More than 2,000 college basketball players have entered the NCAA’s transfer portal since the end of the 2024-25 season. While that mass exodus has become the source of angst among coaches and old-school fans used to the stability of the good ol’ pre-portal and NIL days, it might be the best thing that could have happened to the ACC.
The conference needs a massive makeover after a historically bad season in which just four of its teams made the NCAA Tournament and only Duke advanced past the opening round. What better way to bring that about than with a large influx of upgraded talent?
Here’s a look at all the comings and goings around the ACC during a busy first month of college basketball’s free agent frenzy.
BOSTON COLLEGE
Departures: Joshua Beadle, 6-foot-3 graduate guard (in portal); Dion Brown, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to St. Louis); Chas Kelly, 6-foot-3 junior guard (in portal); Roger McFarlane, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Elijah Strong, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transferred to South Carolina); Chad Venning, 6-foot-9 center (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Donald Hand Jr., 6-foot-5 junior guard; Jayden Hastings, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore center; Fred Payne, 6-foot-1 redshirt sophomore guard; Kany Tchanda, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; Luka Towes, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard.
Incoming: Chase Forte, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from South Dakota); Boden Kapke, 6-foot-11 junior center (transfer from Butler); Aiden Shaw, 6-foot-9 senior wing (transfer from Missouri); Jack Bailey, 6-foot-10 freshman forward; Caleb Steger, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Akbar Waheed, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.
The upcoming season likely is a win-or-else proposition for coach Earl Grant, who enters his fifth season with the Eagles with just one established veteran on the returning roster. The good news is that the player he’ll have to build around is leading scorer Hand. The bad news is that Grant has been slow to bring in talent around Hand. Perhaps Grant simply is biding his time in search of the right fits. More likely: He’s having trouble attracting players to BC. Either way, he has a busy spring and summer ahead of him.
CALIFORNIA
Departures: Javon Blacksher Jr. 5-foot-11 guard (out of eligibility); Devin Curtis, 6-foot-11, sophomore center (in portal); Joshua Ola-Joseph, 6-foot-7 junior forward (in portal); BJ Omot, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transferred to Minnesota); Mady Sissoko, 6-foot-9 center (out of eligibility); Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-6 junior wing (in portal); Christian Tucker, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Jeremiah Wilkinson, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transferred to Georgia).
Returnees: DJ Campbell, 6-foot-2 graduate guard; Lee Dort, 6-foot-10 senior center; Spencer Mahoney, 6-foot-9 redshirt junior forward; Rytis Petraltis, 6-foot-7 senior forward.
Incoming: Dai Dai Ames, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer from Virginia); John Camden, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Delaware); Nolan Dorsey, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Campbell), Milos Illic, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer from Loyola Maryland); Justin Pippen, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer from Michigan); Sammie Yeanea, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman center (transfer from Grand Canyon); Jovani Ruff, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Semetri Carr, 6-foot freshman guard.
Coach Mark Madsen has hit the portal hard, with six new transfer additions in the fold. He’s going to need all the help he can find after losing the two players he was hoping to build around in 2025-26. The Bears lost a combined 33 points per game when leading scorer Stojakovic followed ACC Sixth Man of the Year Wilkinson out the door. It’s a void Madsen will have to fill by committee unless he can find a high-volume scorer or two.
CLEMSON
Departures: Myles Foster, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Jake Heidbreder, 6-foot-4 redshirt junior guard (in portal); Chase Hunter 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Del Jones, 6-foot-2 freshman guard (transfer to Radford); Viktor Lahkin, 6-foot-11 center (out of eligibility); Christian Reeves, 7-foot-2 center (transfer to College of Charleston); Ian Scheifflein, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Asa Thomas, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to Furman); Chauncey Wiggins, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer to Florida State); Jaeden Zackery 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Ace Buckner, 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman guard; Dillon Hunter, 6-foot-3 senior guard; Dallas Thomas, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward.
Incoming: Nick Davidson, 6-foot-10 redshirt senior center (transfer from Nevada); RJ Godfrey, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Georgia); Efrem “Butta” Johnson, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from UAB); Jake Wahlin, 6-foot-10 forward (transfer from Utah); Carter Welling, 6-foot-10 forward (transfer from Utah Valley); Blake Davidson, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Zac Foster, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Trent Steinour, 6-foot-10 freshman center; Chase Thompson, 6-foot-8 freshman forward.
