College basketball transfer portal: First impression of each SEC team's offseason – 247Sports

Every single program in the SEC is feeling both sides of the sword that is the college basketball transfer portal. All 14 squads have had at least one player enter the transfer portal. Mississippi State and Kentucky are the only two SEC schools that haven’t added a single transfer yet. Of course, Mississippi State has had a strong presence in the junior college ranks due to Chris Jans’ connections, and Kentucky has the No. 1-rated Class of 2023 with a horde of five stars on the way. It’s only a matter of time until Kentucky and Mississippi State join their SEC brethren by landing a transfer in the 2023 cycle.
Even with the topsy-turvy portal, rosters throughout the SEC are starting to take shape. Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and LSU own terrific transfer portal hauls. Both Texas A&M and Alabama are crushing it in the player-retention pool.
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Here’s a look at every SEC team’s moves so far this offseason and what to make of each offseason:
Departed: Daeshun Ruffin (9.5 PPG, transferred to Jackson State), Malique Ewin (1.4 PPG), Robert Allen (4.4 PPG), James White (4.0 PPG, transferred to UAB), Amaree Abram (8.0 PPG, transferred to Georgia Tech), Myles Burns (8.0 PPG), Jayveous McKinnis (4.6 PPG), Josh Mballa (3.4 PPG), Tye Fagan (3.0 PPG), Theo Akwuba (2.5 PPG)
In limbo: Matthew Murrell (14.0 PPG)
Returning: Jaemyn Brakefield (11.1 PPG), TJ Caldwell (4.7 PPG)
Newcomers: Jacob Gazzo, Jordan Burks (three-star), Brandon Murray (13.7 PPG at Georgetown), Austin Nunez (4.5 PPG at Arizona State), Jamarion Sharp (7.4 PPG at Western Kentucky), Moussa Cisse (6.8 PPG at Oklahoma State), Allen Flanigan (10.1 PPG at Auburn)
The skinny: New Ole Miss coach Chris Beard made a major splash by landing Murray –– one of the top two-way wings in the transfer portal –– and keeping Brakefield, Murrell and Caldwell back for another season. Murrell is still going through the 2023 NBA Draft process, but he announced that if he returns to college basketball next season, it will be at Ole Miss. Beard’s Ole Miss rebuild is just getting started.
Departed: Liam Robbins (15.0 PPG), Jordan Wright (10.6 PPG, transferred to LSU), Myles Stute (8.4 PPG, transferred to South Carolina), Malik Dia (2.6 PPG, transferred to Belmont), Noah Shelby (3.7 PPG, transferred to Rice), Trey Thomas (5.8 PPG, transferred to Bowling Green), Quentin Millora-Brown (3.5 PPG, transferred to The Citadel), Emmanuel Ansong (2.7 PPG)
In limbo: Tyrin Lawrence (13.1 PPG, transfer portal, NBA Draft entry)
Returning: Ezra Manjon (10.5 PPG), Colin Smith (4.7 PPG), Paul Lewis (2.9 PPG), Lee Dort (1.7 PPG)
Newcomers: Evan Taylor (14.2 PPG at Lehigh), Isaiah West (three-star), Carter Lang (three-star), JaQualon Roberts (three-star) Malik Presley (three-star), Jason Rivera-Torres (three-star), Tasos Kamateros (12.5 PPG at South Dakota), Ven-Allen Lubin (6.2 PPG at Notre Dame)
The skinny: Taylor has the look of a sneaky-good addition. The former Lehigh star had no issues getting buckets against Power Six competition. Vanderbilt has five freshmen slated to enter the fray which is tied with Kentucky for the most in the SEC. No other SEC program has more than three youngsters. It’s an interesting strategy in the transfer portal era.
Departed: Chico Carter (9.8 PPG, transferred to DePaul), Ja’Von Benson (0.4 PPG, transfer portal), Tre-Vaughn Minott (0.4 PPG, transfer portal), Daniel Hankins-Sanford (2.3 PPG, transfer portal), GG Jackson (15.4 PPG), Hayden Brown (11.4 PPG)
In limbo: N/A
Returning: Meechie Johnson (12.7 PPG), Jacobi Wright (7.3 PPG), Josh Gray (4.3 PPG), Zachary Davis (2.2 PPG), Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (1.9 PPG)
Newcomers: Ta’Lon Cooper (9.8 PPG at Minnesota), Stephen Clark (16.3 PPG at The Citadel), Myles Stute (8.4 PPG at Vanderbilt), Collin Murray-Boyles (four-star), Arden Conyers (three-star)
The skinny: Lamont Paris still needs to add a few more difference-makers to feel good about the upside in 2023-24, but South Carolina found three potential starters in Cooper, Stute and Clark. Stute can shoot the cover off the rock, and Cooper was one of the top assist men in the country last year for dreadful Minnesota.
