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<\/p>\nApril 9, 2026Updated 7:39 am EDT<\/p>\n
Michigan just won the national championship with five starters who began their careers elsewhere. College free agency has become an integral part of roster building, and the ability to make quick assessments on players is as important as ever.<\/p>\n
At The Athletic, we try to give insightful, researched analysis of the best players available, using film, occasional input from coaches or NBA scouts and our own prior knowledge to shape our scouting reports and rankings. We consider remaining eligibility, positional scarcity \u2014 so wings with size and bigs are more valuable than a scoring guard \u2014 and the ability to contribute to winning. Counting stats matter, but they\u2019re not everything.<\/p>\n
These rankings will be continuously updated, with more players entering the portal by the hour. We will also look for players we may have missed and may make some changes to rankings based on new information.<\/p>\n
Here are the best of the best available in 2026:<\/p>\n
Position Center Forward Guard Wing<\/p>\n
Availability In Portal Signed<\/p>\n
Pre-committment Team Alabama Arizona State BYU Belmont Cincinnati Colorado Duke Furman Georgia Kansas Kansas State NC State North Carolina Notre Dame Oregon Penn State Providence Saint Mary’s San Diego State Seton Hall Syracuse TCU Tennessee VCU Villanova Virginia Tech Wake Forest Wisconsin<\/p>\n
Post-committment Team Tennessee Volunteers <\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-10 Wt: 235<\/p>\n
Bidunga is the best player in the transfer portal and will likely be the best player in the portal when all the dust settles. The Big 12\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year had a real case as the most versatile defender in college basketball this season. The 6-foot-10 Congolese big man plays hard all of the time and set the tone for Kansas this season with that constant source of energy. He can slide with guards in a variety of ball-screen coverages, from straight switches to blitzes or hard hedges. Or, he can play in drop and does a solid job of swallowing up drivers by using his long arms. Bidunga led the Big 12 in blocks at 2.6 per game. Bidunga was definitely in my personal top-three defenders this season.<\/p>\n
Offensively, things are more complicated. Bidunga largely knows his role and only took nine shots per game this season. He\u2019s an elite offensive rebounder who creates chances for himself. As a post player, Bidunga\u2019s go-to move is a lefty hook shot from within six. By and large, he does take advantage of his opportunities at the rim. Just don\u2019t expect to call on him to do more than that. His hands can let him down occasionally, and while he\u2019s not a selfish player, I wouldn\u2019t say that he diagnoses the court quickly. <\/p>\n
Bidunga is also declaring for the draft. He\u2019s seen as a potential late first-round or early second-round pick, with questions about his offensive fit and size as a center. If he does decide to return to school, he\u2019ll very likely make at least double what he\u2019d be projected to get in the NBA next season.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-10 Wt: 235<\/p>\n
Bidunga is the best player in the transfer portal and will likely be the best player in the portal when all the dust settles. The Big 12\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year had a real case as the most versatile defender in college basketball this season. The 6-foot-10 Congolese big man plays hard all of the time and set the tone for Kansas this season with that constant source of energy. He can slide with guards in a variety of ball-screen coverages, from straight switches to blitzes or hard hedges. Or, he can play in drop and does a solid job of swallowing up drivers by using his long arms. Bidunga led the Big 12 in blocks at 2.6 per game. Bidunga was definitely in my personal top-three defenders this season.<\/p>\n
Offensively, things are more complicated. Bidunga largely knows his role and only took nine shots per game this season. He\u2019s an elite offensive rebounder who creates chances for himself. As a post player, Bidunga\u2019s go-to move is a lefty hook shot from within six. By and large, he does take advantage of his opportunities at the rim. Just don\u2019t expect to call on him to do more than that. His hands can let him down occasionally, and while he\u2019s not a selfish player, I wouldn\u2019t say that he diagnoses the court quickly. <\/p>\n
Bidunga is also declaring for the draft. He\u2019s seen as a potential late first-round or early second-round pick, with questions about his offensive fit and size as a center. If he does decide to return to school, he\u2019ll very likely make at least double what he\u2019d be projected to get in the NBA next season.\n<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200<\/p>\n
Harris was one of the better pure wing scorers in the nation, drilling a bevy of incredibly difficult shots due to the lack of help he had around him this season. But more than just the sheer volume, it was the way Harris scored that has NBA scouts highly intrigued. Harris got to the line an awful lot, averaging 7.1 free throw attempts per game largely off of straight line drives. Harris also started to show some real dexterity as a ball-screen scorer who could create his own momentum or could be used in dribble-hand-offs to attack. On top of that, Harris also showed real talent for hitting shots off screening actions, drilling 40 percent of his 3s in that situation, as well as making 12 midrange jumpers. <\/p>\n
Yes, Harris needs to improve the way he sees the court as a passer and decision-maker. He took an awful lot of tough shots this season, often when teammates were open. Additionally, the amount of offensive load seemed to wear on him defensively, as he wasn\u2019t always the most engaged off-ball defender. But if you put him next to better talent around him, I\u2019m betting we see Harris average fewer than 20 points, but his efficiency will skyrocket.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200<\/p>\n
Harris was one of the better pure wing scorers in the nation, drilling a bevy of incredibly difficult shots due to the lack of help he had around him this season. But more than just the sheer volume, it was the way Harris scored that has NBA scouts highly intrigued. Harris got to the line an awful lot, averaging 7.1 free throw attempts per game largely off of straight line drives. Harris also started to show some real dexterity as a ball-screen scorer who could create his own momentum or could be used in dribble-hand-offs to attack. On top of that, Harris also showed real talent for hitting shots off screening actions, drilling 40 percent of his 3s in that situation, as well as making 12 midrange jumpers. <\/p>\n
Yes, Harris needs to improve the way he sees the court as a passer and decision-maker. He took an awful lot of tough shots this season, often when teammates were open. Additionally, the amount of offensive load seemed to wear on him defensively, as he wasn\u2019t always the most engaged off-ball defender. But if you put him next to better talent around him, I\u2019m betting we see Harris average fewer than 20 points, but his efficiency will skyrocket.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 200<\/p>\n
One half of the highest-scoring backcourt in the country, Blackwell will hit the transfer portal and look for a new home after a third-team All-Big Ten season in what was the most loaded conference in college basketball. Blackwell is a proven big-game player; in the last two seasons, in his three NCAA Tourney games, Blackwell is averaging 20.7 points per game while shooting efficiently from the field. He\u2019s morphed into a high-volume sniper from distance, drilling 38.9 percent from 3 on over seven attempts per game this season. He\u2019s absolutely lethal off of the catch and on the move, hitting 44.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this year, showing the ability to make them in spot-ups, off of hand-offs or off screens. He\u2019s also absolutely lethal as a trailer. I also think he can be physical and tough on defense when it\u2019s required.<\/p>\n
What are the downsides? Well, Blackwell has never really turned into a point guard, which means that you\u2019re probably going to have to play him next to a real ballhandler to get the most out of your lineups, which also means the team could be a touch smaller when he\u2019s on the court. Having said that, Blackwell is a proven high-major all-conference player, and those players are in short supply. He will be paid handsomely for the certainty he provides an organization that pays him.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 200<\/p>\n
