The 75 best players in college basketball’s transfer portal

Written By Aaron Torres

Well people, we've reached that magical time of the spring on the college hoops calendar.

The games have ended and Michigan is your national champion.

But now, the real fun begins: It's portal season baby!

That's right, with the portal now in full swing, it's time to release our list of "Best Players" in the portal.

To be clear, this list is ever-evolving and fluid, combining both players who are still in the portal and those who have already committed to other schools.

Still, it's designed to give you a snapshot of who is available, who is off the board and what it means for the 2026-2027 college basketball season.

Now, let's get to our "Best Players Available" list.

1) Flory Bidunga, F/C, Kansas (committed to Louisville)

Bidunga is a pretty industry-consensus No. 1 player in the portal. And while you know I don’t like to go with group think in general, this is one where the consensus is right: Bidunga is the best player to have entered the transfer portal so far.

The 6’10 forward blossomed into one of the best big men in college hoops this year and I would argue, the most improved player anywhere in the country. On the season, Bidunga averaged 13.3 points per game, nine rebounds per contest and 2.6 blocks per game, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Early in the portal cycle, Bidunga made the semi-shocking move to pick Louisville over other suitors like Michigan, Duke and others and instantly gives Louisville the interior toughness they lacked last season. He technically declared for the NBA Draft as well, although given what Louisville will reportedly pay him next season, it seems unlikely he will seriously pursue the professional ranks.

The Cards officially have their bedrock down low.

2) John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin (committed to Duke)

Put simply, Blackwell is just not the type of player you traditionally see enter the portal, as a superstar player, straight from a successful high-major team.

Therefore, what is Wisconsin’s loss is the portal’s gain, as the 6’4 guard will now transfer after averaging 19.1 points , 5.1 rebounds per game, all while shooting 38.9 percent from behind the three-point arc. And it’s not like Blackwell padded his stats against inferior competition either, as he scored 31 in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal win over Illinois, with another 22 in an NCAA Tournament loss to High Point.

Blackwell has now committed to Duke, where he should add some much needed scoring pop to a backcourt that largely lacked it last season. The Blue Devils are again trending as a preseason Top 5 team with him in the backcourt.

3) Juke Harris, F, Wake Forest

A big, 6’8 wing, Harris was one of the true breakout surprises of college basketball this season.

A year after averaging just 6.1 points in 19 minutes of play, Harris became a star at Wake Forest, averaging over 21 points per game, on 33 percent three-point shooting. He also averaged a very solid 6.5 rebounds per game from the wing spot, earning the ACC’s “Most Improved Player” this season.

Since entering the portal, he has visited Michigan, but now primarily seems to be linked mostly to North Carolina and Tennessee.

The presumption is that he will mostly likely commit to one of those schools, while also testing the NBA Draft waters.

Regardless, we expect him playing college basketball somewhere next year, we’re just not sure where.

4) Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor

We knew at least one big name would enter the portal right at the deadline, and Yessoufou was it, keeping all options open after entering the NBA Draft.

At this point, Yessoufou really only does one thing well, but it’s score the basketball - and he does it at an elite level. As a freshman this past year at Baylor, he averaged 17.8 points per game, with 12 20-point games and a 37-point performance against BYU as well.

Now in the portal his full focus is on the NBA Draft, but as a projected second rounder we could very well see him back in college basketball. A native of Benin (in Africa), Yessoufou played his high school ball in Southern California and UCLA is believed to be a leader in his services.


5) Milan Momcilivic, F, Iowa State

Outside of Bidunga, Momcilivic might be the most recognizable name in the portal, as a three-year starter on an Iowa State team that was seemingly always in contention during his time in Ames.

Now, instead of coming back for Year 4, he’ll instead enter the portal while also entering the NBA Draft.

It seems like the draft is the priority, but if he does come back, someone will get one of the best shooters in all of college basketball. Last season, Momcilivic averaged just under 17 points per game while hitting a staggering 48.9 percent from three. What’s even crazier is he hit that clip while also leading college basketball in total three point makes with 136 in 2025-2026. While Momcilivic certainly lacks in other areas (he can struggle on the defensive end), the shooting alone will make him one of the most coveted players available.

In terms of what’s next, again, the draft seems like the main priority.

If he does come back to college, there have been some early whispers about Florida - but that’s largely been unsubstantiated.

6) Massamba Diop, C, Arizona State (committed to Gonzaga)

While we may have Diop rated higher than some other services, the simple truth is: It’s basically impossible to find guys this big, and this athletic, who have also proven to be productive at the high-major level.

Originally from Senegal, the 7’1 Diop was phenomenal in his freshman year at Arizona State, averaging 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

He will now head to Gonzaga, where he is an anchor in the frontcourt and immediately makes the Zags’ a 2027 Final Four contender.


7) Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse (committed to St. John’s)

While so many of the players on this list are late-bloomers and mid-major stars, Freeman has been a known commodity since his early high school days.

The 6’8 forward is a former McDonald’s All-American, who largely lived up to the billing in his two years at Syracuse. While there wasn’t a lot of team success for the Orange, it’s hard to blame Freeman, who led Syracuse in scoring and rebounding this season with 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

At this point, the only thing holding Freeman back is his three-point shot, which came in around 30 percent this year. If he can find a consistent stroke from behind the line, we could be talking about him as a 2027 first round NBA Draft pick.

8) Paulius Murauskas, F/C, Saint Mary's (committed to Arizona State)

After originally beginning his career at Arizona, Murauskas found the right spot for him the last two years at Saint Mary’s, playing the role of a true power forward in Randy Bennett’s system.

This season he averaged 18.4 points per game and 7.6 rebounds, earning All WCC honors. That included a 26-point, 8 rebound effort against Santa Clara in the West Coast Conference tournament.

