Big Ten Roster Reshuffle: The Current State of Every Team’s Lineup, Part I

ILLINOIS

Departures: Carey Booth, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer to Colorado State); Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer to UNLV); Kasparas Jakucionis, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (declared for NBA draft); Morez Johnson, 6-foot-9 freshman center (transfer to Michigan); Will Riley, 6-foot-8 freshman guard (declared for NBA draft); Tre White, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transfer to Kansas).

Returnees: Kylan Boswell, 6-foot-2 senior guard; Jake Davis, 6-foot-6 junior forward; Ben Humrichous, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Tomislav Ivisic, 7-foot-1 junior center; Jason Jakstys, 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman center; Ty Rodgers, 6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard.

Incoming: Zvonimir Ivisic, 7-foot-2 junior center (transfer from Arkansas); Brandon Lee, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from Cal); Blake Fagbemi, 6-foot-1 freshman guard; David Mirkovic, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Mihailo Petrovic, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Keaton Wagler, 6-foot-6 freshman guard.

After betting big on NBA-bound 18-year-olds (Jakucionis, Riley) and coming up short against older and stronger teams — including Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament’s second round — Brad Underwood has changed tactics and built this roster more like his 2024 Elite Eight squad. The Illini have added two high-profile juniors in Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic (his twin, Tomislav, already was on the roster) , while Petrovic is a 22-year-old point guard who excelled as a pro in the Adriatic League. With so many players from the Balkans on the roster, Underwood has leaned into one of the sweet AI-created photos on the internet.

INDIANA

Departures: Oumar Ballo, 7-foot redshirt senior center (out of eligibility); Kanaan Carlyle, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (in portal); Gabe Cupps, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard (transfer to Ohio State); Trey Galloway, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Luke Goode, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility, but trying to get a retroactive redshirt year); Langdon Hatton, 6-foot-10 senior center (out of eligibility); Dallas James, 7-foot senior center (in portal); Anthony Leal, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); MacKenzie Mgbako, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer to Texas A&M); Jakai Newton, 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman guard (transfer to Georgia State); Malik Reneau, 6-foot-9 junior center (transfer to Miami); Myles Rice, 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore guard (transfer to Maryland); Bryson Tucker, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to Washington).

Returnees: None

Incoming: Sam Alexis, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Florida); Reed Bailey, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Davidson); Tayton Conerway, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Troy); Tucker DeVries, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from West Virginia); Nick Dorn, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transfer from Elon); Jason Drake, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Drexel); Connor Enright, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from DePaul); Josh Harris, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from North Florida); Jasai Miles, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from North Florida); Lamar Wilkerson, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Sam Houston State); Trent Sisley, 6-foot-7 freshman forward.

With Mike Woodson gone and former Drake/West Virginia coach Darian DeVries taking over, the Hoosiers have a whole new roster. As you might expect, IU has been loading up on skilled transfers who can shoot. Wilkerson (20.5 points per game) made 98 threes at a 44.5 percent clip. Dorn averaged three three-pointers per game. Miles made 74 threes. Conerway is an elite point who ranked third nationally in steal percentage (5.6%) and 20^th in assists (36.8%), while Bailey earned first-team all-league honors as well as the Most Improved Player award in the A-10. The Hoosiers still could use a little more beef.

IOWA

Departures: Even Brauns, 6-foot-9 senior center (out of eligibility); Ladji Dembele, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer to UNLV); Josh Dix, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transfer to Creighton); Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer to Creighton); Brock Harding, 6-foot sophomore guard (transfer to TCU); Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to St. Thomas); Riley Mulvey, 6-foot-11 redshirt junior center (transfer to Siena); Payton Sandfort, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Pryce Sandfort, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer to Nebraska); Chris Tadjo, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transfer to Santa Clara); Drew Thelwell, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Seydou Traore, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer to Utah).

Returnee: 

Cooper Koch, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward.

Incoming: Tavion Banks, 6-foot-7 senior wing (transfer from Drake); Kael Combs, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Drake); Alvaro Folgueiras, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Robert Morris); Brendan Hausen, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Kansas State); Isaia Howard, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Drake); Cam Manyawu, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer from Drake); Tate Sage, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Bennett Stirtz, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Drake); Trevin Jirak, 6-foot-11 freshman center. 

If you’re into EvanMiya.com, then you know how important it can be to have significant experience returning. While Iowa will welcome back just 136 minutes, that doesn’t accurately depict the Hawkeyes’ returnee situation. New coach Ben McCollum has brought most of his staff and all his best players (that still have eligibility) from Drake — where the Bulldogs won 31 games and reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round. McCollum also has grabbed Horizon Player of the Year Folgueiras, who produced 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists against Alabama in the NCAA Tournament, to give Stirtz (per-game averages of 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists) more skill by his side.

