Throughout the offseason, The Portal Report ranks every transfer who enters the portal and grades each move with an overall rating (out of 99).
That overall rating is based entirely on production from the previous season and is determined by measuring a player’s ability in seven fundamental areas: impact, scoring, distribution, shooting, finishing, rebounding and defending.
As commitments start to roll in, those ratings allow TPR to rank a program’s transfer class based on its average rating in any of those seven areas. Today, thanks to Hoops HQ’s partnership with TPR, we’re looking at the 10 transfer classes with the highest average defensive rating heading into the 2025-26 season.
1. Iowa State (Defending Rating: 79)
Incoming Transfers: Blake Buchanan, 6-foot-10 junior forward (Virginia); Eric Mulder, 6-foot-9 senior forward (Purdue Fort Wayne); Dominick Nelson, 6-foot-5 senior guard (Utah Valley); Mason Williams, 6-foot-5 junior guard (Eastern Washington)
The Skinny: Though this isn’t a transfer class loaded with power conference talent (Buchanan represents Iowa State’s lone high-major addition), all four are effective two-way contributors. Williams was a do-it-all guard last season and that included defense as he averaged 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Mulder was one of the premier defensive players in the country back in 2023-24 when he averaged 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, only improving on the offensive end this past season. And though Nelson, the 2024-25 WAC Player of the Year, is primarily known for his offensive ability, he averages just about 1.0 steals per game and is a tough matchup given his size at the guard spot. Buchanan should have no problem holding down the interior for the Cyclones after managing 1.1 blocks per contest last season, but look for the former top-100 prospect to make strides on the offensive end with more consistent minutes.
2. Alabama (Defending Rating: 78)
Incoming Transfers: Jalil Bethea, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (Miami); Taylor Bol Bowen, 6-foot-10 junior forward (Florida State); Keitenn Bristow, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (Tarleton State); Noah Williamson, 7-foot senior center (Bucknell)
The Skinny: In his WAC Freshman of the Year campaign, Bristow was Tarleton State’s best two-way player as he managed 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and just under 1.0 blocks per game. Though Bol Bowen’s offensive game improved in droves this past season, it’s on the defensive end where he’s really flourished with 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. And for those who aren’t familiar with Williamson, he scored 17.6 points per game and was named Patriot League Player of the Year, and he was added to the conference’s all-defense team after blocking 35 shots. Bethea is undoubtedly the weakest link, but the former top-10 prospect will have every opportunity to improve on both ends of the ball under head coach Nate Oats this season.
T-3. Illinois (Defending Rating: 77)
Incoming Transfers: Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-7 junior wing (California); Zvonimir Ivisic, 7-foot-2 junior center
The Skinny: Stojakovic exploded onto the scene after joining the Golden Bears this past season. In 29 appearances, the former top-100 prospect averaged 17.9 points per game and managed 1.2 blocks as Cal’s leading scorer and shot blocker. His athletic two-way ability and size should pair well with Illinois’ cast of returners in Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous and Tomislav Ivisic. Following his twin brother to Champaign, Zvonimir Ivisic will add another massive body to the Illini frontcourt. More than that, he’s a capable defender at the high major level; Zvonimir averaged 1.9 blocks per game last season and brings a unique offensive profile as a 7-foot-2 center.
T-3. Nevada (Defending Rating: 77)
Incoming Transfers: Joel Armotrading, 6-foot-10 graduate senior center (UC Riverside); Corey Camper Jr., 6-foot-5 graduate senior guard (UTEP); Tayshawn Comer, 6-foot-1 senior guard (Evansville); Elijah Price, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore forward (Fresno State)
The Skinny: Price is doing the majority of the heavy lifting here after a stout two-way season for Fresno State averaging 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. However, Camper was an All-CUSA Defensive selection in 2024-25 while managing 10.5 points and 2.0 steals per game (second-best in conference). Comer has grown into a do-it-all ball-handler who averaged career highs of 16.2 points, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest in his lone campaign with Evansville. Rounding it out, Armotrading might have averaged just 5.8 points per game last season, but it’s on the defensive end where he’s most productive, as he managed 40 blocked shots in 33 appearances.
T-3. Iowa (Defending Rating: 77)
Incoming Transfers: Tavion Banks, 6-foot-7 senior wing (Drake); Kael Combs, 6-foot-4 junior guard (Drake); Alvaro Folgueiras, 6-foot-9 junior forward (Robert Morris); Brendan Hausen, 6-foot-4 senior guard (Kansas State); Isaia Howard, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (Drake); Cam Manyawu, 6-foot-8 junior forward (Drake); Bennett Stirtz, 6-foot-4 graduate senior guard (Drake)
The Skinny: New Iowa head coach Ben McCollum arrives from Drake and so does a good portion of the roster that won out as 2024-25 Missouri Valley Champions with 31 wins. Among that group, Stirtz is undoubtedly the focal point after leading the MVC in scoring (19.2 points per game) and steals (2.1) while adding 5.7 assists. Alongside Stirtz, Manyawu was one of the conference’s most underrated defensive players last season and though he only averaged 7.1 points per game, his 45 steals were third-best on the team in limited minutes. Similarly, Howard made 30 appearances off the bench as Drake’s only freshman, and his 1.1 steals per game were fourth-best on the roster. Perhaps most impressive from this transfer class, however, is 2024-25 Horizon League Player of the Year Folgueiras, who will man the frontcourt for these Hawkeyes. He started 35 of 35 contests for Robert Morris last season and averaged career highs of 14.1 points, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while leading the conference in total defensive rebounds (237).