All but one member of the core unit that produced an Elite Eight run in 2024 and set a school record with 18 ACC wins this past season is gone, forcing Brad Brownell to cast a wider net than in the past in search of transfer help. With the return of experienced point guard Hunter and the arrival of four-star freshman Foster in the backcourt, Brownell’s top priority has been bulking up inside. Seven newcomers are at least 6-foot-8, including Godfrey, who returns to Clemson after spending this past season at Georgia.
DUKE
Departures: Mason Gillis, 6-foot-6 forward (out of eligibility); Spencer Hubbard, 5-foot-8 guard (out of eligibility); Sion James, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Kon Knueppel, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (NBA draft); Tyrese Proctor, 6-foot-5 junior guard (NBA draft); Cameron Sheffield, 6-foot-6 forward (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Maliq Brown, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Caleb Foster, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Darren Harris, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Patrick Ngongba, 6-foot-11 sophomore center.
Incoming: Cameron Boozer, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Cayden Boozer, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Nikolas Khamenia, 6-foot-8 freshman forward.
Pending: Cooper Flagg, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (NBA draft decision); Khaman Maluach, 7-foot-2 freshman center (NBA draft decision).
Jon Scheyer was prepared for the mass exodus of his three freshman stars, though only one has officially announced his intention to enter the NBA draft. But that plan was altered last week when five-star recruit Shelton Henderson decommitted, presumably to follow former Duke assistant Jai Lucas to Miami. The incoming cupboard is hardly bare, though, with the arrival of the Boozer brothers and four-star prospect Khamenia. Scheyer also is in the hunt for undeclared five-star forward Nate Ament, along with several high-profile transfers.
Baylor Lost All Its Players. Now What?
Baylor has been one of the nation’s top programs, but its NIL budget is modest. Now Scott Drew has to rebuild a roster that emptied out completely.
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
FLORIDA STATE
Departures: Taylor Bol Bowen, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer to Alabama); Daquan Davis, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transfer to Providence); Jerry Deng, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (in portal); Malique Ewan, 6-foot-11 junior center (transfer to Arkansas); Chandler Jackson, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer to Arkansas State); Wake Mbatch, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (in portal); Christian Nitu, 6-foot-11 freshman forward (in portal); Anastasios Rozakeas, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (in portal); Justin Thomas, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (in portal); Jamir Watkins, 6-foot-7 senior forward (NBA draft); Bostyn Holt, 6-foot-7 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: AJ Swinton, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward; Alier Maluk, 7-foot sophomore center.
Incoming: LaJae Jones, 6-foot-7 senior guard (transfer from St. Bonaventure); Kobe MaGee, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Drexel); Robert McCray V, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Jacksonville); Alex Steen, 6-foot-9 forward (transfer from Division II Florida Southern); Chauncey Wiggins, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Clemson); Thomas Bassong, 6-foot-8 freshman wing; Cam Miles, 6-foot-2 freshman guard.
With only two players returning from Leonard Hamilton’s final team, neither of whom averaged more than 10 minutes per game, new coach Luke Loucks is starting with basically a clean slate. He made quick work by bringing in five transfers, including ACC veteran Wiggins from Clemson, along with lightly regarded recruits Miles and Bassong. But he still has a lot of work to do to fill out the roster and put together a competitive unit in Year 1.
GEORGIA TECH
Departures: Naithan George, 6-foot-3 guard (transfer to Syracuse); Javian McCollum, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Ryan Mutumbo, 7-foot-2 center (out of eligibility); Emmer Nichols, 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore forward (in portal); Luke O’Brien, 6-foot-8 forward (0ut of eligibility); Doryan Onwuchekwa, 6-foot-11 freshman center (in portal); Duncan Powell, 6-foot-8 redshirt junior forward (transfer to Georgetown); Marcos San Miguel, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (in portal); Ibrahim Souare, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward (Syracuse); Darrion Sutton, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (in portal); Lance Terry, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Jaeden Mustaf, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Baye Ndongo, 6-foot-9 junior forward.
Incoming: Kam Craft, 6-foot-6 junior forward (transfer from Miami of Ohio); Eric Chatfield, 5-foot-11 freshman guard; Akai Fleming, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Cole Kirouac, 6-foot-11 freshman center; Brandon Stores, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.
