The NCAA transfer portal for college basketball opened its doors on April 7, initiating a period of significant roster adjustments for teams nationwide. Thousands of student-athletes are currently assessing their collegiate futures, with a deadline of April 21 to formally enter the portal. While the landscape of available and committed players remains fluid, the top prospects are largely established, with only a few potential late entries expected to alter the current rankings. As leading college programs actively recruit to bolster their rosters, a comprehensive overview of the top 25 players in the transfer portal, as determined by the On3 Industry Rankings, is presented below.
Detailed Report: College Basketball's Elite in the Transfer Portal
The 2026 college basketball offseason has seen a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, with numerous standout athletes seeking new opportunities. This period, which commenced on April 7 and concludes on April 21, is crucial for both players and programs. Here, we delve into the profiles of some of the most sought-after talents:
- Flory Bidunga (Center): A dominant 6-foot-9 center from Kansas, Bidunga showcased a formidable sophomore season. Averaging 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, he earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big 12 honors. While committing to Louisville alongside Jackson Shelstad, he is also exploring the NBA Draft, making his collegiate return increasingly appealing.
- Milan Momcilovic (Power Forward): The 6-foot-8 forward from Iowa State is a premier 3-point shooter, valuable at both the collegiate and professional levels. He averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds, shooting 48.7% from beyond the arc, earning All-Big 12 recognition.
- Massamba Diop (Center): Arizona State's 7-foot-1 center had an impressive freshman year, posting 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. His strong performance, particularly in Big 12 play, has attracted significant interest from top programs.
- Juke Harris (Shooting Guard): The 6-foot-7 wing from Wake Forest experienced a breakout season, averaging 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He received All-ACC honors and was named the ACC's Most Improved Player, maintaining two years of eligibility.
- John Blackwell (Shooting Guard): Formerly of Wisconsin, the 6-foot-4 guard steadily improved, moving from an All-Freshman selection to All-Big Ten in 2025-26. He averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, with one year of eligibility remaining.
- Rob Wright (Point Guard): Returning to the portal after a successful stint at BYU following a transfer from Baylor, the 6-foot-1 guard became an All-Conference honoree. He averaged 18.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, demonstrating significant scoring ability.
- Allen Graves (Power Forward): A 6-foot-9 forward from Santa Clara, Graves' freshman year analytics were outstanding. Averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, with 41.3% shooting from three, his potential is highly regarded by analytics-driven programs.
- PJ Haggerty (Shooting Guard): The 6-foot-1 guard, an All-American in 2024-25, is now headed to Texas A&M after a previous move to Kansas State. His Big 12 performance included averages of 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, making him a valuable scoring option in the SEC.
- Paulius Murauskas (Power Forward): A two-time All-WCC selection, the 6-foot-8 forward from St. Mary's averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting 33.3% from long range. He seeks a new home after his coach's departure, with one year of eligibility left.
- Miles Byrd (Shooting Guard): The defensive specialist from San Diego State, a 6-foot-7 wing, has committed to Providence. With two All-Mountain West and All-Defense honors, including a Defensive Player of the Year award, he averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks.
- David Punch (Power Forward): The 6-foot-7 forward from TCU evolved into a two-way star, now heading to Texas in the SEC. He averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 34 games.
- Stefan Vaaks (Shooting Guard): A 6-foot-7 guard from Providence, Vaaks, an Estonian product, had a strong freshman season, averaging 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds, with 35% 3-point shooting. He joins Illinois, hoping to build on his Big East All-Freshman selection.
- Isaiah Johnson (Point Guard): The 6-foot-1 guard from Colorado, originally a three-star prospect, transformed into a sought-after transfer target. Now with Texas alongside David Punch, he averaged 16.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
- Moustapha Thiam (Center): The 7-foot-1 center from Cincinnati, previously at UCF, offers defensive versatility with flashes of perimeter offense. He averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, shooting 52.5% from the field.
- Aidan Sherrell (Center): Alabama's 6-foot-11 big man had a breakout sophomore year, averaging 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, with 33.8% 3-point shooting. His rebounding prowess and untapped potential make him a valuable asset.
- Somto Cyril (Center): The 6-foot-11 center from Georgia, known for his physical play, committed to Miami. He averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks, earning an All-SEC Defensive Team selection.
- Neoklis Avdalas (Combo Guard): The 6-foot-7 guard, after withdrawing from the NBA Draft, landed at Virginia Tech and now moves to North Carolina. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, looking to improve his 38.6% field goal percentage.
- Jackson Shelstad (Point Guard): Oregon's 6-foot point guard, despite an injury-hit junior season, joins Louisville with Flory Bidunga. He averaged a career-high 15.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 12 games, consistently scoring double figures throughout his college career.
- Dedan Thomas (Point Guard): The 6-foot-1 guard from LSU is now at Houston. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 assists in 16 games, having been an All-Mountain West selection in previous seasons.
- Donnie Freeman (Power Forward): Syracuse's 6-foot-9 forward, a former top recruit, recovered from a freshman injury to have a strong sophomore year, averaging 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, with improved defensive contributions.
- Markus Burton (Point Guard): The 5-foot-10 guard from Notre Dame, affected by injury in 2025-26, transfers to Indiana. He averaged 18.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 10 games, with a previous sophomore season average of 21.3 points.
- KJ Lewis (Shooting Guard): The 6-foot-4 guard from Georgetown, previously at Arizona, moves to USC. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, earning All-Big East honors.
- Najai Hines (Power Forward): Seton Hall's 6-foot-10 forward, a freshman bench player, showcased defensive impact with 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks.
- Paul McNeil (Shooting Guard): The 6-foot-5 guard from NC State made significant strides in his sophomore season, averaging 13.8 points and 3.6 rebounds, with 42.7% 3-point shooting.
- Terrence Hill (Shooting Guard): VCU's 6-foot-3 guard, an All-Atlantic 10 selection and Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 15 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, demonstrating considerable impact despite coming off the bench.
The dynamic nature of the transfer portal allows these athletes to find programs that best suit their skills and aspirations, while offering teams the chance to quickly adapt and rebuild for future success.
