Ranking the best players in the NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 180

The maestro of Drake’s 31-win team is following Ben McCollum to Iowa, announcing that he would be joining his coach in Iowa City even before his name officially hit the portal. Stirtz is a tremendous processor who understands exactly how to play within McCollum’s scheme. He runs the show and seemingly never leaves the court (over 39 minutes per game this season). He can score from all three levels, can play on and off the ball and serves as an extension of his coach on the floor. He scored 21 points in both of Drake’s NCAA Tournament games against high-major competition. There are some athletic concerns as he moves up a level, but those are more NBA-focused than college-centric. Stirtz is a good bet to be an All-American next season and a monster building block for Iowa in the post-Fran McCaffery world. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 180

The maestro of Drake’s 31-win team is following Ben McCollum to Iowa, announcing that he would be joining his coach in Iowa City even before his name officially hit the portal. Stirtz is a tremendous processor who understands exactly how to play within McCollum’s scheme. He runs the show and seemingly never leaves the court (over 39 minutes per game this season). He can score from all three levels, can play on and off the ball and serves as an extension of his coach on the floor. He scored 21 points in both of Drake’s NCAA Tournament games against high-major competition. There are some athletic concerns as he moves up a level, but those are more NBA-focused than college-centric. Stirtz is a good bet to be an All-American next season and a monster building block for Iowa in the post-Fran McCaffery world. — Sam Vecenie

Guard

Committed

Drake

Iowa Hawkeyes

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175

Dent was one of the best point guards in college basketball this season, becoming the first player since 1997 to average at least 20 points and six assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. He was a borderline All-American while carrying a fast-paced offense to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s wildly competitive and reads the court incredibly well. Any mistake that a team makes in ball-screen defense, Dent is going to hammer it. Tag too late, he’ll hit the lob to a big. Tag too aggressively on the weak side, he’ll hit the cross-corner kick-out. If you give him too much space coming off of a screen, he’ll attack the rim or find a beautiful little floater. He’s lethal at getting to the foul line, too. Dent has every chance to be an All-American next year wherever he ends up. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175

Dent was one of the best point guards in college basketball this season, becoming the first player since 1997 to average at least 20 points and six assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. He was a borderline All-American while carrying a fast-paced offense to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s wildly competitive and reads the court incredibly well. Any mistake that a team makes in ball-screen defense, Dent is going to hammer it. Tag too late, he’ll hit the lob to a big. Tag too aggressively on the weak side, he’ll hit the cross-corner kick-out. If you give him too much space coming off of a screen, he’ll attack the rim or find a beautiful little floater. He’s lethal at getting to the foul line, too. Dent has every chance to be an All-American next year wherever he ends up. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 215

Conwell proved he could be a high-major go-to guy this year at Xavier after breaking out in his one season at Indiana State. He’s one of the best scorers in the portal, able to fill it up from all three levels. The lefty shot 41.2 percent from 3, and he’s elite in catch-and-shoot, off movement and off the bounce. He’s one of those lefties who just seems hard to stop from getting to his left hand. He’s smooth and strong, so he finds a way to get to his spots. He also battles defensively and is a valuable two-way wing. He can be streaky, but when he’s on, he can really go off — proven by two 30-plus-point games this season. Conwell is arguably the best wing in the portal and should be highly coveted.
— C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 215

Conwell proved he could be a high-major go-to guy this year at Xavier after breaking out in his one season at Indiana State. He’s one of the best scorers in the portal, able to fill it up from all three levels. The lefty shot 41.2 percent from 3, and he’s elite in catch-and-shoot, off movement and off the bounce. He’s one of those lefties who just seems hard to stop from getting to his left hand. He’s smooth and strong, so he finds a way to get to his spots. He also battles defensively and is a valuable two-way wing. He can be streaky, but when he’s on, he can really go off — proven by two 30-plus-point games this season. Conwell is arguably the best wing in the portal and should be highly coveted.
— C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 225

DeVries played for his dad, Darian, at Drake before following him to West Virginia and now to Indiana. A two-time Missouri Valley player of the year, he’s an elite shooter off movement who can create shots from all three levels. He takes about seven 3s per game, and while he only hits them at a 37 percent clip, that’s because he takes some truly difficult ones off all sorts of intricate action within this offense. He also passes extremely well. His feet can be a bit slow on defense, a trait that could be exploited in the Big Ten. Still, expect him to be one of the best players in the league next season even coming off the wrist injury that held him out for all but eight games this year. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 225

DeVries played for his dad, Darian, at Drake before following him to West Virginia and now to Indiana. A two-time Missouri Valley player of the year, he’s an elite shooter off movement who can create shots from all three levels. He takes about seven 3s per game, and while he only hits them at a 37 percent clip, that’s because he takes some truly difficult ones off all sorts of intricate action within this offense. He also passes extremely well. His feet can be a bit slow on defense, a trait that could be exploited in the Big Ten. Still, expect him to be one of the best players in the league next season even coming off the wrist injury that held him out for all but eight games this year. — Sam Vecenie

Wing

Committed

West Virginia

Indiana Hoosiers

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230

Freeman extended a long line of great Iowa post players under Fran McCaffery, consistently getting to his spots on the block and making shots. He shot 63 percent in post-ups, per Synergy, and has a great back-to-the-basket game. But he also has some handle, allowing him to attack in straight lines before using drop steps and counters to finish. His footwork is terrific, and he had a couple of moments when he stepped away and showed some potential from 3-point range. Teams that run several post-ups will likely be the best fit here, but he would also fit in ball-screen offenses that utilize seals. But to win games that matter, his new team must surround him with high-level defenders. That end of the floor wasn’t always a strength despite his gaudy 1.8 blocks per game. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230

Freeman extended a long line of great Iowa post players under Fran McCaffery, consistently getting to his spots on the block and making shots. He shot 63 percent in post-ups, per Synergy, and has a great back-to-the-basket game. But he also has some handle, allowing him to attack in straight lines before using drop steps and counters to finish. His footwork is terrific, and he had a couple of moments when he stepped away and showed some potential from 3-point range. Teams that run several post-ups will likely be the best fit here, but he would also fit in ball-screen offenses that utilize seals. But to win games that matter, his new team must surround him with high-level defenders. That end of the floor wasn’t always a strength despite his gaudy 1.8 blocks per game. — Sam Vecenie

