EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThis is a rare season, in which an elite freshman class has overshadowed the transfers who've anchored some of the top teams in America. That's not to say this 2025-26 transfer class is a best supporting actor to the young guys, though. These players are stars too.Only a few teams that have been led by true freshmen in the one-and-done era have won national titles. The transfers, meanwhile, have dominated college basketball in the portal era. Just last season, Walter Clayton Jr. was the Most Outstanding Player in Florida's national title run, two years after transferring in from Iona. Tristen Newton (East Carolina) and Cam Spencer (Loyola Maryland, Rutgers) helped Dan Hurley win back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. Baylor won a national title in 2021 with a fleet of transfers.Could another transfer find similar success in this year's NCAA tournament? Stay tuned.1. Yaxel Lendeborg, MichiganDusty May is thankful everyday that Lendeborg withdrew his name from the NBA draft last spring. The future first-round pick's scoring numbers aren't as gaudy as those of some of the others on this list, but he is the most impactful player for one of the top-tier national championship contenders. The former UAB transfer can guard multiple positions, play in transition, create for others and has become more of a perimeter threat, already taking more 3s this season than he did the past two seasons combined. He is averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. -- Jeff Borzello2. Bennett Stirtz, IowaIt's no surprise Stirtz has translated seamlessly to the Big Ten. He was highly successful following Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake, and his scoring numbers are actually better in the Big Ten than they were in the Missouri Valley. The Hawkeyes' offensive system is catered to Stirtz's strengths, but his success is not just limited to usage: He's averaging 23.3 points and 3.7 assists in league play, shooting 39.3% from 3. -- Borzello3. Keyshawn Hall, AuburnIt remains unclear why the UCF transfer sat out a game in mid-February. What is clear is he's the only reason Auburn's NCAA tournament hopes haven't completely died yet this season. The 6-foot-7 forward has produced his best performances in the wins that have held Auburn's rsum together: 10 points, nine rebounds, seven assists vs. Kentucky; 31 points vs. Texas; 24 points at Florida; 32 points vs. Arkansas; 20 points vs. St. John's. -- Myron Medcalf4. Silas Demary Jr., UConnDemary has become one of the country's most complete players after a two-year stint at Georgia. Opposing players have shot just 29% from 3 against the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, per Synergy Sports data. And though his usage rate is up from a season ago, his efficiency hasn't suffered. He has connected on 43% of his 3-pointers and 79% of his free throws, all while leading the Big East in assist rate. -- Medcalf5. Pryce Sandfort, NebraskaSandfort is one of the Big Ten's best this season, after his scoring average jumped from 8.8 points in his final season at Iowa to 18.3 points in his first season at Nebraska -- a team that won its first 20 games. He's also one of the nation's top volume 3-point shooters (9.0 attempts per game, 40.3% clip). Only one other player takes and makes more 3s per game than the 6-foot-6 Cornhuskers standout. -- Medcalf6. Nick Boyd, WisconsinBoyd is having a massive breakout season as a fifth-year senior at his third school. He played key roles on successful Florida Atlantic and San Diego State teams but is averaging 20.2 points as Wisconsin's go-to guy this season. He has had a pair of 30-point games, and just fell short of a triple-double (27 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists) in a key win over Iowa in late February. He ranks in the top five in Big Ten play in scoring and in the top 10 in assists. -- Borzello7. Ja'Kobi Gillespie, TennesseeThe two-time transfer is putting up career-high numbers on offense, averaging 18.1 points and 5.4 assists -- to go with nearly two steals per game. He has more responsibility on the offensive end than he did at previous stops Belmont or Maryland, needing to carry the Volunteers' offense alongside Nate Ament. He had one of the best performances of his career last weekend against Alabama, finishing with 26 points, five rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. -- Borzello8. Robert Wright III, BYUWright left Baylor to be the maestro of a team that has fought through adversity without Richie Saunders, who is sidelined by a season-ending injury. The 6-1 point guard delivered his best stretch of the season in February, when he averaged 20.3 points and 3.8 assists. He also has made 43% of his 3s and 81% of his free throws, while committing turnovers on only 12% of possessions in Big 12 play, per KenPom. -- Medcalf9. Malik Reneau, MiamiReneau had established himself as one of the most efficient low-post scorers in the Big Ten during three seasons at Indiana but has expanded his game since transferring home to the Hurricanes. He's averaging career highs in scoring (19.6), rebounding (6.6) and field goal percentage (57.1%) while also making more 3s this season than he did during his three seasons in Bloomington combined. Reneau is a lock for first-team All-ACC. -- Borzello10. Ryan Conwell, LouisvilleMost of the storylines this season about Louisville have focused on Mikel Brown Jr. and the back issues that have cost the freshman nearly one-third of his season. They've overshadowed Conwell's performance, which has preserved Louisville's shot at a solid seed in the NCAA tournament. Throughout the season, the 6-4 star has scored 22 points or more in 10 games, and is in the top four in points, rebounds, steals and assists for the Cardinals. -- Medcalf11. Henri Veesaar, North CarolinaWith projected lottery pick Caleb Wilson nursing a hand injury, Veesaar has stepped up for the Tar Heels, who were on a three-game winning streak entering the week. During that stretch, the 7-footer averaged 19.0 points and shot 70% from inside the arc. He was always important to Hubert Davis' team, but with Wilson out indefinitely, he has kept the Tar Heels on the winning track. -- Medcalf12. Lamar Wilkerson, IndianaWilkerson was one of the most sought-after shooters in the portal last spring and he has lived up to those expectations. He has increased his scoring numbers despite jumping from Conference USA to the Big Ten, with several massive