As more than 2,000 players entered the men’s transfer portal this offseason, many of them cruised under the radar. More than 1,600 hoopers committed to new schools since the portal opened, presenting opportunities for surprise stars all across the country.
With the 2025-2026 season approaching rapidly, look no further than the partnership between The Portal Report and Hoops HQ for in-depth transfer portal coverage.
So, without further ado, here are 10 transfers being slept on headed into the 2025-26 men’s hoops season.
1. Brian Moore Jr., 6-foot-2 graduate senior guard, Grand Canyon (Norfolk State)
Moore arrived at Norfolk State following two seasons at Murray State, where he made 57 appearances but never averaged more than 9.2 points per game. Spartans head coach Rob Jones was able to unlock his talent, with Moore quickly filling into the program’s long coveted lead-guard role. Starting 35 games for Norfolk State, he averaged career highs of 18.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to help secure the 2024-25 MEAC Championship. Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew had to replace multiple graduating seniors this offseason amidst the program’s transition to the Mountain West Conference, and with all three of the Antelopes’ leading scorers gone, Moore will be asked to carry the offensive load as Drew and Co. look to return for a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
2. Ahmad Robinson, 5-foot-10 senior guard, UAB (Mercer)
Robinson has had success at every level of college basketball. After dominating for two years at the JUCO level, he was selected to the 2023-24 All-AEC Third Team; this afforded him an opportunity at Mercer, where was once again incredibly productive, starting 33 games and leading the Bears in both points and assists with 16.9 and 5.0 per game, respectively. Because he’s undersized at 5-foot-10, Robinson’s abilities have always been undervalued, but it’s allowed UAB head coach Andy Kennedy to capitalize. In the same mold as Jordan “Jelly” Walker, Robinson already looks the part of Kennedy’s next lead scoring guard and should thrive in that role next season.
3. Jemel Jones, 6-foot-4 senior guard, New Mexico State (Cal State Bakersfield)
At South Suburban, a JUCO in northwest Illinois, Jones was selected as the 2023-24 NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year due to his outrageous scoring production. In 37 appearances, he managed 33.6 points per game, which caught the attention of Cal State Bakersfield’s Rod Barnes along with just about every other coach in the nation. With the Roadrunners, Jones maintained that offensive prowess and went on to earn 2024-25 Big West Newcomer of the Year while averaging 18.9 points per game on 48-percent shooting. With the Aggies departing all five senior starters and more, Jones will be heavily relied upon as the program’s primary offensive weapon in 2025-26.
4. Quentin Jones, 6-foot-5 junior guard, Saint Louis (Northern Illinois)
Despite being unranked as a high-school prospect and receiving only five Division I offers, Jones committed to Cal Poly and surprised many as a freshman. As the Mustangs struggled to a winless season in the Big West, Jones was thrust into the lineup and started 31 out of 32 games while averaging 9.7 points per contest. With Cal Poly’s head coach relieved the following offseason, Jones entered the portal and joined Northern Illinois, where he improved his production to 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, which led the Huskies offense in both scoring and playmaking. Northern Illinois finished dead last in the MAC, however, which led Jones to enter the portal once again and commit to Josh Schertz’s program at Saint Louis. With seniors Isaiah Swope and Gibson Jimerson both out of eligibility, Jones once again finds himself in a situation where he’ll be a key part of the starting five thanks to his invaluable offensive consistency.
5. Layne Taylor, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, Murray State (Central Arkansas)
Despite tearing his labrum in late January and missing the remainder of the season, Taylor’s impact in just 20 games as a freshman for Central Arkansas was evident. He started all 20 of those games and led the team in scoring during that stretch with 17.4 points per night, which was enough to earn ASUN All-Freshman honors. Now fully healthy, Taylor is already showing flashes of that scoring and playmaking ability in some limited minutes during the Racers’ summer exhibitions.
6. Dejour Reaves, 6-foot graduate senior guard, Fordham (Iona)
Reaves has been a dominant scorer at literally every stop of his college career. With Trinidad State, a JUCO in Colorado, he was selected as an All-American while averaging 23.5 points per game on 53/38/85 shooting splits. A move up to Northern Colorado saw much of the same, as Reaves scored 14.9 points per game and was selected as the Big Sky’s Sixth Man of the Year. He returned back to his native New York and joined Iona for the 2024-25 season and truly flourished with 17.3 points per contest, but with former head coach Tobin Anderson relieved, Reaves will once again transfer locally and now finds himself in the midst of a rebuild at Fordham. Under new Rams head coach Mike Magpayo, Reaves will be at the forefront as the lead veteran in a backcourt where he’ll likely have to carry the offensive load.
7. Jaylon Johnson, 6-foot senior guard, Radford (Tennessee Tech)
Johnson’s career began at the Division II level with Concordia-Texas, where he was selected as ASC Freshman of the Year for averaging 19.6 points per game. He then spent a season with one of the country’s premier JUCO programs, Southern Idaho, and led the Golden Eagles to a 23-9 record while contributing 14.9 points and 4.3 assists per contest. The Division I offers finally came pouring in as Johnson joined Tennessee Tech ahead of last season and went on to lead the program in scoring and assists with 14.3 and 4.8 per game, respectively. With two years of eligibility remaining, he’ll now head to the Big South as new Radford head coach Zach Chu looks to stake his claim with a rebuilt roster. If this staff is to help return the Highlanders to any postseason glory in the near future, it’ll start in the backcourt with the playmaking and scoring ability of Johnson.
8. Jean Aranguren, 6-foot-3 junior guard, George Washington (Hofstra)
Committing to join a rebuilding Iona program as a freshman afforded Aranguren some coveted playing time in his first year at the Division I level. In 21.8 minutes per game, he averaged a solid 8.1 points, including a 22-point effort to lead a win over Colgate. His improvement caught the attention of many and as he entered the transfer portal last offseason, Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton showed interest. Since taking over the Pride, Claxton has become known for his development of guard talent, so it was no surprise when Aranguren opted for the trip to Long Island. Though Hofstra struggled for stretches last season, Aranguren proved a capable do-it-all contributor by managing 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while starting 33 out of 33. Now he’s heading to George Washington, where head coach Chris Caputo is hoping his Revolutionaries can take the next step toward contention in the Atlantic 10. If they’re truly going to do so, Aranguren’s continued development will be critical.
9. Quinton Mincey, 6-foot-6 graduate senior forward, Campbell (UMass-Lowell)
Mincey currently remains one of the few players across the country still in search of a hardship waiver from the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. Should he receive it, new Campbell head coach John Andrzejek could have one of the most talented offensive wings in the entire CAA. Mincey finally worked his way into the starting lineup for UMass-Lowell last season and averaged 16.8 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 39 percent from three. He was crowned Second Team All-America East in 2024-25 for his effort, and though his waiver seems a long shot at this point, his impact would be invaluable should he be deemed eligible.
10. Tyson Dunn, 6-foot-3 graduate senior guard, UC San Diego (Buffalo)
Despite Dunn proving to be one of the premier playmaking and scoring guards in all of Canada’s USports league, his signing by Buffalo flew completely under the radar last offseason. In his lone campaign with the Bulls, Dunn averaged 12.4 points and a program-leading 5.3 assists per game. But with Buffalo struggling to a 9-22 record, Dunn entered the portal and his acquisition by UC San Diego is once again flying under the radar. Coming off an historic 30-win season under former coach Eric Olen, newly minted head coach Clint Allard takes the helm; no doubt he’ll lean on Dunn as the veteran playmaking point guard who can lead his offense.
