The Michigan Wolverines proved it’s possible to build a national championship team almost entirely through the transfer portal. The Wolverines pulled in the top portal haul in America a year ago, and then went out and drilled almost every team on their path in March Madness to cut down the nets. Critics said Michigan “bought” its national title, but plenty of other power conference schools had the ability to bring in players like future NBA lottery pick Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, and Elliot Cadeau — they just lacked the vision.
It takes the right mix of roster retention and portal additions to truly build a great roster. There’s already an elite tier of contenders who are doing their best work by keeping top players on campus, including possible preseason No. 1 Illinois and the 2025 national champion Florida Gators. The teams on this list won’t have quite as much continuity on their side, but they’ll be happy to take more talent.
For everyone else, hope springs eternal in the offseason with the right portal grabs. Let’s rank the teams with the best transfer portal classes so far.
Additions: Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Arrinten Page (Northwestern), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Samson Aletan (Yale), Ryan Sabol (Buffalo)
Providence fired Kim English, hired Bryan Hodgson away from South Florida, and immediately started putting together a big-time transfer portal class. Miles Byrd might be the best off-ball defender in the country, and he’ll generate so many turnovers for the Friars after committing from San Diego State. Arrinten Page picked Providence after stops at USC, Cincinnati, and Northwestern, where he turned in a very solid junior year as a shot blocker, rebounder, and efficient interior scorer. Devin Vanterpool is a potential 3-and-D guard coming over after two years at FAU, while rising sophomore guard Gavin Hightower follows Hodgson from South Florida and should provide playmaking and pesky defense. Providence lost a ton of talent in the portal, too, but it’s clear last season’s mix wasn’t working, and this haul should make fans optimistic for the future under Hodgson.
Additions: Bryson Tiller (Kansas), Jamier Jones (Providence), Jaylen Carey (Tennessee)
Mizzou has made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances under Dennis Gates, and they’re trying to make their first real run. The Tigers already had two McDonald’s All-Americans coming in with guard Jason Crowe and forward Toni Bryant, and now they’ve added even more talent to the front court with a nice trio of transfer portal additions. Jamier Jones was a coveted recruit who had a promising freshman season at Providence a year ago, showing off efficient scoring instincts and an ability to bully his way to the foul line. Bryson Tiller was another big-time recruit who played well as a freshman at Kansas, providing interior scoring, defensive rebounding, and shot-blocking as a 6’10 four man. Jaylen Carey will generate extra possessions as a monster rebounder coming over from Tennessee. Mizzou lost some big pieces in the portal too, including guard Anthony Robinson II to Florida State, but this feels like one of the more intriguing rosters in college hoops next season.
Additions: JaQuan Johnson (Bradley), Tre Singleton (Northwestern), Taj Manning (Kansas State), Leon Bond III (Northern Iowa), Ryan Prather Jr. (Robert Morris)
Iowa State is as consistent as it gets under TJ Otzelberger with five straight tournament appearances including three Sweet 16 trips. Doing it again will be a challenge after losing so much talent — including stars Joshua Jefferson to graduation and Milan Momcilovic to the transfer portal — but their own portal haul gives them a chance. JaQuan Johnson was one of the best mid-major players available as a tiny point guard who nonetheless hounds the ball defensively while splashing threes and getting teammates involved as a passer without turning the ball over. Northwestern transfer Tre Singleton feels primed for a sophomore leap after showing off 70 percent rim finishing, solid defensive rebounding, and some outside shooting potential. K-State transfer Taj Manning will add offensive rebounding and toughness inside, while Ryan Prather hits shots and gets teammates involved as a passer while suppressing turnovers. It’s hard to know exactly how good Iowa State is going to be after losing so many key players and coaching staff members, but they definitely rebounded well in the portal.
Additions: Somto Cyril (Georgia), Acaden Lewis (Villanova), DeSean Goode (Robert Morris)
Head coach Jai Lucas had an excellent debut season at Miami, and he’s building an even stronger roster for next season. Somto Cyril is a physical freak in the middle, combining a 7’7 wingspan with a 260-pound frame and jarring athletic traits. Cyril was good at Georgia last season, but he can be even better at Miami with the pieces around him. Acaden Lewis flew under the radar in a deep freshman class, but he was one of the better first-year point guards in America at Villanova. He’ll have plenty of weapons around him at Miami, and should be finding Cyril for rim assists early and often. DeSean Goode comes over from Robert Morris after winning Horizon League Player of the Year, and should be another solid piece of front court depth. Retaining Shelton Henderson for his sophomore year was a critical move, and the burly scoring forward could be downright scary if he improves his shooting touch. I also like incoming McDonald’s All-American Caleb Gaskins as a man-child forward who is actually young for his class, and should immediately be down to do the dirty work. Miami is going to be long and athletic and tough. That’s a winning combination.