Forward

Committed

Iowa

Creighton Bluejays

Ht: 6-5Wt: 210

One of the most fun breakout stars of the year in the Big Ten, Dix is a skilled, efficient gunner who makes great decisions. He shot 51 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line, but the big number here is the 42.2 percent mark on five 3-point attempts per game. He’s an all-situations shooter: off spot-ups, off movement, off relocations and off the dribble. He tops it off by being useful in ball screens as a handler and cutting sharply off the ball. He has an NBA-style off-ball game, and he’ll likely fit best in a scheme that prioritizes off-ball movement, 3-point shooting and five-out play. But he can play anywhere in the country. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5Wt: 210

One of the most fun breakout stars of the year in the Big Ten, Dix is a skilled, efficient gunner who makes great decisions. He shot 51 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line, but the big number here is the 42.2 percent mark on five 3-point attempts per game. He’s an all-situations shooter: off spot-ups, off movement, off relocations and off the dribble. He tops it off by being useful in ball screens as a handler and cutting sharply off the ball. He has an NBA-style off-ball game, and he’ll likely fit best in a scheme that prioritizes off-ball movement, 3-point shooting and five-out play. But he can play anywhere in the country. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200

DeMary is unlike just about anyone else available. Why? He’s a big guard who can actually run an offense. Landing him gives a team a lot more flexibility in the other guys they can pursue: A big lead lets you play smaller scoring guards if you want, or go with the recent Connecticut model and switch all actions across positions one through four at a high level. DeMary had a monster close to this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.5 per game over his final 10, and he shot it well enough from 3 all year to play both on and off the ball if needed. He’s a serious chess piece. Expect an expensive battle for his services. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200

DeMary is unlike just about anyone else available. Why? He’s a big guard who can actually run an offense. Landing him gives a team a lot more flexibility in the other guys they can pursue: A big lead lets you play smaller scoring guards if you want, or go with the recent Connecticut model and switch all actions across positions one through four at a high level. DeMary had a monster close to this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.5 per game over his final 10, and he shot it well enough from 3 all year to play both on and off the ball if needed. He’s a serious chess piece. Expect an expensive battle for his services. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-6Wt: 225

Hopkins has had a wild career, starting at Kentucky as a consensus top-40 recruit before transferring to Providence and exploding onto the scene with a first-team All-Big East campaign in 2022-23. Hopkins tried his luck with the NBA Draft in 2023 but returned to school and tore his ACL midway through his junior season. He tried to return this season but suffered a bone bruise after three games and missed the rest of the year. At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness. He could turn out to be one of the best players in college hoops next season, or he could struggle with his knee and disappoint. Given the resources that you’d have to allocate to get him, Hopkins won’t be for everyone. But if he’s right, he’s a genuine program-changer. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-6Wt: 225

Hopkins has had a wild career, starting at Kentucky as a consensus top-40 recruit before transferring to Providence and exploding onto the scene with a first-team All-Big East campaign in 2022-23. Hopkins tried his luck with the NBA Draft in 2023 but returned to school and tore his ACL midway through his junior season. He tried to return this season but suffered a bone bruise after three games and missed the rest of the year. At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness. He could turn out to be one of the best players in college hoops next season, or he could struggle with his knee and disappoint. Given the resources that you’d have to allocate to get him, Hopkins won’t be for everyone. But if he’s right, he’s a genuine program-changer. — Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

Providence

Ht: 7-0Wt: 190

Gwath went from zero-star recruit to legitimate NBA prospect in a single season. He won both freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the Mountain West (although he has some ball-screen and perimeter issues to work through on that end) and has a pro-style game. The numbers don’t look gaudy, but that’s because it took him time to establish himself. He is a 7-footer with legitimate handles who can attack from the perimeter in addition to shooting from 3. Gwath is still quite skinny and will need to keep filling out his frame over the next few years, but I would anticipate this ends with him playing in the NBA, and he should go to a school that will better weaponize his perimeter game and space the court around him. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 7-0Wt: 190

Gwath went from zero-star recruit to legitimate NBA prospect in a single season. He won both freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the Mountain West (although he has some ball-screen and perimeter issues to work through on that end) and has a pro-style game. The numbers don’t look gaudy, but that’s because it took him time to establish himself. He is a 7-footer with legitimate handles who can attack from the perimeter in addition to shooting from 3. Gwath is still quite skinny and will need to keep filling out his frame over the next few years, but I would anticipate this ends with him playing in the NBA, and he should go to a school that will better weaponize his perimeter game and space the court around him. — Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

San Diego St

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 220

Swain certainly has one of the best potential futures of any player in the portal. He’s a genuine NBA prospect who should declare for the draft this season to at least test his stock. A tremendous defensive playmaker, Swain has incredibly long arms and is wildly reactive on the court. He averaged 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks to go with 11 points. Offensively, teams generally played off him this year, and he made them pay at times (he had 27 points in Xavier’s Round of 64 game vs. Illinois). However, to take that next step and become one of the best college players in the country — and a legitimate NBA player — he will have to improve his shot. He made just 25 percent from 3 this season and doesn’t look all that comfortable taking them. The good news? He has some real touch around the rim and made 82 percent of his free throws, so he has a chance to take that next step. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 220

Swain certainly has one of the best potential futures of any player in the portal. He’s a genuine NBA prospect who should declare for the draft this season to at least test his stock. A tremendous defensive playmaker, Swain has incredibly long arms and is wildly reactive on the court. He averaged 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks to go with 11 points. Offensively, teams generally played off him this year, and he made them pay at times (he had 27 points in Xavier’s Round of 64 game vs. Illinois). However, to take that next step and become one of the best college players in the country — and a legitimate NBA player — he will have to improve his shot. He made just 25 percent from 3 this season and doesn’t look all that comfortable taking them. The good news? He has some real touch around the rim and made 82 percent of his free throws, so he has a chance to take that next step. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 195

A former five-star recruit, Sanon is a bucket-getter through and through. He’s not overly big, but he averaged 12 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 as a freshman. The numbers aren’t what they seem, however. He had a dry spell in conference play after a strong start, averaging just six points from Dec. 14 through Feb. 23 while he played through an ankle injury. He was healthy at the end of the season and averaged 19 points in his final five games. He needs to improve drastically on defense and work on making consistent reads as a driver. If he can make tough, winning plays on both ends of the court on a regular basis, he has real NBA upside after next season. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 195