MARYLAND

Departures: Tafara Gapare, 6-foot-9 junior forward (in portal); Jordan Geronimo, 6-foot-6 senior forward (out of eligibility): Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer to Tennessee); Deshawn Harris-Smith, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer to Georgetown); Jahari Long, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer to George Mason); Selton Miguel, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Malachi Palmer, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transfer to Villanova); Braden Pierce, 7-foot redshirt freshman center (transfer to Villanova); Derik Queen, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (declared for NBA draft); Julian Reese, 6-foot-9 senior center (out of eligibility); Rodney Rice, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer to USC); Chance Stephens, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer to Minnesota); Jay Young, 6-foot-2 senior guard (in portal).

Returnees: None

Incoming: David “Diggy” Coit, 5-foot-11 senior guard (transfer from Kansas); Andre Mills, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard (transfer from Texas A&M); Pharrel Payne, 6-foot-9 senior center (transfer from Texas A&M); Myles Rice, 6-foot-3 redshirt junior guard (transfer from Indiana); Elijah Saunders, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Virginia); George Turkson Jr., 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman wing (transfer from Texas A&M); Solomon Washington, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Texas A&M); Isaiah Watts, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Washington State); Darius Adams, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.

Hey, it’s another new coach who has dug up a whole new roster. When Kevin Willard jumped to Villanova shortly after the Terrapins’ season ended in the Sweet Sixteen, it quickly became clear the Crab Five (and everyone else) would move on. In their place, new boss Buzz Williams has brought four players with him from Texas A&M to go with four veteran transfers and McDonald’s All-American combo guard Adams, who decommitted from UConn. Big Ten fans (at least those who paid attention before the big expansion) will remember rim-wrecking, foul-prone big man Payne from his two seasons at Minnesota.

MICHIGAN

Departures: Phat Phat Brooks, 6-foot-2 freshman guard (in portal); Tre Donaldson, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer to Miami); Vladislav Goldin, 7-foot-1 senior center (out of eligibility); Jace Howard, 6-foot-7 senior guard (transfer to Fordham); Justin Pippen, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (transfer to Cal); Rubin Jones, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Sam Walters, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer to SMU); Danny Wolf, 7-foot junior forward (declared for NBA draft).

Returnees: Nimari Burnett, 6-foot-5 senior guard; L.J. Cason, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard; Roddy Gayle Jr., 6-foot-5 senior guard; Will Tschetter, 6-foot-8 redshirt senior forward.

Incoming: Elliot Cadeau, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer from North Carolina); Morez Johnson, 6-foot-9 sophomore center (transfer from Illinois); Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from UAB); Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 junior center (transfer from UCLA); Trey McKenney, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Winters Grady, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.

In his first year at Michigan, Dusty May took the Wolverines from the Big Ten basement to the Sweet Sixteen. For his next trick, despite losing three starters, the Wolverines could climb even higher as May has lured the nation’s best transfer class along with McDonald’s All-American combo guard McKenney. Some of this optimism depends on what Lendeborg opts to do. While he has committed his 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game to the Maize and Blue, he will showcase his wares at this week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago and has been projected as a potential first-round pick.

MICHIGAN STATE

Departures: Jaden Akins, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Xavier Booker, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward (transfer to UCLA); Frankie Fidler, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Tre Holloman, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to NC State); Gehrig Normand, 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman guard (transfer to Santa Clara); Jase Richardson, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (declared for NBA draft); Szymon Zapala, 7-foot senior center (out of eligibility).

Returnees: Coen Carr, 6-foot-6 junior forward; Carson Cooper, 6-foot-11 senior center; Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore guard; Jaxon Kohler, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Jesse McCulloch, 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman forward; Kur Teng, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard.

Incoming: Trey Fort, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Samford); Kaleb Glenn, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from FAU); Jordan Scott, 6-foot-7 freshman guard; Cam Ward, 6-foot-7 freshman forward.

The Spartans had the deepest roster in the nation this past season and that carried them one step from Tom Izzo’s 10^th Final Four. But six members of MSU’s perfectly mixed 10-man rotation are out the door, so it’s back to the chemistry lab. Izzo hasn’t used the transfer portal much in previous years. When he does dive in, he prefers to fish for vets who aren’t from other big-time conferences. He has threaded the needle this offseason with his two transfers to date. While Fort and Glenn don’t come directly from power schools, Fort made a stop at Mississippi State and Glenn started at Louisville. Both are efficient scorers with range.

MINNESOTA

Departures: Kadyn Betts, 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore forward (transfer to Montana); Tyler Cochran, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer to Rhode Island); Trey Edmonds, 6-foot-10 senior center (out of eligibility): Parker Fox, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Dawson Garcia, 6-foot-11 senior forward (out of eligibility); Frank Mitchell, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer to St. Bonaventure); Mike Mitchell, 6-foot-2 senior guard (out of eligibility); Femi Odukale, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Lu’Cye Patterson, 6-foot-2 senior guard (out of eligibility); Brennan Rigsby, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer to Radford); Caleb Williams, 6-foot-2 senior guard (out of eligibility).