Pending: Kowacie Reeves Jr., 6-foot-7 senior guard (awaiting medical redshirt).
Damon Stoudamire seemed to have things headed in a positive direction late in the 2024-25 season. But whatever momentum the Yellow Jackets were building was stunted by the surprising portal departures of star point guard George and rugged forward Powell. The good news is that the return of All-ACC big man Ndongo and promising guard Mustaf gives Stoudamire a solid foundation upon which to build. He also has a strong incoming freshman class that will get even stronger once four-star center Mouhamed Sylla confirms his commitment by signing.
LOUISVILLE
Departures: Frank Anselem-Ibe, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility), Terrence Edwards Jr., 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Chucky Hepburn, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Koren Johnson, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Ole Miss); Reyne Smith, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Aboubacar Traore, 6-foot-5 wing (out of eligibility); Noah Waterman, 6-foot-11 forward (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Ally Khalifa, 6-foot-11 senior center; Kobe Rogers, 6-foot-3 senior guard; Khani Rooths, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward; James Scott, 6-foot-11 junior center.
Incoming: Ryan Conwell, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Xavier); Isaac McKneely, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Virginia), Adrian Wooley, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Kennesaw State); Mikel Brown Jr., 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Sananda Fru, 6-foot-11 freshman forward.
Pending: J’Vonne Hadley, 6-foot-6 senior forward; Kasean Pryor, 6-foot-10 senior forward.
Pat Kelsey successfully returned Louisville to respectability and the NCAA Tournament in his first season by building a roster primarily through the transfer portal. His second Cardinals team will feature a more balanced mix of returnees, portal additions and talented freshmen. While transfers Cronwell, McKneely and Wooley will help offset the loss of Hepburn, Edwards and Smith in the backcourt, the best player on the team could end up being incoming McDonald’s All-American Brown. There still might be a need for more help on the wing and in the frontcourt. But those issues could be solved from within if Pryor and Hadley decide to use their fifth year and return.
MIAMI
Departures: Yusiff Bas-Ama, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Jalil Bethea, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transfer to Alabama); James Blackmon, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Matthew Cleveland, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Paul Djobet, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard (in portal); Kiree Huie, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Brandon Johnson, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to Iowa); Lynn Kidd, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Nijel Pack, 6-foot graduate guard (transfer to Oklahoma); AJ Stanton-McCray, 6-foot-4 redshirt junior guard (in portal); Austin Swartz, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (in portal); Divine Ugochukwu, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (in portal).
Returnees: None.
Incoming: Tre Donaldson, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Michigan); Malik Renéau, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Indiana); Ernest Udeh, 6-foot-11 senior center (transfer from TCU); Tru Washington, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from New Mexico); Dante Allen, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Timotej Malovec, 6-foot-9 freshman wing.
All 13 players from this past season’s roster are gone. But that could end up being addition by subtraction, as it gives new coach Jai Lucas the opportunity to start over fresh after a 7-24 disaster. He’s off to a strong start with transfer portal pickups from power conference programs, including a former five-star big man in Udeh. Freshman guard Allen is a four-star flip from Villanova, and Malovec is a polished 21-year-old wing from Slovakia considered one of this year’s top international imports. While Lucas’ building effort is in its early stages, it could get a major bump if he can land five-star forward Shelton Henderson, who he helped recruit to Duke and who recently reopened his recruitment.
NORTH CAROLINA
Departures: Elliot Cadeau, 6-1 sophomore guard (transfer to Michigan); Ty Claude, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); RJ Davis, 6-foot guard (out of eligibility); Ian Jackson, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to St. John’s); Cade Tyson, 6-foot-7 junior wing (in portal); Jalen Washington, 6-foot-10 junior (transfer to Vanderbilt); Jae’Lyn Withers, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility).
Returnees: James Brown, 6-foot-10 sophomore center; Ven-Allen Lubin, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Drake Powell, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing; Seth Trimble, 6-foot-3 senior guard.
Incoming: Kyan Evans, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer from Colorado State); Jonathan Powell, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing (transfer from West Virginia); Jarin Stevenson, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transfer from Alabama); Henry Veesaar, 7-foot redshirt junior center (transfer from Arizona); Caleb Wilson, 6-foot-10 freshman forward; Isaiah Denis, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Derek Dixon, 6-foot-3 freshman guard.
