SEC basketball transfer portal rankings: Arkansas, Kentucky commits headline top conference newcomers – 247Sports

The SEC has a longstanding tradition as one of college basketball’s most elite conferences, and it will not waver in its status as a premier high-major league when Texas and Oklahoma join the fold next season. The influx of talent into the conference through the transfer portal also bolsters its position among the most formidable leagues and provides individual teams with the pieces necessary to contend for Final Four berths and national titles. Arkansas and Kentucky in particular dominated the 2024 transfer cycle.
Coaching changes at those aforementioned programs sparked an exodus of starters, but incoming leaders John Calipari and Mark Pope immediately rebuilt their rosters with some of the nation’s top transfer prospects. The former landed a commitment from prized target Adou Thiero this week, and in turn, Arkansas climbed to the No. 1 position in the team transfer portal rankings.
Ole Miss, Texas, Alabama and Missouri also accounted for at least one of the top 10 transfers joining the SEC for the 2024-25 season.
RELATED (VIP): Where top programs stand after transfer window closure
Here are the top transfers to commit to SEC programs during the 2024 portal cycle:
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 95 Rating | No. 46 Overall | No. 11 PG
Former School: Virginia Tech
Ole Miss was on the verge of an NCAA Tournament appearance in its first year under head coach Chris Beard, and with point guard Sean Pedulla atop the nation’s 12th-ranked transfer haul, the Rebels should be in contention again next season. Pedulla is an instant starter and a prolific facilitator who picked up an All-ACC third-team selection last year after he logged 16.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. His 148 total assists ranked third in the conference.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 95 Rating | No. 44 Overall | No. 8 SG
Former Schools: Arkansas, Houston
Tramon Mark was part of Arkansas’ transfer exodus when coach Eric Musselman departed from the program, and with the second move of his career, he returns to the Lone Star State as Texas joins the SEC. Mark opened his career with three years at Houston and was an important contributor on multiple tournament teams, but his greatest individual success came during his lone season with the Razorbacks. There, he was one of the few bright spots on the roster and led the team with 16.2 points per game. He added 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists to a well-rounded line.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 95 Rating | No. 41 Overall | No. 10 PG
Former School: Auburn
Aden Holloway is not the first student-athlete to transfer to a rival school, and he will not be the last. He took his SEC All-Freshman Team honors from Auburn to Alabama shortly after the end of the season and chose the Crimson Tide after reportedly garnering interest from Michigan and other top high-major programs. The guard averaged 7.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and connected from beyond the arc at a 30% clip during his first and only year at Auburn. He was a prized 2023 recruit as a McDonald’s All American.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 95 Rating | No. 34 Overall | No. 7 SF
Former School: Oklahoma
While he faltered in Big 12 play and ultimately lost his starting job, Otega Oweh was still a major piece of Oklahoma’s roster in his second year with the program as he finished the season as the Sooners’ second-leading scorer at 11.2 points per game. He hit a roadblock down the stretch but took a key step forward in his development as a sophomore and capitalized with a transfer to Kentucky. Oweh could start for Mark Pope’s debut Wildcats squad should he overcome the struggles that limited him to a bench role in the final few games of last season.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 95 Rating | No. 32 Overall | No. 6 SF
Former School: Kentucky
Adou Thiero became the latest Kentucky player to follow John Calipari to Arkansas when he committed Monday to the Razorbacks. The former blue-chip prospect had interest from some of college basketball’s top programs and chose the familiarity of the coach that recruited him out of high school. In his second year under Calipari’s tutelage, Thiero grew into a more physically imposing frame and developed into a two-way contributor with 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 assists per game as a part-time starter. Some of his best performances came against top competition, and he projects as a future first-round NBA Draft pick.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 96 Rating | No. 23 Overall | No. 5 C
Former School: Oklahoma State
There were few bright spots during Oklahoma State’s 2023-24 season, but the freshman production from Brandon Garrison certainly qualifies as a consolation for the down year. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the 6-foot-11 center is off to the SEC, where he brings tremendous upside to the Kentucky frontcourt. Garrison took visits to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas but committed to UK sight-unseen. He made 29 starts in his first year of college basketball and was a formidable post presence who averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 96 Rating | No. 20 Overall | No. 4 C
Former School: Tennessee
Jonas Aidoo surprised the Tennessee program when he elected to hit the transfer portal, and his departure is a big one for the Vols as he not only vacates a massive role but also takes his talents elsewhere inside the conference. He is, therefore, a key pickup for John Calipari ahead of his first year at Arkansas. Aidoo was an All-SEC second-teamer last season and landed on the conference’s All-Defense team after he led Tennessee in rebounds and ranked second on the team in scoring. He was a top-three performer in the SEC in blocks and ranked top-three in conference play for rebounds and shooting percentage.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 96 Rating | No. 16 Overall | No. 2 PF
Former School: Duke
Last season was a disaster for Missouri, which stumbled to a winless record in SEC play, but that did not stop the Tigers from making a splash in the transfer portal when they landed the No. 16 overall player in Mark Mitchell. The former five-star recruit started all but one game across two years at Duke and was among the team’s most important players at 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during his sophomore campaign. Mitchell is a two-way standout who can single handedly improve the Tigers’ standing in the SEC.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 96 Rating | No. 13 Overall | No. 3 C
Former School: Rutgers
Alabama filled an area of major need with the addition of Clifford Omoruyi, who slots directly into the starting lineup as the answer to the team’s frontcourt questions. Omoruyi is a prolific rebounder who should clean up the glass nicely and create plenty of second chances for a high-octane offense. For the third-straight season, Omoruyi averaged just shy of a double-double in 2023-24 despite missing half of the campaign due to injury. The Nigeria native is good for at least 10 points per game, about as many rebounds and upwards of three blocks.
Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 97 Rating | No. 3 Overall | No. 1 SG
Former School: Florida Atlantic
Johnell Davis’ exit from FAU came with little surprise after coach Dusty May departed for the Michigan job. Davis is a high-major talent who spearheaded the Owls’ Final Four run two seasons ago and took his game to another level this past year. He upped his scoring average to 18.2 points per game and excelled from beyond the arc to the tune of a 43.4% clip. Davis is also a terrific rebounder for a guard. He is the complete package and should be a star at Arkansas.
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