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College basketball transfer portal's updated best available prospects features new No. 1 after window closes – 247Sports
The college basketball transfer portal window closed this week after a wild 45-day period in which more than 2,000 players entered — a record that could stand for years to come. Action in the transfer portal is still hectic even though the deadline for entries has passed. Following the final 247Sports release of transfer portal player ranking, there is a fresh look at the best available prospects still remaining.
A new No. 1 headlines the updated list with more than a quarter of the top-100 transfer portal players from the 2024 cycle still uncommitted. In fact, eight of the top-15 continue to weigh their options. The transfer portal window is closed, but that does not mean players had to make a commitment prior to the entry deadline.
Another busy weekend of recruiting visits could result in decisions from some of the top available transfers.
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Below is a closer look at the updated best available prospects in the college basketball transfer portal as of Friday (May 3) at 9:15 a.m. ET:
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 97 rating | No. 1 PG | No. 1 overall
Kadary Richmond holds the top spot as the new No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal this cycle following the updated rankings release on Thursday. The veteran from Seton Hall earned First Team All-Big East honors and has nearly 1,300 career points to go along with almost 600 assists and more than 500 rebounds. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound point guard averaged a career-best 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field this past season. Richmond began his college career at Syracuse, but spent the past three years with the Pirates. A favorite has already emerged to land the top ranked transfer for the 2024-25 season.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 97 rating | No. 1 PF | No. 5 overall
The top scorer for Miami this past season is still available after entering the transfer portal last week. Norchad Omier is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound power forward that averaged 15.2 points over the course of the past four seasons, two of which he spent with the Hurricanes. Omier is efficient near the rim as a career 57.6% shooter from the field. He also averages a double-double in college with 11.0 rebounds per game. In fact, he has 33 double-doubles just in the past two seasons at Miami. There are numerous power conference programs in the mix for Omier.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 97 rating | No. 2 C | No. 7 overall
Former Utah State standout and Mountain West Player of the Year Great Osobor remains the top available big man in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound center was initially expected to follow head coach Danny Sprinkle to Washington, but continues to take visits with several more still on the schedule. Osobor averaged 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 57.7% from the field this season. He started his career at Montana State before transferring to Utah State where Sprinkle took over as head coach ahead of this past season.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 3 SG | No. 10 overall
Chaz Lanier experienced a breakout season at North Florida and looks to take advantage of a rise in his stock with an additional year of eligibility. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard averaged 19.7 points while shooting 51.1% from the field and 44.0% from 3-point range this past season. Lanier averaged less than five points per game during his first three seasons with the Ospreys. He is testing the NBA Draft process, but there is an SEC school keeping a close eye on the potential transfer.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 3 PG | No. 12 overall
Deivon Smith is back in the transfer portal after just one season at Utah. The three-time transfer previously spent two seasons at Georgia Tech and began his college career at Mississippi State. Smith averaged 13.3 point, 6.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game — sixth-most in Division I this past season. The 6-foot, 173-pound point guard is one of the best ball distributors in the country and there are a handful of suitors lined up for his talents.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 3 C | No. 13 overall
Rutgers big man Clifford Omoruyiis still available having spent more than six weeks in the transfer portal. Early expectations were that his transfer recruitment would move quickly. St. John’s initially jumped out as the favorite, but has since taken official visits to Alabama, Georgetown, Kansas State and North Carolina. Now a final decision is upcoming. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center averaged double-digit scoring in each of his final three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, including 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game (third-most in Division I) during the 2023-24 campaign.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 SF | No. 14 overall
Jaylen Wells played a key role in helping Washington State return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 years, but the 6-foot-8, 205-pound wing is one the move against after just one season in Pulman. Wells earned Division II All-America honors at Sonoma State before joining the Cougars. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 43.6% from the field at Washington State. Wells entered the transfer portal last week and could be a pivotal piece for a high-major program in 2024-25, but the NBA Draft might be the most likely option.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 SG | No. 15 overall
Minnesota freshman guard Cameron Christie entered the transfer portal just before the deadline this week. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound shooter averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while hitting 40.3% of his field goal attempts, including 39.1% from 3-point range this past season. Christie previously declared for the NBA Draft, but kept his option of returning to college for another year open. He ranked as a top-100 prospect coming out of high school in the 2023 class.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 5 SG | No. 18 overall
Another major transfer portal departure from Miami, Wooga Poplar averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this past season as one of the top scorers for the Hurricanes. He has one year of eligibility remaining after developing into an explosive wing during his time at Miami. Poplar connected on 44.2% of his field goals and 36.5% from deep in three seasons. He is also an excellent free-throw shooter with an 82.3% success rate. Poplar ranked as a top-150 prospect coming out of high school in the 2021 class.
Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 PF | No. 21 overall
Texas lost a number of key pieces to the transfer portal during the recent window, including sophomore power forward Dillon Mitchell, who started in 71 of 72 games played throughout his two seasons in Austin. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward averaged 9.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 58.5% from the field. Mitchell is one of more than a dozen former McDonald’s All-Americans to hit the transfer portal this cycle. He rated as a five-star prospect coming out of the 2022 class. His transfer recruitment remains quiet and several schools showed interest early.
This article originates on 247Sports.
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