Sports
College Basketball Transfer Portal 2024: Top names to know as window opens – 247Sports
The college basketball transfer portal officially opened on Monday and will remain open for 45 days — closing on Wednesday, May 1st. It will be a long process with many twists and turns, but consider today the start of a critical period of roster construction for programs across the country.
Dating back to the start of the 2023-24 season, 122 players have already entered their names into the transfer portal. That will easily more than double on Monday.
For the last two weeks, the players that have entered the portal have been grad transfers and players on teams undergoing a coaching change. Grad transfers can enter the transfer portal at any time while the players on programs who have lost a head coach are immediately granted a 30-day window to enter the portal.
Last year, on the first day the transfer portal opened in 2023, more than 175 players entered the portal. That will likely increase this season due to some new significant rule changes to the process (read about those here).
There will be tons of names and numbers thrown at you today but here are the players you need to know about…
(Note: Some of the players below are expected to enter the transfer portal based on intel from 247Sports sources, while others have already entered the portal)
2023-24 Stats: 10.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.9 BPG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One year remaining
Rutgers has taken a massive blow in the portal as Cliff Omoruyi has officially entered.
He was rumored to be entering for over a month now and will now be the most coveted player on the market.
He has strong New York tri-state area ties so don’t be surprised if he ends up making a move that’s a short drive away.
Omoruyi is a monster defender, rim protector and rebounder.
2023-24 Stats: 5.9 PPG, 3.4 APR, 2.0 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One year remaining
A staple around the Arkansas program the last four season – Davonte ‘Devo’ Davis – is in the transfer portal and will finish his collegiate career at a new school.
Davis has been one of the top defenders in the SEC year after year with the Razorbacks.
With Arkansas, Davis has been the the Sweet Sixteen three times including one Elite Eight run in 2021.
On Wednesday, the Louisville Cardinals had two more players enter the transfer portal, bringing the total to five after Curtis Williams, Koron Davis and Kaleb Glenn all entered on Monday.
On Wednesday it was Louisville native JJ Traynor and Danilo Jovanovich.
The Cardinals have yet to make a hire and while we all anxiously await the news, the roster is flushing itself out and clearing the way for a complete rebuild for whoever takes the premier job.
2023-24 Stats: 15.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.0 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One year remaining
The portal got its biggest addition late on Tuesday night when Maxime Raynaud decided to put his name on the market. The seven-foot big man is a very skilled post with size who can step out on the perimeter and make shots from three.
He made his way to the United States from France and has consistently made jumps in his development, becoming one of the top big men in the country.
This is one that will have the heavy hitters calling.
The 2023-24 season didn’t go as planned for Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers so moves will be made in Bloomington for a strong 2024-25 campaign.
Indiana is expected to be very aggressive in building their roster in the portal but with that comes roster departures and the first dominoes have now fallen.
On Tuesday afternoon, two Hoosiers entered the portal: Kaleb Banks, a former four-star recruit, and Payton Sparks, a previous transfer out of Ball State.
A third will be joining them in the portal — CJ Gunn plans to enter, according to 247Sports sources.
Indiana is already hitting the portal grounds and more targets will emerge in the coming days and weeks.
2023-2024 Stats: 9.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.6 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two years remaining
Tarris Reed is the third transfer to hit the portal out of Michigan since the firing of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. Reed is a former four-star recruit who started in 31 of 32 games for the Wolverines this season.
The 6-foot-10, 2650-pound forward will be a hot name to follow for schools in the market for a big man who can score in the post and rebound their area at the high major level.
2023-24 Stats: 3.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.4 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two years remaining
From a college impact standpoint, Kijani Wright isn’t one of the impactful transfers to know but what’s most notable about Wright is that he was a 2022 McDonald’s All American, ranking as the No. 59 overall recruit in his class.
Wright is the second McDonald’s All-American to enter the portal while we await Stojakovic’s entrance. It’s likely that more ‘Burger Boys’ will continue to enter the portal over the next 44 days. While Wright’s career with the Trojans was disappointing, a change of scenery may be what he needs to flourish again.
2022-23 stats: 7.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Three years remaining
Former four-star recruit Rodney Rice entered the transfer portal on Monday.