Admittedly, as a fourth year player Murauskas is largely a finished product and probably doesn’t have “star in a power conference” written all over him. But if you’re looking for a hyper productive big man, who’s been through the wars in college hoops, he’s your guy.

He has decided to follow former Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, where he is an immediately plug-and-play four man.

9) PJ Haggerty, G, Kansas State (committed to Texas A&M)

Our first player who is officially off the board, Haggerty committed to Texas A&M just a few days after the portal opened.

At this point, we know who Haggerty is, good and bad. He is a pure bucket-getter who has proven an ability to put the ball in the basket everywhere he goes, averaging 23 points per game on 35 percent three-point shooting this year. And while Kansas State didn’t win a lot of games with him this season, it’s hard to say that you can’t win with him, as Memphis won 30 times with Haggerty on their roster in the 2024-2025 season.

What will be fascinating is to see how his high-scoring approach fits into Bucky McMillan’s fast-paced system. It doesn’t feel hyperbolic to think that Haggerty could lead the country in scoring next season.

10) Isaiah Johnson, G, Colorado (committed to Texas)

Another player who came off the board early, Johnson was one of college basketball’s best stories in 2025-2026.

A 6’1 guard from Southern California, Johnson was the 184th ranked player in the class of 2025 yet burgeoned into a star in his one year at Colorado. This season he averaged 16.9 points and three assists per game as a freshman, all while shooting nearly 38 percent from three. And you can’t say he didn’t put up numbers against elite competition, as he went off for 28 points, three rebounds and five assists in a regular season finale against Big 12 champion Arizona.

He will now head to Austin, where he will be the floor general of what should be a preseason Top 25 Texas squad.

11) Jackson Shelstad, G, Oregon (committed to Louisville)

Another star point guard is on the move after Shelstad left Oregon after three seasons in 2026.

The 6’1 guard appeared in only 12 games because of injury, but still managed to average 15.6 points and 4.9 assists per game in those appearances. A season ago he averaged just under 14 points and three assists per game for a Ducks squad who made the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Shelstad became the second half of Louisville’s early portal haul and will team up with Flory Bidunga for one of the most lethal inside-outside combinations in college basketball next season.

12) Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara

You’ve either got to be a true college basketball sicko or NBA Draft nut to know Graves’ name, but in hoops circles, he is a guy that basketball people truly love.

After redshirting as a freshman in 2024-2025, he was solid this season at Santa Clara, averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play, to go along with nearly two steals and a block per game as well. He also shot 41 percent from behind the three-point arc at 6’9, earning All WCC first team honors despite the limited playing time.

Viewed by some as a long-term NBA Draft prospect, Graves has entered the NBA Draft, while also entering the portal as well.

If he comes back to school, expect Duke and LSU (he’s from Louisiana originally) to be his primary suitors.

13) Stefan Vaaks, G, Providence College (committed to Illinois)

A personal favorite of yours truly, Vaaks is one of those guys that popped consistently for a bad Providence College team.

Originally from Estonia, Vaaks was a true star for the Friars this year, as a big guard who averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 35 percent from three as a freshman in the Big East. He also had some of his best games against the Friars’ toughest competition, including 23 points and five assists against St. John’s in the Big East Tournament, and 25 points and four assists with five three-pointers made against Villanova earlier in the season.

Of course for as good as his offensive game is, it is worth noting that his defense needs a lot of work. Almost like Luka Doncic in the NBA, you have to build the perfect team around him to mask his defensive deficiencies, but his offense is so good it makes it worth it.

And the good news for Vaaks is he found a near-perfect landing spot committing to Illinois, where his play-making immediately replaces Keaton Wagler and his defensively liabilities should be covered up by what is expected to be one of the biggest frontlines in college basketball.




14) Acaden Lewis, G, Villanova (committed to Miami)

It was right around this time last year that Lewis - a former four-star, Top 30 or so guard in high school - decommitted from Kentucky and enrolled at Villanova.

It was a move that worked out very well for the lefty, who had the ball in his hands from Day 1 at Villanova and thrived. Again, as a freshman, Lewis averaged 12.2 points per game and 5.3 assists per game, earning All-Big East second team honors and helping the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament.

He is now headed to Miami, where he will be the lead guard and ball-handler on what could potentially be a Top 20 team in the country heading into next year.

15) Markus Burton, G, Notre Dame (committed to Indiana)

Burton was limited to just 10 games because of injury in 2025-2026, but a year ago was one of the best pure scorers in college basketball, averaging 21.5 points per game for the Irish. He also shot well over 37 percent from three and scored a staggering 23.5 points per game in ACC play (again, during the 2024-2025 season).

Admittedly you’ve got to take the good with the bad, and at 6’0 he can be a bit of a defensive liability.

But simply put, Indiana had no one who could make plays with the ball in his hands last year like Burton can, and he should be a fun watch in Bloomington in 2026-2027.

16) David Punch, F, TCU (committed to Texas)

Like Juke Harris and Isaiah Johnson above him, David Punch is another unfortunate reality of the new era of college hoops. After being identified as an under-recruited star by TCU as the 127th ranked player in the class of 2024, he broke out this season and will now hit the portal.

Welcome to college hoops in 2026!

Punch truly was one of the most underrated players in the Big 12, averaging 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. That included a 24-point, 10 rebound performance in a narrow Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas, and a 16-point, 13 rebound effort in the Horned Frogs NCAA Tournament opening win over Ohio State.

He is now headed to Texas, where he will team up with Matas Vokietaitis on one of college basketball’s best frontcourts in 2026-2027.