A former five-star recruit, Sanon is a bucket-getter through and through. He’s not overly big, but he averaged 12 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 as a freshman. The numbers aren’t what they seem, however. He had a dry spell in conference play after a strong start, averaging just six points from Dec. 14 through Feb. 23 while he played through an ankle injury. He was healthy at the end of the season and averaged 19 points in his final five games. He needs to improve drastically on defense and work on making consistent reads as a driver. If he can make tough, winning plays on both ends of the court on a regular basis, he has real NBA upside after next season. — Sam Vecenie

Wing

Committed

Arizona State

St. John’s Red Storm

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 180

One of the best pop-up freshmen in the country this season, Wooley was dominant in Conference USA for Kennesaw State. Not only are the averages per game impressive, but he shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 77 percent from the line. His frame still needs a bit of work, so it makes sense that he spends at least one more season in college. However, he did almost carry Kennesaw to a win over league-champion Liberty in the conference tournament, scoring 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. He also had 25 points and 19 points against top-100 teams UC Irvine and Santa Clara. Originally from Tuscaloosa, this feels like it’ll be an all-out war between Alabama and Auburn. Wooley is good enough to play anywhere.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 180

One of the best pop-up freshmen in the country this season, Wooley was dominant in Conference USA for Kennesaw State. Not only are the averages per game impressive, but he shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 77 percent from the line. His frame still needs a bit of work, so it makes sense that he spends at least one more season in college. However, he did almost carry Kennesaw to a win over league-champion Liberty in the conference tournament, scoring 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. He also had 25 points and 19 points against top-100 teams UC Irvine and Santa Clara. Originally from Tuscaloosa, this feels like it’ll be an all-out war between Alabama and Auburn. Wooley is good enough to play anywhere.
— Sam Vecenie

Guard

In Portal

Kennesaw St

Ht: 6-4Wt: 200

The pitch with McKneely is simple: He’s one of the best shooters in the country, point blank. He has made 43.1 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts over the last two years. He makes them off movement at a high level and can find his shot from just about any situation. Where he’s really improved over the last two years, though, is how he uses the threat of that shot to attack off it, finding his way into the lane to score occasionally or to use a touch floater. He’s not a monster passer, but he sees reads well and is unselfish. He also rarely makes mistakes. Teams that run a lot of actions to free shooters should be salivating about getting McKneely into their scheme. The perfect fit here is for McKneely to be Koby Brea’s replacement at Kentucky, given that he grew up a three-hour drive away in West Virginia. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-4Wt: 200

The pitch with McKneely is simple: He’s one of the best shooters in the country, point blank. He has made 43.1 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts over the last two years. He makes them off movement at a high level and can find his shot from just about any situation. Where he’s really improved over the last two years, though, is how he uses the threat of that shot to attack off it, finding his way into the lane to score occasionally or to use a touch floater. He’s not a monster passer, but he sees reads well and is unselfish. He also rarely makes mistakes. Teams that run a lot of actions to free shooters should be salivating about getting McKneely into their scheme. The perfect fit here is for McKneely to be Koby Brea’s replacement at Kentucky, given that he grew up a three-hour drive away in West Virginia. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-10Wt: 230

Cofie started the season on fire and looked like a potential one-and-done player. However, he cooled off as the season progressed, looking more like a terrific first-year starter who will take some time to develop to get to the next level. He played about 20 minutes per game and is a sharp, reactive player across the board. He gets his hands up and makes defensive plays regularly and can rotate across the back line to be available on the weak side. Offensively, the jumper looks entirely workable, and he’s a serious mismatch threat with his size and ability to handle the ball. It’s hard to find fours with enough size to play the center position in college, and even with his downturn in shooting late in the year, Virginia was still 10 points per 100 possessions better with Cofie on the court than when he was off it, per CBB Analytics.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-10Wt: 230

Cofie started the season on fire and looked like a potential one-and-done player. However, he cooled off as the season progressed, looking more like a terrific first-year starter who will take some time to develop to get to the next level. He played about 20 minutes per game and is a sharp, reactive player across the board. He gets his hands up and makes defensive plays regularly and can rotate across the back line to be available on the weak side. Offensively, the jumper looks entirely workable, and he’s a serious mismatch threat with his size and ability to handle the ball. It’s hard to find fours with enough size to play the center position in college, and even with his downturn in shooting late in the year, Virginia was still 10 points per 100 possessions better with Cofie on the court than when he was off it, per CBB Analytics.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8Wt: 190

NBA teams are keeping their eyes on Williams after a terrific freshman season at Tulane that saw him do exactly what scouts look for from low-usage wings — knock down shots and be a menace on defense. He drilled 41 percent of his five 3-point attempts per game and has a nice stroke that should continue to translate up levels. On defense, he’s active with his hands and length, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks from the four spot. The reason he’s more of a four than a three right now is that his ball skills need to improve significantly. But he knows his role, makes good decisions and doesn’t tend to overextend himself. This is a good bet for any high-major team to take, even the ones at the highest levels.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8Wt: 190

NBA teams are keeping their eyes on Williams after a terrific freshman season at Tulane that saw him do exactly what scouts look for from low-usage wings — knock down shots and be a menace on defense. He drilled 41 percent of his five 3-point attempts per game and has a nice stroke that should continue to translate up levels. On defense, he’s active with his hands and length, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks from the four spot. The reason he’s more of a four than a three right now is that his ball skills need to improve significantly. But he knows his role, makes good decisions and doesn’t tend to overextend himself. This is a good bet for any high-major team to take, even the ones at the highest levels.
— Sam Vecenie

Wing

Committed

Tulane

Kentucky Wildcats

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200

Harper is this season’s mid-major breakout freshman, a 6-foot-7 wing who won both the MEAC’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards. A smooth lefty with a sweet shooting stroke and great touch, Harper still has some things to work on but has the look of a high-level, high-major recruit. He attacks aggressively off the bounce and is fearless driving to the paint. He averaged 8.4 free-throw attempts per game and does a great job of drawing contact, even though he’s not overly vertical. The worries here are that he wasn’t overly efficient at the rim and that he was an athletic/size outlier at the MEAC level. He needs to work on his strength to bounce off other wings and improve his footwork on drives. Otherwise, he’ll need to be more willing to fire from 3. He reminds me of Florida starting wing Will Richard back when Richard was at Belmont.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200

