Almost every college basketball program uses the transfer portal in some way.
But this offseason, certain schools have really leaned into it.
So much so that over a third of all high-major programs, according to CBB Analytics, have added at least five new players this spring. There are ample reasons for those wholesale makeovers — new coaches, older rosters aging out, the occasional purge of under-performers — but now more than ever before, teams are importing entire new starting fives, sometimes in a matter of days.
And while that roster-building philosophy doesn’t necessarily correlate to success — to teams becoming national championship contenders, or even Top 25 fixtures — it’s notable how many schools embarked down the same path.
Enough that I’ve started referring to them by a broader nickname: Portal Avengers.
But of the 30 (and counting) high-major teams that have already added at least five transfers, there’s a smaller group that has truly swung for the fences. Not those who rounded out their rotation with mid-major darlings, but contenders that nabbed some of the best high-major players in the sport directly from their peers. Behold, six Portal Avengers (in alphabetical order) that are set to start at least four new players.
(All transfer rankings are per The Athletic’s top 100, and all statistics are as of last season.)
Indiana
Projected starting lineupG Markus Burton (No. 18): 18.5 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds at Notre DameG Bryce Lindsay (No. 80): 12.3 points, 2.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds at VillanovaG Jaeden Mustaf: 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists at Georgia TechF Aiden Sherrell (No. 20): 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks at AlabamaC Samet Yigitoglu (No. 51): 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks at SMU
For the second straight spring, Darian DeVries went heavy in the portal. But while last season’s transfer rebuild was mostly out of necessity in taking over for Mike Woodson, this year’s process was seemingly more intentional. In landing four top-80 transfers, DeVries chased proven high-major production over gambling on mid-major up-transfers.
Burton led the ACC in scoring in 2024-25 before injuries limited him to 10 games last season. At his best, the 5-foot-11 guard is one of the most potent scorers in the country, and he ideally won’t have to carry the same sky-high usage rate in Bloomington that he did in South Bend. Lindsay provides secondary scoring and shooting next to him in the backcourt, while Mustaf and Duke transfer Darren Harris bring much-needed length along the perimeter.
DeVries’ remade frontcourt is arguably the most impressive part of the rebuild, especially given IU’s struggles on the glass in his debut campaign. Sherrell was one of the most sought-after bigs in the country, who should pair excellently with Burton in the pick-and-roll while also giving DeVries the threat of a stretch-four. That perimeter spacing will be integral to getting the most out of Yigitoglu, too, a 7-2 throwback center who does all his damage in the low post.
Louisville
Projected starting lineupG Jackson Shelstad (No. 9): 15.6 points, 4.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds at OregonG Adrian Wooley: 8.7 points, 3.9 reboundsF Karter Knox (No. 89): 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds at ArkansasF Alvaro Folgueiras (No. 47): 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists at IowaF/C Flory Bidunga (No. 1): 13.3 points, 9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks at Kansas
Two top-10 transfers highlight Louisville’s portal haul, and while Bidunga is the biggest name, it’s actually Shelstad, who played 12 games last season due to a hand injury, who is one of my favorite fits in the country. So long as he’s healthy, his skill set is tailor-made for Pat Kelsey’s preferred pace-and-space offense, and his proven clutch scoring late in games should be impactful for a team with championship aspirations.
As for Bidunga, the 6-10 big man is one of the best returning defenders in the sport and gives the Cards the defensive centerpiece they’ve lacked. He’s an elite rim protector who can also switch to the perimeter, and who will help UL compete on the nights when its shots aren’t falling.
Knox and Folgueiras make sense on paper filling the gaps. Knox is a career 36.1 percent 3-point shooter who should have more open looks than ever under Kelsey. Folgueiras, who hit the game-winning shot against No. 1 Florida in the NCAA Tournament, is a creative passer who can space the floor, even if he’s an inconsistent shooting. Off the bench, Dayton transfer De’Shayne Montgomery gives Kelsey an older guard who can score, while 7-5 USC transfer Gabe Dynes is a big body, if nothing else.
Providence
Projected starting lineupG Malik Mack: 13.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3 rebounds at GeorgetownG Devin Vanterpool (No. 82): 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists at Florida AtlanticG/F Miles Byrd (No. 12): 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists at San Diego StateG/F Dink Pate: 16 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists at NBA G LeagueC Arrinten Page: 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds at Northwestern
Former USF coach Bryan Hodgson was one of the hottest candidates of this spring’s coaching carousel, choosing Providence in part because of the Friars’ resources — and he’s making the most of them.
Hodgson is prioritizing a strong defensive perimeter, a strength at USF last season. Landing Byrd was as strong a start as Hodgson could hope for. The former San Diego State star is more than capable of guarding multiple positions. (Offensively, Byrd was probably overextended as the Aztecs’ primary creator, but should thrive in more of a complementary role with the Friars.) Vanterpool is also an aggressive wing defender, to say nothing of his defensive rebounding chops.
Providence’s most interesting addition, though, and someone who isn’t a transfer in the truest sense, is Pate. The former top-50 recruit in the 2023 class, who Hodgson recruited while on Nate Oats’ staff at Alabama, shot 36.9 percent from 3 last season, his third in the G League. Pate is more of a perimeter-oriented wing than true power forward, but he’s a high-upside swing. Add backups Ryan Sabol (Buffalo) and Samson Aletan (Yale), and the Friars could be a top-four Big East team.
