What to expect from college basketball's top transfers – 247Sports

The college basketball season is nearly upon us but we didn’t get to this point without a very eventful offseason. As has become the case, the transfer portal played a major role in the off-season drama and the rosters we see in action.
For a quick refresher, here’s a look at the top 20 transfers and what we can expect out of them this season:
 
2022-23 Stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.5 APG
Hunter Dickinson was the biggest transfer story of the offseason. The Michigan star entered the portal in April and found his way to Kansas, picking the Jayhawks over Kentucky, Villanova and Maryland.
What we can expect out of Dickinson in his new home is exactly what we saw with him at Michigan. A dominant, low-post big man who takes up tons of space with his 7-foot-2 frame, scores on the block and can rebound.
He’s also shown flashes of skill to step out and score facing the rim, so be on the lookout for that to see if he has made a jump there since it was a point of emphasis from NBA scouts.
Otherwise, it’s going to be business as usual for Dickinson, just in a new uniform. He will use that left hand to pour in hook shots, rebound his area and get some spotty defense all along the way.
2022-23 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Kel’el Ware is the most polarizing transfer of the offseason. He’s a former five-star recruit that is oozing with talent and potential, but he has a long track record of playing with a lack of intensity and effort. When things are clicking for Ware, he looks like a top-five draft pick.
Ware’s freshman year was inconsistent and frustrating often coasting through games and floating to the perimeter. But with another year to mature — if he can figure things out with his motor — he could be one of the most exciting players in the Big Ten.
However, based on talks throughout the industry, we might see another rollercoaster year out of Ware. This could toy with the emotions of the Hoosiers faithful.
Stats: 17.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.7 BPG
Grant Nelson is a player many are unfamiliar with. He made his way to Tuscaloosa by way of the portal from North Dakota State and makes for one of the most skilled and athletic bigs in the country.
We can expect that Nelson’s offensive abilities will get good use out of Nate Oat’s high octane offense. Nelson can stretch the floor, make shots off the catch, attack downhill to finish above the rim and will rebound and block shots.
With Nelson’s size, skill and athleticism, he’s an offensive weapon at the collegiate level and will be an impactful player for the Crimson Tide.
2022-23 Stats: 14.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.6 APG and 2.7 BPG
West Virginia had the most dramatic and eventful offseason of anyone in the country, bar none. Amid the chaos, West Virginia reeled in Jesse Edwards, a 6-foot-11 big man that is a high-level rim protector, rebounder and finisher around the rim.
What we can expect from Edwards is exactly what he has shown at Syracuse. He is going to efficiently finish around the rim off post moves and rim-rolls while rebounding, defending and blocking shots.
He’s a major two-way presence who will be heavily relied on in the front court while Akok Akok recovers from a scary collapse in a preseason game.
2022-23 Stats: 11.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG
JJ Starling exited high school as one of the best scorers in the 2022 recruiting class and projected as a potential first-round pick.
However, from the first game at Notre Dame something had really changed with Starling and the mechanics on his jumper were far different that the years prior.
Starling was a high-level shooter throughout high school. But after the changed mechanics, he struggled to find the bottom of the net with the Fighting Irish. As a result, it’s hard to project what we can expect out of Starling this year. But he still has the ability to score by getting downhill. Also, we see him taking his playmaking and defense up a notch.
If Starling channels back his old jumper, he can become one of the best guards in the ACC,  giving the Orange a dynamic duo with Judah Mintz alongside him.
2022-23 Stats: 15.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.0 APG
LJ Cryer didn’t have to move very far when he went in the portal. He just packed up his stuff and made the nearly three-hour drive from Waco to Houston.
For the last three years, Cryer has shown what we can expect out of him at Houston at Baylor and that is his ability to shoot the basketball.
For the last two season in particular, Cryer has been one of the best shooters in the country, connection on 132 of 304 (43.4%) total 3-point attempts as a sophomore and junior.
At Houston, alongside Jamal Shead, we can expect the same shot making. But we also may get to see him expand his role as a playmaker and distributor.
2022-23 Stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Jameer Nelson Jr. is the son of former NBA All-Star Jameer Nelson and was one of the top transfers of the offseason moving from Delaware to TCU.