One half of the highest-scoring backcourt in the country, Blackwell will hit the transfer portal and look for a new home after a third-team All-Big Ten season in what was the most loaded conference in college basketball. Blackwell is a proven big-game player; in the last two seasons, in his three NCAA Tourney games, Blackwell is averaging 20.7 points per game while shooting efficiently from the field. He\u2019s morphed into a high-volume sniper from distance, drilling 38.9 percent from 3 on over seven attempts per game this season. He\u2019s absolutely lethal off of the catch and on the move, hitting 44.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this year, showing the ability to make them in spot-ups, off of hand-offs or off screens. He\u2019s also absolutely lethal as a trailer. I also think he can be physical and tough on defense when it\u2019s required.<\/p>\n
What are the downsides? Well, Blackwell has never really turned into a point guard, which means that you\u2019re probably going to have to play him next to a real ballhandler to get the most out of your lineups, which also means the team could be a touch smaller when he\u2019s on the court. Having said that, Blackwell is a proven high-major all-conference player, and those players are in short supply. He will be paid handsomely for the certainty he provides an organization that pays him.\n<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference Upside<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-1Wt: 183<\/p>\n
Wright is capable of being a primary scorer, and that could be what he desires. He is one of the best downhill drivers in the sport and has the speed to get into the paint often. He\u2019s best when he can get his shoulder into his defender near the basket to create space for himself to get off a shot. He is undersized and does get his shot blocked a lot around the basket. He\u2019s always looking to score, and passing is usually a backup plan. <\/p>\n
Wright made strides this year as a 3-point shooter, making 57 at a 41 percent clip after shooting just 34.9 percent as a freshman.He benefited from playing with AJ Dybantsa and shot 45.7 percent on spot-ups. He may not get as many catch-and-shoots as he got again in his career. Defensively, he has good lateral quickness and the strength to be a good point-of-attack defender if he wants to be. I\u2019m not sure the effort is always there.\n<\/p>\n
The floor is high for Wright overall. He is going to put up numbers. The next step for him is he needs to show he can win at a high level. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-1Wt: 183<\/p>\n
Wright is capable of being a primary scorer, and that could be what he desires. He is one of the best downhill drivers in the sport and has the speed to get into the paint often. He\u2019s best when he can get his shoulder into his defender near the basket to create space for himself to get off a shot. He is undersized and does get his shot blocked a lot around the basket. He\u2019s always looking to score, and passing is usually a backup plan. <\/p>\n
Wright made strides this year as a 3-point shooter, making 57 at a 41 percent clip after shooting just 34.9 percent as a freshman.He benefited from playing with AJ Dybantsa and shot 45.7 percent on spot-ups. He may not get as many catch-and-shoots as he got again in his career. Defensively, he has good lateral quickness and the strength to be a good point-of-attack defender if he wants to be. I\u2019m not sure the effort is always there.\n<\/p>\n
The floor is high for Wright overall. He is going to put up numbers. The next step for him is he needs to show he can win at a high level. <\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference Upside<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-9Wt: 240<\/p>\n
The box score stats for Punch won\u2019t blow you away. But the key is not the big numbers; it\u2019s the diversity of skillset that he brings to the table. Punch is a terrific 4 man in college basketball who does a little bit of everything. It starts on the defensive end where Punch carries his 240-pound frame well and is a physical defender who can switch onto opposing perimeter players and be an aggressive rim protector. He blocked 1.9 shots and grabbed 1.3 steals per game, due to great effort and terrific hand-eye coordination. <\/p>\n
On offense, Punch was TCU\u2019s leading scorer by getting out in transition, attacking downhill off of the catch, and through quick post-ups against switches. He\u2019s sharp in the dunker spot, and can even occasionally break down a player off the bounce if it\u2019s a mismatch by driving downhill. He grabs two offensive rebounds per game, too. I thought it was malpractice that he didn\u2019t make the All-Big 12 team this year.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-9Wt: 240<\/p>\n
The box score stats for Punch won\u2019t blow you away. But the key is not the big numbers; it\u2019s the diversity of skillset that he brings to the table. Punch is a terrific 4 man in college basketball who does a little bit of everything. It starts on the defensive end where Punch carries his 240-pound frame well and is a physical defender who can switch onto opposing perimeter players and be an aggressive rim protector. He blocked 1.9 shots and grabbed 1.3 steals per game, due to great effort and terrific hand-eye coordination. <\/p>\n
On offense, Punch was TCU\u2019s leading scorer by getting out in transition, attacking downhill off of the catch, and through quick post-ups against switches. He\u2019s sharp in the dunker spot, and can even occasionally break down a player off the bounce if it\u2019s a mismatch by driving downhill. He grabs two offensive rebounds per game, too. I thought it was malpractice that he didn\u2019t make the All-Big 12 team this year.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-4Wt: 195<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s No. 4 scorer this past season, Haggerty is one of the best pure bucket-getters in the entire country. Nearly 64 percent of his field goal attempts coming in the paint this season, and he converts 72.1 percent of his shots around the basket, per CBB Analytics. His best skill, though, is drawing contact. In three full college seasons, he has taken a staggering 776 free throws and will likely end his career in the top 10 in the history of the sport in that statistic.<\/p>\n
Haggerty is on his fifth Division I school in five years. He has only impacted winning once, helping 2025 Memphis earn a No. 5 seed, but those Tigers lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. His efficiency has dropped sharply against top competition at both Kansas State and Memphis. Per CBB Analytics, Kansas State was better this season with him off the floor.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-4Wt: 195<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s No. 4 scorer this past season, Haggerty is one of the best pure bucket-getters in the entire country. Nearly 64 percent of his field goal attempts coming in the paint this season, and he converts 72.1 percent of his shots around the basket, per CBB Analytics. His best skill, though, is drawing contact. In three full college seasons, he has taken a staggering 776 free throws and will likely end his career in the top 10 in the history of the sport in that statistic.<\/p>\n
Haggerty is on his fifth Division I school in five years. He has only impacted winning once, helping 2025 Memphis earn a No. 5 seed, but those Tigers lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. His efficiency has dropped sharply against top competition at both Kansas State and Memphis. Per CBB Analytics, Kansas State was better this season with him off the floor.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference<\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Kansas State<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-0 Wt: 170<\/p>\n
Shelstad was a three-year starter for the Ducks while playing as an Oregon native for his home state\u2019s team. He suffered a hand injury in December that sidelined him for the new year, but he was well on his way to a potential All-Big Ten season. You could look at the 39.1 percent field goal percentage this year and be worried, but he\u2019s been a consistent finisher despite his size at Oregon. He upped his 3-point volume immensely this season, and a 1-for-11 game from distance against Auburn held down his percentages. <\/p>\n
Shelstad is a terrific floor general and was a tremendous late-game creator, drilling multiple huge late-game shots to carry the Ducks to wins. He\u2019s undeniably one of the best guards available and will be sought after by the highest-level programs seeking a guard who can calm things down, limit turnovers, and create shots.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 170<\/p>\n
