Rivals Roundtable: Transfer portal successes and failures

The college basketball offseason is in its day, but there is still no shortage of news to discuss. With the transfer portal continuing to move and the 2024 NBA Draft set to take place next month, this week’s roundtable builds on both topics.

Below, Rivals analysts Rob Cassidy It is Jason Jordan Explore the programs that are living (and dying) on ​​the portal, as well as who they consider to be the best college player in the upcoming draft.

MORE: Five Transfers Who Could Be Ready for Sophomore Seasons

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WHAT PROGRAMS WORK WITH ON THE TRANSFER PORTAL HAVE YOU MOST IMPRESSED WITH SO FAR?

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Cassidy: I’ll go with Indiana. Mike Woodson He desperately needs a bounce-back season in 2024 and he has quickly built the roster to achieve that. The Hoosiers’ new backcourt isn’t just talented, it’s proven, as transfers Miles Rice (Washington State) It is Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) combined to average 26.3 points and 6.5 assists per game in the Pac-12 last season. The two seem to complement each other very well, as their contrasting styles and attacking games do not create conflicts. The Hoosiers also landed one of the biggest names available in Arizona expatriate Oumar Ballowhich aroused the interest of North Caroline, Arkansas and others before choosing UI. Woodson’s squad looks like a group capable of finishing near the top of the Big Ten and is expected to do so. Otherwise, things will get complicated, to say the least.

Jordan: After they landed Zion James I will have to say Duke. I love the athleticism, length and utility they added Maliq Brown, Mason Gillis and James. Veterans who are proven tough leaders, who do everything on the court on both ends. Jon Scheyer understood the task and it was clearly to add guidance to his young stars. He more than achieved that. Great balance. Great depth.

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WHICH PROGRAM TRANSFER PORTAL FIGHTS ARE YOU MOST CONCERNED WITH RIGHT NOW?

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Cassidy: Let me start by saying that you never know how the pieces are going to fit together and how things are going to work out in the era of total roster rebuilds, but it’s fair to be concerned about Kansas StateThe portal fails. Head coach Jerome Tang and the company have struggled to capitalize on their Elite Eight run in 2022 and have already missed some priority targets this cycle despite having a solid NIL budget and recent success to point to. The transfer window is getting late, and the Wildcats still have a few open roster spots, even after recently filling one with junior college All-American Chimobi Ikegwurukawhich generated some mild and large interest before choosing the Wildcats.

K-State’s concern is not that the roster it has built will lead to some kind of Louisville-like a disaster. This will not happen. It’s more about how difficult it will be to guide this unproven group of players through a grueling Big 12 schedule and back to the NCAA Tournament in a year that appears absolutely vital from a public opinion standpoint for Tang. Back-to-back missed postseasons will make people in Manhattan groan loudly. Just ask Bruce Weber.

Jordan: Honestly, I will say North Caroline. The Tar Heels have hit and missed some of the top portal targets as they aim to strengthen the frontcourt next season. Ugonna Onyenso It’s still an option, but as it stands, he’s focused on the NBA Draft. Also, Vanderbilt transfer Ven Allen Lubin is scheduled to be on campus this week, a big potential given he scored 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season. Hubert Davis has done a great job of coming up with transfers, so it’s a little confusing at this point, but the Heels need to land one of their remaining targets for depth.

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IN YOUR EYES, WHO IS THE BEST COLLEGE PLAYER IN THIS YEAR’S NBA DRAFT?

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Cassidy: I wrote a little about this earlier this weekso I will double UConnin Stephen’s Castle here. In a league that so values ​​versatility, Castle is a tailor-made piece, as the Atlanta-born star is a two-way player, capable of defending multiple positions and playing multiple spots on the court. I’m also less concerned than some about his spotty 3-point shooting during his freshman season in Storrs, having seen him shoot much better during parts of his high school career. I, naively or not, believe that some of his shooting issues can be attributed to a small sample size, and if that’s the case, it’s difficult to bet against one of the most physically impressive and well-rounded prospects in the draft.

Jordan: Stay with UConn and I’ll take Donovan Clingan. At 7-foot-1, Cligan has consistently proven that he will be able to step in and contribute as a starter from day one in the NBA. His special blend of scoring, paint protection and overall physicality on both ends makes him the type of big who will have longevity in the league and be able to contribute in multiple ways.