Priority No. 1 for Hubert Davis heading into the offseason was addressing the Tar Heels’ biggest weakness by getting bigger – and not just in the frontcourt. He replaced Davis and Cadeau, both of whom were barely 6 feet, with the taller Evans and two four-star freshmen. The Tar Heels also got bigger inside by adding transfers Stevenson – a Chapel Hill native – and Veesaar, along with five-star freshman Wilson to help Lubin on the glass.
NC STATE
Departures: Ismaël Diouf, 6-foot-9 junior forward (in portal); Bryce Heard, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (in portal); Marcus Hill, 6-foot-4 senior guard (in portal); Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, 6-foot-10 forward (out of eligibility); Mike Jones, 6-foot-5 redshirt junior guard (transfer to Vanderbilt); Ben Middlebrooks, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Michael O’Connell, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Breon Pass, 6-foot guard (out of eligibility); Dennis Parker Jr., 6-foot-6 sophomore wing (in portal); Trey Parker, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (in portal); Dontrez Styles, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Jaden Taylor, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Paul McNeil, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard.
Incoming: Alyn Breed, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from McNeese State); Quadir Coleman, 6-foot-6 senior wing (transfer from McNeese State); Tre Holloman, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Michigan State); Zymicah Wilkins, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Matt Able, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.
New Wolfpack coach Will Wade put the ACC on notice in March when he guided McNeese State to a first-round NCAA Tournament upset of Clemson. Wade brings an edgy, aggressive style to a Wolfpack program that failed to build on its surprise Final Four run in 2024. To that end, he’s brought two of his best players with him from McNeese. Coleman has ACC experience, having started his career at Syracuse, while Breed led McNeese in scoring at 17 points per game. Wade’s third portal addition, Michigan State point guard Holloman, and top-30 freshman Able give NC State a formidable backcourt. Now it’s time for the new coach to start stocking his frontcourt.
NOTRE DAME
Departures: Matt Alloco, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Burke Chebuhar, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Tae Davis, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer to Oklahoma); JR Konieczy, 6-foot-7 junior forward (in portal); Nikita Konstantynoski, 6-foot-10 center (out of eligibility); Julian Roper, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Markus Burton, 6-foot junior guard; Cole Certa, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Logan Imes, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Sir Mohammed, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing; Kebba Njie, 6-foot-10 senior forward; Braeden Shrewsberry, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Garrett Sundra, 6-foot-11 sophomore center.
Incoming: Carson Towt, 6-foot-8 graduate forward (transfer from Northern Arizona); Tommy Ahneman, 6-foot-10 freshman center; Ryder Frost, 6-foot-6 freshman forward; Jalen Harralson, 6-foot-7 freshman wing; Brady Koehler, 6-foot-9 freshman forward.
Micah Shrewsberry had less to do than any ACC coach in restocking his roster this offseason. His job was made a lot easier with the return of starting guards Burton, the ACC’s leading scorer in 2024-25, and his son Braeden. And while Shrewsberry did lose second-leading scorer and rebounder Davis, he replaced him with the nation’s leading rebounder, Towt, who averaged 12.4 per game last season for Northern Arizona. With six returning players, four incoming freshmen and one transfer, Shrewsberry might be done.
PITT
Departures: Zack Austin, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Marlon Barnes, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (in portal); Gullermo Diaz-Graham, 7-foot junior forward (transfer to San Francisco); Jorge Diaz-Graham, 7-foot junior forward (in portal); Amsal Dellaic, 6-foot-8 freshman guard (in portal); Damian Dunn, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Papa Kante, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (in portal); Ismael Leggett, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Jaland Lowe, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer to Kentucky).
Returnees: Cameron Corhen, 6-foot-10 senior center; Brandin Cummings, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Amdy Ndiaye, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward.
Incoming: Barry Dunning Jr., 6-foot-6 junior forward (transfer from South Alabama); Nojus Indrusaitis, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Iowa State); Dishon Jackson, 6-foot-11 senior center (transfer from Iowa State); Damarco Minor, 6-foot senior guard (transfer from Oregon State); Omari Witherspoon, 6-foot-4 freshman guard.