Shelstad was a three-year starter for the Ducks while playing as an Oregon native for his home state\u2019s team. He suffered a hand injury in December that sidelined him for the new year, but he was well on his way to a potential All-Big Ten season. You could look at the 39.1 percent field goal percentage this year and be worried, but he\u2019s been a consistent finisher despite his size at Oregon. He upped his 3-point volume immensely this season, and a 1-for-11 game from distance against Auburn held down his percentages. <\/p>\n
Shelstad is a terrific floor general and was a tremendous late-game creator, drilling multiple huge late-game shots to carry the Ducks to wins. He\u2019s undeniably one of the best guards available and will be sought after by the highest-level programs seeking a guard who can calm things down, limit turnovers, and create shots.\n<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225<\/p>\n
The Lithuanian skilled 4 man has just gotten progressively better throughout every season of his career, culminating in him being the best player on an NCAA Tournament team at Saint Mary\u2019s this past year who averaged 18 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this past season while shooting 48 percent from the field on one of the slowest-paced teams in the country. Randy Bennett used him very effectively as a mid-post scorer who could exploit less-gifted players on the block with his size or speed, and as a triple-threat catch-and-shoot weapon.<\/p>\n
Murauskas will fit best in a slower offense that grinds out possessions and relies on strong decision-making with effective movement to get him loose. Teams that run sets regularly as opposed to read and react offenses should look into Murauskas, as he could challenge for an All-American berth as a senior in the right location. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225<\/p>\n
The Lithuanian skilled 4 man has just gotten progressively better throughout every season of his career, culminating in him being the best player on an NCAA Tournament team at Saint Mary\u2019s this past year who averaged 18 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this past season while shooting 48 percent from the field on one of the slowest-paced teams in the country. Randy Bennett used him very effectively as a mid-post scorer who could exploit less-gifted players on the block with his size or speed, and as a triple-threat catch-and-shoot weapon.<\/p>\n
Murauskas will fit best in a slower offense that grinds out possessions and relies on strong decision-making with effective movement to get him loose. Teams that run sets regularly as opposed to read and react offenses should look into Murauskas, as he could challenge for an All-American berth as a senior in the right location. <\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference<\/p>\n
Forward<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Saint Mary’s<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 210<\/p>\n
The Estonian native came to college basketball this season and was exceptionally productive as a jumbo guard for the Friars. There is very little that Vaaks isn\u2019t capable of as a playmaker at that size. His dribble, pass and shoot abilities are quite real, even if he\u2019s still working through how to utilize all of his tools. He\u2019s dynamic in ball-screens, can drill shots off movement where he\u2019s a volume gunner taking nearly nine attempts per game, and can also throw passes. It\u2019s not hard to squint and see NBA upside. <\/p>\n
The issue? Vaaks might have been the worst defensive player in the Big East. He consistently got beaten off the bounce, and his engagement levels weren\u2019t at the level they consistently needed to be at. He was a major reason Providence had one of the worst defenses in high-major basketball, and the Friars were six points worse per 100 possessions on defense with him on the court. The team that recruits him will need a strong defensive infrastructure. With that said, expect a significant high-major program to bet on his ceiling, where he could easily turn into an all-conference player as soon as next year.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 210<\/p>\n
The Estonian native came to college basketball this season and was exceptionally productive as a jumbo guard for the Friars. There is very little that Vaaks isn\u2019t capable of as a playmaker at that size. His dribble, pass and shoot abilities are quite real, even if he\u2019s still working through how to utilize all of his tools. He\u2019s dynamic in ball-screens, can drill shots off movement where he\u2019s a volume gunner taking nearly nine attempts per game, and can also throw passes. It\u2019s not hard to squint and see NBA upside. <\/p>\n
The issue? Vaaks might have been the worst defensive player in the Big East. He consistently got beaten off the bounce, and his engagement levels weren\u2019t at the level they consistently needed to be at. He was a major reason Providence had one of the worst defenses in high-major basketball, and the Friars were six points worse per 100 possessions on defense with him on the court. The team that recruits him will need a strong defensive infrastructure. With that said, expect a significant high-major program to bet on his ceiling, where he could easily turn into an all-conference player as soon as next year.\n<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
High-Major All-Conference Upside<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-7 Wt: 190<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly one of the best two-way wings to hit the transfer portal this cycle. Byrd has been on the NBA\u2019s radar for the last two years due to his disruptive defensive play and willingness to take 3s. He won the Mountain West\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year award this past season due to his quickness, length and hand-eye coordination, flying around the court in help situations and averaging 1.9 steals to go with 1.2 blocks per game. Any defense in the country will be drastically helped by his presence, as he\u2019s capable of guarding across the perimeter spectrum from 1 through 3 with ease. <\/p>\n
The bigger questions come on offense. Byrd has always been a very willing shooter. However, he\u2019s never really made shots. He\u2019s a career 30.5 percent 3-point shooter on 400 attempts in his career. San Diego State\u2019s offense is rather archaic, and many of these shots end up being a bit more contested than normal. He\u2019s also not all that strong and can struggle to deal with contact on his drives. But if a team has high-level creators, Byrd could flourish on offense with some offseason improvement and be one of the best two-way wings in the country.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 190<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly one of the best two-way wings to hit the transfer portal this cycle. Byrd has been on the NBA\u2019s radar for the last two years due to his disruptive defensive play and willingness to take 3s. He won the Mountain West\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year award this past season due to his quickness, length and hand-eye coordination, flying around the court in help situations and averaging 1.9 steals to go with 1.2 blocks per game. Any defense in the country will be drastically helped by his presence, as he\u2019s capable of guarding across the perimeter spectrum from 1 through 3 with ease. <\/p>\n
The bigger questions come on offense. Byrd has always been a very willing shooter. However, he\u2019s never really made shots. He\u2019s a career 30.5 percent 3-point shooter on 400 attempts in his career. San Diego State\u2019s offense is rather archaic, and many of these shots end up being a bit more contested than normal. He\u2019s also not all that strong and can struggle to deal with contact on his drives. But if a team has high-level creators, Byrd could flourish on offense with some offseason improvement and be one of the best two-way wings in the country.\n<\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
San Diego State<\/p>\n
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Ht: 7-2Wt: 250<\/p>\n
Thiam played his freshman season at UCF and then transferred to play his sophomore year at Cincinnati. He helped the Bearcats finish 10th in adjusted defense and is a presence with his length. Offensively, he\u2019s more raw. He\u2019s best as a cutter and roller when he can just catch and finish. He\u2019s capable of making a jumper, but he\u2019s a little too trigger-happy and very streaky. It\u2019s an awkward release, and he\u2019s shot 29 percent from 3 in two seasons, averaging two attempts per game. <\/p>\n
With his back to the basket, he struggles to hold his ground and can get pushed off his spot. He can always get his shot off with either a jump hook or turnaround, but he\u2019s not super efficient \u2014 0.88 points per possession on post-ups, per Synergy. He gets in trouble when he tries to back his man down, often losing his dribble in those scenarios. But the defense is real, and he was productive for Cincy. <\/p>\n
