A year ago, players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Bennett Stirtz and Xaivian Lee were still flying under the radar in the college basketball world.
All four transferred from mid-major schools to the power-conference level during the 2025 offseason and turned into household names. Lendeborg jumped from UAB to Michigan and was the centerpiece of a national championship team. After taking Drake to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Stirtz led Iowa all the way to the 2026 Elite Eight and earned All-Big Ten honors. And Lee, the 2024-25 Ivy League Player of the Year at Harvard, helped Florida win the SEC regular-season title.
Amid another busy transfer cycle, hundreds of mid-major players made the leap to the high-major ranks. But who are the most likely candidates to follow in the footsteps of Lendeborg, Stirtz and Lee, emerging as key contributors or stars? Below we rank the top 10.
1. Alex Wilkins, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Furman → Kentucky
You might remember Wilkins from his team’s clash with UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when he put up 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. For the season, the electrifying guard averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists and set Furman’s all-time freshman scoring record.
After whiffing on several of its top targets this offseason, Kentucky is counting on Wilkins to carry a heavy burden. He’s expected to start in the backcourt alongside Washington transfer Zoom Diallo, another skilled playmaker. If the Wildcats are going to contend in the SEC, they’ll need Wilkins to continue producing at a high rate and shoot better from behind the arc. As he proved during March Madness, the 19-year-old has the talent to shine on the biggest stages against elite competition.
2. Miles Byrd, 6-foot-7 junior guard, San Diego State → Providence
Byrd headlines Bryan Hodgson’s first roster at Providence, which was built almost entirely from the transfer portal. The athletic wing, who has spent the past four seasons at San Diego State, is arguably the best perimeter defender in the country. In 2025-26, he averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks and was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He should be right at home in the Big East, a conference known for its rugged, defensive-oriented brand of basketball. Providence has the pieces to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023, but much of its success will depend on how Byrd fares in a new environment.
3. Paulius Murauskas, 6-foot-8 junior forward, Saint Mary’s → Arizona State
Longtime Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett landed the Arizona State job in late March. A month later, his best player joined him in Tempe. Murauskas, Hoops HQ’s No. 7-ranked transfer, had a breakout junior campaign with the Gaels, posting 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field. The Lithuanian big man started his career at Arizona but averaged just 5.1 minutes as a freshman before transferring to Saint Mary’s in 2024. Given his familiarity with Bennett’s system and Big 12 competition, he should thrive in his second high-major stint.
4. Cruz Davis, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Hofstra → Texas Tech
Texas Tech had to construct a new backcourt this offseason after Christian Anderson declared for the draft, Donovan Atwell graduated and Jaylen Petty transferred to UCLA. In addition to landing UNLV transfer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who led the Mountain West in scoring, the Red Raiders signed reigning CAA Player of the Year Cruz Davis.
Davis was the focal point of a Hofstra team that reached the NCAA Tournament, posting 20.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 40 percent from three. He’s an exceptional pick-and-roll player who should flourish in Grant McCasland’s offense, just as Anderson did. The transition to a power conference shouldn’t faze Cruz too much; he spent a year at St. John’s under Rick Pitino before transferring to Hofstra. In four games against high-major competition last season, Cruz averaged 22.5 points and 6.8 assists.
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5. Terrence Hill Jr., 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, VCU → Tennessee
Don’t let the Juke Harris signing overshadow the rest of Tennessee’s loaded transfer class, which includes another of the portal’s most talented scorers in Hill. The dynamic guard averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds last season, earning All-A-10 First Team honors. In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, he carried VCU to an upset victory over North Carolina with 34 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. “We are bringing Terrence here to make an immediate, significant impact and we feel great about his ability to do so,” Rick Barnes said. “He will mesh well with the way we run our offense.”
Hill will focus more on playing the point at Tennessee and is well positioned to succeed with so many weapons around him. He could very well be the engine of one of the country’s top offenses.
6. Leroy Blyden Jr., 6-foot-1 freshman guard, Toledo → Kansas
Bill Self saw his entire roster crumble this offseason, as Darryn Peteron declared for the NBA Draft, starting wings Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White graduated, and seven others opted to transfer out. Over the past month, Kansas has successfully patched together a new team that can compete in the Big 12, composed of the No. 2-ranked high school recruiting class — headlined by top prospect Tyran Stokes — and a promising portal class.
The most intriguing incoming transfer is Blyden, who should assume a prominent spot in Self’s rotation. A lightning quick guard, Blyden earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors with averages of 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He also shot 40.7 percent from three on more than five attempts per game. It may take time for the 19-year-old to adjust to the Big 12, but his ceiling is incredibly high. “We felt Leroy was one of the very best guard prospects in the portal, period,” Self said.
7. Jaquan Johnson, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, Bradley → Iowa State
Nicknamed “Bully” for his hard-nosed, physical style, Johnson and Iowa State are a match made in heaven. The reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year is heading to a program known for its consistent dominance on that end. With Tamin Lipsey out of eligibility, the Cyclones needed another lockdown perimeter defender to help maintain their identity. Johnson was among the best on the market.
The scrappy guard stepped into Bradley’s starting lineup last season and averaged 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 38.3 percent from three. Offense will be harder to come by for Johnson in the Big 12, especially given his lack of size, but his defense should earn him significant playing time on a team ranked No. 11 in Hoops HQ’s Never-Too-Early Top 25.
8. Delrecco Gillespie, 6-foot-8 senior forward, Kent State → Houston
Like Johnson and Iowa State, Gillespie and Houston are an ideal fit. Not everyone has the toughness and physicality to thrive in Kelvin Sampson’s program, but Gillespie certainly does. The 23-year-old big man averaged 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds last season, earning All-MAC First Team honors. He led the nation in double-doubles (22) and registered 20-plus boards twice. He’ll join forces with returning junior forward Joseph Tugler, the 2024-25 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and incoming five-star freshman Arafan Diane to form a well balanced frontcourt. Of the three, Gillespie is the most reliable interior scorer.
9. DeSean Goode, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, Robert Morris → Miami
Miami has been a major winner this offseason, assembling a transfer class that should have the program contending for an ACC crown. Jai Lucas landed a stellar floor general in Villanova’s Acaden Lewis, the No. 3-ranked center in the portal (per Hoops HQ’s rankings) in Georgia’s Somto Cyril, and a versatile forward in Robert Morris’ DeSean Goode.
As a sophomore, Goode was named Horizon League Player of the Year with averages of 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds. He was among the most efficient players in college basketball, shooting a staggering 62.9 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three. Given his size, strength and all-around skill set, it’s easy to imagine Goode thriving at the high-major level, especially alongside either Cyril or five-star freshman forward Caleb Gaskins in the frontcourt.
10. Gavin Doty, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, Siena → Syracuse
As expected, Doty, a unanimous All-MAAC First Team selection, followed coach Gerry McNamara from Siena to Syracuse. The New York native, who’s known for his relentless motor and competitiveness, averaged 18.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals last season. He has already had success against the ACC’s biggest powerhouse: In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, he almost led Siena to a historic upset of No. 1 overall seed Duke, scoring a team-high 21 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. He should continue to play a major role for McNamara despite the change in scenery.
Meet your guide
