12 as a sophomore along with Ochai Agbaji and soon-to-be junior Marcus Garrett.

Bill Self’s incoming recruiting class ranks in the 50-60 range, so don’t expect his incoming freshmen to have major impacts but there are enough quality pieces to lock up a strong starting lineup with 2-3 role players coming off the bench.

Lawson’s departure isn’t going to be an easy pill to swallow, but this team should be just fine with almost everyone else back.