Ht: 7-2Wt: 250<\/p>\n
Thiam played his freshman season at UCF and then transferred to play his sophomore year at Cincinnati. He helped the Bearcats finish 10th in adjusted defense and is a presence with his length. Offensively, he\u2019s more raw. He\u2019s best as a cutter and roller when he can just catch and finish. He\u2019s capable of making a jumper, but he\u2019s a little too trigger-happy and very streaky. It\u2019s an awkward release, and he\u2019s shot 29 percent from 3 in two seasons, averaging two attempts per game. <\/p>\n
With his back to the basket, he struggles to hold his ground and can get pushed off his spot. He can always get his shot off with either a jump hook or turnaround, but he\u2019s not super efficient \u2014 0.88 points per possession on post-ups, per Synergy. He gets in trouble when he tries to back his man down, often losing his dribble in those scenarios. But the defense is real, and he was productive for Cincy. <\/p>\n
Center<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Cincinnati<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180<\/p>\n
Hill couldn\u2019t have asked for a better spotlight on him than his Round of 64 game against North Carolina, where the 6-foot-3 guard dominated the Tar Heels in front of the world with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists that included a massive run during the team\u2019s 19-point comeback in the second half. But that wasn\u2019t all Hill did this season. He was a first-team All-Atlantic-10 as a dynamic scorer. He drilled 37 percent of his six 3-point attempts per game this season both of the pull-up and catch-and-shoot variety. <\/p>\n
He is more combo guard than lead, but he\u2019s so explosive as a scorer that teams with good wings and bigs who can pass could make it work. He\u2019s a good ball-screen playmaker, but I actually like him best off of the catch, where he can knock down shots from distance or attack off of the bounce. I love the way he uses the threat of his shot to attack defenders.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180<\/p>\n
Hill couldn\u2019t have asked for a better spotlight on him than his Round of 64 game against North Carolina, where the 6-foot-3 guard dominated the Tar Heels in front of the world with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists that included a massive run during the team\u2019s 19-point comeback in the second half. But that wasn\u2019t all Hill did this season. He was a first-team All-Atlantic-10 as a dynamic scorer. He drilled 37 percent of his six 3-point attempts per game this season both of the pull-up and catch-and-shoot variety. <\/p>\n
He is more combo guard than lead, but he\u2019s so explosive as a scorer that teams with good wings and bigs who can pass could make it work. He\u2019s a good ball-screen playmaker, but I actually like him best off of the catch, where he can knock down shots from distance or attack off of the bounce. I love the way he uses the threat of his shot to attack defenders.\n<\/p>\n
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Ht: 6-1Wt: 170<\/p>\n
Johnson toiled in relative obscurity at Colorado, but his tremendous shot-making and complementary skills make him an enticing upside play after a highly productive freshman campaign. He shot well on catch and shoot attempts (75th percentile, per Synergy) and dribble jumpers (85th percentile) while doing both at a fairly high volume, and his easy lefty stroke certainly passes the eye test. He also lived at the free throw line, ranking 110th nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes. He knows how to invite contact and earn free points.<\/p>\n
The question is whether Johnson can handle being a full-time point guard at the power conference level or if he is an undersized combo guard. He was excellent as a scorer in ball screens (88th percentile), but he is wired more to get his own shot than to create for others. If he cannot hold up as a point guard, his size and subsequent defensive limitations will limit his overall effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-1Wt: 170<\/p>\n
Johnson toiled in relative obscurity at Colorado, but his tremendous shot-making and complementary skills make him an enticing upside play after a highly productive freshman campaign. He shot well on catch and shoot attempts (75th percentile, per Synergy) and dribble jumpers (85th percentile) while doing both at a fairly high volume, and his easy lefty stroke certainly passes the eye test. He also lived at the free throw line, ranking 110th nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes. He knows how to invite contact and earn free points.<\/p>\n
The question is whether Johnson can handle being a full-time point guard at the power conference level or if he is an undersized combo guard. He was excellent as a scorer in ball screens (88th percentile), but he is wired more to get his own shot than to create for others. If he cannot hold up as a point guard, his size and subsequent defensive limitations will limit his overall effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 205<\/p>\n
NBA scouts are genuinely intrigued by Able, who has decided to declare for the draft in addition to hitting the portal. Why would they be interested in a freshman who shot 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3? Honestly, it\u2019s fairly easy to dismiss the inconsistencies of his freshman season while placing some blame on what seemed to be a total mess in Raleigh this year under Will Wade, where the team was talented but never seemed to gel. For his part, Able got better as the year went on, averaging 10.3 points while shooting 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3 in his final 12 games.\n<\/p>\n
He clearly has terrific touch and can hit shots from all three levels of the court, and at 6-6, he has the exact kind of size that you\u2019re looking for from a guard. Beyond that, I actually liked his defensive engagement and intensity, as he seemed to have great timing jumping passing lanes, averaging 1.2 steals in just 21 minutes per night. Essentially, from a scouting perspective with Able, everything looks the way it\u2019s supposed to look, and scouts were left wondering throughout the year why Will Wade didn\u2019t play him more consistently. I\u2019m betting on a big leap in his new environment, wherever that may be.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 205<\/p>\n
NBA scouts are genuinely intrigued by Able, who has decided to declare for the draft in addition to hitting the portal. Why would they be interested in a freshman who shot 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3? Honestly, it\u2019s fairly easy to dismiss the inconsistencies of his freshman season while placing some blame on what seemed to be a total mess in Raleigh this year under Will Wade, where the team was talented but never seemed to gel. For his part, Able got better as the year went on, averaging 10.3 points while shooting 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3 in his final 12 games.\n<\/p>\n
He clearly has terrific touch and can hit shots from all three levels of the court, and at 6-6, he has the exact kind of size that you\u2019re looking for from a guard. Beyond that, I actually liked his defensive engagement and intensity, as he seemed to have great timing jumping passing lanes, averaging 1.2 steals in just 21 minutes per night. Essentially, from a scouting perspective with Able, everything looks the way it\u2019s supposed to look, and scouts were left wondering throughout the year why Will Wade didn\u2019t play him more consistently. I\u2019m betting on a big leap in his new environment, wherever that may be.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-3Wt: 195<\/p>\n
Mingo is a former top-50 recruit who had a tremendous freshman season at Penn State. NBA scouts have interest in tracking his development as a big, long guard who is athletic, sharp on offense as a decision-maker, and can really defend. An excellent slasher, Mingo plays with great bend and flexibility to out-leverage his opponents while also maintaining the strength to absorb bumps from defenders. He also possesses a nice in-between game with pull-ups and awkward little floaters. The big issue with Mingo is that he needs to shoot from distance at some point. He\u2019s long been a sub-30 percent 3-point shooter. <\/p>\n
One important wrinkle worth noting is Mingo\u2019s brother, Dylan, a top-five recruit in the 2026 class, is slated to go to North Carolina, but that has come into question given Hubert Davis\u2019 firing. However, if the brothers want to play together, their games aren\u2019t complementary of one another since they\u2019re both weak shooters from distance. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if they choose to stay apart or go play together in some capacity.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-3Wt: 195<\/p>\n