Harper is this season’s mid-major breakout freshman, a 6-foot-7 wing who won both the MEAC’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards. A smooth lefty with a sweet shooting stroke and great touch, Harper still has some things to work on but has the look of a high-level, high-major recruit. He attacks aggressively off the bounce and is fearless driving to the paint. He averaged 8.4 free-throw attempts per game and does a great job of drawing contact, even though he’s not overly vertical. The worries here are that he wasn’t overly efficient at the rim and that he was an athletic/size outlier at the MEAC level. He needs to work on his strength to bounce off other wings and improve his footwork on drives. Otherwise, he’ll need to be more willing to fire from 3. He reminds me of Florida starting wing Will Richard back when Richard was at Belmont.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-9Wt: 220

The Horizon League Player of the Year, Folgueiras led Robert Morris to the NCAA Tournament and helped give Alabama just about all it could handle. At 6-foot-9, Folgueiras is an incredibly gifted, skilled mismatch four. The Spanish forward has great instincts across the court for playing off the ball, with timely cuts and sharp movements to find open 3s. He can pick-and-pop, and he posted his man well at the Horizon League level. His touch is terrific, and he can put the ball on the deck to finish, too. He’s also a sharp passer who sees the court well. So, what’s the issue? He’s just not all that explosive athletically. He’s a bit in-between positions defensively at the high-major level, too. But he’s active with his hands and knows where to be, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. I’m a big believer in him translating up levels and thriving at least as a high-level starter.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-9Wt: 220

The Horizon League Player of the Year, Folgueiras led Robert Morris to the NCAA Tournament and helped give Alabama just about all it could handle. At 6-foot-9, Folgueiras is an incredibly gifted, skilled mismatch four. The Spanish forward has great instincts across the court for playing off the ball, with timely cuts and sharp movements to find open 3s. He can pick-and-pop, and he posted his man well at the Horizon League level. His touch is terrific, and he can put the ball on the deck to finish, too. He’s also a sharp passer who sees the court well. So, what’s the issue? He’s just not all that explosive athletically. He’s a bit in-between positions defensively at the high-major level, too. But he’s active with his hands and knows where to be, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. I’m a big believer in him translating up levels and thriving at least as a high-level starter.
— Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

Robert Morris

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

A former five-star prospect coming out of Sweden by way of high school powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri, Cadeau never quite found his footing at North Carolina after choosing to reclassify into the 2023 recruiting class. He’s certainly a dynamic playmaker and passer, as he showed while averaging over six assists per game this season. But he could be turnover-prone and didn’t have a consistent way to score. He’s a real athlete, but he’s a bit undersized and needs to keep working on the jumper to create that threat to get defenders off-balance. He likes to drive downhill or to get out in transition to finish at the rim, but he’s inconsistent at doing that, having made only 50 percent of his attempts in the half court at the basket. There’s clear talent here, and a change of scenery may allow him to bloom. A well-spaced offense that is ball-screen dominant would fit his game best. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

A former five-star prospect coming out of Sweden by way of high school powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri, Cadeau never quite found his footing at North Carolina after choosing to reclassify into the 2023 recruiting class. He’s certainly a dynamic playmaker and passer, as he showed while averaging over six assists per game this season. But he could be turnover-prone and didn’t have a consistent way to score. He’s a real athlete, but he’s a bit undersized and needs to keep working on the jumper to create that threat to get defenders off-balance. He likes to drive downhill or to get out in transition to finish at the rim, but he’s inconsistent at doing that, having made only 50 percent of his attempts in the half court at the basket. There’s clear talent here, and a change of scenery may allow him to bloom. A well-spaced offense that is ball-screen dominant would fit his game best. — Sam Vecenie

Guard

In Portal

North Carolina

Ht: 6-1Wt: 175

A two-time All-Mountain West pick, Thomas is one of the better floor generals available in the portal. He passes the ball extremely well and has a very attack-oriented mindset. He constantly trying to get downhill to the rim and does an amazing job of drawing fouls, averaging six per game. He also has a smooth lefty floater game and the ability to step out and drill shots from distance off the catch. But he’s also quite small, and that impacts his game in several ways. His finishing on the interior when he doesn’t draw contact isn’t great, and he isn’t always effective on defense. Still, expect Thomas to get a massive amount of money to run the show at a high-major next year, and he’ll have a real shot to be an all-conference pick as he puts up gaudy numbers.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-1Wt: 175

A two-time All-Mountain West pick, Thomas is one of the better floor generals available in the portal. He passes the ball extremely well and has a very attack-oriented mindset. He constantly trying to get downhill to the rim and does an amazing job of drawing fouls, averaging six per game. He also has a smooth lefty floater game and the ability to step out and drill shots from distance off the catch. But he’s also quite small, and that impacts his game in several ways. His finishing on the interior when he doesn’t draw contact isn’t great, and he isn’t always effective on defense. Still, expect Thomas to get a massive amount of money to run the show at a high-major next year, and he’ll have a real shot to be an all-conference pick as he puts up gaudy numbers.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7Wt: 185

Freeman is a Division II prospect from Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, the former stomping grounds of current Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz. He’s twitchy and athletic and has the look of a real NBA prospect down the road. He has significant burst and hit around 40 percent of his 3s this season. He’s 6-7, and it’s hard to find players this big, skilled and athletic. So, where does he slot in as a transfer? He’s still quite skinny, and while he has a creative handle, it feels like it can get away from him a bit too often. Going to a place like Saint Louis would make the most sense. Play in an uptempo scheme that is conducive to your athleticism and continue to grow physically in a league that is a bit more forgiving than the highest of high-majors. Having said that, he’s a prospect worth investing in if you are a high-major program.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7Wt: 185

Freeman is a Division II prospect from Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, the former stomping grounds of current Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz. He’s twitchy and athletic and has the look of a real NBA prospect down the road. He has significant burst and hit around 40 percent of his 3s this season. He’s 6-7, and it’s hard to find players this big, skilled and athletic. So, where does he slot in as a transfer? He’s still quite skinny, and while he has a creative handle, it feels like it can get away from him a bit too often. Going to a place like Saint Louis would make the most sense. Play in an uptempo scheme that is conducive to your athleticism and continue to grow physically in a league that is a bit more forgiving than the highest of high-majors. Having said that, he’s a prospect worth investing in if you are a high-major program.
— Sam Vecenie

Wing

In Portal

Lincoln Mem.