Departed: KyeRon Lindsay (6.2 PPG, transferred to Texas Tech), Kario Oquendo (12.7 PPG, transferred to Oregon), Braelen Bridges (8.7 PPG), Jailyn Ingram (3.3 PPG), Terry Roberts (13.2 PPG, NBA Draft)
In limbo: N/A
Returning: Justin Hill (8.6 PPG), Jabri Abdur-Rahim (7.1 PPG), Jusaun Holt (3.2 PPG), Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (5.5 PPG), Frank Anselem (2.9 PPG)
Newcomers: RJ Melendez (6.0 PPG at Illinois), Jalen Deloach (9.7 PPG at VCU), Dylan James (four-star), Mari Jordan (four-star), Blue Cain (four-star), Noah Thomasson (19.5 PPG at Niagara), R.J. Sunahara (18.9 PPG at Nova Southeastern), Lamariyon Jordan (four-star)

The skinny: A bouncy forward like Deloach will be a strong complement to a new-look Georgia’s frontline, and Melendez could be a strong Year 3 breakout candidate in a new location. Melendez’s flashes at Illinois were tantalizing, and now fully healthy, the high-upside wing will have the opportunity to put it all together for the Dawgs. Melendez looks like the Oquendo replacement.
Departed: Justice Hill (5.6 PPG, transferred to Loyola Marymount), Adam Miller (11.5 PPG, transferred to Arizona State), Cam Hayes (8.1 PPG, transfer portal), KJ Williams (17.7 PPG), Shawn Phillips (1.4 PPG, transferred to Arizona State), Kendal Coleman (2.3 PPG, transferred to Cal Baptist), Corneilous Williams (redshirted, transferred to Western Carolina)
In limbo: N/A
Returning: Trae Hannibal (6.8 PPG), Jalen Reed (3.7 PPG), Tyrell Ward (3.7 PPG), Derek Fountain (8.0 PPG), Mwani Wilkinson (2.6 PPG)
Newcomers: Will Baker (13.6 PPG at Nevada), Jordan Wright (10.6 PPG at Vanderbilt), Jalen Cook (19.9 PPG at Tulane), Carlos Stewart (15.2 PPG at Santa Clara), Corey Chest (four-star), Mike Williams (three-star), Hunter Dean (8.7 PPG at George Washington)
The skinny: LSU upgraded its roster quickly. Baker, Wright and Stewart are no-doubt rotation players who will have the inside track on starting spots. But the jewel of the class is Cook who is returning for his second stint at LSU. The dazzling Tulane transfer is the lead guard LSU just didn’t have last season. Losing a stud like Williams is no joke, but Matt McMahon used the transfer portal to upgrade the depth in a major way. Keeping both Reed and Ward out of the transfer portal is important, too.
Departed: Eric Reed (3.7 PPG), Tyler Stevenson (3.9 PPG), Kimani Hamilton (2.6 PPG, transfer portal)
In limbo: DJ Jeffries (8.8 PPG), Dashawn Davis (8.7 PPG)
Returning: Shakeel Moore (9.8 PPG), Cameron Matthews (6.9 PPG), Will McNair Jr. (3.3 PPG), KeShawn Murphy (3.3 PPG), Shawn Jones Jr. (3.2 PPG), Martavious Russell (1.7 PPG), Tolu Smith (15.7 PPG)
Newcomers: Jaquan Scott (JUCO), Josh Hubbard (four-star), Gai Cholesterols (three-star), Adrian Myers (three-star), Lerenzo Fort III (JUCO), Jimmy Bell Jr. (4.8 PPG at West Virginia), Andrew Taylor (20.2 PPG at Marshall)
The skinny: If Mississippi State can get Smith, Jeffries and Davis all back for another season, the Bulldogs are going to be a fringe top-25 squad and a major player in the SEC race. Mississippi State has been quiet in the transfer portal, but that could be about to change.
