The transfer portal has been open for about a month. Over 2,100 players have entered, and roughly 600 have decided on their next destination. A few dozen of those decisions made major headlines. The rest are well below the radar, or hidden in plain sight.
It’s time, then, for Hoops HQ to identify ten transfers who are mostly likely to “break out” during the 2025-26 season. We are defining these as players who are outside of The Transfer Portal’s top 50 rankings, which will be updated regularly at Hoops HQ.
1. Jayden Quaintance, 6-foot-9 sophomore center, Kentucky
2024-25 season stats (at Arizona State): 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game
Quaintance was the youngest player in college basketball last season. He is an athletic two-way big man who had a strong freshman campaign at ASU. He will have a much better supporting cast at Kentucky, and though that could help make him a national star, his success will ultimately be determined by his health. Quaintaince is currently recovering from ACL surgery and is projected to return around September.
2. Elliot Cadeau, 6-foot-1 junior guard, Michigan
2024-25 season stats (at North Carolina): 9.4 points and 6.2 assists per game
Despite improving on his offense and ranking 15th nationally in assists, Cadeau’s run with the Tar Heels had plenty of ups and downs. Now, he’s in a different situation at Michigan, going from one of the worst high-major frontcourt groups to potentially one of the best, pairing up with UAB transfer and 6-foot-9 senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg and former UCLA forward and 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. Cadeau could be a top-three passer in the country next season and be in the running for the Bob Cousy Award.
3. Jarin Stevenson, 6-foot-11 junior forward, North Carolina
2024-25 season stats (at Alabama): 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game
Stevenson started 22 games this past season, but in an offense featuring clear focal points, his opportunities to showcase his talents were limited. Yet he still had some big outings, including 22 points in a road win at Texas. Frontcourt play was a major weakness at UNC this year, so look for Stevenson’s usage to take a big leap in 2026.
4. Kanon Catchings, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Georgia
2024-25 season stats (at BYU): 7.2 points per game
The former top-40 prospect had some highs and lows at BYU, including six games with at least 14 points and seven games (five among the last seven games of the year) where Catchings went scoreless. The Bulldogs, who lost both double-digit scorers this offseason, need a potent offensive weapon. There’s a chance Catchings, who had some previous NBA Draft buzz, can be a breakout star with a clear and consistent role.
5. Lathan Sommerville, 6-foot-10 sophomore center, Washington
2024-25 season stats (at Rutgers): 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game
Sommerville’s usage and impact would always be limited on a team with a pair of five-star freshman prospects and veterans throughout the roster. He has a great chance to break out into one of the best centers in the Big Ten next season at Washington, helping the team improve from its poor rebounding and interior scoring production. The 17-point outing late in the year against Michigan indicated that the young big man can be a focal point offensively.
6. AJ Storr, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Ole Miss
2024-25 season stats (at Kansas): 6.1 points per game
Plain and simple, the partnership between Storr and the Jayhawks was a failure for both sides. Still, Storr averaged 16.8 points per game in the year prior at Wisconsin and is a proven high-major scorer. With the entire backcourt rotation gone for the Rebels, Coach Chris Beard is willing to take a flyer on the veteran scorer. If it works out, Ole Miss has an all-league caliber player.
7. Jalil Bethea, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, Alabama
2024-25 season stats (at Miami): 7.1 points per game
The former 5-star prospect out of high school had a disappointing freshman campaign with the Hurricanes. Leaving for Alabama to play for Nate Oats should instantly improve Bethea’s stock. He’s still a quality athlete and capable scorer. With the Tide losing several rotation guards from this past season, this is an opportunity for Bethea to come in and carve out a nice role for what is typically one of the best offensive units in college basketball.
PORTAL MADNESS
The Top 50 Players in the Transfer Portal
UPDATED April 24, 2025: Boogie Fland was a last-minute addition to the portal before it closed on Tuesday. And he enters our updated Top 50 rankings.
Which Teams Have Risen Up in the Past Week? Here’s A Look at the Updated Portal Top 25
UPDATED: St. John’s rockets up the rankings, a number of blue chip programs retool, and a few newly hired head coaches make their marks at their new schools
Women’s Transfer Portal News and Notes — April 18, 2025
TCU and South Carolina reload, USC and UCLA lose star freshmen and Notre Dame loses nearly its entire team
8. Jacob Cofie, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward, USC
2024-25 season stats (at Virginia): 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game
Cofie still showed flashes throughout his freshman year in Charlottesville. Once he is settled out west in a more stable situation with Eric Musselman and USC, Cofie should have a big sophomore year. After losing so many forwards from this past season, the former Cavalier is projected to be the focal point of the new-look Trojan frontcourt.
9. Michael Ajayi, 6-foot-7 senior forward, Butler
2024-25 season stats (at Gonzaga): 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game
Ajayi was one of the more disappointing transfers this past season, going from shooting 47 percent from three-point range at Pepperdine (17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in 2023-24) to making under 20 percent from deep with the Bulldogs before losing his spot in the starting lineup. Instead of being the fifth option on offense at Gonzaga, Ajayi could be the No. 1 or 2 guy for a rebuilding Butler squad, which lost its two top scorers.
10. Taylor Bol Bowen, 6-foot-10 junior forward, Alabama
2024-25 season stats (at Florida State): 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game
Bol Bowen is an athletic forward who shot 41 percent from three-point range this past season. Going to Oats’ system in Alabama will be a great move that will allow the rising junior to thrive. Don’t be surprised if Bol Bowen ends up on NBA Draft boards a year from now.