At Delaware, Nelson Jr. showed to be one of the more dynamic guards with highly impressive footwork, ball skills, athleticism and ability to score the ball from all three levels.
What we can expect from Nelson Jr. at TCU is him elevating his status as one of the more dynamic guards in the Big 12. His efficiency at Delaware wasn’t anything to rave about but with more weapons around him and any ounce of spacing, that should certainly improve.
Another thing to keep a close eye on with Nelson Jr. will be his playmaking. He is a talented passer with vision and coupled with his ability to create in isolations and ball-screens he can make a big jump in that area with a stronger supporting cast.
2022-23 Stats: 21.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 4.0 APG
Max Abmas was one of the biggest names to hit the portal after a stellar career at Oral Roberts where he became a March Madness star.
Abmas may be small but he is fast and has tons of range on his jumper.
What we can expect from Abmas this season with the Longhorns is being one of the top shooters in the Big 12 who can get downhill and create out of ball screens. His explosiveness as a shot-maker can make for some exciting basketball paired alongside Tyrese Hunter, one of the top transfers in the 2021-22 offseason.
However, one area to watch with him is adjustment to the size and length of high major basketball. In his two games against high major opponents last season, Abmas scored just 15 points total on 28 shot attempts to go with eight turnovers.
2022-23 Stats: 12.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.8 APG
Gonzaga won out a major recruiting battle with Arizona this offseason to reel in the top true point guard in the portal in Ryan Nembhard (the younger brother of former Gonzaga star Andrew Nembhard).
Ryan made his way to Gonzaga from Creighton where he showed he is one of the best floor generals in the country. He sets the table and elevates the play of those around him.
What we can expect from Nembhard this season is seeing him become one of the top point guards out west where he can flourish in his role inside Gonzaga’s high octane offensive system.
He has the IQ and feel to run Gonzaga’s offense at the levels we became accustomed to under his brother.
2022-23 Stats: 19.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.5 APG
For the last two seasons, Tyler Burton has been among the best players in the mid-major ranks where he became a star for Richmond.
The 6-foot-7 small forward is a big time scorer and shot-maker having scored more than 1,600 points so far in his collegiate career.
What we can expect from Burton is becoming a reliable and valuable piece to a Villanova program looking to rebound in Year 2 under Kyle Neptune. He is a terrific compliment alongside Justin Moore and TJ Bamba where he can stretch the floor, give the weapons around him spacing, drill shots from three and can take over the scoring lead on any given night.
2022-23 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.9 APG
Javian McCollum is another rising mid-major star that you may not have heard of. He’s a 6-foot-2 guard that has built a track record of being a high level bucket getter and playmaker that will make for a dynamic duo alongside Milos Uzan.
McCollum is wired to get buckets and is a problem for the defense when he is presented with a ball-screen. He creates off the dribble, makes shots with range and can see the floor and find his teammates as he draws attention.
What we can expect from McCollum is him proving to be a dynamic scorer on and off the ball for Oklahoma, first and foremost. His jumper and ability to create off the dribble are fun to watch but he can take it up a notch if he expands his playmaking with a stronger cast around him at Oklahoma than he had in seasons prior.
2022-23 Stats: 13.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG
Brandon Murray is entering his third season and is on his third team, meaning he may not be eligible to play this year.
He still hasn’t received a waiver ruling on whether he will or will not be eligible this season.
If he is eligible this season, we can expect him to return back to the promising player he was at LSU before going to a disastrous situation at Georgetown for his sophomore season.
At LSU, Murray was an impactful two-way freshman who could score from all three levels, distribute and defend in the SEC.
If he’s eligible this year, we can expect him to return back to his old ways by using his big-bodied frame with explosive athleticism and impressive instincts to impact the game as a scorer, playmaker and defender under Chris Beard and potentially play his way back onto draft boards.
2022-23 Stats: 20.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 APG
Another player you may be unfamiliar with is Dalton Knecht, a 6-foot-6 small forward transferring to Tennessee out of Northern Colorado.