games: 44 points and 10 3s against Penn State, 32 points against Nebraska, 33 points at USC, 41 points and six 3s against Oregon. He's the league's top scorer in conference play, averaging 23.6 points. -- Borzello13. Morez Johnson Jr., MichiganJohnson started only eight games for Illinois last season but showed flashes of being a high-level rebounder and an efficient scorer in the post. He has taken the next step since moving to Ann Arbor, averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while also being an underrated and key contributor to one of the elite defenses in college basketball. Despite the Wolverines' balanced attack, Johnson has posted six double-doubles this season -- including an 18-point, 16-rebound effort against Washington. -- Borzello14. Chad Baker-Mazara, USCBaker-Mazara left Auburn after the Tigers' Final Four run and was having by far the best season of his career before parting ways with the Trojans ahead of their final two regular-season games. He averaged career bests in scoring (18.6), rebounding (4.4), assists (2.8), blocks (1.2) and 3-pointers made (2.4) while carrying the offense at times. USC greatly missed Baker-Mazara when he sat out three games last month because of a knee injury and is sure to miss him down the stretch with its NCAA tournament hopes hanging by a thread. -- Borzello15. Cameron Carr, BaylorThe transfer portal not only offers players fresh starts, it gives them a chance to achieve their dreams. Carr played only four games last season for Tennessee because of a thumb injury and then left the program midseason. At Baylor, the 6-5 guard is averaging 19.2 points and connecting on 38% of his 3s, a combination that has made him a projected first-round pick in June. -- Medcalf16. Aday Mara, MichiganThe third Michigan player on this list is one of the most imposing rim protectors in the country and anchors the back end of the Wolverines' elite defense. He's averaging 2.6 blocks in less than 23 minutes per game and is the primary reason Michigan ranks third in the country in 2-point defense and leads the nation in opponent's average 2-point distance at KenPom. Mara is also shooting nearly 67% from the field and averaging more than 11 points. -- Borzello17. P.J. Haggerty, Kansas StateA former second-team AP All-American who helped coach Penny Hardaway achieve his best record at Memphis last season, Haggerty didn't find the same success for a Kansas State team that parted ways with former head coach Jerome Tang. But his numbers this season remain comparable to -- if not better than -- those of last season. Averages of 23.3 points and 4.0 assists in 2025-26 are both career highs for the 6-3 guard, who is at his fourth school. -- Medcalf18. Izaiyah Nelson, South FloridaNelson is the best player on the best team in the American Conference, routinely posting double-doubles as player of the year favorite in the conference. He followed Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State to USF, but even Hodgson probably didn't predict Nelson's jump in production. He went from 10.6 points and 8.9 boards in the Sun Belt to 16.3 points and 9.9 rebounds this season, with 16 double-doubles and six 20-point, 10-rebound performances. -- Borzello19. Tre Donaldson, MiamiJai Lucas has done a fantastic job in Year 1 in Coral Gables, and at the heart of his roster construction was striking gold in the portal with Reneau and Donaldson. The latter was the starting point guard on a Michigan team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season, and has been even better at Miami. He's averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and recently scored 32 points in a win over Virginia Tech. -- Borzello20. Dailyn Swain, TexasTexas is fighting to stay in contention for an at-large berth in Sean Miller's first season in Austin. If the Longhorns get into the field, Swain (17.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.8 SPG), one of the nation's toughest matchups, will deserve some of the credit. The 6-8 wing has made 65% of his shots around the rim this season per Synergy Sports data, and has also connected on 37% of his 3-point attempts in SEC play. -- Medcalf21. MJ Collins Jr., Utah StateAveraging 17.8 points and 38% from 3, Collins is one-half of one of the top duos in the country, along with Mason Falslev. Anyone who watches a Utah State game can see his impact, and the analytics suggest he's exponentially important to this team. Per EvanMiya, the Aggies are 22.4 points per 100 possessions better, by far the largest individual mark on the team, with Collins on the court. -- Medcalf22. Melvin Council Jr., KansasBill Self has praised Council, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, for his impact on team chemistry and his positive attitude during a wild season for the Jayhawks. With Darryn Peterson's injuries and cramping creating uncertainty all season, Council has been the consistent leader, averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 assists. The 6-5 guard also has started every game, creating stability for the Jayhawks. -- Medcalf23. Jeremiah Wilkinson, GeorgiaMike White could reach the NCAA tournament for a second straight year after Wilkinson, a transfer from Cal, produced one of the SEC's top seasons. The 6-1 guard's raw numbers are impressive: 17.7 PPG, 78% from the free throw line. He has been a threat with his midrange game, playmaking ability and his impressive knack for getting to the free throw line. Those qualities have helped the Bulldogs stay in the hunt for an at-large berth. -- Medcalf24. Donovan Atwell, Texas TechIt took Atwell some time to emerge as a consistent offensive threat for Grant McCasland, scoring in double figures only five times in his first 12 games. But since Christmas, he has hit double figures in 16 of 17 games, averaging 14.8 points and shooting 48.7% from 3. He also has taken his game to a new level since JT Toppin's injury, scoring 26 against Kansas State and making 16 3s in his past three games entering the week. -- Borzello25. Duke Miles, VanderbiltMiles was tracking for an All-SEC campaign until a knee injury caused him to sit out six games in January and February. He then came off the bench for two games, although Mark Byington will hope he's back at full strength in time for the postseason. At his fourth school, he's having a tremendous season: 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals -- and establishing himself as a two-way catalyst alongside Tyler Tanner in the Vanderbilt backcourt. -- Borzello
