The college basketball transfer portal opened April 7, 2026, and over 1,000 players have already entered. USA TODAY released its ranking of the top 50 available players.
For most college basketball teams, championships are now won in April, not March. With Michigan's 69-63 victory over UConn in the 2026 National Championship game still fresh, the transfer portal officially opened at midnight on April 7. The rush is on: more than 1,000 players have already entered, according to reports.
The shortened transfer portal window, running from April 7-21 for men's programs, is designed to prevent teams deep in the NCAA Tournament from being at a disadvantage. The previous 30-day window started after the tournament's first weekend. That meant teams still playing in March were already behind in roster construction for the following season.
Both Michigan and UConn leaned heavily on transfers this season. The Wolverines started five transfers, while UConn's best player, center Tarris Reed Jr., also arrived via the portal.
Transfer Portal Rankings: The Top 50
USA TODAY's initial ranking of the top 50 available players includes a mix of established players and high-potential recruits. The list:
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Juke Harris, Wake Forest
- John Blackwell, Wisconsin
- Paulius Murauskas, St. Mary’s
- Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
- Miles Byrd, San Diego State
- Isaiah Johnson, Colorado
- Aiden Sherrell, Alabama
- Somto Cyril, Georgia
- Acaden Lewis, Villanova
- Stefan Vaaks, Providence
- Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
- Bryson Tiller, Kansas
- Dedan Thomas Jr., LSU
- Mouhamed Sylla, Georgia Tech
- Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame
- Alex Wilkins, Furman
- Najai Hines, Seton Hall
- Jalen Haralson, Notre Dame
- Terrence Brown, Utah
- Jeremiah Wilkinson, Georgia
- Terrence Hill Jr., VCU
- JP Estrella, Tennessee
- Finley Bizjack, Butler
- Sananda Fru, Louisville
- Christian Hammond, Santa Clara
- Zoom Diallo, Washington
- KJ Lewis, Georgetown
- Karter Knox, Arkansas
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
- Matt Able, NC State
- Devin Royal, Ohio State
- DJ Wagner, Arkansas
- Wes Enis, USF
- Mouhamed Dioubate, Arkansas
- Jamier Jones, Providence
- Magoon Gwath, San Diego State
- Drew Scharnowski, Belmont
- Bishop Boswell, Tennessee
- Lejuan Watts, Texas Tech
- Tyrone Riley, San Francisco
- Rowan Brumbaugh, Tulane
- Derek Dixon, North Carolina
- Thomas Dowd, Troy
- Miles Rubin, Loyola-Chicago
- Freddie Dilione, Penn State
- Keanu Dawes, Utah
- Dai Dai Ames, Cal
- Leroy Blyden Jr., Toledo
Early Moves: Syracuse and Purdue Land Transfers
Siena's Gavin Doty is headed to Syracuse, following Gerry McNamara. The 6-foot-5 sophomore, who averaged 18 points and 6.9 rebounds this season, announced his decision via Instagram. Doty led Siena to the NCAA Tournament, scoring 21 points in their first-round loss to Duke.
Purdue has secured a commitment from Princeton forward Caden Pierce. Pierce, the 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year, redshirted this past season to complete his degree. He chose Purdue over UConn, Duke, Louisville, and Gonzaga. His scoring dipped from 16.6 points per game in 2023-24 to 11.2 points in 2024-25.
Sherrell and Tiller to Enter Portal
Alabama sophomore forward Aiden Sherrell intends to enter the transfer portal. The 6-foot-11 former five-star recruit averaged 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, while shooting 33.8% from three. Kansas redshirt freshman forward Bryson Tiller is also heading to the portal after averaging 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, starting 31 of 35 games. Tiller has three years of eligibility remaining.
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, ranked No. 3 overall by USA TODAY, will also enter the portal.
That Tiller, a starter on a Kansas team that likely expected to contend for the national title, is available underscores the short-term calculus now dominating college basketball. High-major programs will happily take a flier on a former five-star recruit, even if it means established starters seek opportunities elsewhere. The premium on potential outweighs proven production, at least until March.
The next two weeks will determine the shape of college basketball's 2026-27 season. Expect consistent movement, daily commitments, and a constant recalibration of power as rosters turn over at an unprecedented rate.