17) Aiden Sherrell, C, Alabama (committed to Indiana)

Last off-season Nate Oats made retaining Sherrell a priority early, but unfortunately this year, the calls of the portal - and the money that will go to an established big man - were too much to turn down for Sherrell.

A legit 6’11 center, Sherrell was one of the most versatile bigs in the sport this year. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. But of all the bigs in the portal, he might be the best combination of skilled (he made about 34 percent of his threes, on 80 attempts this season) with a defensive presence that allowed him to average 2.2 blocks per game.

He will now head to Indiana where he will play for a completely revamped Hoosiers roster in 2026-2027. With Samet Yigitoglu (you’ll see him on this list later) also committed, Sherrell could play a lot at the four-spot next season, giving the Hoosiers one of the bigger lineups in college hoops.

18) Sananda Fru, F/C, Louisville (committed to Marquette)

Fru is an interesting case study of a player who was solidly productive last season, but also drove the fan-base who rooted for him (Louisville) somewhat crazy in the process.

Still, what can’t be denied is that Fru is a 6’11 load in the paint, who averaged 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season, and did it in just 19 minutes of play per game.

While his offensive game is limited to within five feet, there simply aren’t that many guys his size, with his athleticism and length available. He should thrive playing in Shaka Smart’s up-tempo system at Marquette.

19) Somto Cyril, F/C, Georgia (committed to Miami)

Basically take the exact same things I said about Fru, change the name to Somto Cyril and you’ve basically got your write-up here.

Heading into his fourth season of college basketball, Cyril isn’t much of a scorer, but the one thing he does well is block shots at an insane clip. He led the SEC in the category this year, averaging 2.2 per game, to go along with just under 10 points and six rebounds per game.

Ultimately not every key guy in the portal has to be a 20-point per game scorer, and there simply aren’t many better rim protectors and low-post players available than Cyril.

He was a great early-portal snag by the Miami Hurricanes who need help in the frontcourt after the graduation of star Malik Reneau.

20) Dedan Thomas Jr., G, LSU (committed to Houston)

A year ago, Thomas was one of the first big stars off the board, committing to LSU early after spending two years at UNLV.

Fast-forward to 2026 and he is again off the board after one season in Baton Rouge.

To his credit, Thomas was everything that LSU could’ve asked for when they signed him a year ago. He averaged 15.9 points and 6.5 assists, with the Tigers going 12-4 in games in which he played. Unfortunately a January foot injury cost him the rest of his season, and maybe Matt McMahon his job, as the Tigers went just 3-13 in games he didn’t play.

Assuming he’s healthy Thomas is one of college basketball’s most productive guards, and he’ll certainly have a stage to showcase it. He has committed to Houston for his final season of college basketball.

21) Terrence Hill Jr., G, VCU (committed to Tennessee)

Put simply, Hill is one of the most dynamic lead guards available in this portal cycle.

Despite serving as the Rams’ sixth man this season, the 6’3 guard earned All A-10 first team honors, scoring 15 points per game on over 37 percent three-point shooting. And he saved his best game for college hoops’ biggest stage, going off for 34 points, five rebounds and five assists in the Rams’ stunner versus North Carolina in the opening round of the tournament.

Hill has now committed to Tennessee, where he is expected to have the ball in his hands - similar to the role Ja’Kobi Gillespie played last year.

22) Moustapha Thiam, C, Cincinnati (committed to Michigan)

Thiam is far from a finished product, but at 7’2 when it clicks, he’s as unique as any player in college hoops.

On the season, Thiam averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, pretty solid numbers in the Big 12. But he really did play his best late, scoring double-figures in eight of the Bearcats final nine games. That included an unforgettable 28 point performance in Cincinnati’s win over Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse and 18 and 16 in a Big 12 Tournament loss to UCF (ironically, where he began his career).

He now heads to Michigan where he is a pretty natural replacement for Aday Mara at the five.

The Wolverines won’t miss a BEAT next year in the frontcourt.

23) Neo Avdalas, G, Virginia Tech (committed to North Carolina)

Avdalas has maybe the most over-told story in the portal, but let’s tell it one more time anyway.

A year ago Avdalas was seen as a legitimate first round NBA Draft prospect and decided to try his hand at college basketball rather than stay overseas. He immediately became an early season darling, with a 33-point performance against Providence College that briefly had him shooting up draft boards. He eventually came back down to Earth, but still had a solid freshman season, averaging 12 points and nearly five assists for the Hokies this season.

While Avdalas isn’t super athletic and his shot needs work (31 percent this year) he is a college mismatch, as a 6’9 lead guard.

Once the portal opened, he became the first commit of new UNC coach Michael Malone, where the presumption is that he’ll have the ball in his hands Day 1 in Chapel Hill.

24) Elyjah Freeman, F, Auburn (committed to Texas)

Freeman was a buzzy D2 portal name a year ago, who had offers from virtually every major power conference team before ending up at Auburn.

And while the stats don’t blow you away, he largely lived up to expectations in Year 1 as a high-major player averaging 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in the SEC.

At 6’8 with athleticism and touch, he simply has tools you can’t teach and now a year of high-major basketball under his belt.

He is now headed to Texas, where he should naturally slide into the role of the departed Dailyn Swain.

25) JP Estrella, F, Tennessee (committed to Michigan)

Admittedly, I liked Estrella this season but didn’t love him, but we’re going to go ahead and give him the Dusty May bump here.

If Dusty May prioritizes you as a big man in the portal, honestly what does my opinion even matter?

Still, Estrella is a unique, versatile player standing at 6’11 with athleticism down low. He averaged a little over 10 points and five rebounds per game this season, with a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds) in the Vols NCAA Tournament opener against Miami (OH).

Ironically, his final game was against the Wolverines in the Elite Eight and not particularly good (seven points, seven rebounds) but May and Co. must have seen enough on tape to move quickly once he hit the portal.

26) Alex Wilkins, G, Furman (committed to Kentucky)

Wilkins is the mid-major guard du jour of the 2026 portal, the small school player everyone can’t help but love.

And it’s with good reason.

At 6’5 he is effective with the ball both on and off the ball, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists for the Paladins this season. That included an incredible 21-point effort against UConn in the NCAA Tournament, where he made 4 of 8 from behind the arc.

Wilkins has a bit of work to do in the shooting department (he shot just 32.8 percent this year) but he has the size and skill-set to thrive at the high-major level a season from now.

He will now head to Kentucky, where he should be excellent in Mark Pope’s offense as a versatile guard capable of playing on or off the ball.



27) Zoom Diallo, G, Washington (committed to Kentucky)

Diallo’s first name perfectly applies to his game, as a lightning quick guard who averaged nearly 16 points and five assists in the Big Ten this year at Washington.

He doesn’t shoot the three ball that well (31 percent) but other than that, does a lot of things you want to see from a point guard in this modern era.

He is now headed to Kentucky, where he is the first big splash of a crucial off-season for Mark Pope.

If Pope can surround Diallo and Wilkins with the right pieces around him (the focus is now the frontcourt), Diallo could go down as one of the more productive portal adds this off-season.

28) Matt Able, G/F, NC State (committed to North Carolina)

Able came in as a highly-rated five-star recruit that had a solid, if not spectacular year in Raleigh.

He averaged 8.8 points per game and shot 35 percent from three, proving to be a high-upside wing with plenty of long-term potential.

He now switches sides in the UNC-NC State rivalry, where Michael Malone will try to unlock the rest of his enormous potential in Chapel Hill.

29) Najai Hines, F, Seton Hall (committed to UConn)

If you simply look at the stats on Hines, you’ll be surprised to see him this high on the list.

But watch the tape. Look at the tools. Trust Dan Hurley. And realize Hines might be the steal of portal season.

And really, it starts with the back story.

Hines began as a highly-rated football recruit, beginning as a tight end with offers from several power conference schools. He eventually outgrew the sport (there aren’t that many 6’10 tight ends in the NFL) and came to basketball late. At Seton Hall this season he was an under-recruited five man who only got better as the season went on, averaging 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, along with over two blocks per game. Incredibly, he did all that in just 19 minutes played per game and played some of his best games late. That included an 11-point, 11 rebound game against UConn in Storrs, in the Huskies final home game of the regular season.

That is an especially important note, as the Huskies’ coaching staff clearly got to see up close and in person just how good this guy can be.

He will be really good and is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.

30) Karter Knox, G/F, Arkansas (committed to Louisville)

No, things didn’t go as planned for Karter Knox this year.

Yes, I still believe in the right system and fully healthy, he can be an impact player in college and play in the NBA some day.

A former McDonald’s All-American, Knox was once committed to John Calipari at Kentucky and then followed him to Arkansas. He was one of the key cogs on Calipari’s first run to the Sweet 16 in Fayetteville, averaging eight points per game on 38 percent three-point shooting. He played some of his best games late, including 20 points against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 and 16 points against St. John’s in a Round of 32 win.

After testing the draft waters and nearly staying in last spring, Knox’s numbers dropped as injuries and a lack of defined role torpedoed his sophomore campaign.

He now gets a fresh start on what should be a loaded Louisville team, alongside Bidunga, Shelstad.

If it all clicks, he could be an NBA Draft pick at this time next year.

31) Jalen Haralson, G, Notre Dame (committed to Tennessee)

A year ago Haralson committed to the Irish as a five-star, McDonald’s All-American and one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history.

And while the team didn’t find individual success, it’s hard to blame Haralson too much for the team’s flaws.

As a freshman in the ACC, the 6’5 wing averaged 16 points and just four rebounds with 2.6 assists per game.

His shot (20 percent from three) is the only thing keeping him from being an NBA Draft pick a year from now.

He will now be part of a revamped Tennessee roster which has several players on this list already committed.

32) Derek Dixon, G, North Carolina (committed to Arizona)

Dixon "only" averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, but if you watched North Carolina you know he was one of their best players late.

The 6’5 guard made his impact when it mattered most, with several big games late. That included 17 points vs. Duke to end the regular season, 16 vs. Clemson and 11 points, 5 rebounds and six assists in an NCAA Tournament loss to VCU.

If you needed further proof on just how good he is, just know that Michael Malone tried to keep him at UNC.

And that Tommy Lloyd hand selected him to replace Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley as Arizona’s starting point guard next year.

33) Terrence Brown, G, Utah (committed to North Carolina)

Brown has an awesome story, as a player who just two years ago was playing at Farleigh Dickinson and now will be playing for one of the biggest brands in college basketball.

In between Fairleigh Dickinson and committing to UNC this spring he spent last year at Utah, where he averaged 19.9 points per game.

He’s a bit of a high-volume guy and a somewhat undersized, but I actually like the fit next to Neo Avdalas (listed above) in Michael Malone’s first UNC backcourt.

34) Jeremiah Wilkinson, G, Georgia (committed to Arkansas)

Wilkinson does one thing, and one thing extremely well: My guy puts the ball in the basket!

The 6’1 guard originally from Georgia, transferred into UGA this season and immediately became one of the SEC’s most explosive scorers. On the year he averaged 17.1 points on over 35 percent three-point shooting, with multiple 30 point games. That included a 30-point performance against Saint Louis in the NCAA Tournament, in a game where he was one of the few Bulldogs who showed up ready to play.

After entering the portal, Wilkinson is now headed to Arkansas where he should be part of a fun and explosive backcourt that will include five-star Jordan Smith Jr., and could also include Meleek Thomas who is currently testing the NBA Draft waters.

