As rosters continue to take shape for the 2025-26 college basketball season, clear-cut winners and losers have emerged from this portal cycle.
In an offseason loaded with NIL-related controversy, recruiting the transfer portal has become tougher than ever. Hoops HQ has partnered with The Portal Report, which has built a data-based algorithm to rank every transfer class throughout the country. In the coming weeks, we will be ranking the men’s and women’s classes from each of the five major conferences. We begin today with a look at the ACC men’s classes.
1. Louisville
Incoming transfers: Ryan Conwell, 6-foot-4 senior guard (Xavier); Isaac McKneely, 6-foot-4 senior guard (Virginia); Adrian Wooley, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (Kennesaw State).
The skinny: Coach Pat Kelsey has added high-level scoring and experience. The hope is Wooley, who scored at least 20 points 15 times, can replace the explosiveness of Chucky Hepburn, who signed a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. In McKneely and Conwell, the Cardinals added a pair of lights-out three-point shooters, with each converting better than 40 percent from deep in 2024-25. Expect Kelsey and the Cardinals to be near the top of the ACC once again next season.
2. Wake Forest
Incoming transfers: Sebastian Akins, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard (Denver); Nate Calmese, 6-foot-2 junior guard (Washington State); Myles Colvin, 6-foot-5 junior guard (Purdue); Mekhi Mason, 6-foot-5 senior guard (Washington); Cooper Schwieger, 6-foot-10 junior forward (Valparaiso).
The skinny: The Demon Deacons found themselves on the wrong side of the bubble when the bracket was announced in March, a trend that Wake fans now have endured for four consecutive seasons. Coach Steve Forbes brought in a trio of double-digit scorers in Schwieger, Calmese and Akins (Mason finished just shy at 9.9 points per game). Colvin, a former four-star recruit whose dad (Rosevelt) was an NFL defensive end, may have the highest upside. He played a sparkplug role off the bench and was a solid wing defender at Purdue. Look for Colvin to unleash his potential as a full-time starter.
3. SMU
Incoming transfers: Jaron Pierre Jr., 6-foot-5 senior guard (Jacksonville State); Sam Walters, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (Michigan); Corey Washington, 6-foot-5 senior forward (Wichita State).
The skinny: Following Andy Enfield’s first season at the helm in which the Mustangs finished 24-11, SMU reloaded in the portal. Pierre was the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 21.6 points per contest and started all 36 games for Jacksonville State. The Mustangs gained high-major upside with Walters, who began his career at Alabama before spending this past season at Michigan. Washington brings scoring and experience; he averaged 13.7 points per game this past season and 15.9 points as a sophomore at St. Peters in 2023-24.
4. North Carolina State
Incoming transfers: Terrance Arceneaux, 6-foot-6 junior guard (Houston); Alyn Breed, 6-foot-3 senior guard (McNeese); Quadir Copeland, 6-foot-6 senior guard (McNeese); Jerry Deng, 6-foot-9 junior forward (Florida State); Tre Holloman, 6-foot-2 senior guard (Michigan State); Colt Langdon, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward (Butler); Ven-Allen Lubin, 6-foot-8 junior forward (North Carolina); Darrion Williams, 6-foot-6 senior forward (Texas Tech).
The skinny: With just two returning players, it’s no surprise that the Wolfpack lead the conference in transfer commitments. Thanks to new coach Will Wade, whose recruiting prowess is well-known, the roster was rebuilt with a variety of high-major talent. Atop the list is Williams, who became one of the most sought-after transfers following his decision to enter the portal. Williams averaged 15.1 points per contest this past season and carries big-game experience. In Holloman, Arceneaux and Lubin, Wade landed a trio of talented players from premier programs who are hoping for their chance to shine. Finally, with the additions of Copeland and Breed, Wade brought some familiarity with his system from McNeese. Wade wants a rapid turnaround, and he let the nation know it.
5. California
Incoming transfers: Dai Dai Ames, 6-foot-1 junior guard (Virginia); Chris Bell, 6-foot-7 senior forward (Syracuse); John Camden, 6-foot-8 senior forward (Delaware); Nolan Dorsey, 6-foot-5 senior guard (Campbell); Milos Ilic, 6-foot-10 senior forward (Loyola Maryland); Justin Pippen, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (Michigan); Sammie Yeanay, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (Grand Canyon).
The skinny: Headlined by the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, the Golden Bears secured seven transfer commitments. Pippen received an offer from Cal as a four-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon in the L.A. suburb of Chatsworth, but ultimately landed with the Wolverines. But after averaging under seven minutes per game at Michigan, Pippen picked the Golden Bears out of the portal. Camden is a player with high-major experience (Memphis and Virginia Tech) who averaged 16.8 points per contest this past season. Cal also reeled in two intraconference transfers in Bell, who played a key role off the bench for Syracuse, and Ames, who averaged 9.8 points per game for Virginia.