Ht: 7-0Wt: 240

Quality bigs seem to be the most expensive asset in the portal, and Tilly will likely draw lots of attention because of his size and advanced numbers. The second-team All-WCC center has solid per-game averages, but his advanced numbers pop. He had a 117.8 offensive rating and a high free-throw rate, drawing 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes. He’s a skilled big who can score in the post and step out to make a jumper — he made 17 3s in ‘24-25. And most promisingly, he had some of his best games against Santa Clara’s best opponents: 17 points and eight boards against Saint Louis, 16 points against Stanford, 21 points against Bradley and 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in an upset of Gonzaga. — C.J. Moore

Ht: 7-0Wt: 240

Quality bigs seem to be the most expensive asset in the portal, and Tilly will likely draw lots of attention because of his size and advanced numbers. The second-team All-WCC center has solid per-game averages, but his advanced numbers pop. He had a 117.8 offensive rating and a high free-throw rate, drawing 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes. He’s a skilled big who can score in the post and step out to make a jumper — he made 17 3s in ‘24-25. And most promisingly, he had some of his best games against Santa Clara’s best opponents: 17 points and eight boards against Saint Louis, 16 points against Stanford, 21 points against Bradley and 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in an upset of Gonzaga. — C.J. Moore

Center

In Portal

Santa Clara

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180

Agbim is well-traveled; his next school will be his fourth in five years after three juco seasons and a season at Wyoming. He could be the best three-level scorer in the portal: He drilled 44 percent of his six 3s per game and has real juice in the open court to lead the break, fill lanes or space to the corners. His shot is smooth and translatable to any situation, and he plays off that threat well by getting into the midrange and finding pull-ups, which he hits at about 45 percent. Give him a ball screen, and he’ll snake his way into a good look. While he doesn’t get to the rim often in halfcourt settings, he makes those at a reasonable clip for a guard and has a nice little floater package. Essentially, Agbim is a professional scorer playing in college. He’ll need to play next to a bigger distributor and defender to find the most success. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180

Agbim is well-traveled; his next school will be his fourth in five years after three juco seasons and a season at Wyoming. He could be the best three-level scorer in the portal: He drilled 44 percent of his six 3s per game and has real juice in the open court to lead the break, fill lanes or space to the corners. His shot is smooth and translatable to any situation, and he plays off that threat well by getting into the midrange and finding pull-ups, which he hits at about 45 percent. Give him a ball screen, and he’ll snake his way into a good look. While he doesn’t get to the rim often in halfcourt settings, he makes those at a reasonable clip for a guard and has a nice little floater package. Essentially, Agbim is a professional scorer playing in college. He’ll need to play next to a bigger distributor and defender to find the most success. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-3Wt: 180

Boyd is coming off an All-Mountain West season at San Diego State, where he defended at the point of attack and consistently made good decisions in an offensive structure that looked awfully archaic for long stretches. He’s not a wildly dynamic downhill driver, and he’s a good shooter (not a great one), but Boyd is extremely reliable and can be counted on to organize his team as a lead guard. I don’t know that I quite see him as an all-conference guy at the high-major level, but he can be a big part of a winning team as a starter in the right spot — as he proved when he was a starting guard as a sophomore during Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-3Wt: 180

Boyd is coming off an All-Mountain West season at San Diego State, where he defended at the point of attack and consistently made good decisions in an offensive structure that looked awfully archaic for long stretches. He’s not a wildly dynamic downhill driver, and he’s a good shooter (not a great one), but Boyd is extremely reliable and can be counted on to organize his team as a lead guard. I don’t know that I quite see him as an all-conference guy at the high-major level, but he can be a big part of a winning team as a starter in the right spot — as he proved when he was a starting guard as a sophomore during Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run. — Sam Vecenie

Guard

In Portal

San Diego St

Ht: 6-3Wt: 180

George, originally from Toronto, emerged from out of nowhere at the 2023 Peach Jam, signed that summer with Georgia Tech and has grown into one of the better point guards in the ACC. He has a slick handle and a high-level feel working out of ball screens. He can also shoot behind a screen — he made 36 of his 60 3s off the bounce, per Synergy — shimmy his way into the paint and score there, or find an open teammate. He’s one of the best passers in the portal. He has high turnover numbers (3.0 per game) and is susceptible to trying to make the home-run pass, but he has the vision, size and ability to make just about every pass. He’s not a great finisher at the basket, but in the right system with shooters around him and paired with a good pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop big, he would likely flourish. — C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-3Wt: 180

George, originally from Toronto, emerged from out of nowhere at the 2023 Peach Jam, signed that summer with Georgia Tech and has grown into one of the better point guards in the ACC. He has a slick handle and a high-level feel working out of ball screens. He can also shoot behind a screen — he made 36 of his 60 3s off the bounce, per Synergy — shimmy his way into the paint and score there, or find an open teammate. He’s one of the best passers in the portal. He has high turnover numbers (3.0 per game) and is susceptible to trying to make the home-run pass, but he has the vision, size and ability to make just about every pass. He’s not a great finisher at the basket, but in the right system with shooters around him and paired with a good pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop big, he would likely flourish. — C.J. Moore

Wing

In Portal

Georgia Tech

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 235

Reneau, a former top-30 recruit, has a terrific mid-post game and sharp low-post footwork. He’s about as physical a player as you’ll find down there, always trying to hunt contact to create a bit of separation for him to score with his left hand. I worry that he’s a bit undersized to be a high-major center, but that’s where his game works best on offense, unless you have a big who can step out and shoot. A league like the ACC is probably the best bet for him. Two schools to watch: Georgia because Mike White originally recruited Reneau to Florida but lost him to Indiana when he took the Bulldogs’ head coaching job, and Miami because it’s Reneau’s hometown and the assistant who led his recruitment at Florida, Erik Pastrana, just joined the Hurricanes’ staff. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 235

Reneau, a former top-30 recruit, has a terrific mid-post game and sharp low-post footwork. He’s about as physical a player as you’ll find down there, always trying to hunt contact to create a bit of separation for him to score with his left hand. I worry that he’s a bit undersized to be a high-major center, but that’s where his game works best on offense, unless you have a big who can step out and shoot. A league like the ACC is probably the best bet for him. Two schools to watch: Georgia because Mike White originally recruited Reneau to Florida but lost him to Indiana when he took the Bulldogs’ head coaching job, and Miami because it’s Reneau’s hometown and the assistant who led his recruitment at Florida, Erik Pastrana, just joined the Hurricanes’ staff. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5Wt: 190