Mingo is a former top-50 recruit who had a tremendous freshman season at Penn State. NBA scouts have interest in tracking his development as a big, long guard who is athletic, sharp on offense as a decision-maker, and can really defend. An excellent slasher, Mingo plays with great bend and flexibility to out-leverage his opponents while also maintaining the strength to absorb bumps from defenders. He also possesses a nice in-between game with pull-ups and awkward little floaters. The big issue with Mingo is that he needs to shoot from distance at some point. He\u2019s long been a sub-30 percent 3-point shooter. <\/p>\n
One important wrinkle worth noting is Mingo\u2019s brother, Dylan, a top-five recruit in the 2026 class, is slated to go to North Carolina, but that has come into question given Hubert Davis\u2019 firing. However, if the brothers want to play together, their games aren\u2019t complementary of one another since they\u2019re both weak shooters from distance. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if they choose to stay apart or go play together in some capacity.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-0Wt: 190<\/p>\n
Burton is a small-but-lethal lead guard scorer who excels at creating his own shot. His junior season was cut short by injury after just 10 games, but as a sophomore, he averaged 23.5 PPG in ACC play on 44.5 percent shooting from the field (40.2 percent from deep) en route to a second team All-ACC slot. He\u2019s outstanding in both pick-and-roll (87th percentile in efficiency as a scorer, per Synergy) and isolation (90th percentile).<\/p>\n
He is especially effective off the bounce, cashing in on pull-ups at excellent rates for two straight years. In ball screens, his numbers dip noticeably when opponents force him to be a passer, but that could say more about his Notre Dame teammates, as he does show some impressive reads. At his smaller stature, he can really struggle if the defense hedges hard with length.Burton\u2019s size makes him a target defensively at times. He plays hard and has solid instincts, and he actually grades out will via defensive analytics (97th percentile in DRAPM, per CBB Analytics). But opponents can go at him in targeted mismatches or via switches. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-0Wt: 190<\/p>\n
Burton is a small-but-lethal lead guard scorer who excels at creating his own shot. His junior season was cut short by injury after just 10 games, but as a sophomore, he averaged 23.5 PPG in ACC play on 44.5 percent shooting from the field (40.2 percent from deep) en route to a second team All-ACC slot. He\u2019s outstanding in both pick-and-roll (87th percentile in efficiency as a scorer, per Synergy) and isolation (90th percentile).<\/p>\n
He is especially effective off the bounce, cashing in on pull-ups at excellent rates for two straight years. In ball screens, his numbers dip noticeably when opponents force him to be a passer, but that could say more about his Notre Dame teammates, as he does show some impressive reads. At his smaller stature, he can really struggle if the defense hedges hard with length.Burton\u2019s size makes him a target defensively at times. He plays hard and has solid instincts, and he actually grades out will via defensive analytics (97th percentile in DRAPM, per CBB Analytics). But opponents can go at him in targeted mismatches or via switches. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-11Wt: 260<\/p>\n
Cyril will take advantage of an extremely lucrative center market. He\u2019s a tremendous rim deterrent who swatted 2.2 per game. Opponents took three fewer shots per 40 minutes at the rim with Cyril on the court than off, as his tremendous size caused issues. You need to play him in drop coverage to get the most out of him on that end, but he\u2019s terrific in that role. It would also be valuable to pair him with a strong defensive rebounder at the 4 who can go up and get the ball. <\/p>\n
Offensively, Cyril is efficient but limited. He made a ridiculous 75.9 percent of his shots and dunked nearly 60 percent of his attempts at the rim. That is one of the highest dunk rates in the country, and if you can stop him from throwing it down, he only makes 57 percent of his layups, per Synergy. He also crashed the offensive glass hard. But overall, Cyril is big, good on defense, and knows what he is on offense. You can win a lot of games with him as your starting center, and he was the most impactful player on Georgia\u2019s roster in terms of team performance.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-11Wt: 260<\/p>\n
Cyril will take advantage of an extremely lucrative center market. He\u2019s a tremendous rim deterrent who swatted 2.2 per game. Opponents took three fewer shots per 40 minutes at the rim with Cyril on the court than off, as his tremendous size caused issues. You need to play him in drop coverage to get the most out of him on that end, but he\u2019s terrific in that role. It would also be valuable to pair him with a strong defensive rebounder at the 4 who can go up and get the ball. <\/p>\n
Offensively, Cyril is efficient but limited. He made a ridiculous 75.9 percent of his shots and dunked nearly 60 percent of his attempts at the rim. That is one of the highest dunk rates in the country, and if you can stop him from throwing it down, he only makes 57 percent of his layups, per Synergy. He also crashed the offensive glass hard. But overall, Cyril is big, good on defense, and knows what he is on offense. You can win a lot of games with him as your starting center, and he was the most impactful player on Georgia\u2019s roster in terms of team performance.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-10Wt: 240<\/p>\n
\nSherrell has great size and is capable of playing out on the perimeter. For such a big guy, he can flip his hips and re-screen fairly quickly. Whoever lands him is getting a player who has had a good education in the pick-and-roll game after two years at Alabama. He isn\u2019t quick off the ground but has good touch. He\u2019s also made 41 3s at a 33.6 percent clip in two seasons. He\u2019s closer to average as a shooter but at least good enough that he can\u2019t be left alone. He has the type of skill where it\u2019s likely he\u2019d have success as a back-to-the-basket scorer, but that\u2019s just not something Alabama does. <\/p>\n
Defensively, Sherrell moves his feet well for a guy of his build and can defend without fouling (3.5 fouls per 40 minutes). He defends with his chest, and you\u2019re not moving him. He can block shots both on the ball and as a help-side defender and had an 8.5 percent block rate.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-10Wt: 240<\/p>\n
\nSherrell has great size and is capable of playing out on the perimeter. For such a big guy, he can flip his hips and re-screen fairly quickly. Whoever lands him is getting a player who has had a good education in the pick-and-roll game after two years at Alabama. He isn\u2019t quick off the ground but has good touch. He\u2019s also made 41 3s at a 33.6 percent clip in two seasons. He\u2019s closer to average as a shooter but at least good enough that he can\u2019t be left alone. He has the type of skill where it\u2019s likely he\u2019d have success as a back-to-the-basket scorer, but that\u2019s just not something Alabama does. <\/p>\n
Defensively, Sherrell moves his feet well for a guy of his build and can defend without fouling (3.5 fouls per 40 minutes). He defends with his chest, and you\u2019re not moving him. He can block shots both on the ball and as a help-side defender and had an 8.5 percent block rate.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 190<\/p>\n
McNeil is an absolute sniper from distance and showcased it this season under at NC State. His selling point is the 42.7 percent mark he hit from beyond the 3-point line on 7.2 attempts per game. He\u2019s as versatile a shooter as you\u2019ll find. Per Synergy, McNeil hit the third-most 3s in the country this year off of screens, and made those shots at a truly obscene 48.5 percent. That mark off of screens from 3 was the second-highest percentage among the top-50 players nationally in 3-pointers made off of screens, too. Given his volume and percentage, McNeil was the best shooter in the country this season shooting off movement. <\/p>\n
McNeil certainly has a lot to work on. He needs to get stronger because he struggles quite a bit on defense right now. Also, you\u2019d like to see McNeil\u2019s game as a decision-maker improve, and he\u2019s also not impressive as a driver. But McNeil\u2019s ability to fire from distance is second-to-none.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 190<\/p>\n