The trend of building around one-and-done freshmen has shifted to older, more experienced teams at college basketball’s highest level. So after losing nine players with a combined 692 games between them to graduation and transfers, Jeff Capel is relying heavily on the portal to replace most of that lost experience. He’s signed just one incoming recruit, though it’s a good one in Witherspoon, and begun the rebuilding process by surrounding returning star Cummings with a proven rim protector, a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, a pass-first point guard with 98 career starts and a former four-star shooting guard with three seasons of eligibility remaining. And Capel still has six more roster spots to fill.
SMU
Departures: Keon Ambrose-Hylton, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Jerrell Colbert, 6-foot-10 junior forward (in portal); Matt Cross, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); AJ George, 6-foot-6 junior guard (in portal); Tibet Göerener, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Chuck Harris, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Kario Oquendo, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Yohan Traore, 6-foot-11 junior center (in portal); Jackson Young, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: BJ Edwards, 6-foot-3 senior guard; Kevin “Boopie” Miller, 6-foot senior guard; Samet Yiǧitoǧlu, 7-foot-2 sophomore center.
Incoming: Jaron Pierre, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Jacksonville State); Nana Owusu Anane, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Brown); BJ Davis-Ray, 6-foot-6 freshman wing; Jermaine O’Neal Jr., 6-foot-5 freshman forward; Jaden Toombs, 6-foot-9 freshman center; Nigel Walls, 6-foot-10 freshman forward.
Pending: Mitchell Holmes, 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman center; Nicollo Kalischer-Stork, 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman guard; Chance Puryear, 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward.
Coach Andy Enfield and the Mustangs made an immediate splash in their first ACC season by winning 24 games and earning an NIT bid. But with the bulk of the roster having moved on, the Mustangs need a major rebuild. Although Enfield has utilized the portal by nabbing two experienced newcomers, including last year’s Conference USA Player of the Year (Pierre), his primary approach has been more old school through the addition of four highly rated freshman signees.
STANFORD
Departures: Jaylen Blakes, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility), Cole Kastner, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Maxime Raynaud, 7-foot-1 center (out of eligibility); Oziyah Sellers, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer to St. John’s).
Returnees: Ryan Agarwal, 6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard; Anthony Batson, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Aidan Cammann, 6-foot-10 redshirt sophomore center; Benny Gealer, 6-foot-1 senior guard; Chrisom Okpara, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Derin Saran, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Evan Stinson, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward; Jaylen Thompson, 6-foot-8 redshirt junior forward; Tallis Toure, 6-foot-11 sophomore center; Donavin Young, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward.
Incoming: Jaylen Petty, 6-foot freshman guard; Eduka Okorie, 6-foot-1 freshman guard; Kristers Skrinda, 6-foot-10 freshman forward.
The Cardinal has experienced remarkably low turnover outside of its graduation losses. But the one player to enter the portal was an important one: Sellers is a rising star who would have been Stanford’s best player. Coach Kyle Smith already has done most of his work filling in the few blanks that he has with three incoming recruits. That leaves one scholarship open for a possible portal addition.
SYRACUSE
Departures: Chris Bell, 6-foot-7 junior forward (in portal); Jaquin Carlos, 6-foot guard (out of eligibility); Kyle Cuffe Jr. 6-foot-2 redshirt junior guard (in portal); Jyáre Davis, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Eddie Lampkin, 6-foot-11 graduate center (in portal); Petar Majstrovic, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (in portal); Naheem McLeod, 7-foot-4 center (out of eligibility); Elijah Moore, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to Utah); Lucas Taylor, 6-foot-5 senior guard (in portal); Chance Westry, 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore guard (in portal).
Returnees: Donnie Freeman, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward; JJ Starling, 6-foot-4 senior guard.
Incoming: Naithan George, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Georgia Tech); Nate Kingz, 6-foot-5 redshirt senior guard (transfer from Oregon State); William Kyle III, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from UCLA); Ibrahim Souare, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore forward (transfer from Georgia Tech); Bruce Zephyr, 6-foot-4 redshirt senior guard (transfer from Montana State); Kiyan Anthony, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Luke Fennell, 6-foot-6 freshman guard; Sadiq White, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Aaron Womack, 6-foot-6 freshman forward.
The upcoming season almost certainly will be a make-or-break proposition for third-year coach Adrian Autry. And he is taking no chances. He kept the two best players from this past season’s 14-19 team and cleaned house of everyone else, making way for a deep, experienced transfer group and a star-studded four-man freshman class highlighted by the son of Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony. Autry still has room for two more scholarship additions. With his career likely on the line, you can bet he’s not done looking for anyone who can provide immediate help.