He ranked as the No. 104 recruit in 2023 and played in just eight games at Virginia Tech before injuries set in.
Would keep a close eye on Rice returning home to his DMV roots as he is the first Crystal Ball recipient since the portal opened.
2023-24 Stats: 6.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.5 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One year remaining (Covid year)
Devin Askew is looking to finish his career at a new home. Askew spent his freshman season at Kentucky then transferred to Texas and then California. He now has a Covid year to expend.
Askew career hasn’t gone as projected but the former 247Sports four-star recruit was one of the biggest portal stories when the portal was exponentially gaining traction. He had his best season as a junior where he averaged 15.5 points for the Golden Bears but played in just six games this season.
2023-24 Stats: 7.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two years remaining
Keyon Menifield was one of the bigger transfers last off-season and now he is back in the portal. He made his way from Washington to Arkansas but the season didn’t go according to plan.
Menifield is a bucket-getting guard who was surrounded by other scorers at Arkansas. At UW, he averaged 10.0 points per game and 3.1 assists but saw his numbers dip as a sophomore.
He’s the third transfer to leave Arkansas today, joining Joseph Pinion and Denijay Harris.
2023-24 Stats: 16.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two years remaining
Michigan point guard Dug McDaniel is of the biggest names to enter the portal on Monday
A former four-star recruit, McDaniel is small in stature but he has lots of game. He has particularly expanded his ability as a three-level scorer.
McDaniel had a very tight relationship with Juwan Howard, which dates back many years. That was the deciding factor for him to go to Michigan in the first place.
Now, with Howard out, McDaniel is going back on the market and could find his way back home to one of the plethora of options surrounding his DMV roots.
2023-24 Stats: 7.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Three years remaining
Andrej Stojakovic, a former McDonald’s All-American and the son of Peja Stojakovic, will enter the portal, a source told 247Sports.
Stojakovic committed to Stanford over Texas, UCLA and Oregon out of high school.
After the firing of Kenny Payne, there is a complete overhaul on the way to Louisville once a hire is made.
So far, three players have hit the portal: Koron Davis, Kaleb Glenn, and Curtis Williams Jr.
Davis who was the center of some drama this year after the staff announced he would transfer.
Glenn, a Louisville native, and Williams Jr. are two former four-star recruits.
2023-24 Stats: 15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.1 APG (44.1% FGs, 37.4% from three)
Status: Expected to enter portal
Eligibility: One year remaining
Javon Small will be entering his name into the transfer portal, a source told 247Sports. The 6-foot-3 point guard made his way to Oklahoma State last off-season by route of the portal from East Carolina.
2023-24 Stats: 7.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG (57.2% FGs)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Three years remaining
Brandon Garrison is the first McDonald’s All-American to go portal-ing. The 6-foot-11 big man elected to transfer after the firing of Mike Boynton.
He’s a big, strong and athletic big man with a high motor and a developing offensive skillset. He committed to the Cowboys over Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Houston amongst others.
Update: Look for Garrison to stick close in proximity to his hometown of Oklahoma City (Okla.).
2023-24 Stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG (38.6% FGs, 32.0% from three)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Three seasons remaining
Kanaan Carlyle is the top player to announce his intentions to enter the portal this week, following the firing of Stanford head coach Jerod Haase. Carlyle is a former four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 59 overall recruit in the country.
He missed the first month of the season but came on strong in December and showed his ability to score that we saw for a long time in the high school ranks. Carlyle scored a career-high 31 points against Washington State on Jan. 18.
When he officially hits the portal, Carlyle will be a hot commodity. But there could be a draw for the Cardinal transfer to make a return closer to his Covington (Ga.) home.
He committed to Stanford over suitors Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Kansas and Tennessee.
2023-24 Stats: 12.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.8 BPG (51.7% FGs, 33.3% from three)
Status: Expected to enter the portal
Eligibility: One season remaining
Amari Williams hasn’t officially entered the portal yet. But when he does, the high majors will be calling.
Along with his intentions to enter the portal, Williams will also be undergoing the 2024 NBA Draft process. Williams will be among the best portal-ers due to his size and defensive impact.
