If you’re not in Indianapolis, it’s time to start scrambling. With the stage set for the Final Four, the game behind the game is on: Since last week, the list of players with transfer portal intentions has doubled — and doubled again. Among them are NBA prospects, March Madness darlings and all-conference players from the Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West and WCC. At Hoops HQ, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to separate the good from the great.
Using The Portal Report’s Advanced impact metrics, here are the best new additions to the transfer portal. Welcome to Portal Madness.
1. Paulius Murauskas, 6-foot-8 junior forward, Saint Mary’s
A versatile forward from Lithuania, Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field this season, earning First Team All-WCC honors for a second consecutive year. The big man started his career at Arizona before transferring to Saint Mary’s in 2024. He should be back at a power-conference school soon.
2. Jackson Shelstad, 6-foot-1 junior guard, Oregon
A hand injury forced Shelstad to miss the last few months of the 2025-26 campaign. But when he was on the floor, the 6-foot-1 junior looked like one of the top guards in the Big Ten. Shelstad averaged 15.6 points, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals, and scored at least 20 points in five of 12 outings. Last season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team, leading the Ducks to a 25-10 record and a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
3. Dedan Thomas Jr., 6-foot-1 junior guard, LSU
Like Shelstad, Thomas’ season was derailed by an injury, as the talented guard dealt with a lingering foot issue and ultimately underwent surgery in mid-February. When healthy, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 assists, helping LSU get off to a 12-4 start. In games without him, the Tigers went 3-13.
4. Stefan Vaaks, 6-foot-7 freshman guard, Providence
As a freshman, Vaaks was one of Providence’s top offensive weapons. The sharpshooting guard from Estonia averaged 15.8 points and knocked down at least four threes in nine different outings. During the Big East Tournament, he dropped 28 against Butler and 23 against the stellar defense of St. John’s, combining to shoot 13 of 22 from behind the arc.
5. Kwame Evans Jr., 6-foot-10 junior forward, Oregon
Any team in need of a big should have its eyes on Evans. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks for the Ducks this season. A former McDonald’s All-American, Evans is an intriguing NBA prospect given his size and versatility. Wherever he lands, he’ll play a major role next year.
6. Ethan Roberts, 6-foot-5 senior forward, Penn
Florida guard Xaivian Lee successfully made the leap from the Ivy League to the high-major level. Roberts could be next. In two seasons with the Quakers, the 6-foot-5 forward averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 38.4 percent from behind the arc. He was named to the 2025-26 All-Ivy League Second Team.
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7. KJ Lewis, 6-foot-4 junior guard, Georgetown
It was a disappointing season for the Hoyas, but Lewis was a bright spot. The transfer from Arizona led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals and earned All-Big East Third Team honors. With his positional size and two-way skill set, Lewis should fit seamlessly on a lot of different rosters.
8. Gavin Doty, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, Siena
Many fans were introduced to Doty a week ago, when Siena nearly pulled off a historic upset against Duke in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The sophomore guard played all 40 minutes in that game and scored a team-high 21 points. He led the MAAC in total points and ranked fifth in total rebounds. Of course, Doty’s former coach, Gerry McNamara, recently accepted the job at Syracuse.
9. Myles Byrd, 6-foot-7 senior forward, San Diego State
After a career junior year, Byrd withdrew his name from the 2025 NBA Draft and returned to San Diego State. As a senior, the 6-foot-6 wing improved his rebounding (4.7 per game) and maintained his unique profile: high IQ, elite hands and standout defense, which won him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. The 2025-26 season foregrounded his deficiencies in decision-making and shot creation, but Byrd remains ripe for development under the right coach.
10. Isaiah Johnson, 6-foot-1 freshman guard, Colorado
Colorado’s offense ran through Johnson during Big 12 play. In the Buffaloes’ season closer vs. Arizona, the freshman guard exploded for 29 points to set Colorado’s single-season scoring record (540). Johnson was dominant down the stretch, averaging a team-high 16.9 points on 46.8-percent shooting. His three-level scoring, scrappy defense and All-Big 12 honorable mention will make him an extremely attractive pickup.
11. Colby Garland, 6-foot-1 junior guard, San Jose State
An All-MWC Third Team selection, Garland made a huge leap in his junior campaign, averaging 20.3 points (second in the conference) and 4.6 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three. The floor general will transfer for the third time (Drake, Longwood, San Jose State) and provide an offensive spark wherever he goes.
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