It’s a big jump from the Big Sky to the SEC, but what Knecht showed in his time there should translate well for the Volunteers.
What we can expect from Knecht this season is scoring and, more particularly, his shooting.
Knecht is a high-level shooter both off the catch, able to create off the dribble and hit tough jumpers.
While creating off the dribble won’t be as demanded and required of him at Tennessee, he will have it in his back-pocket while he focuses on pouring in shots from deep and attacking closeouts.
2022-23 Stats: 23.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.3 APG
Rick Pitino is back in the high major ranks and he came back with a ‘boom’ with the splashes he made in the transfer portal.
St. John’s will make their comeback from irrelevancy this season and a big piece of that will come from Jordan Dingle, the top scorer in the portal this offseason.
Dingle isn’t the best of athlete but he has a knack for putting the ball in the hole and we have seen Pitino have success with guys like him.
Dingle is a big time shooter from three and we can expect him to continue pouring in shots from deep and putting points on the board for the Red Storm.
2022-23 Stats: 2.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.6 BPG
Ernest Udeh Jr. came off the bench for Kansas after exiting high school as a McDonald’s All American.
It was known that he would need time to develop, but he has all of the tools and talent to be an impactful big man at the high-major level. While he still may need some time to continue adjusting to the college game and polishing his skillset, he has time on his side since he is just a sophomore.
What we can expect from Udeh is seeing him continue to grow and learn to use his body and athleticism to his advantage in a program that values toughness and physicality at TCU. This will allow him to impact the game as a post defender, rebounder, screener and finisher around the rim.
2022-23 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.8 APG
It was an eventful offseason for Caleb Love who entered the portal and initially committed to Michigan before having to reenter the transfer market and making his way to Arizona.
Love’s time and career with the Tar Heels was exhilarating sometimes. At other times, it was brutal to watch.
Historically, we have never known what to truly expect out of Love except for a bad shot selection. However, the real question was always whether the shots would go in or not.
Word out of the preseason is we can expect an improved and more efficient Love at Arizona and his fit alongside more ballhandlers isn’t a surprise.
However, we have learned not to hold our breath when it comes to Love. But that is part of the excitement with him. Watching Love is an experience. It’s usually best to not go in to said experience with any expectations at all.
2022-23 Stats: 11.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 2.9 BPB
Unfortunately for Wes Miller and Cincinnati fans, there is nothing to expect out of Aziz Bandaogo this season.
The two-time transfer was denied his immediate eligibility waiver this season. So, the Bearcats will miss out of his defensive presence and outstanding ability to protect the rim.
2022-23 Stats: 12.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.8 APG
It’s another new era for Penn State after Micah Shrewsberry headed to Notre Dame and the program brought in Mike Rhoades from VCU.
Coming with him from VCU is his star guard Ace Baldwin Jr. — a 6-foot-1 point guard with an unorthodox style.
What we can expect from Baldwin is basically exactly what we saw from him at VCU. That’s an aggressive, herky-jerky style that fits perfectly with Rhoades. He can score from all three levels, he finds ways to get to his spots, somehow always gets to his left hand and elevates the play of those around him.
2022-23 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG
Jerome Tang and the Kansas State Wildcats had a heck of a first year in Manhattan. They have now brought in some valuable pieces for Year 2.
Arthur Kaluma was among the biggest names to hit the portal last offseason and is looking to take his game to the next level at Kansas State. Kaluma made his way to K-State from Creighton. What we can expect from him this season is his versatility on offense and his ability to rebound the basketball.
The areas to watch will be if Tang and company have developed his jumper and defense. If so, then he will be a weapon for Kansas State.
2022-23 Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 APG
It was an ordinary offseason for Eric Musselman who went into the portal and reeled in some of the best who were looking for a new home.
Among the best in the portal is Khalif Battle who has proven to be a very talented and gifted scorer. Battle can fill it up from all three levels and that’s exactly what we can expect out of him at Arkansas.
However, there could be a learning curve for Battle as his habits and tendencies to be a last resort passer and settle for highly difficult jumpers hasn’t translated to winning. If Battle adjusts and adapts, then he can become one of the best guards in the SEC this season.
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