Offensive explosiveness will NOT be an issue for the Razorbacks next season.

35) Miles Byrd, G, San Diego State (committed to Providence College)

Byrd’s offensive stats don’t jump out at you (10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game) but it’s on the defensive end where he makes his mark. Byrd averaged nearly two steals per game for the Aztecs this year, earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

As we said with Somto Cyril above, it’s not all solely just about putting the ball in the basket but the other side of the court as well, and Byrd might have been the best perimeter defender available in the portal this spring.

He was the first commitment of the new era for Bryan Hodgson at Providence College.

36) Collin Chandler, G, Kentucky (committed to BYU)

Originally a BYU commitment out of high school, Chandler followed Mark Pope to Kentucky for each of the last two seasons.

And while Year 1 was a semi-wash with Chandler coming off a Mormon mission, Year 2 he turned into a very valuable piece for the Wildcats. On the year he averaged 9.7 points on over 41 percent shooting from behind the three-point arc. That included several big games, including 18 points a piece in wins over Oklahoma and Texas during SEC play.

After two years in Lexington however Chandler decided to go home to Utah.

He should naturally plug into the wing spot vacated by former All-Big 12 guard Richie Saunders.

37) Nik Khamenia, F, Duke (committed to UConn)

A 6’8 forward originally from California, Khamenia made a bit of a surprise decision - choosing to transfer to UConn, which of course eliminated his former school Duke from this year’s NCAA Tournament.

While Khamenia doesn’t have the biggest stats (he averaged right around six points per game this year) the fit here is near perfect.

He should effortlessly slide into the role vacated by UConn legend Alex Karaban, who graduated after this year’s title game run.


38) Magoon Gwath, C, San Diego State (committed to DePaul)

Remember, how we just mentioned that Miles Byrd was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year this season?

Well, two seasons ago it was Gwath, who also earned Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors in 2024-2025 as well.

There must be something in the water in San Diego.

Bottom line is that Gwath kind of feels like the forgotten man of this portal cycle. A year ago he entered early and was coveted by all the big-name schools, before he eventually decided to return to San Diego State. This year, he had a productive, but injury-plagued 2025-2026 season, but still managed to average 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 19 minutes of play per game. And if you needed to see just how impactful he could be, look no further than the Mountain West Tournament, where he went for 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks vs. New Mexico and then 12 points, eight rebounds and a block the next day against Utah State.

Once in the portal, Gwath made the semi-stunning move to commit to DePaul, and if healthy could be the best defensive five-man in the Big East next year.

39) Jamier Jones, F, Providence College (committed to Missouri)

While Stefan Vaaks is the former Providence College Friar getting all the portal love, don’t sleep on just how good Jones was as a freshman in the Big East either.

A former Top 40 recruit, he averaged just under 12 points per game while shooting 35 percent from behind the three-point arc this season.

Jones had a couple huge games, including a 23-point performance against Villanova and 20-point effort against UConn and could outplay this ranking next year at Missouri.

40) Alvaro Folgueiras, F/C, Iowa (committed to Louisville)

Folgueiras was a major portal coup at this time last year, who had an up-and-down one season in Iowa City, capped by an epic NCAA Tournament run for the ages. He had arguably the biggest play of the Hawkeyes Sweet 16 win over Nebraska and averaged nearly 15 points per game in the first three games of the Big Dance.

But thanks to an inconsistent role (in part because of his inconsistent defense) Folgueiras is back in the portal.

Put simply, you won’t find many guys with his offensive gifts at 7-feet tall, and he has found a near perfect fit, playing alongside Flory Bidunga in the new-look Louisville offense.

41) Bryson Tiller, F, Kansas (committed to Missouri)

You could argue that of every player on Kansas involved in the on-again, off-again, will-he-play-or-won’t-he drama surrounding Darryn Peterson, Tiller got the worst of it all.

Early in Big 12 play when Peterson was playing limited minutes, Tiller thrived. He had a 21-point, 8 rebound game vs. BYU in January, and also tallied 18 points and eight boards vs. then No. 1 Arizona in a thrilling Big Monday win.

But as Peterson came back Tiller’s role fluctuated and we didn’t really see the best version of him down the stretch.

In a semi-surprising move he will now head to one of Kansas’ historic rivals Missouri, and on the other side of the famed “Border War.”

42) Keanu Dawes, F, Utah (committed to Kansas)

After beginning his career at Rice, Dawes spent the last two years at Utah, where he carved out a nice niche as a tough, hard-playing four man.

This past season was his best yet, averaging 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, rattling the rim with a bunch of thunderous dunks. His three-point shot also rounded out to a respectable 31.5 percent, shooting over 37 percent from behind the three-point arc in Big 12 play.

Ultimately he is just your old school, hard-playing four-man, the kind of player every team could use.

He will now head to Kansas, where he seems like a very natural replacement for the graduated Tre White.


43) Dellrecco Gillespie, F, Kent State (committed to Houston)

Sometimes it’s best to just not overthink a fit, and this feels like the exact time to do that.

Gillespie is an undersized, hard-playing four man who finished third in the nation in rebounding this season, averaging over 11 per game. He also averaged 17.7 points as well, with most coming in the paint.

While the transition may not be perfect in the rugged Big 12, if there’s one coach that feels like he can get the most out of a hard-playing, undersized big man with a nose for the basketball, it’s Kelvin Sampson and Houston.

Again, the fit just feels too perfect.

44) Eric Reibe, C, UConn (committed to USC)

A former McDonald’s All-American, Reibe largely served as a back-up to Tarris Reed this year and was expected to be the Huskies starting five man in 2026-2027.

