25 transfers to keep an eye on for the 2024-25 college basketball season

On paper, at least, John Calipari did well for himself through the portal when it came to building his first team at Arkansas. The 6-foot-11 Aidoo built his way up to a dependable performer during his three seasons at Tennessee, where he averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 assists while starting all 36 games he played in 2023-24. Aidoo, however, has dealt with a preseason injury that leaves his actual Arkansas debut up in the air.

The bespectacled, 6-foot-10 Avila became an internet sensation last season for his look and stellar play while Indiana State went 32-7. Avila paced the Sycamores with 17.4 points per game (61 made 3-pointers), while also averaging 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists during his sensational sophomore season. Now, Avila hopes to continue that success at Saint Louis, where he will play for new coach Josh Schertz, who also coached the star forward at Indiana State.

Ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 to open the season, Indiana basketball is surrounded by hype and excitement. Ballo's arrival is a big reason why. The 7-footer began his college career at Gonzaga, then spent three seasons at Arizona, where totaled more than 1,200 points and 800 rebounds in 108 games. Last season, he was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and also earned all-conference defensive team honors. So, it's easy to understand why Hoosiers fans are excited.

After two seasons at Arizona, Boswell returns to his native Champaign, where he was a middle school basketball legend. As a sophomore for the Wildcats last season, Boswell averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 assists while starting 35-of-36 games. For the Illini, Boswell provides a proven ball-handler and potential floor leader. Plus, playing in the community where he grew up only incentivizes Boswell to successfully re-start his collegiate career and help keep Illinois in the national spotlight.

Claude might not be a household name to the casual college basketball fan, even though he was named Big East Most Improved Player while starring for Xavier last season. During that stellar sophomore campaign, Claude averaged 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34 games as a starter. At 6-6, 205 pounds, Claude is a physical guard with plenty of versatility. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against some even more rigorous competition of the new-look, expanded Big Ten.

After three seasons at Drake, DeVries is set to step up his competition level while potentially starring for the Mountaineers. During his time with the Bulldogs, the 6-7 DeVries totaled more than 1,800 points, 580 rebounds and 260 assists. Last season, the two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year ranked ninth in the country averaging 21.6 points. He was also the only Division I player to average at least 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals during the campaign.

The veteran guard is not only the star of the Razorbacks' transfer class, but perhaps the entire portal for 2024-25. After Davis averaged 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists in helping Florida Atlantic make an improbable run to the Final Four in 2022-23, he was even better last season. Davis was among the best scorers in the country in 2023-24, averaging 18.2 points and shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range, while also grabbing 6.3 boards and dishing out 2.9 assists per game for the Owls. 

When Dusty May left Florida Atlantic to take the head coaching job at Michigan, it was no real surprise that his former Owls big man joined him. The 7-1 Goldin started 106-of-107 games at FAU, helped the program reach its first Final Four in 2023 and averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks -- all career highs -- last season. That overall success, and Goldin's experience, should help potentially ease May's transition to the Big Ten and improve on the Wolverines' dismal 8-24 effort from 2023-24.

Kansas opens the season as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25, notably for returning talent in Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris Jr. However, coach Bill Self made some serious noise in the transfer portal, too. Griffen is the get of the Jayhawks' transfer haul, coming over from Alabama, where he averaged 11.2 points on 45.4-percent shooting from the field and 39.2 from beyond the 3-point arc last season. Griffen was bothered by a hip issue in the preseason but did record 14 points and five rebounds during Kansas' recent exhibition win over Washburn.

During his four seasons at Illinois, Hawkins flirted with leaving early for the pro ranks, but returned to the college game. And, did again for 2024-25, but at Kansas State. A solid inside-outside performer, the 6-10 Hawkins is coming off his best collegiate season, where he averaged career highs of 12.1 points, 45.1 shooting from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. All while helping the Illini reach the Elite Eight. Hawkins will be joined at KSU by another Big Ten transfer, ex-Michigan guard Dug McDaniel.

Johnson didn't move far to continue his college career, going from the south-central area of Los Angeles at USC to Westwood, where he'll try to help the Bruins return to the NCAA Tournament following last season's 16-17 disappointment. The talented wing isn't a lights-out scorer but adds another element of overall strength to UCLA's backcourt. During his third and final season at USC in 2023-24, Johnson averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals.

The Volunteers are banking that Lanier is ready for the big time after four seasons at North Florida. The last of which, in 2023-24, was one of the best individual performances in the nation. The talented, multi-purpose guard averaged career highs of 19.7 points on 51 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Of course, the step up in consistent competition could be a new world for Lanier, who is likely to begin his Tennessee career coming off the bench.

So, the rich got a little richer. The two-time reigning national champion Huskies are poised to again challenge for the national title with Alex Karaban back, stud freshman Liam McNeeley in the mix and the addition of Mahaney, who averaged 13.9 points in each of his two seasons at Saint Mary's , where he was among the best players in the West Coast Conference during that span. A career 37.5-percent shooter from distance, Mahaney was named to the Naismith Starting 5 -- Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List.