McNeil is an absolute sniper from distance and showcased it this season under at NC State. His selling point is the 42.7 percent mark he hit from beyond the 3-point line on 7.2 attempts per game. He\u2019s as versatile a shooter as you\u2019ll find. Per Synergy, McNeil hit the third-most 3s in the country this year off of screens, and made those shots at a truly obscene 48.5 percent. That mark off of screens from 3 was the second-highest percentage among the top-50 players nationally in 3-pointers made off of screens, too. Given his volume and percentage, McNeil was the best shooter in the country this season shooting off movement. <\/p>\n
McNeil certainly has a lot to work on. He needs to get stronger because he struggles quite a bit on defense right now. Also, you\u2019d like to see McNeil\u2019s game as a decision-maker improve, and he\u2019s also not impressive as a driver. But McNeil\u2019s ability to fire from distance is second-to-none.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 215<\/p>\n
Avdalas took college basketball by storm in the opening weeks of the season. At 6-foot-8 with serious on-ball skills as a passer and playmaker, he looks the part of a future NBA player. However, he never quite sustained the level he showed when he dropped 33 points and six assists against Providence. In total for the season, Avdalas is not strong enough to consistently get to the rim and not a good enough shooter to threaten defenses. <\/p>\n
Still, there are just so many reasons to be excited about recruiting Avdalas. He\u2019s an incredible passer at his size with an over 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. His playmaking out of ball screens particularly stands out for his pace and footwork. Defensively, he needs to get more engaged off the ball, but he\u2019s big enough to hide. In the right scheme, where he has space to operate, my favorite option would be for him to replace Keaton Wagler at Illinois \u2014 he has All-American and certainly all-conference upside.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 215<\/p>\n
Avdalas took college basketball by storm in the opening weeks of the season. At 6-foot-8 with serious on-ball skills as a passer and playmaker, he looks the part of a future NBA player. However, he never quite sustained the level he showed when he dropped 33 points and six assists against Providence. In total for the season, Avdalas is not strong enough to consistently get to the rim and not a good enough shooter to threaten defenses. <\/p>\n
Still, there are just so many reasons to be excited about recruiting Avdalas. He\u2019s an incredible passer at his size with an over 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. His playmaking out of ball screens particularly stands out for his pace and footwork. Defensively, he needs to get more engaged off the ball, but he\u2019s big enough to hide. In the right scheme, where he has space to operate, my favorite option would be for him to replace Keaton Wagler at Illinois \u2014 he has All-American and certainly all-conference upside.\n<\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Virginia Tech<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 210<\/p>\n
The Missouri Valley has a track record of producing strong transfers, and Lundblade should be no exception. After starting his career at TCU, Lundblade moved to Belmont in 2024-25 and became one of the best snipers in college basketball. In his two seasons with the Bruins, Lundblade drilled a truly ridiculous 44 percent of his 499 3-point attempts. He drills them off of movement or pull-ups, and became an extremely capable primary offensive weapon. He makes good decisions with the ball and is strong enough to guard. Coaching staffs will have to account for him with speed out there in case he gets beaten.<\/p>\n
Already 24 years old, Lundblade will enter his seventh collegiate season. He declined a scholarship offer from Charlotte to chase a preferred walk-on role at SMU. He redshirted that season, but coach Tim Jankovich was fired and he decided to try his luck as a walk-on at TCU, where he eventually earned a scholarship. However, TCU pulled his scholarship, and Lundblade decided to pay his own way to play at Belmont.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 210<\/p>\n
The Missouri Valley has a track record of producing strong transfers, and Lundblade should be no exception. After starting his career at TCU, Lundblade moved to Belmont in 2024-25 and became one of the best snipers in college basketball. In his two seasons with the Bruins, Lundblade drilled a truly ridiculous 44 percent of his 499 3-point attempts. He drills them off of movement or pull-ups, and became an extremely capable primary offensive weapon. He makes good decisions with the ball and is strong enough to guard. Coaching staffs will have to account for him with speed out there in case he gets beaten.<\/p>\n
Already 24 years old, Lundblade will enter his seventh collegiate season. He declined a scholarship offer from Charlotte to chase a preferred walk-on role at SMU. He redshirted that season, but coach Tim Jankovich was fired and he decided to try his luck as a walk-on at TCU, where he eventually earned a scholarship. However, TCU pulled his scholarship, and Lundblade decided to pay his own way to play at Belmont.\n<\/p>\n
Wing<\/p>\n
Signed<\/p>\n
Belmont<\/p>\n
Tennessee Volunteers <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-10 Wt: 265<\/p>\n
Hines is a big-bodied defensive player who profiles well towards winning basketball. He came off the bench to play 18 minutes per game for the Pirates, but quickly established himself as one of the best rim deterrents in the Eastern part of the country. Hines blocked 2.2 shots per game in those 18 minutes and was a constant presence at the basket. Opponents shot just 55 percent at the rim when he was on the court versus 61 percent when he was off of it, per CBB Analytics. But even beyond that, he\u2019s balanced in his movements away from the rim and has no issues with his coordination. He\u2019s not necessarily a switch defender, but he can scramble well. He was Seton Hall\u2019s second-most impactful player in terms of impact when he was on the court behind Budd Clark.<\/p>\n
Offensively, Hines is definitely a bit limited but knows his role and sticks to it. He rolls hard to the rim, crashes the offensive glass and is a good finisher when he gets his chances. He can\u2019t really create his own shot, but he does have solid touch as a finisher on his layups. Hines just plays hard all the time and is the kind of big that every team should want. He should move into the starting lineup somewhere next season and provide a positive impact for whoever gets him.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-10 Wt: 265<\/p>\n
Hines is a big-bodied defensive player who profiles well towards winning basketball. He came off the bench to play 18 minutes per game for the Pirates, but quickly established himself as one of the best rim deterrents in the Eastern part of the country. Hines blocked 2.2 shots per game in those 18 minutes and was a constant presence at the basket. Opponents shot just 55 percent at the rim when he was on the court versus 61 percent when he was off of it, per CBB Analytics. But even beyond that, he\u2019s balanced in his movements away from the rim and has no issues with his coordination. He\u2019s not necessarily a switch defender, but he can scramble well. He was Seton Hall\u2019s second-most impactful player in terms of impact when he was on the court behind Budd Clark.<\/p>\n
Offensively, Hines is definitely a bit limited but knows his role and sticks to it. He rolls hard to the rim, crashes the offensive glass and is a good finisher when he gets his chances. He can\u2019t really create his own shot, but he does have solid touch as a finisher on his layups. Hines just plays hard all the time and is the kind of big that every team should want. He should move into the starting lineup somewhere next season and provide a positive impact for whoever gets him.\n<\/p>\n
Center<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Seton Hall<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 240<\/p>\n
Estrella mostly came off the bench for Tennessee this season behind Felix Okpara, but he did start 13 games as one of a rotating cast of bigs. The Vols were 11.3 points per 100 possessions better when Estrella was on the court versus when he was off the court, per CBB Analytics, largely because of his offensive skill. Estrella has good hands, helps to move the ball quickly, finishes efficiently around the rim and also plays hard by crashing the offensive glass. He shot 59.6 percent from the field while also grabbing 2.8 offensive rebounds per game in just 18 minutes per night. <\/p>\n