But in this portal world we live in, he was simply offered money he couldn’t turn down if he entered the portal.

Now he will look for a fresh start after averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds a season ago. That included some big games when his number was called, including a 15-point performance against Arizona when Reed was out with injury.

He is officially off the board and headed to USC, where he will add size and physicality to Eric Musselman’s frontcourt for the Trojans.

45) KJ Lewis, G, Georgetown (committed to USC)

There’s a lot to like with Lewis, as a 6’4 bucket-getting guard. He spent his first two years at Arizona as largely a role player, before transferring to Georgetown this year where he became the Hoyas leading man. On the season he averaged a team-high 14.9 points, with 5.1 rebounds and over two assists and two steals per game.

Put simply, he’s an elite athlete and a two-way player who jumps passing lanes and creates chaos on defense.

The only question is exactly what the fit will look like at USC, where he will now be playing in a crowded backcourt that will likely include Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice as well.

46) Dwayne Aristode, F, Arizona (committed to Oregon)

Aristode is a player we are simply willing to bet on, even if the production in his one year in college didn’t totally show it.

A former Top 30 recruit in the 2025 high school class, Aristode is simply a forgotten man. He had knee surgery during his senior year of high school, then got buried on a stacked Arizona team this year.

Still, at 6’8 he has NBA size and strength on the wing, and could - in theory - guard three or four different positions on the court. He also showed just enough flashes during his season with the Wildcats to make us realize that in the right role, with the right team he could be an impact player… immediately next year.

During Final Four media availability we chatted with Aristode where he told us that he believed he showed “5 percent” of what he was capable of this season.

If true, Oregon is getting a HELL of a player in 2026-2027.

47) Darius Adams, G, Maryland (committed to NC State)

A former McDonald’s All-American, Adams originally committed to UConn out of high school, before flipping late to Maryland.

And in that one season, he was everything Terps fans could’ve hoped for, averaging 10.1 points and just under two assists a game for the Terps.

He eventually left, where he will play for Justin Gainey’s first NC State squad.

He doesn’t shoot the ball great (24 percent from three), but should be a solid, lead-guard initiator in what is an intriguing backcourt that includes returnee Paul McNeill and Christian Hammond, who you’ll see later on this list.

48) Chance Westry, F, UAB (committed to Xavier)

It’s been a long, winding road for Westry.

He’s a former four-star recruit in the class of 2022 (same year as guys like Anthony Black, Dereck Lively and others) who dealt with multiple season-ending injuries in stops at Auburn and Syracuse. Finally on the court this year and at full strength he was a star at UAB, averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 assists, leading the Blazers to a 20-win season.

With one season of eligibility left he’s headed back to the high-major level where he should have the ball in his hands at Xavier, and could be a breakout star in the Big East.

49) Oswin Erhunmwunse, C, Providence College (committed to Creighton)

A third former Providence College Friar on this list, one thing you can’t deny is that former head coach Kim English had an eye for talent.

Erhunmwunse isn’t a big scorer, but does just about everything else you could want out of a 6’11 big man, averaging over eight rebounds and two blocks per game this season.

He will stay in the Big East at Creighton, where he will give the Jays the rim protection they simply did not have a season ago after the departure of veteran Ryan Kalkbrenner.

50) Kayden Mingo, G, Penn State (committed to Baylor)

Mingo is one of the more interesting players in the portal for a number of reasons.

On the court he is a hard-playing lead guard, who averaged 13.7 points per game and 4.3 assists per contest on an otherwise forgettable Penn State team. His three-point shot needs work (just 24.4 percent) but no one can question his effort between the lines.

He is now headed to Baylor where he should have the ball in his hands and be the focal point of Scott Drew’s offense.

51) Tyler Lundblade, G, Belmont (committed to Tennessee)

Because Lundblade is a grad transfer, and because his former coach (Casey Alexander - now at Kansas State) left early, Lundblade was one of the first big names to come off the board in the portal.

And with good reason.

The 6’5 guard was the Missouri Valley Player of the Year this year, averaging 15.6 points on over 40 percent shooting from three.

Considering he only had one big season, and the fact that Belmont didn’t face a single high-major team this season, it’s hard to know just how effective he’ll be translating up to the next level.

But even if he’s just a consistent off-the-ball scorer, he’ll bring great value to another loaded Vols squad.

52) Mikey Lewis, G, Saint Mary’s (committed to Texas)

There is certainly a Texas Longhorns flavor to this list, as Lewis is the fourth different Longhorns commit in the Top 50-ish of this list.

And what I love about all of them, is that they play a specific role and have a specific fit for this team.

With Isaiah Johnson already committed in the lead guard spot, it means that Lewis can fully focus on playing off the ball and putting the ball in the basket. That’s exactly what Lewis did this year at Saint Mary’s, averaging 13.1 points per game on over 36 percent shooting from behind the three-point arc. And remember, he did it for a Saint Mary’s team that played one of the slowest tempos in all of college hoops.

Admittedly, on a loaded Texas team he will play a role.

But it’s the perfect role for him, and expect him to thrive.

53) Kwame Evans Jr., C, Oregon (committed to Villanova)

Evans was a one-time five-star, projected one and done talent in the class of 2023. While he never reached that ceiling in three years at Oregon, he did become a solid and serviceable college big man.

This season was his best, where he averaged over 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

He’ll now go to Villanova, where he’ll be the starting five-man on a retooling Wildcats roster.

54) Tomislav Buljan, F/C, New Mexico (committed to Maryland)

Buljan is just one of dozens of many impact European players who came over the last few years and had an immediate impact on college basketball.

In his only season at New Mexico, he averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game, helping the Lobos to the brink of the NCAA Tournament where they just missed out on an at-large berth.