Departed: Kowacie Reeves (8.5 PPG, transferred to Georgia Tech), Niels Lane (2.4 PPG, transfer portal), CJ Felder (2.3 PPG, transferred to McNeese State), Jason Jitobah (3.1 PPG, transferred to Tennessee State), Trey Bonham (5.6 PPG, transferred to Chattanooga), Colin Castleton (16.0 PPG), Kyle Lofton (8.7 PPG), Alex Fudge (5.8 PPG), Myreon Jones (5.4 PPG)
In limbo: N/A
Returning: Riley Kugel (9.9 PPG), Will Richard (10.4 PPG), Aleks Szymczyk (2.1 PPG), Denzel Aberdeen (1.6 PPG)
Newcomers: Tyrese Samuel (Seton Hall), Micah Handlogten (Marshall), Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona), EJ Jarvis (Yale), Thomas Haugh (three-star), Alex Condon
The skinny: Keeping Kugel and Richard around for a second season is enormous. Plus, Florida is absolutely crushing it in the transfer portal with four helpful additions. But Clayton and Handlogten are the jewels. Claytonprofiles as a double-digit scorer, while Handlogten is a strong Castleton replacement with NBA upside if it all comes together.
Departed: Wendell Green Jr., (13.7 PPG), Zep Jasper (2.8 PPG) Chance Westry (2.5 PPG, transferred to Syracuse), Yohan Traore (2.1 PPG, transferred to UC Santa Barbara), Babatunde Akingbola (0.3 PPG, transfer portal), Allen Flanigan (10.1 PPG, transfer portal)
In limbo: Jaylin Williams (11.2 PPG, NBA Draft entry), Johni Broome (14.2 PPG, NBA Draft entry)
Returning: K.D. Johnson (8.9 PPG), Chris Moore (3.5 PPG, Dylan Cardwell (3.7 PPG), Tre Donaldson (2.5 PPG)
Newcomers: Denver Jones (20.1 PPG), Chaney Johnson (15.9 PPG at UAH), Aden Holloway (four-star), Chad Baker-Mazara (15.2 PPG at Northwest Florida State)
The skinny: Jones should have no issues replicating Green’s scoring punch, but all eyes are on the stay-or-go decisions of Williams, Flanigan and Broome. That isn’t stopping Bruce Pearl from going big-game hunting in the transfer portal, though.
Departed: D’Moi Hodge (14.7 PPG, DeAndre Gholston (10.9 PPG), Tre Gomillion (4.8 PPG), Mohamed Diarra (3.2 PPG, transferred to NC State), Ronnie DeGray III (2.1 PPG), Kaleb Brown (0.8 PPG, transfer portal)
In limbo: Kobe Brown (15.8 PPG, NBA Draft entree), Isiaih Mosley (9.6 PPG)
Returning: Noah Carter (9.6 PPG), Nick Honor (7.9 PPG), Sean East II (7.3 PPG), Aidan Shaw (2.7 PPG)
Newcomers: Caleb Grill (9.5 PPG at Iowa State), John Tonje (14.6 PPG at Colorado State), Tamar Bates (6.1 PPG at Indiana), Trent Pierce (four-star), Jordan Butler (four-star), Anthony Robinson (three-star), Jesus Carralero (10.6 PPG at Campbell)
The skinny: Missouri missed out on Caleb Love, but pivoting to Grill, Tonje and Bates certainly upgrade the depth in the backcourt. Dennis Gates is still very much in the mix for high-level, Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland and prized Virginia transfer Kadin Shedrick. If Kobe Brown runs it back and Cleveland and/or Shedrick hops on board, the Tigers will be SEC Championship-level good in 2023-24.
Departed: Javonte Brown (1.7 PPG, transfer portal), KK Robinson (1.8 PPG, transfer portal), Erik Pratt (1.4 PPG, transfer portal), Dexter Dennis (9.5 PPG)
In limbo: N/A
Returning: Wade Taylor IV (16.3 PPG), Julius Marble (9.1 PPG), Henry Coleman III (9.0 PPG), Manny Obaseki (5.2 PPG), Hayden Hefner (3.4 PPG), Solomon Washington (3.2 PPG), Andersson Garcia (3.2 PPG), Andre Gordon (2.2 PPG), Tyrece Radford (13.3 PPG)
Newcomers: Jace Carter (16.6 PPG at UIC), Bryce Lindsay (three-star), Eli Lawrence (12.2 PPG at Middle Tennessee)
The skinny: Retention is everything for Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams. Getting another year out of Radford could help the Aggies make a huge run at a SEC Championship. Of course, Taylor is the straw that stirs the drink. He’s the best point guard in the SEC and should be in line for an enormous junior season. But Texas A&M is flirting with some interesting names in the transfer portal to replace Dennis.