VIRGINIA
Departures: Dai Dai Ames, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer to Cal); Christian Bliss, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard (in portal); Blake Buchanan, 6-foot-11 sophomore center (transfer to Iowa State); Jacob Cofie, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transfer to USC); Isaac McKneely, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer to Louisville); Taine Murray, 6-foot-5, guard (out of eligibility); TJ Power, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer to Penn); Anthony Robinson, 6-foot-10 freshman center (transfer to Xavier); Andrew Rhode, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transfer to Wisconsin); Elijah Saunders, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer to Maryland); Ishan Sharma, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (in portal); Jalen Warley, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer to Butler).
Returnees: Elijah Gertrude, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Carter Lang, 6-foot-9 junior forward.
Incoming: Martin Carrier, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from VCU); Dallin Hall, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from BYU); Sam Lewis, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transfer from Toledo); Devin Tillis, 6-foot-7 senior wing (transfer from UC Irvine); Jacari White, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from North Dakota State); Silas Barksdale, 6-foot-8 freshman center; Chance Mallory, 5-foot-10 freshman guard.
New coach Ryan Odom has nearly an entire roster to fill, which actually is a benefit since his hiring doesn’t represent just a change in leadership for the program. With Tony Bennett gone, his style of play is, appropriately, now a thing of the past. UVa fans no longer will be encouraged to “embrace the pace.” But playing a more uptempo brand of basketball means bringing in players suited to play that style. Odom is off to a good start. But with only nine players on the roster, it’s just a start. Although Odom will be looking for players to help at any position, size is a priority with Lang the only true big man in the program at this moment.
VIRGINIA TECH
Departures: Rodney Brown, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer to Loyola Chicago); Ben Burnham 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Ryan Jones Jr., 6-foot-8 freshman forward (in portal); Mylyjel Poteat, 6-foot-9 center (out of eligibility); Brandon Rechsteiner, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer to Colorado State); Patrick Wessler, 7-foot redshirt sophomore center (transfer to UNC Wilmington); Jaydon Young, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (in portal).
Returnees: Ben Hammond, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard; Tyler Johnson, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Tobi Lawal, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Jaden Schutt, 6-foot-5 redshirt junior wing.
Incoming: Amani Hansberry, 6-foot-8 junior forward (transfer from West Virginia); Iziah Pasha, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from Delaware); Christian Gurdak, 6-foot-9 freshman center; Sin’Cere Jones, 6-foot-7 freshman wing.
Mike Young’s top priority this offseason is scoring. A lot of it. This past season’s team had only one player average in double figures on the way to finishing 17th in the league in scoring offense. Delaware transfer Pasha is a good start in improving that performance. But he and top returning scorer Lawal are going to need a lot more help. Among the Hokies’ more specific portal needs are another ballhandler to back up Hammond and height to help Lawal and incoming four-star freshman Gurdak inside.
WAKE FOREST
Departures: Churchill Abass, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (in portal); Davin Cosby, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer to Kennesaw State); Parker Friedrichsen, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer to Davidson); Mason Hagedorn, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (in portal); Cameron Hildreth, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Ty-Laur Johnson 6-foot guard (in portal); Marque Marion, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (in portal); Efton Reid, 7-foot center (out of eligibility); Hunter Sallis, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility).
Returnees: Omaha Biliew, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Juke Harris, 6-foot-7 sophomore wing; Tre’von Spillers, 6-foot-7 senior forward.
Incoming: Nate Calmese, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from Washington State); Myles Colvin, 6-foot-5 junior wing (transfer from Purdue); Mekhi Mason, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from Washington), Cooper Schwieger, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from Valparaiso); Isaac Carr, 6-foot-3 freshman guard.
Steve Forbes has become known as the “Portal Whisperer” because of his deft use of the transfer portal, especially when it comes to high-scoring combo guards. It’s a list that includes ACC Player of the Year Alondes Williams, Tyree Appleby and, most recently, Sallis. The candidate to be the next man up is Calmese, who averaged 15.2 points and 4.4 assists at Washington State in 2024-25. Forbes also has found replacements for graduated big man Reid in Valpo’s Schwieger and for big guard Hildreth in Purdue’s Colvin. With the wing and shooting guard positions well-stocked, Forbes’ remaining wish list includes another big and ballhandling depth.