Truth be told, Buljan isn’t super athletic and does most of his work within 10 feet from the basket.

At the same time, if there’s one coach who wants his bigs to play big in the post it’s Buzz Williams. And the fit here actually seems darn near perfect.

55) Samet Yigitoglu, C, SMU (committed to Indiana)

Like so many players on this part of the list, you know what you’re getting with Yigitoglu.

He’s a big, 7’2 center who does most of his damage in the paint. To his credit, he isn’t a plodding big, but quick with soft touch for a player in his size after averaging nearly 11 points and eight rebounds at SMU this season.

In the rugged Big Ten he will be a perfect fit for Indiana, which lacked a true five-man this past season.

56) Ace Glass, G, Washington State (committed to Vanderbilt)

Another player who we really like, but sort of question the fit is Glass, who has one of the more unique stories in the portal.

Coming out of high school a year ago, Glass was actually committed to Buzz Williams at Texas A&M, but when Williams left, rather than re-commit to a new high-major school, he decided to drop down a level to Washington State. There he became a bona-fide star, averaging 16 points on 34 percent three-point shooting, earning WCC Freshman of the Year a season ago.

At Wazzu he was an elite mid-major guard with the ball in his hands, and the assumption was he’d take on a similar role at his next stop.

Instead he now heads to Vanderbilt, which also has an undersized elite guard in Tyler Tanner.

So ultimately we do question the fit. But we also trust Mark Byington to figure it all out as well.

57) Jaylen Petty, G, Texas Tech (committed to UCLA)

Jaylen Petty was an energy-giving bucket getter for Texas Tech this year, averaging 9.9 points per game while taking most of his field goal attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

Ultimately, there’s no doubt he can score, putting up 24 points vs. Akron in the NCAA Tournament, 18 in a win over Houston and 20 earlier in the season against Houston as well.

The question is, does he do much else other than hit threes, and is… umm… UCLA the right system for him?

And that last part is the interesting one.

Look, we love the player, but does “undersized guard who takes more than 50 percent of his shots beyond the three-point arc” scream “Mick Cronin player” to you?!

We’re not saying it can’t work.

Just that it will be interesting to monitor.

58) Tyrone Riley IV, F, San Francisco (committed to Oregon)

Riley is a toolsy, big wing who a year ago entered the transfer portal and received significant high-major interest. The belief was in the right system, and with a year of development he was a potential NBA Draft type pick in the 2026 cycle.

But instead of transferring he returned to San Francisco, where unfortunately his stats largely plateaued.

On the season, the 6’8 Riley averaged 12.2 points and nearly five rebounds per game, while shooting 36 percent from behind the three-point arc. With his length, he also has the upside to be an elite wing defender.

After withdrawing from the portal last year he re-entered in 2026 and landed at Oregon, where we’ll see how those tools translate to the Big Ten.

59) Cruz Davis, G, Hofstra (committed to Texas Tech)

It’s been a long, winding road for Cruz Davis.

A Texas native, Davis began his career with Rick Pitino at Iona, before transferring to St. John’s where he didn’t really see the court. He eventually ended up at Hofstra, where he developed into the star of an NCAA Tournament team, averaging over 20.1 points and nearly five assists per game this season, while shooting over 40 percent.

He will now be back in Texas where he should get big minutes on a Red Raiders team that needs plenty of help in the backcourt.

60) Cole Cloer, F, NC State (committed to Alabama)

Cloer is a unique player on this, from the perspective that he is a transfer portal commit… who has never actually played college basketball.

A Top 25 recruit in the class of 2026, Cloer committed to NC State and then enrolled for the spring semester while recovering from injury. And when Will Wade left, he decided to enter his name in the transfer portal, where he ended up at Alabama.

At 6’7 and with an ability to stretch the floor, he is a near perfect three-man for Nate Oats system.

While it’s hard to know exactly how rusty he will be, when Wade, Oats and Dan Hurley recruited him out of high school (NC State, Alabama and UConn were his final three) it feels safe to bet on the upside.

61) Christian Hammond, F, Santa Clara (committed to NC State)

While Allen Graves was the high-level NBA Draft prospect on Santa Clara’s NCAA Tournament team this year, Hammond was its most consistent player.

The 6’6 guard originally from Colorado averaged just under 16 points per game, while shooting nearly 40 percent from the field. That included some big games late, including 24 points in a WCC Championship game loss to Gonzaga.

He now heads to Raleigh, where he’s the first big pick-up of the Justin Gainey era at NC State.

62) Michael Nwoko, F/C, LSU (committed to Xavier)

Because of Matt McMahon’s firing shortly after the season, Nwoko was one of the first players to officially hit the portal… and one of the first to come off the board.

The 6’10 Nwoko doesn’t do much other than play hard and compete around the rim, but there simply aren’t too many guys with his size and athleticism available when the portal opens in April.

After averaging 13 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, he now heads to the Big East where he will add the size and toughness that Xavier frankly lacked a season ago.

63) Mo Sylla, F/C, Georgia Tech (committed to West Virginia)

A former Top 15 prospect in the class of 2025, you’re betting largely on upside with Sylla - who was limited to just 16 games in his one college season due to injury.

Still, in those 16 games Sylla showed flashes of what he can be, averaging just under 10 points, with seven rebounds and over one block per game in just 21 minutes of play.

His numbers and time on the floor noticeably ticked down as Georgia Tech transitioned to ACC play, so we’ll see how it translates when asked to play a full season in the rugged Big 12.

64) Mo Dioubate, F, Kentucky (committed to LSU)

Will Wade’s first commitment at LSU is a veteran of the wars of the SEC, having played at both Alabama and Kentucky.

As a fourth-year player you know what you’re going to get from Dioubate, as a hard-playing, undersized four who averaged 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Wildcats last year.

