Oregon Ducks Have One Glaring Need in the Transfer Portal

A team can go only as far as how reliable their primary ball-handler is, and right now, Oregon doesn't have anyone filling that specific role. No one will be able to replace what junior point guard Jackson Shelstad accomplished in his first two full healthy seasons in Eugene, Oregon, now on his way to join coach Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals in Louisville, Kentucky.

With the majority of the top names in the portal already picked up, here are some available lead guards that have proven their worth within the power conferences and are ready for a larger role in the Pacific Northwest.

• Oklahoma State Cowboys junior Jaylen Curry
• Northwestern Wildcats junior Jayden Reid
• Georgetown Hoyas junior Malik Mack

One Key Transfer Target Comes Off the Board

While he's more of an on-ball scoring guard, San Jose State Spartans Colby Garland can still dish it out at a consistent level. At 6-0 and 190 pounds, the undersized guard averaged 20.3 points on a 49.0 field goal percentage, 4.6 assists/2.1 turnovers, and 3.3 rebounds per game on his way to being named to the All-Mountain West Conference Third Team.

Garland, previously spending time with the Longwood Lancers and Drake Bulldogs, visited Oregon's campus on April 19, but he committed to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets over the Ducks on Tuesday, April 21.

As a result, Altman and his staff will have to look elsewhere.

Oregon's Recent Official Visits

Oregon's frontcourt took a hit with center Nate Bittle losing his college eligibility and senior forward Kwame Evans Jr. moving on to coach Kevin Willard and the Villanova Wildcats. Luckily, the coaching staff found some inspiring replacements at the three and four spot quickly who have potential.

They do continue to look for a seven-footer with a defensive upside, a position that has a dwindling availability in the portal.

This past weekend, on April 18, College of Charleston Cougars 7-0 center Chol Machot took his official visit with the Ducks alongside Alabama Crimson Tide 6-10 junior forward/center Taylor Bol Bowen. It almost seems like a competition for the first of the two to commit to Altman's squad, with the winner receiving the starting spot down low.

Machot was rewarded the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year after swatting away 2.5 blocks in just 19.2 minutes per 32 appearances this past season.

What separates Bol Bowen's game from Machot's is his ability to stretch out the floor, shooting 37.2 percent from deep on nearly 200 attempts, dating back to his first two seasons with the Florida State Seminoles.

2026 Transfer Portal, High School Recruiting Class

The Ducks lost nine players from the 2025-26 roster to the transfer portal. Here is where the 2026 haul currently stands with four commits, including Kentucky's Johnson.

• San Diego Aztecs sophomore power forward Pharoah Compton
• Boise State Broncos junior wing/power forward Andrew Meadow
• San Francisco Dons sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV

On3 has that group ranked No. 61 in all of college basketball, No. 16 in the Big Ten Conference. 247Sports has Oregon's transfer portal class ranked No. 26 overall and No. 4 in the conference.

As for the incoming 2026 high school class, On3 ranks Oregon's class No. 34 amongst all other programs and No. 9 in the Big Ten with three total recruits.

• Four-star small forward Tajh Ariza from Link Academy in Branson, Missouri
• Three-star small forward Kendre Harrison from Reidsville in Reidsville, North Carolina
• Three-star small forward Seven Spurlock from Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas

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