The 6-foot-10 big man has won three straight CAA Defensive Player of the Year Awards and would make for a Power-5 starter if he doesn’t keep his name in the NBA Draft.
The southpaw is big, strong, instinctive and powerful athlete. But, he’s not the most offensively skilled. His impact as a defender, rebounder, screener and rim scorer will make him very valuable on the transfer market.
2023-24 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.9 APG (49.2% FGs, 42.6% from three)
Status: Expected to portal
Eligibility: One Year Remaining
After eight seasons, Saint Louis fired Travis Ford earlier this week, leading to many Billikens to hit the portal. Leading scorer, Sincere Parker, is paving the way.
Parker, a 6-foot-3 guard out of Rockford (Ill.), is a strong, tough and efficient shot-maker who does his damage mostly from mid-range and 3.
Parker made his way to Saint Louis out of the Junior College ranks and eclipsed the 30-point mark 3 times this season.
2023-24 Stats: 16.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.2 APG (48.8% FGs, 34.1% from three)
Status: Expected to enter the portal
Eligibility: Two Years Remaining
Belmont has proven to be a fertile location to mine transfers. It is once again true this season. The Bruins were hit hard with their top two scorers announcing their intentions to move on.
Malik Dia was second on the team in scoring in 2023-24 and has developed very well under the Belmont umbrella. He’s no stranger to the transfer process. He began his career at Vanderbilt and transferred just five minutes down the street to Belmont. Now, he’s on the move again and will have many high majors after him this time around.
Dia is a physically built and long forward who has a soft touch on his jumper, can put the ball on the deck and will drill spot shots from 3.
2023-24 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.2 APG (56.1% FGs, 38.7% from three)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two Years Remaining
Dia was the second Bruin to announce he was leaving. Their leading scorer, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, was the first to enter the portal.
The 6-foot-1 point guard had a tremendous sophomore season. He scored efficiently from all three levels and showed the ability to create for those around him.
The Tennessee-native flew under the radar in high school but that won’t be the case this time around. High majors will be very interested in the dynamic ball handler when he officially enters the portal this week.
2023-24 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.7 APG (42.5% FGs, 29.8% from three)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: Two Years Remaining
Don’t let the record fool you, Pepperdine was loaded with talent this season. None was more talented than Jevon Porter, a former four-star recruit.
He’s the younger brother of Michael Porter Jr. and there’s clearly something in that gene pool. Jevon is a 6-foot-11 big man with length, fluidity and skill. Porter makes for an impactful face-up four-man who still has the upside to continue tapping into as he gets stronger and learns to play more physically.
Jevon has all the talent and tools. If everything comes together, he could join his older brother in the NBA.
2023-24 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG (43.1% FGs, 41.5% from three)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One Year Remaining
Arguably the top 3-point shooter in the portal is Houston Mallette, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Pepperdine. His path up to this point has been eventful. He committed to Penn State before Pat Chambers was let go and then played three seasons for Pepperdine before Lorenzo Romar was fired.
He will have one year left to play and already has a long list of schools getting involved.
UPDATE: Mallette wasted no time in coming to a decision. He found a system that fit his style of play and quickly committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. His shot-making will be well-utilized in Tuscaloosa.
2023-24 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.9 APG (46.7% FGs, 47.0% from three)
Status: In the portal
Eligibility: One Year Remaining
Pepperdine found a gem out of the junior college ranks in Michael Ajayi who became the Waves’ leading scorer this season in his first year of Division I basketball.
Ajayi is a big, strong and versatile wing with a seven-foot wingspan who impacts the game in just about every way. He can slash, make shots, rebound and defend multiple positions. Ajayi has already heard from Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, Indiana, Portland State, Washington, Gonzaga, UCLA, Ole Miss and Arkansas amongst many others.
2023-24 Stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.7 APG (44.1% FGs, 37.3% from three)
Status: Expected to enter the portal
Eligibility: Two years remaining
Koren Johnson is the first Washington Husky to announce his intention to enter the transfer portal. This is early blow to the program.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in the Pac-12 this season. He’s a dynamic scorer who drilled 41 threes this season but can also create and score off the bounce.
© 2005-2024 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc.