Throughout this offseason series on the top transfers for the 2026-27 season, we’ve seen high-major lists featuring a ton of mid-major players moving up a level. Yet the transfer portal doesn’t only benefit top teams; it can benefit mid-major programs, as the right player could instantly make them favorites in their respective conferences.
Here’s a look at the top 20 players to watch from the portal who went to a mid-major program.
1. Sonny Wilson, 6-foot-1 senior guard, South Florida
2025-26 stats (Toledo): 17 points, 4.6 assists
Wilson has 98 career starts at Toledo, earning All-MAC honors twice. He shot 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep, scoring 7-plus points in each game last season. Wilson showed he can score against quality competition, posting 29 points on the road at Michigan State. On a completely new team at South Florida, Wilson projects as a preseason contender for American Player of the Year.
2. Jason Rivera-Torres, 6-foot-7 senior forward, High Point
2025-26 stats (Monmouth): 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists
After limited production at both Vanderbilt and San Francisco, Rivera-Torres broke out at Monmouth, earning All-CAA and all-defensive honors. The combo forward produced eight double-doubles, as well as a 30-point, 9-rebound outing on the road at Hofstra in overtime. He joins Big South powerhouse High Point and is on the shortlist for preseason Player of the Year.
3. Brandin Cummings, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Memphis
2025-26 stats (Pitt): 12.5 points, 2.1 assists
An ankle injury limited Cummings to just 19 games last season, and his scoring production was inconsistent. But when Cummings is feeling it, he can score on anyone, including 29 points against Syracuse and a career-high 34 in a loss to Hofstra. Memphis and its new-look roster is up for grabs in terms of hierarchy, and on paper, Cummings looks to be the guy to potentially lead them in scoring.
4. Blake Barkley, 6-foot-7 junior forward, Grand Canyon
2025-26 stats (East Tennessee State): 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds
After playing just four games at Northwestern, Barkley transferred to ETSU, where he turned into an All-SoCon contributor. He shot 59 percent from the field and produced five double-doubles, including 26 points and 11 rebounds on the road at Samford. Grand Canyon, which is set to have one of the top backcourts in the Mountain West next season, now has a lead frontcourt piece to balance out the offense.
5. Dayan Nessah, 6-foot-7 junior forward, Loyola Chicago
2025-26 stats (Cleveland State): 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds
After limited production as a freshman at George Washington, Nessah broke out as an All-Horizon League performer, ranking in the top 10 in league scoring. The combo forward shot 55 percent from the field and had seven games of at least 20 points, including 31 points and 10 rebounds on the road at Wright State. After last year’s disastrous campaign, the Ramblers have a completely new roster, with Nessah looking to prove that he’s indeed an A-10 caliber player this time around.
6. Nick Janowski, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Davidson
2025-26 stats (St. Thomas): 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
Janowski was the Summit League Freshman of the Year in his lone season at St. Thomas and led the team in scoring. He shot 50 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range, including a 32-point outing against North Dakota. After losing both double-digit scoring guards from last season, Davidson will look to Janowski to be its lead guard next season.
7. Jizzle James, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Charlotte
2025-26 stats (Cincinnati): 10.9 points and 2.1 assists
James didn’t rejoin the Bearcats until Big 12 play due to personal reasons last season, but the team was clearly better when he was on the court. He shot 44 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range on 4.1 attempts. James, who had a season-high 24 points at Kansas State, follows head coach Wes Miller over from Cincinnati to Charlotte as an easy preseason player to watch.
8. Tylik Weeks , 6-foot-7 senior forward, Memphis
2025-26 stats (Southern Miss): 19.7 points, 5.4 rebounds
After two years of JUCO ball, Weeks became a star in his lone year at Southern Miss, leading the Sun Belt in scoring. The combo forward not only had back-to-back 30-plus point games in the Sun Belt Tournament, but Weeks also posted 37 points against North Florida. He’s could lead the Tigers in scoring overall if things go right.
9. Donald Hand, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Loyola Chicago
2025-26 stats (Boston College): 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds
Hand won ACC Most Improved Player of the Year two years ago, averaging 15.7 points per game to pace the Eagles. His stats and overall efficiency dipped this past season, and he shot just 33 percent from the field. But he’s a proven high-level scorer who could thrive at the Big Ten level, likely as Loyola’s lead guard next season.
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10. Blake Harper, 6-foot-5 junior guard, VCU
2025-26 stats (Creighton): 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds
After earning MEAC Player of the Year honors as a freshman at Howard (19.5 points per game), Harper’s production was more limited, starting 14 games and playing around 18 minutes per game. He still shot 36 percent from deep with the Bluejays and had 11 double-digit scoring games, including 19 points and 12 rebounds versus North Dakota. The Atlantic 10 should be a more comfortable spot for Harper, likely starting on a team that had lost a ton of wing production this offseason.