6. Clemson
Incoming transfers: Nick Davidson, 6-foot-10 senior forward (Nevada); RJ Godfrey, 6-foot-8 senior forward (Georgia); Efrem Johnson, 6-foot-4 senior guard (UAB); Jestin Porter, 6-foot-1 senior guard (Middle Tennessee); Jake Wahlin, 6-foot-10 junior forward (Utah); Carter Welling, 6-foot-10 junior forward (Utah Valley).
The skinny: After an offensive collapse ended the Tigers’ season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, coach Brad Brownell attacked the portal in search of scoring. With the additions of Davidson and Porter, who averaged 15.8 and 15.0 points, respectively, Brownell helped fill the void left by seniors Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin, who led Clemson in scoring this season. Godfrey became the latest “Marfo”: He has returned to the school where he started his career.
7. Virginia Tech
Incoming transfers: Jailen Bedford, 6-foot-8 senior guard (UNLV); Amani Hansberry, 6-foot-8 junior forward (West Virginia); Izaiah Pasha, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (Delaware).
The skinny: The Hokies made the NCAA Tournament in two of Mike Young’s first three seasons as coach. But with misses in each of the past three, Young and his staff need to get impactful performances from a trio of transfer commitments. Hansberry played sparingly as a freshman at Illinois in 2023-24 before averaging just under 10 points per game for West Virginia this past season. Hansberry took an official visit to Blacksburg as a four-star recruit out of high school; Hokies assistant Christian Webster originally recruited Hansberry and ultimately landed his guy. Pasha started all but one game for Delaware, averaging 11.9 points per game. Bedford, who began his career with two JUCO seasons at Trinidad (Colo.) State before one at Oral Roberts, played a key role off the bench for UNLV, averaging 10.2 points.
8. Boston College
Incoming transfers: Jason Asemota, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (Baylor); Chase Forte, 6-foot-4 senior guard (South Dakota); Boden Kapke, 6-foot-11 junior forward (Butler); Aidan Shaw, 6-foot-9 senior guard (Missouri).
The skinny: Coach Earl Grant and his staff acquired a mix of untapped potential and proven scoring from the portal. Forte will be playing for his fifth school in as many seasons; he averaged 17.9 points per game for South Dakota in 2024-25, including a 24-point performance in the team’s semifinal loss in the Summit League Tournament. Shaw and Asemota, both four-star recruits out of high school, will look to take advantage of increased opportunities at BC.
9. Miami
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: Keep an eye on the Hurricanes in their first season under Jai Lucas. Lucas, who replaces the retired Jim Larrañaga, landed a transfer at each position following nine departures from the 2024-25 team. Reneau and Donaldson, a pair of Big Ten starters this past season, should form a formidable pick-and-roll duo. With the size of Udeh and athleticism of Washington and Allen, Miami could be in position to contend in the ACC next season. Four of the five transfers (all but Washington) played high school ball in Florida, including two in South Florida: Allen in Miami and Reneau in Fort Lauderdale.
10. Notre Dame
Incoming transfer: Carson Towt, 6-foot-8 senior forward (Northern Arizona).
The skinny: Although the Irish landed just one transfer, they picked up an instant contributor in Towt. He led the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per contest to go along with 13.3 points per game. Towt had a whopping 19 double-doubles this past season for the Lumberjacks.
11. Georgia Tech
Incoming transfers: Kam Craft, 6-foot-6 junior forward (Miami, Ohio); Chas Kelley III, 6-foot-3 senior guard (Boston College); Peyton Marshall, 7-foot sophomore center (Missouri); Lamar Washington, 6-foot-4 senior guard (Pacific).
The skinny: Craft and Washington, who each spent time at the high-major level (Craft at Xavier, Washington at Texas Tech), averaged career-high scoring numbers in their first seasons on new squads – Craft at 13.6 per game and Washington at 13.5. And each had a 40-point outing: Washington scored 40 against Washington State and Kraft poured in 40 against Toledo. Marshall and Kelley lack a similar scoring pedigree, but will need to bring some juice to a Yellow Jackets team looking to make its first trip to the Big Dance since 2020-21.
12. North Carolina
Incoming transfers: Kyan Evans, 6-foot-2 junior guard (Colorado State); Jonathan Powell, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (West Virginia); Jarin Stevenson, 6-foot-11 junior forward (Alabama); Henri Veesaar, 7-foot junior forward (Arizona); Jaydon Young, 6-foot-4 junior guard (Virginia Tech).
The skinny: Despite undergoing heavy losses this offseason, coach Hubert Davis and his staff rebounded with a solid portal class. Young, Evans and Powell, a trio of guards with starting experience, will try to fill in for RJ Davis (who signed with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent) and Elliot Cadeau, who transferred to Michigan. Stevenson, a Chapel Hill native, started 22 games for the Tide this past season. Veesaar is a talented big who averaged just under 10 points per game off the bench for Arizona.
