MBB: The 2025 Transfer Portal
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brevity
Member
Why did you move this post from a proper thread (NBA Draft) to an improper thread (Transfer Portal)?
Your Milos Uzan theory was in the context of Pop Isaacs flipping his Creighton transfer from Houston to Texas A&M. That was fine. My reply, which retroactively confirmed your theory, also discussed Mackenzie Mgbako's transfer. Also fine. But now we're talking about Alex Condon, whose only choices were returning to Florida or going pro, in the transfer portal? Make it stop!
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Well, all the conversation about draft withdrawals seemed to be happening here. I supposed I could have moved a dozen or so posts...
soflabluedevil
Member
Absolutely. Mara has been an underachiever at best thus far in college. He is no substitute for Wolf.
SkyBrickey
Member
Here are today's FD betting odds after the draft withdrawals. They've got a clear top triad in Houston, Purdue, Duke.
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brevity
Member
With RJ Luis and Jamir Watkins electing to stay in the draft, and Tyon Grant-Foster committed to Gonzaga, Desmond Claude is looking pretty good to teams still trying to make a splash in the portal. Not sure if UNC is still interested, but if they are, they'll have to get back in line.
SkyBrickey
Member
He will be very well paid this season. There's a lot to be said for being the last impact player available in the portal.
SkyBrickey
Member
SkyBrickey
Member
CBS with a new piece out on portal winners and losers. Two ACC teams featured.
Winner: Louisville adds artillery
"Louisville added an obscenely effective trio of 3-point shooters to replenish the artillery of a team that attempted a whopping 28.5 treys per game last season. Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) each ranked among the cycle's top-25 transfers after each hit 41% or better of their 3-point attempts on 5+ attempts. The Cardinals went 18-2 in the ACC during coach Pat Kelsey's first season and look ready for a strong encore following a fruitful portal cycle."
Loser: North Carolina lacks sizzle
"Given the hullabaloo made over North Carolina's hiring of respected NBA agent and UNC alum Jim Tanner for the role of general manager, you might've thought the Tar Heels' 2025-26 roster was going to be plated in gold. As of late May, it looks more like an incomplete puzzle. There's enough here to make UNC competitive, as additions like Jarin Stevenson (Alabama) and Henri Veesaar (North Carolina) will certainly improve the front court. But this season is about more than just being competitive for fifth-year coach Hubert Davis. Where are the obvious future all-ACC performers? Where are the assertive scorers who are ready to take the mantle from RJ Davis and Ian Jackson? It would behoove the Tar Heels to make a splash before the summer months end."
www.cbssports.com
Winner: Louisville adds artillery
"Louisville added an obscenely effective trio of 3-point shooters to replenish the artillery of a team that attempted a whopping 28.5 treys per game last season. Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) each ranked among the cycle's top-25 transfers after each hit 41% or better of their 3-point attempts on 5+ attempts. The Cardinals went 18-2 in the ACC during coach Pat Kelsey's first season and look ready for a strong encore following a fruitful portal cycle."
Loser: North Carolina lacks sizzle
"Given the hullabaloo made over North Carolina's hiring of respected NBA agent and UNC alum Jim Tanner for the role of general manager, you might've thought the Tar Heels' 2025-26 roster was going to be plated in gold. As of late May, it looks more like an incomplete puzzle. There's enough here to make UNC competitive, as additions like Jarin Stevenson (Alabama) and Henri Veesaar (North Carolina) will certainly improve the front court. But this season is about more than just being competitive for fifth-year coach Hubert Davis. Where are the obvious future all-ACC performers? Where are the assertive scorers who are ready to take the mantle from RJ Davis and Ian Jackson? It would behoove the Tar Heels to make a splash before the summer months end."
College basketball transfer portal winners and losers: Kentucky, Louisville thrive; North Carolina struggles
Here's the full breakdown of winners and losers from college basketball's 2025 transfer portal cycle
www.cbssports.com
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Here's UNC's big problem... the "splash" players are gone at this point. As others have noted, Des Claude appears to be the best player left in the portal right now. He's a nice player, but he didn't even make honorable mention All-Big Ten when the coaches voted. Claude is a poor outside shooter, which is something Carolina really needs.
I guess it is possible Tanner and UNC will bring over some 21+ year old European, but in terms of portal players and uncommitted high schoolers, the big splash just ain't there any more.