Additions: Najai Hines (Seton Hall), Nik Khamenia (Duke)
UConn doesn’t rebuild, they reload. After three Final Four appearances and two national championships in the last four years, the Huskies are again looking like one of the top teams in the country by augmenting their talented core with two huge portal additions. Najai Hines was one of the most productive freshman bigs in the country on a per-minute basis, and he should fill Tarris Reed’s shoes wonderfully as a 265-pound tank with a high motor on both ends. Nik Khamenia was pretty disappointing for Duke as a freshman, but he has talent as a former five-star recruit who brings a connective skill set, some defensive physicality, and hopefully an improved shooting stroke to replace Alex Karaban in the lineup. The Huskies’ biggest addition was the guy they kept: Braylon Mullins felt like a lock to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, but instead he’s returning for his sophomore year with hopes of being a top-10 or top-5 pick in 2027. Getting back Silas Demary at point guard is a big addition, too. I won’t be shocked if UConn makes another Final Four run next season, but it’s going to be harder with top assistant Luke Murray now leading Boston College.
Additions: Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Aiden Sherrell (Alabama), Darren Harris (Duke), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech)
Darian DeVries missed the NCAA tournament in his first season as Indiana’s head coach, and the donors behind him are trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again in year two. Indiana added one of the better scoring guards available in Markus Burton, who was one of the country’s leading scorers as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending ankle injury as a junior. Burton will give the Hoosiers a high offensive floor every night with sharp playmaking instincts, too, and he also does well to get into the passing lanes defensively. Aiden Sherrell will be a welcome addition to the front court with his shot-blocking, offensive rebounding, and flashes of outside shooting after spending two years at Alabama. The wildcard of this group feels like Darren Harris, a former high four-star recruit who got lost in the shuffle at Duke last season, but should be a very good shooter with a solid frame. Samet Yigitoglu adds a 7’2 monster in the middle who proved he could block shots, hit the offensive glass, and finish plays inside last season at SMU. Indiana is going to be huge up front with one of the better shot-creating guards in the country in Burton. This team should be a shoo-in for the preseason top-25.
Additions: Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU), Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), Miles Rubin (Loyola-Chicago), Tyler Lundblade (Belmont), Dai Dai Ames (Cal)
Tennessee has made three straight Elite Eight trips, and the program is pushing hard for even more with head coach Rick Barnes about to turn 72 years old. The Vols have put together a tremendous portal haul that should finally deliver them more offensive firepower to go along with their always strong defense. Tennessee landed a walking bucket in Terrence Hill Jr., who hit one of the biggest shots of March Madness and will provide three-level scorer, solid playmaking, and turnover suppression. Jalen Haralson was a borderline five-star recruit when he arrived at Notre Dame last year, and the 6’7 wing will bring connective passing and the ability to get to the foul line while his outside jumper develops. Miles Rubin is a bouncy big man who will block shots and catch lobs, while fellow Chicago native Dai Dai Ames brings more shooting touch to Tennessee. Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade will open up the floor even more with his movement shooting. Tennessee’s offense is finally going to be dynamic after their great work in the portal.
Additions: David Punch (TCU), Elyjah Freeman (Auburn), Isaiah Johnson (Colorado), Amari Evans (Tennessee)
Texas was a bubble team that made a surprising Sweet 16 run this past season, and head coach Sean Miller immediately capitalized on that moment with a gigantic haul in the portal. David Punch will bolster the front court defense after coming over from TCU, where he showed excellent rebounding and advanced shot-blocking for a 6’7 power forward. Punch can also have troubles finishing at the rim, but he’s a really good mid-range scorer who can create his bucket when the offense breaks down. Former Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson was another major addition as an efficient volume scorer — 17 points per game on 63 percent true shooting — last season as a freshman. Johnson is quick and shifty off the bounce, and he finishes well at the rim (66 percent), ripped 37 percent of his threes, and got to the foul line at will. Elyjah Freeman is a long and athletic wing who was getting NBA looks at D2 before an up-and-down season at Auburn last year, but he has great physical tools and could take a bigger leap forward this season. Getting starting center Matas Vokietaitis back as good as landing a stud transfer, and McDonald’s All-American Austin Goosby should be an instant impact freshman. Texas is still waiting out the decision from Dailyn Swain, who should go to the NBA, but this team looks really good even without him.
Additions: Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas)
Flory Bidunga was the best player in the transfer portal, and Louisville beat out not just college basketball’s heavy hitters but also the NBA to land his commitment. While Bidunga is still testing the draft process, it feels like likely his money will be better in college next season, and that means he’ll be a Cardinal. Louisville didn’t stop there. Jackson Shelstad was expected to be one of the better guards in college basketball last season before a hand injury ended his season after only 12 games. His decision to leave Oregon for Louisville gives the Cardinals a guard who can knock down shots off the dribble, and also showed nice strides as a facilitator last season. Karter Knox comes over from Arkansas to give Pat Kelsey’s team a big wing who can hit spot-up threes and score in transition. Louisville also returned guard Adrian Wooley, who could take a leap in his second season playing high-major basketball after initially coming over from Kennesaw State. Bidunga’s bouncy rim protection and play-finishing should make him arguably the top big man in the sport next year, and that’s a great foundation for a team that should compete for the ACC championship and more.