Estrella can scale up his minute load in a different situation, and potentially flourish even more. He\u2019s a smart positional defender who doesn\u2019t give up much on that end, but it\u2019s more about how his offense could progress further by getting into a more modern construction. He hit four 3s this past season, and looks to have the kind of jumper that might be able to flourish if he\u2019s given some latitude to explore it. Estrella played three years at Tennessee but should have two seasons of eligibility after he missed most of last season with a left foot injury. However, it\u2019s worth noting that the same foot injury did cause him to miss some time this season, too, with some soreness.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 240<\/p>\n
Estrella mostly came off the bench for Tennessee this season behind Felix Okpara, but he did start 13 games as one of a rotating cast of bigs. The Vols were 11.3 points per 100 possessions better when Estrella was on the court versus when he was off the court, per CBB Analytics, largely because of his offensive skill. Estrella has good hands, helps to move the ball quickly, finishes efficiently around the rim and also plays hard by crashing the offensive glass. He shot 59.6 percent from the field while also grabbing 2.8 offensive rebounds per game in just 18 minutes per night. <\/p>\n
Estrella can scale up his minute load in a different situation, and potentially flourish even more. He\u2019s a smart positional defender who doesn\u2019t give up much on that end, but it\u2019s more about how his offense could progress further by getting into a more modern construction. He hit four 3s this past season, and looks to have the kind of jumper that might be able to flourish if he\u2019s given some latitude to explore it. Estrella played three years at Tennessee but should have two seasons of eligibility after he missed most of last season with a left foot injury. However, it\u2019s worth noting that the same foot injury did cause him to miss some time this season, too, with some soreness.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205<\/p>\n
An immensely talented former five-star recruit, Freeman is a mobile four-man who can score at all three levels thanks to his fluid athleticism and solid touch. Both of his first two seasons have been interrupted by injuries, but when on the court, he\u2019s flashed the physical tools and skill level that made him such an enticing prospect coming out of IMG Academy. He is a savvy finisher around the bucket (73 percent at the rim, per CBB Analytics), and he knows how to use his physical tools to get to the charity stripe against inferior defenders.<\/p>\n
Freeman\u2019s motor does not always run hot, though, and he tends to fall in love with his jumper, which can be very hit or miss (particularly from beyond the arc). That is especially the case against top competition, and his efficiency tanked against the best opponents on Syracuse\u2019s schedule. His shooting mechanics are sound, though, and he is a strong free-throw shooter, so the tantalizing potential remains. Maintaining that jumper while adding strength will be critical, as Freeman is still somewhat thin.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205<\/p>\n
An immensely talented former five-star recruit, Freeman is a mobile four-man who can score at all three levels thanks to his fluid athleticism and solid touch. Both of his first two seasons have been interrupted by injuries, but when on the court, he\u2019s flashed the physical tools and skill level that made him such an enticing prospect coming out of IMG Academy. He is a savvy finisher around the bucket (73 percent at the rim, per CBB Analytics), and he knows how to use his physical tools to get to the charity stripe against inferior defenders.<\/p>\n
Freeman\u2019s motor does not always run hot, though, and he tends to fall in love with his jumper, which can be very hit or miss (particularly from beyond the arc). That is especially the case against top competition, and his efficiency tanked against the best opponents on Syracuse\u2019s schedule. His shooting mechanics are sound, though, and he is a strong free-throw shooter, so the tantalizing potential remains. Maintaining that jumper while adding strength will be critical, as Freeman is still somewhat thin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-8Wt: 215<\/p>\n
Khamenia will try to find a different home after coming off the bench despite a five-star recruiting track record that led many to believe he was a potential one-and-done player. At 6-foot-8, Khamenia was asked to slot into a role next to Cameron Boozer and didn\u2019t really get to showcase many of the skills that made him so sought after. In high school, there were few players who were a better combination of shooting and passing ability. He made rapid decisions from the wing and seemed like he could take on real usage or slot in next to stars. <\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t say this was a lost season for Khamenia, but we also probably didn\u2019t get to see the full picture. I\u2019d bet on Khamenia taking a big leap in his next landing spot, as he has all of the tools to be a wildly impactful college basketball player who likely goes on to the NBA. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-8Wt: 215<\/p>\n
Khamenia will try to find a different home after coming off the bench despite a five-star recruiting track record that led many to believe he was a potential one-and-done player. At 6-foot-8, Khamenia was asked to slot into a role next to Cameron Boozer and didn\u2019t really get to showcase many of the skills that made him so sought after. In high school, there were few players who were a better combination of shooting and passing ability. He made rapid decisions from the wing and seemed like he could take on real usage or slot in next to stars. <\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t say this was a lost season for Khamenia, but we also probably didn\u2019t get to see the full picture. I\u2019d bet on Khamenia taking a big leap in his next landing spot, as he has all of the tools to be a wildly impactful college basketball player who likely goes on to the NBA. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 180<\/p>\n
Villanova rolled out the red carpet and gave Lewis the keys to the offense, who helped lead the team to a surprising NCAA Tournament appearance. Their reward? Lewis decided to hit the transfer portal. A second-team All-Big East selection, Lewis brings NBA-level creativity and passing ability. He plays fast, and his vision is superb, finding open teammates at the rim with ease. He also deals well with contact at the rim, even if that hasn\u2019t turned into free-throw attempts. Lewis isn\u2019t a particularly good shooter right now. The lefty made just 58.3 percent of his free throws and 27 percent of his 3s. How he improves as a scorer will tell the tale of his future. <\/p>\n
Another part of Lewis\u2019 game that will tell his future? His defense. Lewis averaged 1.9 steals per game but was not good enough at the point of attack or as a rotational team defender. Willard clearly didn\u2019t feel comfortable with him on defense in late-game situations. Lewis has real long-term upside, but there are flaws that teams will need to work through. Overall, Villanova was 6.4 points per 100 possessions worse when Lewis was on the court versus off the court, per CBB Analytics, largely because of that negative defensive impact.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 180<\/p>\n
Villanova rolled out the red carpet and gave Lewis the keys to the offense, who helped lead the team to a surprising NCAA Tournament appearance. Their reward? Lewis decided to hit the transfer portal. A second-team All-Big East selection, Lewis brings NBA-level creativity and passing ability. He plays fast, and his vision is superb, finding open teammates at the rim with ease. He also deals well with contact at the rim, even if that hasn\u2019t turned into free-throw attempts. Lewis isn\u2019t a particularly good shooter right now. The lefty made just 58.3 percent of his free throws and 27 percent of his 3s. How he improves as a scorer will tell the tale of his future. <\/p>\n
Another part of Lewis\u2019 game that will tell his future? His defense. Lewis averaged 1.9 steals per game but was not good enough at the point of attack or as a rotational team defender. Willard clearly didn\u2019t feel comfortable with him on defense in late-game situations. Lewis has real long-term upside, but there are flaws that teams will need to work through. Overall, Villanova was 6.4 points per 100 possessions worse when Lewis was on the court versus off the court, per CBB Analytics, largely because of that negative defensive impact.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 7-1Wt: 230<\/p>\n