An expected one-and-done, Bethea’s season didn’t go as planned. The former top-10 recruit showed great range beyond the 3-point line in both pull-up and catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also big enough to play both guard positions down the road, although this season I didn’t feel like his handle was quite strong enough to initiate the offense. It would help Bethea to keep getting stronger, but he’s also a willing defender, and there aren’t many big combo guards available. After Miami’s disastrous season and December coaching change, it might be as simple as getting Bethea into a competent situation that will allow him to grow. Some sharp high-major should still take a flyer on him. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-5Wt: 190

An expected one-and-done, Bethea’s season didn’t go as planned. The former top-10 recruit showed great range beyond the 3-point line in both pull-up and catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also big enough to play both guard positions down the road, although this season I didn’t feel like his handle was quite strong enough to initiate the offense. It would help Bethea to keep getting stronger, but he’s also a willing defender, and there aren’t many big combo guards available. After Miami’s disastrous season and December coaching change, it might be as simple as getting Bethea into a competent situation that will allow him to grow. Some sharp high-major should still take a flyer on him. — Sam Vecenie

Guard

In Portal

Miami (Fla.)

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 240

Teams that love to play five-out, spacing-conscious basketball will prioritize Davidson in the portal. It’s hard to find bigs who can step away and fire, and Davidson can do just that. He hit 37 percent from 3 this past year and has a really nice inside-out game as a stretch four that should translate up levels. He’s very skilled as a passer, too. With one year left, he’s a good flyer for a creative offensive coach to take. But the players around him will need to be conscious defensively to get the most out of him. I think it’s reasonable to expect an impact similar to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 240

Teams that love to play five-out, spacing-conscious basketball will prioritize Davidson in the portal. It’s hard to find bigs who can step away and fire, and Davidson can do just that. He hit 37 percent from 3 this past year and has a really nice inside-out game as a stretch four that should translate up levels. He’s very skilled as a passer, too. With one year left, he’s a good flyer for a creative offensive coach to take. But the players around him will need to be conscious defensively to get the most out of him. I think it’s reasonable to expect an impact similar to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-10Wt: 230

The Missouri Valley has a long history of successfully sending players to the high-major level. Expect Schwieger to be next in line. He largely played the five as a two-year starter at Valpo and projects best there athletically at the high-major level. He’s also improved his frame over the last year, which should allow him to find success against physical players. He has kind of a funky load into his shot but has made about 33 percent of his 3s in college on about three attempts per game. His footwork in ball screens as a roller or a pick-and-pop player is terrific, and he also can run dribble handoffs to roll, pop or reject and get all the way to the rim himself. Defensively, there will be some athletic concerns, but don’t sleep on his timing as a shot blocker: He swatted two shots per game to lead the Missouri Valley. A team trying to play five-out would do well to give him a shot. —Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-10Wt: 230

The Missouri Valley has a long history of successfully sending players to the high-major level. Expect Schwieger to be next in line. He largely played the five as a two-year starter at Valpo and projects best there athletically at the high-major level. He’s also improved his frame over the last year, which should allow him to find success against physical players. He has kind of a funky load into his shot but has made about 33 percent of his 3s in college on about three attempts per game. His footwork in ball screens as a roller or a pick-and-pop player is terrific, and he also can run dribble handoffs to roll, pop or reject and get all the way to the rim himself. Defensively, there will be some athletic concerns, but don’t sleep on his timing as a shot blocker: He swatted two shots per game to lead the Missouri Valley. A team trying to play five-out would do well to give him a shot. —Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

Valparaiso

Ht: 6-7Wt: 215

A big Italian wing who came to Evansville by way of the NBA Academy in Australia, Pozzato is more athletic than you’d expect and plays with authority when he decides to get to the rim. He’s a sharp cutter and mover without the ball and attacks close-outs at a high-level. If you let him get downhill in a straight line, it’s a rack attack. The key for Pozzato is the jumper. He only made 32 percent of his 3s last year despite taking six per game and possessing a fluid stroke that should translate to made shots in the future. He looks like a perfect option to play off of dynamic guards at the high-major level and not be as responsible for creating offense as he was at times this season. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7Wt: 215

A big Italian wing who came to Evansville by way of the NBA Academy in Australia, Pozzato is more athletic than you’d expect and plays with authority when he decides to get to the rim. He’s a sharp cutter and mover without the ball and attacks close-outs at a high-level. If you let him get downhill in a straight line, it’s a rack attack. The key for Pozzato is the jumper. He only made 32 percent of his 3s last year despite taking six per game and possessing a fluid stroke that should translate to made shots in the future. He looks like a perfect option to play off of dynamic guards at the high-major level and not be as responsible for creating offense as he was at times this season. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

Rataj has a genuinely fascinating game that has prompted me to reach out to multiple coaches to get a read on where they stand on him. The German forward is a dynamic four man who can dribble, pass and shoot at 6-9. He was a serious mismatch nightmare at the WCC level this year for Oregon State, where his ability to use his frame and skill level made him an exceptionally difficult cover. He could just as easily shoot from 3, where he hit 35 percent, attack in a straight line from the 3-point line or post a smaller player. However, he’s not all that explosive, either, and that could get him into some trouble areas. He’s also quite active with his hands on defense and seems to have awesome hand-eye coordination. Rataj is a player who will fit best in a five-out offense that will give him room to operate. But fit will be important to his success. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

Rataj has a genuinely fascinating game that has prompted me to reach out to multiple coaches to get a read on where they stand on him. The German forward is a dynamic four man who can dribble, pass and shoot at 6-9. He was a serious mismatch nightmare at the WCC level this year for Oregon State, where his ability to use his frame and skill level made him an exceptionally difficult cover. He could just as easily shoot from 3, where he hit 35 percent, attack in a straight line from the 3-point line or post a smaller player. However, he’s not all that explosive, either, and that could get him into some trouble areas. He’s also quite active with his hands on defense and seems to have awesome hand-eye coordination. Rataj is a player who will fit best in a five-out offense that will give him room to operate. But fit will be important to his success. — Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

Oregon State

Ht: 6-11 Wt: 260

A massive, wide Australian big man who took some time to develop, Cluff is getting an extra year as a player who started his career at a junior college. He’s played at the high-major level before, proving that he could be a starter on an NCAA Tournament team at Washington State. He transferred down for a bigger role this year at South Dakota State and flourished. He finished second nationally in rebounding and has a soft touch on the interior. He’s not particularly vertical, but few bigs across the country do a better job of using their frame to seal off defenders to create space. That lack of vertical pop could make it a bit easier to contest him at a higher level, and I don’t think I’d expect him to average 17 again. But if you put him in an offense like Gonzaga’s, which makes a concerted effort to seal and post, he could thrive again at the highest level.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-11 Wt: 260