13. Virginia
Incoming transfers: Martin Carrere, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman wing (VCU); Dallin Hall, 6-foot-4 senior guard (BYU); Sam Lewis, 6-foot-6 junior guard (Toledo); Ugonna Onyenso, 7-foot senior center (Kansas State); Malik Thomas, 6-foot-5 graduate senior guard (San Francisco); Devin Tillis, 6-foot-7 graduate senior forward (UC Irvine); Jacari White, 6-foot-3 graduate senior guard (North Dakota State).
The skinny: Under the leadership of new coach Ryan Odom, Virginia invested heavily in the portal to rebuild a roster that lost all its top talent. Hall arrives as one of the nation’s best pure point guards and will be tasked with creating opportunities for prolific scorers White (17.1 points per game in 2024-25) and Thomas (19.9 in 2024-25). Filling out the rest of the rotation will be the veteran experience of Tillis, developmental pieces in Carrere and Onyenso and a 2024-25 All-MAC second-team selection in Lewis.
14. Pitt
Incoming transfers: Barry Dunning Jr., 6-foot-6 senior wing (South Alabama); Nojus Indrusaitis, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (Iowa State); Dishon Jackson, 6-foot-11 graduate senior center (Iowa State); Damarco Minor, 6-foot graduate senior guard (Oregon State).
The skinny: After finishing tied for ninth in the league and bowing out in the first round of the conference tourney, Pitt doesn’t look to have done enough in the portal to improve. Dunning will provide much-needed veteran scoring for an offense that’s returning just 24.5 percent of its production. Minor can bring stability to the backcourt after averaging 5.1 assists in 2024-25. Though Jackson looks primed to be featured in the frontcourt alongside returnee Cameron Corhen, he has struggled to be a consistent contributor at the high-major level. Indrusaitis, a former top-100 prospect per ESPN, made just 15 appearances for the Cyclones this past season and likely does little to help the Panthers improve drastically right away.
15. Florida State
Incoming transfers: Lajae Jones, 6-foot-7 senior wing (St. Bonaventure); Kobe MaGee, 6-foot-6 senior wing (Drexel); Robert McCray V, 6-foot-4 junior guard (Jacksonville); Shahid Muhammad, 6-foot-11 senior center (UMass); Martin Somerville, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (UMass-Lowell); Chauncey Wiggins, 6-foot-10 senior forward (Clemson).
The skinny: Looking to restock a roster that missed the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and returned just 6.8 percent of its scoring, new coach Luke Loucks brought in Wiggins along with a quintet of mid-major additions. Wiggins, who started 44 games in three seasons at Clemson, will look to blossom as a primary option. MaGee, Jones, Somerville and McCray averaged in double figures this past season, with McCray, who played sparingly as a freshman at Wake Forest in 2021-22, leading the group at 16.2 points per game. Loucks and FSU will need major contributions from this portal class to climb the conference standings.
16. Syracuse
Incoming transfers: Tyler Betsey, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (Cincinnati); Naithan George, 6-foot-3 junior guard (Georgia Tech); Nate Kingz, 6-foot-5 redshirt senior guard (Oregon State); William Kyle III, 6-foot-9 senior forward (UCLA); Ibrahim Souare, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore forward (Georgia Tech), Bryce Zephir, 6-foot-4 graduate senior guard (Montana State).
The skinny: Syracuse was beat down this past season, crawling to just seven wins in the ACC and finishing 14th before losing numerous veteran contributors. While the additions of George and Kingz will help to offset some of that lost production, the rest of this Orange contingent remains unproven. Betsey, a former top-100 prospect, played sparingly as a freshman with Cincinnati, and Souare had a similar story at Georgia Tech. Kyle was the 2023-24 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year at South Dakota State, but struggled with his transition to the high-major ranks. Zephir seems just a veteran depth piece.
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17. Stanford
Incoming transfers: Jeremy Dent-Smith, 6-foot-1 graduate senior guard (D-II Cal State Dominguez Hills); AJ Rohosy, 6-foot-9 graduate senior forward (D-III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps).
The skinny: Stanford always has struggled to acquire transfer talent because of its stringent academic requirements, but still managed to land two of the portal’s most coveted non-Division I players. Dent-Smith spent the past three seasons as a steady double-figure scorer at Cal State-Dominguez Hills, which lost in the D-II national title game this past season. He was a two-time NABC Division II first-team All-American. Rohosy’s career started at Washington State but after making just 10 appearances over two seasons, he moved to Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps last offseason. He averaged 21.3 points and 10.5 rebounds and shot 65 percent from the floor, which caught the attention of the always meticulous Kyle Smith.
18. Duke
Incoming transfers: Jack Scott, 6-foot-6 senior guard (Princeton); Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, 6-foot-10 senior center (Rice).
The skinny: Early in the offseason, Duke received a commitment from one of the nation’s most coveted transfers in 6-foot-6 senior guard Cedric Coward, previously of Washington State. But when he opted to remain in the NBA Draft (he went in the first round to Memphis), the Blue Devils were left empty-handed. Ufochukwu and Scott are likely walk-ons.