11. Isaac Garrett, 6-foot-8 senior forward, High Point
2025-26 stats (Oakland): 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds
In his lone year at a D-I program, Garrett shot 54 percent and started all 28 games for the Grizzlies. He had seven double-doubles, including 27 points and 14 rebounds on the road at Youngstown State. Garrett should be able to put up similar production at the Big South level, giving the conference favorites even more frontcourt depth to work with.
12. Dylan Darling, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Grand Canyon
2025-26 stats (St. John’s): 6.9 points, 2.6 assists
Darling is a former Big Sky Player of the Year (19.8 points per game at Idaho State) who started 15 games for the Red Storm in a complementary role. He shot 40 percent from the field and had nine double-digit scoring outings, including 23 points and 8 rebounds against Providence. Not only should his production grow moving to the Mountain West, but Darling could easily start at point guard for the Antelopes.
13. Brycen Blaine, 6-foot-5 senior guard, East Carolina
2025-26 stats (Charleston Southern): 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Blaine was one of the top impact JUCO transfers a year ago, finishing second on the team in scoring and leading Charleston Southern in rebounding despite coming off the bench. He shot 35 percent from three-point range on 8.7 attempts and had 11 games of at least 20 points, including 42 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in a win over The Citadel. East Carolina had one of the nation’s top scorers in 6-foot-4 guard Jordan Riley (23.4 points per game) a year ago and hopes Blaine can replace most of that production as its next lead guard.
14. Rihards Vavers, 6-foot-7 senior forward, Memphis
2025-26 stats (Washington State): 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds
Vavers started 16 games at Washington State and produced career-high numbers, including shooting 41 percent from three-point range on 6.1 attempts. The Latvian stretch forward had a trio of 20-plus point outings, including 24 points and 5 rebounds against Seattle. Vavers and Weeks will be a nice frontcourt duo for the Tigers.
15. Josh Harris, 6-foot-8 junior forward, Florida Atlantic
2024-25 stats (North Florida): 13.4 points, 7.1 rebounds
Harris originally transferred to Indiana a year ago, but a lower-body injury kept him out all of last season. Two years ago, he was an All-ASUN freshman performer, shooting 56 percent from the field and averaging at least 20 points in five games, including 31 against Queens. Florida Atlantic landed a bunch of players from the portal, but not many true power forwards, which should give Harris a likely large role from the jump.
16. Jahari Long, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Wichita State
2025-26 stats (George Mason): 12.2 points, 4.0 assists
In his first year as a starter, Long produced career-high numbers at George Mason. He shot 42 percent from the field and had six games of at least 20 points, including 27 in an NIT defeat against Liberty. With his size and ball-handling ability, he’ll serve as good depth and a potential starting point guard for the Shockers in the American.
17. Davion Hill, 6-foot-2 senior guard, San Diego
2025-26 stats (Ball State): 14 points, 4.4 rebounds
Despite mostly coming off the bench, Hill led Ball State in scoring last season, shooting 46 percent from the field. The veteran guard had five games with at least 20 points, including 26 against UMass. San Diego lost a ton of production this offseason, leaving a clear opening for Hill to come in as the lead guard and an All-WCC candidate.
18. Jordan Frison, 6-foot senior guard, Wichita State
2025-26 stats (Chattanooga): 16.4 points, 4.0 assists
Despite being just 6-foot, Frison was one of the most efficient players in the country, shooting 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. The All-SoCon playmaker had 11 games of at least 20 points, including 33 against VMI. He joins a loaded Wichita State roster as a capable combo guard option or a sixth man in the rotation.
19. Justyn Fernandez, 6-foot-5 senior forward, UAB
2025-26 stats (Delaware): 16.6 points, 4.6 rebounds
After limited production at both Providence and George Mason, Fernandez broke out at Delaware, second on the team in scoring while shooting 40 percent from three-point range. The wing finished last season with eight 20-plus point scoring outings in the last 10 games, including 30 in overtime against Jacksonville State. UAB has a completely new roster, but the former four-star prospect has a real shot at leading the team in scoring and being an all-league candidate in the American.
20. Krystian Lewis, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Tulane
2025-26 stats (Louisiana Monroe): 18.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists
One of the lone bright spots on a four-win Warhawks team, Lewis led in both scoring and assists. He had 15 games of at least 20 points, including 33 points and 9 assists against Arkansas State. Tulane hopes Lewis can be the natural replacement for 6-foot-4 junior guard Rowan Braumbaugh, who led them with 19.2 points per game last season.
Meet your guide