A massive, wide Australian big man who took some time to develop, Cluff is getting an extra year as a player who started his career at a junior college. He’s played at the high-major level before, proving that he could be a starter on an NCAA Tournament team at Washington State. He transferred down for a bigger role this year at South Dakota State and flourished. He finished second nationally in rebounding and has a soft touch on the interior. He’s not particularly vertical, but few bigs across the country do a better job of using their frame to seal off defenders to create space. That lack of vertical pop could make it a bit easier to contest him at a higher level, and I don’t think I’d expect him to average 17 again. But if you put him in an offense like Gonzaga’s, which makes a concerted effort to seal and post, he could thrive again at the highest level.
— Sam Vecenie

Center

In Portal

South Dakota St

Ht: 6-11Wt:270

The starting center and interior anchor on a top-10 defense this year, Jackson is a ready-made starting center at 6-11 and 270 pounds. He’s well-traveled, having gone from Washington State to Charlotte to Iowa State, and is still eligible after taking a medical redshirt at Washington State in 2021-22 to correct a genetic variation in his heart. There’s certainly some game-to-game inconsistency, and you would expect him to finish a bit better than he does at this size. He can be a bit of an adventure as a defensive rebounder, too, because his hands can be awkward and he’s not overly twitchy. But he’s a good screener, and he does a great job of creating driving lanes for his guards with seals. Defensively, he’s just a massive body on the interior who takes up space and contests. In a portal not exactly littered with huge humans, he can come in and start for a mid-tier high-major.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-11Wt:270

The starting center and interior anchor on a top-10 defense this year, Jackson is a ready-made starting center at 6-11 and 270 pounds. He’s well-traveled, having gone from Washington State to Charlotte to Iowa State, and is still eligible after taking a medical redshirt at Washington State in 2021-22 to correct a genetic variation in his heart. There’s certainly some game-to-game inconsistency, and you would expect him to finish a bit better than he does at this size. He can be a bit of an adventure as a defensive rebounder, too, because his hands can be awkward and he’s not overly twitchy. But he’s a good screener, and he does a great job of creating driving lanes for his guards with seals. Defensively, he’s just a massive body on the interior who takes up space and contests. In a portal not exactly littered with huge humans, he can come in and start for a mid-tier high-major.
— Sam Vecenie

Center

In Portal

Iowa State

Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205

Davis is at his best as an athletic slasher and cutter who finds his way to the rim either by driving in a straight line, waiting in the dunker spot or cutting. If you give him even a little bit of space, he’s going to get downhill in a hurry by using his long strides to find his way to the rim. He also does a great job of playing through contact, as he drew six foul shots per game this year. He’s continued to get better every year as a shooter, too and made 30 percent of his 3s this year. That’s the swing skill here. If Davis can’t shoot, he’s probably more of a role player at the high-major level on a great team. If he gets to work on the jumper over the summer and figures things out, then he has a chance to be a significant impact player given his length and athleticism at the four at around 6-9.
— Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205

Davis is at his best as an athletic slasher and cutter who finds his way to the rim either by driving in a straight line, waiting in the dunker spot or cutting. If you give him even a little bit of space, he’s going to get downhill in a hurry by using his long strides to find his way to the rim. He also does a great job of playing through contact, as he drew six foul shots per game this year. He’s continued to get better every year as a shooter, too and made 30 percent of his 3s this year. That’s the swing skill here. If Davis can’t shoot, he’s probably more of a role player at the high-major level on a great team. If he gets to work on the jumper over the summer and figures things out, then he has a chance to be a significant impact player given his length and athleticism at the four at around 6-9.
— Sam Vecenie

Forward

In Portal

Notre Dame

Ht: 6-8Wt: 240

Hansberry is the perfect five-out center in that he understands screening angles, can pass, can pop and make a 3, and he is excellent in dribble-handoff actions. He can also play as more of a traditional big-man role and score over both shoulders. He has excellent feel for the game and knows where to be on both ends. He’s also a good rebounder, knowing where to position himself and how to use his body. The shot looks good — he made 35 3s last year — but the percentage (29.2) wasn’t ideal. Maybe that’ll improve. Where Hansberry is limited is in his length and athleticism. He can sometimes struggle to finish around the basket against length, and he’s not a rim protector. He played center for West Virginia, and he is skilled enough to slide over to the four, although guarding more athletic fours could be an issue. But in the right system that utilizes his abilities as a hub on the perimeter, he’s a really effective player. — C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-8Wt: 240

Hansberry is the perfect five-out center in that he understands screening angles, can pass, can pop and make a 3, and he is excellent in dribble-handoff actions. He can also play as more of a traditional big-man role and score over both shoulders. He has excellent feel for the game and knows where to be on both ends. He’s also a good rebounder, knowing where to position himself and how to use his body. The shot looks good — he made 35 3s last year — but the percentage (29.2) wasn’t ideal. Maybe that’ll improve. Where Hansberry is limited is in his length and athleticism. He can sometimes struggle to finish around the basket against length, and he’s not a rim protector. He played center for West Virginia, and he is skilled enough to slide over to the four, although guarding more athletic fours could be an issue. But in the right system that utilizes his abilities as a hub on the perimeter, he’s a really effective player. — C.J. Moore

Forward

In Portal

West Virginia

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 175

The SoCon Player of the Year this past season, Peterson led ETSU to a 12-6 league mark and morphed into a dominant player late in the year, averaging 11 points while shooting 45 percent from 3 in his final 12 games. He’s a fast, jittery lead guard who can be a high-volume 3-point shooter when he’s rolling. He’ll make shots off movement and tends to thrive most off the catch, drilling 46.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. But I don’t really think he’s a high-major lead guard, either. He’s best running off actions or relocating and finding open areas. However, he’s just a bit small for that role at the highest levels. You’ll need a big guard next to him who can help share ballhandling responsibilities. But Peterson is a good bet to be a good high-major scoring guard next year.
— C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 175

