The Bag’s Secured: Biggest Winners from the Transfer Portal
- Evette Velasquez
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for college basketball. And the culprit is the almighty transfer portal. College basketball fans hate to see it coming. Will their favorite player return? Do they need to get another jersey? Will we be better next year? These were all questions fans were asking themselves, and social media receipts prove it. Fans everywhere prayed that their favorite player would stay and that their team would be all set for next season. While some players stayed, others turned the page and brought their talents elsewhere. From heartfelt goodbyes to bombshell announcements, here’s who walked away from the portal absolutely winning.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators pulled off a March Madness miracle and went from underdogs to champs. But this season they will look a little different. The Gators will be without their backcourt, Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin. The big three will be heading to the draft with hopes of joining the NBA. To soften the blow, the Gators have signed Xaivian Lee, a point guard from Princeton who averaged almost 17 points per game. Walking away from a Princeton education? That’s commitment, and shows that Lee’s all in on the Gators. Lee came to win and will be the Gators’ number-one option next season. Boogie Fland, a 5-star guard averaging 13.5 points per game from Arkansas, also committed to Florida. The Gators also added Ohio’s AJ Brown, the older brother of Isaiah Brown, who was a part of the Gators’ championship team. But that’s not all. The Gators’ frontcourt have all decided to return, which includes their four bigs, a crucial part of their championship run. This solidifies why Florida has the best frontcourt in the country. The Gators are hoping that history repeats itself and that they will go back-to-back again just like they did in '06 and '07.
St. John’s Red Storm
Last season was a major turning point for St. John’s basketball. They were named a No. 2 seed in the March Madness tournament for the first time in 25 years and had one of the best defenses in the country. Although St. John’s only made it to the second round, their run certainly put them on the map. While St. John’s defense was great; they struggled on the offensive end. It doesn’t help that their main offensive weapon, RJ Luis Jr. declared for the draft. But the Red Storm hope to give their offense a spark by adding Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Joson Sanon (Arizona State), and Oziyah Sellers (Stanford). They’re all strong shooters and can bring significant scoring to the team. The Red Storm also added two forwards, Dillon Mitchell from Cincinnati and Bryce Hopkins from Providence, which makes their frontcourt dangerous. With their new and improved offense and their outstanding defense, the future looks bright for the Red Storm.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky made it to the Sweet 16 despite multiple injuries last season, and now they’re back and better than ever. Although Kentucky is losing Koby Brea and Amari Williams to the draft, Otega Oweh will be returning. This is a huge sigh of relief for the Big Blue nation, as Oweh is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game. Kentucky was busy this off-season and reportedly had $12 million in NIL to spend. This landed them Jayden Quaintance, a forward from Arizona State. Quaintance is Kentucky’s most notable pick-up as he’s an elite shot-blocker, plays with edge, and scores like it’s second nature. Quaintance suffered an ACL tear in February, but Kentucky came prepared and added another forward, Mouhamed Dioubate, who was a problem at Alabama. Along with this, Denzel Aberdeen, a guard from Florida, shockingly entered the transfer portal and transferred to his SEC rival. This is great for Kentucky, as Aberdeen knows what it’s like to win a championship. Add in Jaland Lowe from Pitt and Kam Williams from Tulane, and this roster’s looking deep and dangerous. With all these fresh faces and big names, Kentucky is ready and a true contender for the national championship.
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan’s got its eyes set on a deeper run this season, and with their new transfer haul that might happen. Michigan lost star players Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf to the draft, but their new transfers make up for it. Yaxel Lendeborg transferred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and averaged 17.7 points last season. Lendeborg is an all-around player who can play multiple positions, making him a valuable asset to the team. Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois and Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina also joined Michigan and now their backcourt is dripping with talent. Aday Mara, a powerful center from UCLA, will also be a Wolverine. Mara brings the size that Michigan needs and is a force to be reckoned with. Michigan’s not just back, they’re a dark horse with Final Four energy.
Louisville Cardinals
Louisville had a great season and made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament. After a few rough seasons, the Cards caught fire, and it was all a result of their exceptional shooting. But now their most impactful shooters, Chucky Hepburn and Reyne Smith, are gone. Because of this, Louisville looked to the transfer portal and made their goals clear. Louisville added three outstanding shooters, including Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia), and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State). This trio is crazy good and were all top-ranked transfers. Every single one of them put up great numbers last season and lit it up from deep. That’s scary and exactly why Louisville has a promising future ahead.
This year the transfer portal did not disappoint. Plot twists? Drama? Shockers? We got it all. One thing for sure is that college hoops will look very different next season. Which transfer surprised you the most?
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