Tennessee
Projected starting lineupG Terrence Hill Jr. (No. 14): 15 points, 2.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds at VCUG/F Tyler Lundblade (No. 23): 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds at BelmontG/F Juke Harris (No. 2): 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds at Wake ForestF Jalen Haralson (No. 30): 16.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.6 assists at Notre DameF/C Miles Rubin: 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks at Loyola Chicago
After landing Harris on Monday, Rick Barnes has five top-75 transfers incoming, four of whom should start for a completely revamped Vols team. (Former Cal guard Dai Dai Ames, who averaged 16.9 points last season, will likely wind up as a super sixth man.) Not only is this the most roster turnover Barnes has had at Tennessee, but the players he’s added represent a clear offensive shift. After years of dominating the glass — the Vols have finished top-75 nationally in offensive rebounding rate for six straight seasons, per KenPom — Barnes has pivoted from a mauling frontcourt, instead building out an offensive-minded perimeter.
That starts in the backcourt with Hill, Ames and Lundblade, with all shooting above 37 percent from 3 this season. That’ll be a welcome change for a program that’s been above 35 percent from deep once in the last seven years. Hill, who scored 34 points and canned seven 3s against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, might be the most lethal of that trio.
Instead of trying the NBA, Juke Harris chose to return to college — at Tennessee. (Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
Harris is a consensus top-five transfer addition who might’ve been a first-round NBA selection had he stayed in the draft. Harris has already proven he can average 20-plus points a game at the high-major level, but he probably won’t need to at Tennessee, given the talent and shooting around him. With Harris and Haralson — a former five-star recruit who was productive on a bad Notre Dame team — on the wing, Barnes will still have the length and versatility he loves defensively.
The frontcourt won’t be a focal point, but in Rubin, who was top-25 nationally in block rate last season, per KenPom, and 6-foot-9 Kennesaw State transfer Braeden Lue, Barnes has two complements to top returner DeWayne Brown II.
Texas
Projected starting lineupG Isaiah Johnson (No. 15): 16.9 points, 3 assists, 2.9 rebounds at ColoradoG Mikey Lewis (No. 64): 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists at Saint Mary’sF Elyjah Freeman (No. 68): 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds at AuburnF David Punch (No. 7): 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.9 blocks at TCUC Matas Vokietaitis: 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds
The single biggest transfer portal winner might be Sean Miller. Not only did he add two top-15 portal players in Johnson and Punch, but the overall collection of talent he’s assembled will make it difficult for opposing defenses to load up on any one player. As a result, the Longhorns — fresh off a surprise Sweet 16 run — should be among the SEC favorites.
Punch and the 7-foot Vokietaitis form a physical frontcourt. Punch is 245 pounds but moves like someone much lighter, as capable of defending on the perimeter as guarding the rim. Offensively, he gets out in transition, grabs his own misses — and the few times he does get downhill, he’s a load to stop. It’s going to take a Herculean effort for opposing frontcourts to score against UT, especially including the 6-foot-8 Freeman, who should again be one of the SEC’s better perimeter defenders.
If there’s a vulnerability on this Texas roster, it’s the lack of a true setup man. Johnson is the more likely to fill that role. But Johnson and Lewis are competent shooters with the versatility to play alongside Texas’ best incoming high-schooler, top-20 guard Austin Goosby. Tennessee transfer Amari Evans should also figure into the backcourt mix.
Vanderbilt
Projected starting lineupG Tyler Tanner: 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 stealsG Ace Glass (No. 92): 16.4 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists at Washington StateG T.O. Barrett: 8.6 points, 3 assists, 2.7 rebounds at MissouriF Berke Buyuktuncel (No. 84): 6.5 points, 5.6 rebounds at NebraskaF/C Bangot Dak: 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks at Colorado
The outlook for Vanderbilt’s season largely depends on whether Tanner — a fringe first-round NBA draft pick — returns for his junior season. But given the depth at point guard in this year’s class, it would behoove Tanner to return to Nashville for a third year, ball out, then take advantage of a weaker draft class next summer. For now, the industry assumption is that Tanner will return, where he’ll serve as the focal point of Mark Byington’s rebuild roster.
Glass steps in as another capable on-ball guard and should continue to thrive in the pick-and-roll. He and Tanner should form one of the SEC’s more potent guard duos, with both capable of going off any given night. Beside them, Barrett is a complementary do-it-all guard who averaged 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game once he moved into Mizzou’s starting lineup in late January. Those three should coexist well in Byington’s system emphasizing ball movement with multiple handlers.
The frontcourt is more up in the air, but among Buyuktuncel, Dak and Auburn transfer Sebastian Williams-Adams, Byington has more formidable options inside than last season, when the Commodores were the sixth-shortest high-major team, per KenPom. Buyuktuncel was a linchpin of Nebraska’s no-middle defense, and his combination of ball movement and screening offensively fits well. Add in Dak — Byington’s first 7-footer — and the versatile Williams-Adams, and the frontcourt should be stouter defensively.
