The 2025-26 college basketball season began on Monday, and among the staggering 2,631 players who entered the transfer portal this offseason, only a select few had an instant impact.
Below, we look at five teams that are already seeing dividends.
Auburn Tigers forwards Keyshawn Hall and KeShawn Murphy
Associated Press No. 20 Auburn, in its first game since Bruce Pearl’s retirement, was tested against Bethune-Cookman in an 81-79 win, but it unlocked the victory thanks to its front-court duo. Hall led the Tigers with 28 points, while Murphy provided a vital burst off the bench. He was 8-of-9 on his field goal attempts, finishing with 17 points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Auburn had to replace standout forward Johni Broome this offseason, and Hall and Murphy showed the team has the depth to make his departure less painful.
Connecticut Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr.
No. 4 UConn handled New Haven with ease, winning 79-55. Despite only playing 20 minutes, Demary, who transferred from Georgia, had 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. The 6-foot-4 junior wasn’t asked to do much, but after starting 69 of 70 games as a freshman and sophomore at Georgia, it was promising that head coach Dan Hurley could plug him into the starting lineup and get immediate results.
Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr., guard Elliot Cadeau, center Aday Mara
Last year as a freshman at Illinois, Johnson averaged 7.6 points per game; he had 20 points (while shooting 8-of-10) in his first half for the Wolverines, who convincingly defeated Oakland, 121-78. The lengthy 6-foot-9 forward showcased his handles early, taking the ball from his backcourt all the way to the rim for a layup and an 8-5 lead.
Minutes later, Morez, who finished with 24 points, put his defender in the spin cycle with an excellent move to get into the paint for another easy bucket.