Foxwell won first-team All-WCC honors this year as a freshman due to how dynamic he is with the ball in the open court and in ball-screens. The Australian guard orchestrated Portland\u2019s uptempo offense under Shantay Legans. His speed and ability to blow by defenders are critical, and allowed him to buzz in and out of the paint. His best game came against Gonzaga, where he dominated the Bulldogs to the tune of 27 points and eight assists while leading the Pilots to an upset win. Much like his brother Owen, who will come over and be a high-major point guard this year from the Australian NBL, Joel is also an aggressive point of attack defender. He\u2019s a potential three-year starter for a smart program.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 7-1Wt: 230<\/p>\n
Foxwell won first-team All-WCC honors this year as a freshman due to how dynamic he is with the ball in the open court and in ball-screens. The Australian guard orchestrated Portland\u2019s uptempo offense under Shantay Legans. His speed and ability to blow by defenders are critical, and allowed him to buzz in and out of the paint. His best game came against Gonzaga, where he dominated the Bulldogs to the tune of 27 points and eight assists while leading the Pilots to an upset win. Much like his brother Owen, who will come over and be a high-major point guard this year from the Australian NBL, Joel is also an aggressive point of attack defender. He\u2019s a potential three-year starter for a smart program.\n<\/p>\n
Center<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
Arizona State<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7Wt: 220<\/p>\n
A top 20 recruit in 2025 by RSCI, Haralson was incredibly productive as a freshman, albeit on extremely high usage and lacking some efficiency as a shooter. He shot 51.5 percent from the field but 67.4 percent from the charity stripe, and he only made five 3s all season at a dismal 20.0 percent. Haralson carried an immense burden for the disappointing Irish, who failed to qualify for the ACC tournament. <\/p>\n
Haralson was likely miscast as the Fighting Irish\u2019s primary playmaker once Markus Burton went down with an injury, resulting in him posting more turnovers (74) than assists (69) for the season. He has strong passing vision, but Notre Dame lacked creation without Burton, and opponents found it easy to swarm Haralson. He excels at attacking mismatches from the mid-post, where he can use his height to pick out open shooters and cutters. He needs to add some semblance of a jumper and would be better served playing next to more talent.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-7Wt: 220<\/p>\n
A top 20 recruit in 2025 by RSCI, Haralson was incredibly productive as a freshman, albeit on extremely high usage and lacking some efficiency as a shooter. He shot 51.5 percent from the field but 67.4 percent from the charity stripe, and he only made five 3s all season at a dismal 20.0 percent. Haralson carried an immense burden for the disappointing Irish, who failed to qualify for the ACC tournament. <\/p>\n
Haralson was likely miscast as the Fighting Irish\u2019s primary playmaker once Markus Burton went down with an injury, resulting in him posting more turnovers (74) than assists (69) for the season. He has strong passing vision, but Notre Dame lacked creation without Burton, and opponents found it easy to swarm Haralson. He excels at attacking mismatches from the mid-post, where he can use his height to pick out open shooters and cutters. He needs to add some semblance of a jumper and would be better served playing next to more talent.<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 175<\/p>\n
Wilikins has a real case as the best mid-major freshman guard hitting the transfer portal. He has real size and was a dynamic scorer and ballhandler for an NCAA Tournament team this year at Furman. He is terrific in ball screens, using his pace and crafty handle to get paint touches while getting all the way to the rim. His jumper could use a little bit of work after making only 32.8 percent from 3 last year, as he has a bit of a low shooting pocket with a pause once he gets into that area. <\/p>\n
Still, Wilkins is expected to be priced among the most expensive guards in the portal this spring due to his age and production. He played incredibly well during their run in the SoCon Tournament and their NCAA Tournament game against Final Four participant UConn where he dropped 21 points.\n<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 175<\/p>\n
Wilikins has a real case as the best mid-major freshman guard hitting the transfer portal. He has real size and was a dynamic scorer and ballhandler for an NCAA Tournament team this year at Furman. He is terrific in ball screens, using his pace and crafty handle to get paint touches while getting all the way to the rim. His jumper could use a little bit of work after making only 32.8 percent from 3 last year, as he has a bit of a low shooting pocket with a pause once he gets into that area. <\/p>\n
Still, Wilkins is expected to be priced among the most expensive guards in the portal this spring due to his age and production. He played incredibly well during their run in the SoCon Tournament and their NCAA Tournament game against Final Four participant UConn where he dropped 21 points.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 200<\/p>\n
Dixon has great feel and has real potential to be excellent working out of ball screens. He can make all of the reads and sees the floor well, helped by his size. He\u2019s not a quick-burst guy but plays at his speed and gets to his spots. He shot 39.7 percent from 3 as a freshman. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 assists once he became a starter for the final 16 games. He wasn\u2019t a great finisher around the basket \u2014 28.1 percent at the rim on only 32 attempts \u2014 but that should improve some with time. It\u2019s not easy to find a player with his combination of size, IQ and shooting. <\/p>\n
Ht: 6-5Wt: 200<\/p>\n
Dixon has great feel and has real potential to be excellent working out of ball screens. He can make all of the reads and sees the floor well, helped by his size. He\u2019s not a quick-burst guy but plays at his speed and gets to his spots. He shot 39.7 percent from 3 as a freshman. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 assists once he became a starter for the final 16 games. He wasn\u2019t a great finisher around the basket \u2014 28.1 percent at the rim on only 32 attempts \u2014 but that should improve some with time. It\u2019s not easy to find a player with his combination of size, IQ and shooting. <\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
In Portal<\/p>\n
North Carolina<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Apr 9, 2026<\/p>\n
Connections: Sports Edition<\/p>\n
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n
Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n
Play today’s puzzle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 9, 2026Updated 7:39 am EDT Michigan just won the national championship with five starters who began their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":595649,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[1214,37180,64,63,726,49819,71644,33611,6962,1407,153064,1215,1412,96635,1222,1418,711,1406,715,1219,1218,110368,290782,119755,260506,85,33629,121553,1221,33641,1408,17080,23747,1410],"class_list":{"0":"post-595648","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-basketball","8":"tag-alabama-crimson-tide","9":"tag-arizona-state-sun-devils","10":"tag-au","11":"tag-australia","12":"tag-basketball","13":"tag-belmont-bruins","14":"tag-byu-cougars","15":"tag-cincinnati-bearcats","16":"tag-colorado-buffaloes","17":"tag-duke-blue-devils","18":"tag-furman-paladins","19":"tag-georgia-bulldogs","20":"tag-kansas-jayhawks","21":"tag-kansas-state-wildcats","22":"tag-lsu-tigers","23":"tag-mens-college-basketball","24":"tag-north-carolina-state-wolfpack","25":"tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","26":"tag-notre-dame-fighting-irish","27":"tag-oregon-ducks","28":"tag-penn-state-nittany-lions","29":"tag-providence-friars","30":"tag-saint-marys-gaels","31":"tag-san-diego-state-aztecs","32":"tag-seton-hall-pirates","33":"tag-sports","34":"tag-syracuse-orange","35":"tag-tcu-horned-frogs","36":"tag-tennessee-volunteers","37":"tag-vcu-rams","38":"tag-villanova-wildcats","39":"tag-virginia-tech-hokies","40":"tag-wake-forest-demon-deacons","41":"tag-wisconsin-badgers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=595648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595648\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=595648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=595648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=595648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}