The SoCon Player of the Year this past season, Peterson led ETSU to a 12-6 league mark and morphed into a dominant player late in the year, averaging 11 points while shooting 45 percent from 3 in his final 12 games. He’s a fast, jittery lead guard who can be a high-volume 3-point shooter when he’s rolling. He’ll make shots off movement and tends to thrive most off the catch, drilling 46.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. But I don’t really think he’s a high-major lead guard, either. He’s best running off actions or relocating and finding open areas. However, he’s just a bit small for that role at the highest levels. You’ll need a big guard next to him who can help share ballhandling responsibilities. But Peterson is a good bet to be a good high-major scoring guard next year.
— C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 190

Eaglestaff is a volcano waiting to happen, a dynamic wing scorer who can fire the ball from distance as well as use the threat of that shot to score in other ways. This year alone, he dropped 40 on Alabama and had 51 points against South Dakota State in the conference tournament. He’s a ridiculously tough shot-maker when he’s on, but he also was tasked with taking some absolutely wild attempts for North Dakota this year. That ultimately dragged down his efficiency. The key for a high-major will be finding a role for Eaglestaff that allows him to take easier shots — which will be easier when pairing him with high-level shot creators. He’ll have one year at high-major to show what he’s capable of after playing for a pretty rough North Dakota team that he wasn’t able to elevate. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 190

Eaglestaff is a volcano waiting to happen, a dynamic wing scorer who can fire the ball from distance as well as use the threat of that shot to score in other ways. This year alone, he dropped 40 on Alabama and had 51 points against South Dakota State in the conference tournament. He’s a ridiculously tough shot-maker when he’s on, but he also was tasked with taking some absolutely wild attempts for North Dakota this year. That ultimately dragged down his efficiency. The key for a high-major will be finding a role for Eaglestaff that allows him to take easier shots — which will be easier when pairing him with high-level shot creators. He’ll have one year at high-major to show what he’s capable of after playing for a pretty rough North Dakota team that he wasn’t able to elevate. — Sam Vecenie

Wing

In Portal

North Dakota

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185

Wilkinson was a fun surprise for Cal, finishing among the national scoring leaders for first-year players. He has a dynamic game off the bounce, with the ability to both drive and find pull-up options. But the decision making on some of his shots was often an adventure, and he’ll need to moderate that as he moves to a winning team. It can also be a struggle to place pure scoring guards roughly his size in the lineup, given how much they can give back on defense. Still, Cal was much better when Wilkinson was on the court because of his ability to beat his man, and that’ll provide value wherever he ends up. He’s from Georgia, so don’t be surprised to see him head back east. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185

Wilkinson was a fun surprise for Cal, finishing among the national scoring leaders for first-year players. He has a dynamic game off the bounce, with the ability to both drive and find pull-up options. But the decision making on some of his shots was often an adventure, and he’ll need to moderate that as he moves to a winning team. It can also be a struggle to place pure scoring guards roughly his size in the lineup, given how much they can give back on defense. Still, Cal was much better when Wilkinson was on the court because of his ability to beat his man, and that’ll provide value wherever he ends up. He’s from Georgia, so don’t be surprised to see him head back east. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225

This one is going to be complicated. Mgbako has shown moments of brilliance, and as a former five-star with long arms and shooting potential, he will have an awful lot of suitors. But, man, there is just an awful lot of bad tape, too, where he looks completely invisible on offense because the jump shot isn’t consistent enough yet and his defensive intensity wavers. Maybe it’s as simple as Mike Woodson not being able to get through to him, but the ‘24-25 Hoosiers were a better team when Mgbako was off the court, per CBB Analytics: They gave up nearly 10 points more per 100 possessions when he played (by far the worst of the nine players to play at least 300 minutes). If a change of scenery is all that was needed, a team could reap massive dividends — or it could come away disappointed. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225

This one is going to be complicated. Mgbako has shown moments of brilliance, and as a former five-star with long arms and shooting potential, he will have an awful lot of suitors. But, man, there is just an awful lot of bad tape, too, where he looks completely invisible on offense because the jump shot isn’t consistent enough yet and his defensive intensity wavers. Maybe it’s as simple as Mike Woodson not being able to get through to him, but the ‘24-25 Hoosiers were a better team when Mgbako was off the court, per CBB Analytics: They gave up nearly 10 points more per 100 possessions when he played (by far the worst of the nine players to play at least 300 minutes). If a change of scenery is all that was needed, a team could reap massive dividends — or it could come away disappointed. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 215

Sutton earned Summit League player of the year honors while leading Omaha to the NCAA Tournament, but he’s not particularly elite at any skill by high-major standards. He posted smaller players well in the Summit. He made the occasional 3 off the catch. He attacks in transition and can get downhill in a straight line. But I’m not sure I see him as a shot creator at the highest level; he only hit 27 percent from 3 last year, and his post game isn’t particularly well-developed. If you’re looking for a dynamic athlete to play in an uptempo scheme, Sutton should work. But he’ll need to find the right fit that works for him. Something like the St. John’s scheme would have potential. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 215

Sutton earned Summit League player of the year honors while leading Omaha to the NCAA Tournament, but he’s not particularly elite at any skill by high-major standards. He posted smaller players well in the Summit. He made the occasional 3 off the catch. He attacks in transition and can get downhill in a straight line. But I’m not sure I see him as a shot creator at the highest level; he only hit 27 percent from 3 last year, and his post game isn’t particularly well-developed. If you’re looking for a dynamic athlete to play in an uptempo scheme, Sutton should work. But he’ll need to find the right fit that works for him. Something like the St. John’s scheme would have potential. — Sam Vecenie

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 200

Rohde was one of the most improved players in the ACC, as it took a year for him to adjust to the level after transferring from St. Thomas following his freshman year. He’s an exceptional passer, leading Virginia in assists. He’s elite in catch-and-shoot situations and also able to shoot off movement, which he did a lot in Virginia’s system, which frequently runs its shooters off screens. Rohde is not a big-time scorer, but he should be a popular target because he’s a heady player who should not be hard to incorporate into a winning system. — C.J. Moore

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 200

Rohde was one of the most improved players in the ACC, as it took a year for him to adjust to the level after transferring from St. Thomas following his freshman year. He’s an exceptional passer, leading Virginia in assists. He’s elite in catch-and-shoot situations and also able to shoot off movement, which he did a lot in Virginia’s system, which frequently runs its shooters off screens. Rohde is not a big-time scorer, but he should be a popular target because he’s a heady player who should not be hard to incorporate into a winning system. — C.J. Moore