SkyBrickey
Member
Here's UNC's big problem... the "splash" players are gone at this point. As others have noted, Des Claude appears to be the best player left in the portal right now. He's a nice player, but he didn't even make honorable mention All-Big Ten when the coaches voted. Claude is a poor outside shooter, which is something Carolina really needs.
I guess it is possible Tanner and UNC will bring over some 21+ year old European, but in terms of portal players and uncommitted high schoolers, the big splash just ain't there any more.
IC thinks they are all-in on the 21 year-old Albanian wing and could have an announcement soon. He would be a good get and MIGHT plug the biggest hole on their roster.
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Albanian? Who is that?
I have heard some rumblings about Montenegran guard Luka Bogavac. He's a 6-5 sharpshooter who hit close to 40% from 3 and averaged better than 14 ppg in the Adriatic ABA league. He'd be a nice addition. Not completely sold that he would be the "splash" but he would help, for sure.
SkyBrickey
Member
Yeah, that's the guy. I was confused about the league he plays in. And yes, no idea how that level of completion compares to CBB. My guess is he'd be a nice player and probably their second or third leading scorer.
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Behind who? This is Carolina's problem. If Caleb Wilson is not a stud, they don't have a top tier player.
Duke79UNLV77
Member
SkyBrickey
Member
Yeah that's the question. I don't know who on that roster will score 14ppg+. Maybe Seth Trimble. He had some big games early in the year before his concussion. Maybe Caleb Wilson but he's not known for a polished offensive game. Maybe Veesaar.
CrazyNotCrazie
Member
LOL. My son has two friends who are Albanian so I just showed that video to him a few weeks ago. Which then segued into a discussion of Captain Lou Albano. Yes, I was one of those anti-intellectual Duke students Reynolds Price spoke about...
brevity
Member
CBS with a new piece out on portal winners and losers. Two ACC teams featured.
Winner: Louisville adds artillery
"Louisville added an obscenely effective trio of 3-point shooters to replenish the artillery of a team that attempted a whopping 28.5 treys per game last season. Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) each ranked among the cycle's top-25 transfers after each hit 41% or better of their 3-point attempts on 5+ attempts. The Cardinals went 18-2 in the ACC during coach Pat Kelsey's first season and look ready for a strong encore following a fruitful portal cycle."
Loser: North Carolina lacks sizzle
"Given the hullabaloo made over North Carolina's hiring of respected NBA agent and UNC alum Jim Tanner for the role of general manager, you might've thought the Tar Heels' 2025-26 roster was going to be plated in gold. As of late May, it looks more like an incomplete puzzle. There's enough here to make UNC competitive, as additions like Jarin Stevenson (Alabama) and Henri Veesaar (North Carolina) will certainly improve the front court. But this season is about more than just being competitive for fifth-year coach Hubert Davis. Where are the obvious future all-ACC performers? Where are the assertive scorers who are ready to take the mantle from RJ Davis and Ian Jackson? It would behoove the Tar Heels to make a splash before the summer months end."
College basketball transfer portal winners and losers: Kentucky, Louisville thrive; North Carolina struggles
Here's the full breakdown of winners and losers from college basketball's 2025 transfer portal cycle
Not trying to be contrarian, or too complimentary, but I think Louisville's portal moves are a little overrated, while UNC's transfer class is a little underrated.
After the transfer portal opened, the Cards brought in Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely, and Adrian Wooley within the first 2 weeks. Aggressive and impressive. But they seemingly stopped and shifted their focus on adding international freshmen instead. There may be budgetary reasons for why they did this, but I feel like they should have done more damage in the portal to rebuild their frontcourt.
The Heels, meanwhile, lapsed into a temporary state of competence. I've been extremely skeptical of transfer portal rankings -- never link to them, almost never look at them -- so it surprised me that they added players like Kyan Evans, Jonathan Powell, and Jaydon Young. They aren't world-beaters, but they're logical additions and are way better than the swing-and-a-miss prospects who won't come to Chapel Hill. Maybe these were lower-cost moves because UNC spends so much on Belichick damage control, but whatever the reason, the coaching staff seems to stumbled on the idea that roster construction requires a design plan. No thought went into last season's squad, but at least some thought went into the current one.
DonerKebab
Member
He is 22 years old it seems like and is not on any Euroleague teams radar. Maybe a diamond in the rough but good players in Europe end up on a top tier Euroleague team. That ADA league is not a good league. color me very skeptical.