For a long time, tracking incoming transfers in the WCC felt like a formality, something you did in June before forgetting most of the names by November. That has changed. The rise of NIL, the collapse of regional recruiting hierarchies, and the rapid development of portal-savvy recruiting staffs have transformed the league into a more fluid and volatile ecosystem. Below, we highlight some of the most high-impact incoming transfers new to the WCC; players who may not carry national name recognition yet, but who bring skill, production, and play styles that will demand significant attention from the Zags scouting reports.
Adrian McIntyre (San Diego, G, 6’3”)
No incoming WCC transfer arrives with more raw scoring gravity than Adrian McIntyre, who averaged a nation-leading 27.9 points per game at Division II Westmont College, set the school’s all-time single-game scoring mark with a 51-point explosion, and graduated as the PacWest Conference’s all-time single-season scoring leader. In 2025–26, he’ll slot into a San Diego team that lost 17 players to the portal, offering immediate offensive dynamism for a team in full rebuild. McIntyre’s efficiency numbers—56% shooting from the field, 16.2 points per game in the paint, and 105 assists across 27 games—signal far more than high-volume chucking; he plays through contact, draws doubles, and controls tempo. He also logged nearly 38 minutes per night last season, displaying a stamina and leadership profile that should translate quickly to the D-I level. Torero fans expect him to be their go-to scorer from the jump, but Zag fans should pay attention too, McIntyre’s combination of craft, confidence, and elite-level usage makes him one of the most dangerous new guards in the conference. His arrival in the WCC raises the league’s scoring ceiling and gives San Diego something they’ve lacked since the golden Isaiah Pineiro days: a singular, system-bending offensive star.
Nakyel Shelton (LMU, G, 6’4”)
After torching the Ohio Valley Conference for 17.0 points per game and finishing his senior season with a 38-point eruption on ESPNU, Shelton comes to LMU as a certified bucket with veteran on-court status. The Lions are betting that his blend of scoring gravity and athletic floor balance will elevate them from middle-tier volatility to real contention. For Gonzaga, he presents a matchup dilemma: too strong to be bullied, too slippery to stay in front, and too seasoned to get rattled. Shelton doesn’t just fill a hole in LMU’s roster—he could reshape their ceiling. Shelton’s arrival completes a retooled LMU backcourt that now includes Jalen Shelly, the long, slashing USC transfer, and Rodney Brown, a tough shot-maker from Virginia Tech. Together, the trio gives Stan Johnson his most versatile perimeter rotation yet—capable of switching defensively, sharing ball-handling duties, and punishing mismatches from every angle.
TJ Wainwright (Pacific, G, 6’3”)
There’s nothing subtle about what TJ Wainwright brings to the WCC: volume, confidence, and the kind of microwave scoring that can tilt a game in two possessions. After transferring in from Long Beach State, where he averaged 13.4 points per game and drilled 115 threes at a 40.7% clip, Wainwright gives Pacific a perimeter weapon with both range and rhythm. He scored 31 against Fullerton, 27 against Northridge, and torched Pepperdine for 26. At 6’3”, he’s more quick-trigger than combo guard, but his seven-assist performance at San Diego suggests he can orchestrate when needed. If Pacific finds any defensive footing under new leadership, Wainwright’s shot-making gives them the offensive credibility to punch up. He’s the kind of player who can turn an 11-point Gonzaga lead into a one-possession game in under a minute.
Toneari Lane (San Diego, G, 6’4”)
After three seasons lighting up scoreboards at Georgia State and Winthrop, Toneari Lane arrives in San Diego with over 1,100 career points and a well-earned reputation as one of the most efficient volume shooters in mid-major basketball. He knocked down 90 threes last season—second-most in the Sun Belt—and started all 33 games while averaging 13.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and playing over 35 minutes per night. Lane has logged 102 career games and shot 35% from deep across nearly 700 attempts, but what sets him apart is his consistency: 24 double-digit scoring games last year, including seven with 20 or more. He thrives in motion-heavy offenses and rarely turns the ball over, making him a natural fit in a Toreros backcourt built to stretch defenses and score in waves. Gonzaga fans will recognize the type: a high-usage shotmaker who plays with poise, punishes closeouts, and gives mid-tier WCC teams a legitimate guard capable of swinging a game. Lane isn’t a household name yet, but his production already reads like one.