Returnees: Isaac Asuma, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Grayson Grove, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward.

Incoming: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer from Colorado State); Bobby Durkin, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from Davidson); B.J. Omot, 6-foot-8 redshirt junior forward (transfer from Cal); Langston Reynolds, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Northern Colorado); Kai Shinholster, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Chance Stephens, 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore guard (transfer from Maryland); Nehemiah Turner, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer from Central Arkansas); Robert Vaihola, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from San Jose State); Chansey Willis Jr., 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Western Michigan).

Stop us if you’ve read this before, but here’s another Big Ten school undergoing wholesale changes with a new coach. Technically, the Gophers were going to rebuild regardless because they had nine seniors on this past season’s squad, but Minnesota graduate Ben Johnson’s firing and Minnesota graduate Niko Medved’s hiring hastened the process. Medved and his staff have focused on high-achieving mid-major veterans in the portal. Between Crocker-Johnson (who followed Medved from Colorado State), Durkin, Reynolds and Willis, the Gophers added 55.7 points per game as well as versatile skill sets.

NEBRASKA

Departures: Juwan Gary, 6-foot-6 senior forward (out of eligibility); Gavin Griffiths, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer to Temple); Nick Janowski, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to St. Thomas); Andrew Morgan, 6-foot-10 senior center (out of eligibility); Braxton Meah, 7-foot-1 senior center (out of eligibility); Ahron Ulis, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Brice Williams, 6-foot-7 senior guard (out of eligibility), Rollie Worster, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility).

Returnees: Berke Buyuktuncel, 6-foot-10 junior forward; Connor Essegian, 6-foot-4 senior guard; Braden Frager, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward; Sam Hoiberg, 6-foot senior guard; Cale Jacobsen, 6-foot-4 redshirt junior guard; Rienk Mast, 6-foot-10 senior forward.

Incoming: Kendall Blue, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from St. Thomas); Will Cooper, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward (transfer from Air Force); Jared Garcia, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Tulsa); Ugnius Jarusevicius, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Central Michigan); Jamarques Lawrence, 6-foot-3 senior guard (Rhode Island); Pryce Sandfort, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from Iowa); Leo Curtis, 7-foot-1 freshman center; Quentin Rhymes, 6-foot-6 freshman forward.

After collapsing at the end of the regular season — losing six of their final seven to slide off the NCAA Tournament bubble — the Huskers saved some face and built some momentum by winning the NIT. But after losing 64 percent of his minutes to graduation, Fred Hoiberg needs to rebuild his rotation. Enter the sweet-shooting Sandfort (40.0 percent from three-point range). Re-enter third-team All-Big Ten big man Rienk Mast, who sat out after left knee surgery. Re-enter versatile guard Lawrence, who returns to Lincoln after a one-year sabbatical at URI. Welcome Jarusevicius, a first-team All-MAC performer who should complement Mast and Buyuktuncel upfront.

NORTHWESTERN

Departures: Blake Barkley, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward (transfer to East Tennessee State); Brooks Barnhizer, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Ty Berry, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Keenan Fitzmorris, 7-foot senior center (out of eligibility); Luke Hunger, 6-foot-10 redshirt sophomore forward (transfer to George Washington); Jalen Leach, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Matthew Nicholson, 7-foot senior center (out of eligibility).

Returnees: Angelo Ciaravino, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Jordan Clayton, 6-foot-2 junior guard; Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Justin Mullins, 6-foot-6 junior guard; K.J. Windham, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard.

Incoming: Max Green, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer from Holy Cross); Arrinten Page, 6-foot-11 junior center (transfer from Cincinnati); Jayden Reid, 5-foot-10 junior guard (transfer from USF); Cade Bennerman, 6-foot-11 freshman forward; Phoenix Gill, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Tyler Kropp, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Tre Singleton, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Jake West, 6-foot-3 freshman guard.

Because of academic restrictions, it’s not as easy for Northwestern to recruit from the portal as other Big Ten schools. Yet the Wildcats found three transfers to go with five freshmen as NU starts another build. But with Big Ten scoring champ Martinelli the heart of this team and contract-extended Chris Collins running the show, the Wildcats won’t act like this is a rebuild. Windham, Mullins, Clayton and Ciaravino gained valuable minutes down the stretch when Barnhizer and Leach suffered season-ending injuries. Watch Green: He was the Patriot League’s Rookie of the Year while averaging 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Tune in next week for Part II, with a look at the other nine schools. It will detail all the big moves they’re making on the West Coast — and the subtle spackling that Purdue and Wisconsin are doing to stay at the top of the league. 

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