The sting of that 8-24 campaign from last season still resonates in Columbia. Oh yeah, Missouri also went 0-18 in the SEC. However, the Tigers feel they made a big enough splash via the portal to at least be more competitive this season. Former Duke Blue Devil Mitchell, a Kansas City native, leads a group that includes pesky guard Tony Perkins (Iowa) and sizzling scorer Marques Warrick (Northern Kentucky). The 6-9 Mitchell started 32-of-33 games in two seasons at Duke, and averaged 11.6 points, on 54-percent shooting, plus 5.9 rebounds in 2023-24. 

The first of two former ACC stars who have transferred their talents to Baylor for 2024-25. After two strong seasons at Arkansas State, the 6-7 Omier averaged 14.9 points (on 56.2 percent shooting from the field), 10.0 rebounds, and blocked 66 shots over the last two campaigns at Miami, Fla, where he also helped the Hurricanes reach a Final Four. With Baylor, Omier provides an intense post presence while being among the hardest-working players in the country.

Behind star Mark Sears and coming off a trip to the Final Four, the Crimson Tide begin this season ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25. Adding the 6-11 bruising post presence to the mix only solidified that ranking. Omoruyi comes to Alabama following a stellar four-year career at Rutgers, where during the last three seasons, he totaled 1,164 points, 842 rebounds and 205 blocks while starting all 98 games played. He also shot 55 percent during his time at Rutgers, and hopes to deliver more success with the national-title contending Tide.

For those college hoops fans unaware of Osobor, here's your introduction. The 6-8 Osobor hails from England, played his first two college seasons at Montana State, then averaged 17.7 points, on 57.7-percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals for Utah State in 2023-24, where he played for current first-year Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle. Now, he's ready for the big time -- or at least the Big Ten. Osobor might be under the brightest spotlight among all transfers this season, simply to see if he can build on that stellar season.

Ole Miss won 20 games last season, but still hasn't qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2019. The addition of Pedulla, however, has increased the excitement level around the program. After averaging 15.7 points, 4.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds over the past two seasons at Virginia Tech, Pedulla gives the Rebels a genuine floor leader with the ability to score and distribute at a high level. In fact, Pedulla's unselfishness for a pure scorer might be his biggest asset. 

Poplar was a valuable performer for Miami, Fla. the past three seasons. And, especially last season, when he averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his second full season as a starter. Now, the Philadelphia native returns to the area and will try to build on that performance at Villanova, where the Wildcats look to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out each of the last two seasons. To say there is pressure for Villanova to make things right again might be an understatement, but the addition of Poplar should help the cause.

The aforementioned Oumar Ballo isn't the only high-profiled transfer to now reside in Bloomington. Rice could provide Indiana the consistent scoring prowess it needs to seriously compete for a Big Ten title. In his first and only full season at Washington State from 2023-24, Rice averaged 14.8 points. Though he can be a little more accurate with his shooting touch, Rice showed his potential while scoring 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting during the Hoosiers' recent exhibition victory over Tennessee.

Playing for this third East Coast program, Richmond was among the top players in the 2024-25 transfer portal. After beginning his college career at Syracuse, the 6-6, 205-pound Richmond spent the next three seasons at Seton Hall, where he got better each year. Last season, Richmond, a bruting force at both ends of the floor, averaged career highs of 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals. That's why there is so much excitement for Red Storm fans entering this season.

One of the more interesting transfer moves this year was veteran guard Roach leaving Duke for Baylor. After all, Roach totaled nearly 1,500 points, and more than 400 assists, 300 rebounds and 100 steals, spanning 130 games over four seasons as a Blue Devil. And even with all that freshmen talent, Roach averaged 14 points and shot 46.8-percent from the field and 43 percent from 3 last season. At Baylor, however, Roach might again get the chance to be the go-to guard for a squad that's ranked eighth in the preseason AP Top 25.

Mark Pope made his first Kentucky team complete with a familiar face. Bringing the talented Robinson along with him from BYU seemed like a natural move. Yet, he's another intriguing transfer, considering it can be argued that Robinson never lived up to his full potential during four seasons at BYU. Though, Robinson averaged a career-high 14.2 points and made 81 3-pointers last season. Robinson, the only Kentucky player to receive preseason All-SEC honors, had 24 points and six rebounds during the Wildcats' exhibition win over Minnesota State.

The 6-7 swingman certainly brings some intrigue to the loaded Jayhawks this season. Storr averaged 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds while starting all 36 games he played for Wisconsin last season. Now, it will be interesting to see how Storr fits in with all the talent surrounding him at Kansas. Coach Bill Self has stated he's fine with the junior taking some time to find his place and role with his new team. Regardless, there is plenty of talent for Storr to shine this season.

Uzon started 56-of-64 games in two seasons at Oklahoma, and now hopes to replace the talented Jamal Shead at Houston. Uzan is a complete player, strong at both ends of the court, but doesn't put up gaudy numbers. Still, he should be a valuable asset for Kelvin Sampson's group, which starts the season ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25. However, Uzan dealt with a broken nose during the preseason, but should be ready to go when the Cougars tip off the 2024-25 campaign.