Tanner Thomas (LMU, F, 6’7”)
There’s no flash in Tanner Thomas’ game, but there’s a ton of substance—real, grounded production that translates across systems. The 6’7” forward arrives at LMU as a graduate transfer after four years at Sacred Heart, where he closed out his career by leading the Pioneers in both scoring (14.5 PPG) and rebounding (6.1 RPG) while drilling nearly 38 percent of his threes on respectable volume. He earned All-MAAC Second Team honors, registered three double-doubles, and dropped 30 points in a January win over Siena. His 2024-25 campaign stood as the culmination of steady year-over-year growth, built on control, timing, and toughness in traffic. His rebounding instincts stem from positioning more than reach, and his frame, strong enough to hold on defense, lean enough to stay mobile, gives LMU a dependable two-way presence who won’t require heavy touches to generate value. Stan Johnson has emphasized versatility and maturity as the hallmarks of this year’s rebuild, and Thomas fits both: a plug-and-play frontcourt scorer who can stretch the floor, survive switches, and elevate the Lions’ baseline without needing the system bent in his favor.
Jalen Shelley (LMU, F, 6’7”)
Jalen Shelley arrives at LMU with the kind of résumé that rarely lands in the WCC without a detour through the high-major carousel. A top-50 national recruit, Link Academy standout, Texas state champion, and Peach Jam veteran, Shelley committed to Arkansas before following Eric Musselman to USC, where he played 22 games as a freshman in limited minutes. The box scores don’t capture his tools. At 6-foot-7 with long arms and natural feel, Shelley brings defensive versatility, smooth shooting mechanics, and the spatial intelligence to serve as both connector and pressure valve within a free-flowing offense. LMU’s system under Stan Johnson prizes movement, length, and decision-making, all areas where Shelley has flashed early promise. The addition also reflects the quiet success of Lorenzo Romar, who has made an immediate impact since joining LMU’s staff and has helped elevate the program’s reach in the portal. Gonzaga fans would do well to circle this one early, because Shelley has the makeup of a conference matchup problem waiting to happen.
Jorge Diaz Graham (OSU, F, 6’11”)
Jorge Diaz Graham gives Oregon State the rarest commodity in modern college basketball: a stretch big with real touch, real size, and real pedigree. A former IMG Academy standout who logged three seasons at Pitt alongside his twin, Guillermo, Diaz Graham emerged from the ACC with a quietly dangerous résumé, hitting 47.6 percent from deep last year and showcasing the passing feel and movement skills that make him far more than a standstill shooter. Injuries may have delayed his rise, but his floor-spacing, high-IQ playmaking, and comfort switching defensively across positions suggest a player ready to stabilize and elevate. His international background, top-100 recruiting pedigree, and U20 Spain National Team selection add dimension to a Beaver roster in transition. Wayne Tinkle didn’t just fill a gap in the rotation—he may have landed the most skilled frontcourt shooter in the WCC.
Guillermo Diaz Graham (USF, F/C, 7’0”)
Guillermo Diaz Graham arrives at San Francisco with the same blend of skill, length, and international polish that made his twin brother a coveted addition elsewhere in the WCC, yet with a profile that leans even more toward interior versatility. At Pitt, the seven-footer carved out a role as a rim protector who could stretch the floor, block shots without fouling, and keep the ball moving in halfcourt sets. His length and vision allows him to function as both an anchor in the paint and a connector on the perimeter, a rare two-way fit for a frontcourt rotation. A product of IMG Academy and the Spanish youth national system, Diaz Graham brings the pedigree of high-level competition and the adaptability to plug into Chris Gerlufsen’s multi-look schemes. If his frame continues to fill out, USF may have secured one of the most matchup-proof bigs in the league.
Noah Amenhauser (OSU, C, 7’2”)
At 7-foot-2 and 270 pounds, Noah Amenhauser enters Oregon State with the size and experience necessary to immediately shift the dynamics of the Beavers’ frontcourt following the departure of Michael Rataj (and just about everyone else). He started 30 games last season at Coastal Carolina, averaging 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting nearly 56 percent from the field. His 26-point, 10-rebound showing against Georgia State stands out as the kind of performance that signals more than potential. He knows how to seal position under the basket, finish with either hand, and recover second-chance looks without drifting out of structure. Oregon State will pair him with Jorge Diaz Graham to form one of the tallest and most skilled interior tandems in the conference. For a program looking to rebuild through size, Amenhauser gives them a grounded, reliable center who can absorb volume and hold up against physicality. His game fits the WCC’s evolving identity, and his presence in the paint offers Oregon State a way to secure second-chance scoring opportunities on one end and clog the interior on the other.
