Andy Katz breaks down his top 10 transfers heading into the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season.
Here’s a closer look at players who are expected to make a big impact this year.
1. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (from UAB)
〽️✍️ Welcome to Ann Arbor! @Yaxel_Lendeborg is officially Maize & Blue#GoBlue x #NewBlue pic.twitter.com/xIkSTNXoHD
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) June 2, 2025
Lendeborg flirted with staying in the NBA draft but decided to return to college basketball, where he will have a major impact. He averaged 17 points and 11 boards for the Blazers. He’s a stat stuffer who will do all of that and more for the Wolverines.
2. PJ Haggerty, Kansas State (from Memphis)
Haggerty is on his fourth school in four years. He was an all-American at Memphis last season, leading the Tigers to the NCAA tournament after averaging 21.7 points a game. He will be the focal point with the Wildcats and gives them an NCAA tournament chance.
3. Donovan Dent, UCLA (from New Mexico)
Donovan Dent is a Bruin 🐻
UCLA officially announced the signing of the guard via transfer 🤝 pic.twitter.com/iqvi3TEJUN
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 1, 2025
Dent was the Mountain West Player of the Year after averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 assists. He led the Lobos to a league title and within a whisker of a Sweet 16. He could take the Bruins to the Final Four.
4. Darrion Williams, NC State (from Texas Tech)
Williams averaged 15 points a game for the Red Raiders and was a big-shot maker. He was one of the key pickups for new NC State coach Will Wade in his quest to get the Wolfpack back to the NCAA tournament.
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5. Boogie Fland, Florida (from Arkansas)
Fland averaged 13 points and 5 assists for John Calipari. He has a chance to duplicate that and more for Todd Golden and the reigning champion Gators.
6. Rob Wright, BYU (from Baylor)
Wright had a strong freshman season for the young Bears. Now, he’ll need to be the mature sophomore to help guide a loaded BYU squad to a deep NCAA tournament run.
7. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee (from Maryland)
Gillespie’s numbers climbed from Belmont to Maryland, and he should take another jump playing for Rick Barnes in Knoxville. He has a real shot to be one of the most impactful newcomers in the SEC.
8. Ian Jackson, St. John’s (from North Carolina)
The Red Storm get Jackson on the bounce back to his native New York. Jackson is ready to shine under Rick Pitino. He should be an all-around stat stuffer.
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9. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa (from Drake)
Stirtz jumped with Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and was the Missouri Valley Player of the Year. He’s taking another leap to the Big Ten where he should have a similar impact (just not player of the year!).
10. Ryan Conwell, Louisville (from Xavier)
Conwell is on his fourth school in four years, and this time he should really break out on an NCAA tournament team. The Cardinals will feature him alongside impact freshman Mikel Brown.
Andy Katz is an NCAA.com correspondent. Katz worked at ESPN for 18 years as a college basketball reporter, host and anchor. He’s covered every Final Four since 1992, and the sport since 1986 as a freshman at Wisconsin. He is a former president of the United States Basketball Writers Association. Katz can also be seen covering college basketball on Big Ten Network during the regular season. Follow him on Twitter at @theandykatz.
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