6. USC (Defending Rating: 76)
Incoming Transfers: Ezra Ausar, 6-foot-9 junior forward (Utah); Chad Baker-Mazara, 6-foot-7 senior forward (Auburn); Jaden Brownell, 6-foot-9 junior forward (Samford); Jacob Cofie, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (Virginia); Ryan Cornish, 6-foot-3 senior guard (Dartmouth): Amarion Dickerson, 6-foot-7 junior forward (Robert Morris); Gabe Dynes, 7-foot-3 sophomore center (Youngstown State); Kezza Giffa, 6-foot-2 senior guard (High Point); Jordan Marsh, 5-foot-10 junior guard (UNC Asheville); Rodney Rice, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (Maryland)
The Skinny: It starts with Dickerson, who was selected as the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game in 35 appearances. Joining him in the frontcourt will be Baker-Mazara and Cofie, who, although on opposite ends of the NCAA’s eligibility spectrum, are both more than capable two-way interior players. Brownell flourished with a move to Samford last offseason and not only improved offensively, but is a viable interior defender as well. Meanwhile, in the backcourt, Marsh is as scrappy as they come. Though his 18.8 points per game undoubtedly caught USC’s attention, his 2.0 steals led UNC Asheville. Throw in the late signing of Cornish, who averaged 17.1 points, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and the Trojans might be one of the Big Ten’s toughest defenses this season.
T-7. Kansas (Defending Rating: 75)
Incoming Transfers: Melvin Council Jr., 6-foot-4 senior guard (St. Bonaventure); Jayden Dawson, 6-foot-4 senior guard (Loyola Chicago); Tre White, 6-foot-7 senior guard (Illinois)
The Skinny: In Council, Kansas has secured a transfer star who can help lead their youthful roster from the point guard spot with scoring, ball handling and defense. Starting 34 of 34 games for St. Bonaventure last season, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 assists and was second in the Atlantic 10 with 2.1 steals per game. Dawson also had some solid two-way performances last season, which included dropping 14 points and swiping four steals in a win over Detroit Mercy back in November. And even White, who grades out as the worst defender of the three, had a double-double against Oregon last season with 20 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
T-7. Arkansas (Defending Rating: 75)
Incoming Transfers: Malique Ewin, 6-foot-10 senior forward (Florida State); Nick Pringle, 6-foot-10 graduate senior forward (South Carolina)
The Skinny: It’s just a two-man transfer class for head coach John Calipari, but an underrated and potentially very impactful class between Ewin and Pringle. Ewin, a former top-100 prospect, was one of the more underrated players in the country last season as Florida State struggled in ACC play. He still averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds, however, while adding 26 steals and 24 blocks over 30 appearances. Though Pringle isn’t known as a shot blocker at 6-foot-10, his size undoubtedly creates issues on the interior for opponents. Additionally, he’s been able to limit foul trouble despite playing in a physically demanding league like the SEC, where he averaged 6.6 points but just 2.3 fouls per game over the last three years.
T-9. Miami-FL (Defending Rating: 74)
Incoming Transfers: Marcus Allen, 6-foot-7 sophomore wing (Missouri); Tre Donaldson, 6-foot-3 senior guard (Michigan);
Malik Reneau, 6-foot-9 senior forward (Indiana); Ernest Udeh Jr., 6-foot-11 senior center (TCU); Tru Washington, 6-foot-4 junior guard (New Mexico)
The Skinny: Between the size and versatility of Udeh and Reneau, this Miami frontcourt is going to be swatting away shots left and right before dunking on opponents down the other end. Udeh in particular is a premier shot blocker and an overall defensive bully who managed 6.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 2024-25. Reneau has had to refine his defensive game over three years in the Big Ten and most recently averaged 13.3 points with 100 defensive rebounds, 21 steals and 14 blocked shots. Washington will be asked to lead the defensive change in the frontcourt after a season in which he finished second in the Mountain West with 71 steals in 34 games. Donaldson is an all-around playmaker who led Michigan with 37 steals over 37 appearances, which was a new career high for the two-time transfer. Between Udeh, Reneau, Washington and Donaldson, new Miami head coach Jai Lucas will have plenty of defensive talent to work with in Year 1.
T-9. Michigan (Defending Rating: 74)
Incoming Transfers: Elliot Cadeau, 6-foot-1 junior guard (North Carolina); Morez Johnson Jr., 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (Illinois); Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-9 graduate senior forward (UAB); Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 junior center (UCLA)
The Skinny: What can’t Lendeborg do? The two-time American Defensive Player of the Year was a double-double machine during the 2024-25 season, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals. Despite navigating the NBA’s Draft process throughout the offseason, he opted for a return to college and is already one of the Big Ten’s best defenders. Johnson is a fair shot blocker as well, and while he battled for consistency as a freshman, he never floundered on the defensive end with 33 total blocks. Cadeau is another do-it-all playmaking guard, and though he wasn’t a primary scorer at North Carolina, he still chipped in 9.4 points, 6.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game over 37 starts. Head coach Dusty May will look to develop former top-100 prospect Mara into the next Vlad Goldin or Danny Wolf.