Departed: Barry Dunning Jr. (0.3 PPG, transferred to UAB), Anthony Black (12.8 PPG), Makhel Mitchell (3.6 PPG, transfer portal), Nick Smith Jr. (12.5 PPG), Ricky Council IV (16.1 PPG), Derrian Ford (0.7 PPG, transferred to Arkansas State)
In limbo: Jordan Walsh (7.1 PPG, NBA Draft entree), Davonte Davis (10.9 PPG, NBA Draft entree)
Returning: Trevon Brazile (11.8 PPG), Jalen Graham (5.2 PPG), Joseph Pinion (2.4 PPG), Makhi Mitchell (7.0 PPG)
Newcomers: Layden Blocker (five-star, Baye Fall (five-star), Keyon Menifield (10.0 PPG), Tramon Mark (10.1 PPG), Khalif Battle (17.9 PPG), Jeremiah Davenport (9.1 PPG), El Ellis (17.7 PPG)
The skinny: Arkansas is getting really old, really quickly. Four of Arkansas’ five prized transfer portal additions have been in a college program for at least three years. Multiple SEC programs have phenomenal transfer portal classes, but none match the star power of Arkansas’. But the Razorbacks’ roster can level up even more if Walsh, Davis and/or Mitchell opt to return.
Departed: Olivier Nkamhoua (10.8 PPG, transfer portal), Tyreke Key (8.2 PPG), Uros Plavsic (4.9 PPG), Julian Phillips (8.3 PPG, transfer portal/NBA Draft entry), BJ Edwards (1.2 PPG, transferred to SMU)
In limbo: Josiah-Jordan James (10.0 PPG, NBA Draft entry)
Returning: Santiago Vescovi (12.5 PPG), Zakai Zeigler (10.7 PPG), Jonas Aidoo (5.1 PPG), Jahmai Mashack (4.7 PPG), Tobe Awaka (3.2 PPG)
Newcomers: Jordan Gainey (15.2 PPG at South Carolina Upstate), Chris Ledlum (18.8 PPG at Harvard), Dalton Knecht (20.2 PPG at Northern Colorado), JP Estrella (four-star), Cameron Carr (four-star), Cade Phillips (three-star)
The skinny: Rick Barnes is getting talent and figuring it out later. Tennessee is slated to return a ton of contributors, but Plavsic, Phillips and James could all opt to return, too. But there’s only one open scholarship after Tennessee landed Knecht and Ledlum. Both of those prized transfers should have no issues earning a spot in Tennessee’s loaded rotation. Tennessee could be very old, very physical and have more offensive pop after the transfer additions.
Departed: Sahvir Wheeler (7.7 PPG, transferred to Washington), Daimion Collins (1.9 PPG, transfer portal), Jacob Toppin (12.4 PPG), Cason Wallace (11.7 PPG), CJ Fredrick (6.1 PPG, transferred to Cincinnati)
In limbo: Oscar Tshiebwe (16.5 PPG, NBA Draft entree), Antonio Reeves (14.4 PPG, NBA Draft entree), Chris Livingston (6.3 PPG, NBA Draft entree)
Returning: Adou Theiro (2.3 PPG), Brennan Canada (0.6 PPG), Ugonna Onyenso (2.5 PPG)
Newcomers: Justin Edwards (five-star), DJ Wagner (five-star), Aaron Bradshaw (five-star), Robert Dillingham (five-star), Reed Sheppard (four-star)
The skinny: Kentucky’s gameplan in the transfer portal lingers on the stay-or-go decision from Tshiebwe. If the former Kentucky National Player of the Year departs, Kentucky will be a major player to land No. 1-rated transfer Hunter Dickinson. Losing Fredrick to the portal really stings, but getting Reeves back could keep Kentucky’s young backcourt afloat.
Departed: Brandon Miller (18.8 PPG), Noah Clowney (9.8 PPG), Jaden Bradley (6.4 PPG, transferred to Arizona), Nimari Burnett (5.6 PPG, transferred to Michigan), Dom Welch (2.0 PPG, Noah Gurley (4.9 PPG)
In limbo: Jahvon Quinerly (8.7 PPG)
Returning: Mark Sears (12.5 PPG), Charles Bediako (6.4 PPG), Nick Pringle (3.5 PPG, Rylan Griffen (5.9 PPG)
Newcomers: Jaykwon Walton (13.9 PPG at Wichita State), Aaron Estrada (20.2 PPG at Hofstra), Kris Parker (four-star), Mouhamed Dioubate (four-star), Sam Walters (four-star), Latrell Wrightsell (16.3 PPG at Cal State Fullerton)
The skinny: The addition of Estrada completely changes the complexion of Alabama’s backcourt. Sears and Estrada are a talented, old combination that can keep the floor high. A sophomore breakout from Griffen would be just what the doctor ordered. Keeping him around for a second season is a huge win for Nate Oats and Co. Alabama still has room to make more noise in the portal. Keeping extra scholarships open for the final transfer portal wave is wise.
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