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Since Tuesday, there has been a lot of movement in the college basketball transfer portal. Here are some moves that have stood out to me as intriguing or perplexing.
Intriguing Moves
- Guard KJ Lewis transfers from Georgetown to USC. I was disappointed to see Lewis leave Arizona following the 2025 NCAA Tournament, though it made sense with what the Wildcats were bringing in with freshmen Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov. His defense is a big addition for Eric Musselman's Trojans.
- Guard Acaden Lewis transfers from Villanova to Miami (FL). Miami Head Coach Jai Lucas really impressed me during the NCAA Tournament, specifically what he was getting out of two former Big Ten players in Malik Reneau and Trey Donaldson. I am excited to see how Lucas elevates the game of the heralded Lewis.
- Guard Carter Knox transfers from Arkansas to Louisville. While the Cardinals are getting praised for the additions of Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad, Knox is a player I really like. He would have made the Razorbacks even more dangerous this past March had he not suffered a season-ending injury to his left meniscus in February.
- Small forward Tom House enters the transfer portal from Furman. House had some moments against UCONN during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. I am assuming House is going to try to transfer up a level. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.
- Power forward Braden East transfers from Lamar to Houston. The Cougars have added three players from small schools in Lamar, Kent State and Purdue Fort Wayne, which seemingly suggests that these must be some tough dudes ready to play Houston's physical style of ball.
- Power forward Aiden Sherrell transfers from Alabama to Indiana. The Hoosiers have been adding a lot of pieces, including SMU behemoth center Samet Yigitoglu, whose pairing with Sherrell should be interesting. Sherrell can stretch the floor and hit the three. Indiana is certainly getting bigger to match the size that is dominating the Big Ten.
- Small forward Jalan Haralson transfers from Notre Dame to Tennessee. I did not watch much ND last year, though I know Haralson is highly-regarded. I was worried for Tennessee as Rick Barnes has lost a lot of players to the portal so this seems like a big get.
- Point guard Zoom Diallo transfers from Washington to Kentucky. Apparently, it wasn't the smoothest recruitment for Mark Pope, who is under fire from a lot of Wildcats' fans, though I like Diallo's game and thinks he fits better than Robert Wright III.
- Power forward Najai Hines transfers from Seton Hall to UCONN. It looks like Dan Hurley has found his replacement for Tarris Reed in the rising sophomore Hines, who will have three years of eligibility. If Hines stays and develops like Reed did in two seasons with the Huskies, he is going to be a problem for UCONN opponents.
- Small forward Eric Mahaffey transfers from Akron to Cincinnati. Mahaffey was a key piece on John Groce's past two teams that made the NCAA Tournament and now returns to his hometown of Cincinnati to play under first-year Bearcats' Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun.
- Guard Anthony Robinson II transfers from Missouri to Florida. I was impressed with Robinson II during the Tigers' game against Illinois back in December. This seems to be a nice get for Seminoles Head Coach Luke Louks.
- Power forward Bryson Tiller transfers from Kansas to Missouri. Dennis Gates is building an intriguing front line with Tiller and the physical Jaden Carey from Tennessee.
- Guard Jake Hall withdraws from the portal to stay at New Mexico. I had read that Hall was getting high-major attention, so this makes me wonder how much money did New Mexico pony up to keep the rising sophomore shooter.
- Guard Ethan Roberts transfers from Penn to Notre Dame. Roberts missed the Quakers' first round game against the Illinois Fighting Illini due to concussion issues. I am intrigued to see how Roberts' game translates at Notre Dame, which has not had the success I thought it would with Micah Shrewsberry.
Perplexing Moves
- Maryland guard Darius Adams enters the transfer portal. This happened late last night after Maryland secured Bishop Powell from Tennessee. While I like Powell, I hate to see Buzz Williams lose Adams, who is a dynamite scorer expected to make a sophomore leap. I was looking forward to watching an Andre Mills and Adams backcourt next season for the Terps, though I understand why Adams is likely leaving.
- Brady Dunlap transfers from St. Louis to UC Santa Barbara. Dunlap impressed me off the bench during the Billikens' loss to Michigan in the second round during the NCAA Tournament. I thought the 6'7'' Dunlap would be moving up a level, perhaps as a bench piece, but that does not seem to be the case. Dunlap is from California so I wonder if this move is to be closer to home. For UCSB, Dunlap is a great get. Note: I forgot that Dunlap played his freshman season at St. John's.
- Small forward Cam Heide transfers from Texas to South Carolina. Heide will be at his third school in four seasons after playing his freshman and sophomore years at Purdue. All things considered, I wonder if Heide wishes he would have stayed at Purdue.
- Louisville small forward Kasean Pryor enters the portal. Pryor seemed to be a hot commodity a few seasons ago out of South Florida. However, he was out of Louisville's rotation come the NCAA Tournament. Apparently Pryor is seeking a seventh season of college eligibility.
- Power forward Zayden High transfers from North Carolina to South Florida. I though High fared well in limited minutes against VCU during the tournament and would draw interest from another high major. This is a great get for South Florida. I'm guessing High wants more opportunities to show what he can do, with South Florida very happy to bring in a player from Chapel Hill.
- Small forward Max Green enters the transfer portal from Northwestern. The Wildcats seem to be losing a lot of players to the portal so far this season. So far, I am seeing eight players leaving Northwestern, with just one addition. That can't be good for Head Coach Chris Collins.
- Guards Joson Sanon and Dylan Darling enter the portal from St. John's. Apparently, St. John's got a big international commit from point guard Quinn Ellis, which prompted Darling's decision. Darling, of course, is known for his buzzer-beating layup against Kansas in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Rick Pitino really seemed to like Darling so I am surprised that this decision happened.
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