He should have plenty of opportunity to put up even better stats on an LSU team that, as of now, just doesn’t have all that much around him.

65) Isiah Harwell, G/F, Houston (committed to Gonzaga)

This is simply a pedigree play, as Harwell was at one time deemed to be a Top 10 prospect in the loaded 2025 recruiting class, ranked right alongside the AJ Dybantsa’s and Darryn Peterson’s of the world.

Unfortunately a knee injury cost him his senior year of high school, and he never seemed to fully get into the rhtyhm of things in his one year at Houston.

Now, he’ll look to bounce back with the Zags, the school who finished second in his original high school recruitment.

If it pops, Mark Few got him an NBA caliber and potential star in the new-look Pac-12 next season.

66) Finley Bizjack, G, Butler (committed to West Virginia)

Bizjack was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise forgettable Butler team.

On the season he averaged 17 points per game on 35 percent three-point shooting, a shooting percentage that was actually a bit down from a season ago.

He should be a very solid addition to a rapidly improving West Virginia squad that should be much improved in 2026-2027.

67) Devin Vanterpool, G, Florida Atlantic (committed to Providence)

It’s been a busy off-season for new Providence coach Bryan Hodgson, and he got one of the most underrated scorers in the portal.

Vanterpool spent the last two years at Florida Atlantic, where he averaged 15.8 points on 34 percent three-point shooting in the American this year.

Ironically (or maybe not) his final game of the season came in mid-February where he went off for 26 points, on 3 of 7 from behind the arc against South Florida… a team which was of course coached by Hodgson.

Hodgson saw the talent up close and in person.

Now he gets to coach it in the Big East.

68) Dai Dai Ames, G, Cal (committed to Tennessee)

There’s nothing flashy about Ames’ game, he’s simply a hard-playing lefty guard, who gets downhill and attacks the basket.

Having played at three schools in three years, Ames had his best season this past year at Cal where he averaged just under 17 points per game.

My only question about Ames is where he fits with the rest of the group that Rick Barnes has put together.

He has a lot of positional and skill overlap with VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr., and I do wonder if there is a way they can both play together.

Bluntly, I liked this commitment much more before Hill Jr. came on board.

69) Gavin Doty, G, Siena (committed to Syracuse)

Doty was the bedrock of McNamara’s NCAA Tournament team at Siena last season, averaging 18 points for the Saints. That included a 21-point performance against Duke in Siena’s NCAA Tournament opening round loss and 23 in a MAAC title game win over Merrimack.

While the shooting needs work (just 32 percent this season), he should transition nicely up a level in the same role as a hard-playing guard for McNamara’s first Syracuse squad.

70) Luka Bogavac, G/F, North Carolina (committed to Oklahoma State)

It was an up-and-down couple months for Bogavac, who committed in late May, didn’t arrive until late spring and wasn’t cleared by the NCAA until the day of UNC’s first regular season game.

Once cleared though, he largely showed why he was a hot commodity coming from overseas, averaging just under 10 points per game on 35 percent three-point shooting. And he was especially good late, scoring double-figures in seven of Carolina’s final 12 ACC games.

After publicly saying he planned to come back to North Carolina, he entered the portal (probably with a nudge from Michael Malone) and will now head to Stillwater.

We think there’s another level for his game to go in Year 2 playing US college basketball, and he should have plenty of opportunities on a Cowboys squad that simply won’t have a lot of other pieces around him.

71) Xavion Staton, C, BYU (committed to Oregon State)

This is a total upside play (you’ll see a few of these the rest of this list) on Staton.

A former Top 25 recruit in the class of 2025, Staton appeared in just nine games last season for the Cougs thanks to injuries.

But at 6’11 there just aren’t that many guys his size, that move this well, with this much upside.

He should thrive in the new-look Pac-12 playing in a league with the likes of Gonzaga, San Diego State and others.

72) Wes Enis, G, South Florida (committed to Creighton)

Enis was a star at South Florida under former Bulls head coach Bryan Hodgson, leading the Bulls to American regular season and conference tournament titles.

On the season he averaged 16 points on 35 percent shooting from three this season.

He’s a bit undersized and struggled against the length of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament (he had just four points) so it will be interesting to he transitions at the high major level.

73) Leroy Blyden Jr., G, Toledo (committed to Kansas)

Blyden Jr. is an intriguing piece added by Kansas earlier in the portal cycle.

A 6’1 guard, Blyden is a little bit undersized, but managed to averaged 16 points per game as a freshman in the MAC this season.

To me, he feels more like a bench piece this year (with Taylen Kinney coming to Lawrence) who could eventually evolve into a nice multi-year piece.

We don’t talk enough in the portal about recruiting players with multiple years of eligibility, but this feels like the kind of guy who could evolve into a star for the Jayhawks a couple years from now.

74) Jaylen Carey, F, Tennessee (committed to Missouri)

Another player who’s fit you simply don’t have to overthink.

Carey played the role of tough, physical low post presence for Tennessee this year, and in a frontcourt that will feature the versatile Bryson Tiller and freshman Toni Bryant, that’s exactly what he should do next year in CoMo.

Just a nice, veteran fit that makes sense for both player and team.

75) Drew Scharnowski, F, Belmont (committed to Duke)

We’re throwing Scharnowski in here much less based on the production we expect next year, but instead based on the clearly defined role he’ll play.

The 6’9 Scharnowski aveaged 10 points and six rebounds per game this year, helping the Bruins to one of the best regular season records in the sport.

While the production won’t be huge, he should immediately slot into the back-up big man spot that Maliq Brown played the last two seasons, adding toughness and physicality to the Blue Devils’ frontcourt.

Aaron Torres
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