JUST IN: Basketball transfer portal rankings: The ACC’s top ten transfers for the next campaign, ordered
The ACC ranked fifth for NCAA Tournament bids this postseason but led all conferences with four teams in the Sweet 16, marking the fifth consecutive Tournament in which the league led or shared the lead in regional semifinal berths. The ACC is set for another strong postseason in 2024-25, bolstered by the addition of top transfer portal talent, which has placed multiple ACC teams in the preseason top 25.
This offseason, ten of the top 100 transfer portal prospects joined the ACC, and we’re highlighting all 10 in this article. Duke, the only major college basketball team not to take a transfer last offseason, now leads all ACC teams with three top 100 transfers.
NC State and Louisville join Duke with top 25 portal classes, while Syracuse, SMU, and Miami have assembled strong classes featuring three four-star prospects each. North Carolina has secured just one transfer so far, but he is among the highest-rated commits in the conference.
Here are the top 10 transfers joining the ACC for the 2024-25 college basketball season, ranked:
Previous School: Purdue
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 95 OVR | No. 20 SF
Duke entered the transfer portal seeking experienced talent to complement its top-ranked high school recruiting class. Jon Scheyer and his team achieved this by bringing in Gillis, a five-year college veteran who recently played in a national championship game with Purdue. Although Gillis isn’t known for his scoring—averaging 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game last season and scoring no points in 24 minutes during the title game against UConn—he provides defensive versatility and can stretch the floor on offense, boasting a 46.8% three-point shooting percentage last season.
Previous School: Virginia Tech
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 85 OVR | No. 16 C
This marks Kidd’s second intra-conference transfer, having begun his career at Clemson before spending the past three seasons at Virginia Tech. Last year in Blacksburg, he had a breakout season, averaging 13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Kidd led the ACC and ranked fourth nationally with a field goal percentage of 66.8%. At 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, he brings essential size to a Miami frontcourt that lost three big men, including star power forward Norchad Omier, to the transfer portal.
Previous School: Iowa State
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 82 OVR | No. 11 PF
Biliew, a former McDonald’s All-American, would have been the second-highest-rated recruit in Wake Forest history, just behind Chris Paul, if he had committed to the Demon Deacons out of high school. Instead, he joins Wake Forest after a challenging freshman year at Iowa State, where he averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. We named Biliew the best defender during the 2023 McDonald’s All-American week, and we expect he’ll showcase his defensive prowess in the ACC next season. Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes has a track record of revitalizing the careers of former top recruits, such as Hunter Sallis.
Previous School: James Madison
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 81 OVR | No. 5 CG
Edwards earned the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2022-23 season and elevated his performance even further last season, averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, ultimately receiving the Sun Belt Player of the Year accolade. He maintained shooting percentages of 42.7% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc, contributing significantly to James Madison’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in over ten years.
Previous School: Duke
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 76 OVR | No. 10 PF
This transfer is considered one of the best fits this offseason. Power initially arrived at Duke as a highly regarded five-star prospect, ranked in the top 20. However, he struggled to find playing time in Jon Scheyer’s rotation last season, averaging only 2.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in just 7.0 minutes per game. Those concerns should dissipate at Virginia under Tony Bennett’s coaching. With Virginia in need of shooting, Power presents intriguing potential. Standing at a lengthy 6-foot-9, he managed to shoot 35.7% from beyond the arc despite limited opportunities to establish a rhythm. Power is a legitimate contender for ACC Most Improved Player honors in the upcoming season.
Previous School: Syracuse
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 70 OVR | No. 9 PF
Based on the current makeup of Duke’s roster, Brown appears poised to secure a spot in the Blue Devils’ starting lineup at the onset of the season. Known for his efficiency on offense and tenacity on defense, Brown brings valuable veteran experience to Duke’s frontcourt, having played in 61 career games. Last season as a sophomore, Brown posted impressive stats, averaging 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He showcased remarkable shooting accuracy with a 69.8% field goal percentage and ranked third nationally in effective field goal percentage (71.3%), per KenPom.com. Additionally, Brown led the conference with 71 steals and received recognition on the ACC All-Defensive Team.
Previous School: Tulane
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 65 OVR | No. 11 SG
James represents the final addition to Duke’s offseason roster puzzle. With the departure of Jeremy Roach, the Blue Devils sought a seasoned guard in the transfer portal and landed James, who boasted averages of 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last season. While there are uncertainties regarding how his offensive skills will transition to the ACC, there’s unanimous confidence in his defensive abilities. Standing at 6-foot-5, James recorded 1.6 steals per game and blocked 23 shots last season. His versatility makes him a crucial asset for the Blue Devils in the upcoming season.
Previous School: Louisville
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 55 OVR | No. 11 C
NC State faced significant losses this offseason with the departure of DJ Horne and DJ Burns, key players from their Final Four team who exhausted their eligibility. To fill this void, Huntley-Hatfield emerges as a pivotal figure in Kevin Keatts’ plans for the upcoming season, requiring him to fulfill the promise of his former five-star status to maintain the Wolfpack’s momentum. Standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing 240 pounds, this sizable big man contributed an average of 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season, shooting an impressive 56.7% from the field. Over his three college seasons, he has shown steady improvement in his shooting abilities, notably hitting 42.9% of his three-point attempts last season, converting 9-of-21 overall.
Previous School: Oklahoma
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 45 OVR | No. 4 CG
McCollum made the decision to commit to Georgia Tech and head coach Damon Stoudamire, despite receiving interest from more traditional college basketball powerhouses such as Kentucky, Michigan, and Florida. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 160 pounds, this guard is determined to contribute to Georgia Tech and is poised to play a significant role in the Yellow Jackets’ backcourt. In the previous season, he showcased his skills by averaging 13.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game. McCollum maintained shooting percentages of 40.4% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc, earning himself All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition.
Previous School: Belmont
Transfer Portal Rank: No. 37 OVR | No. 9 SF
Hubert Davis of UNC has demonstrated a keen eye for transfer talent, evident in the success stories of players like Brady Manek in 2021-22, Cormac Ryan, and Harrison Ingram last season. The latest addition, Tyson, is expected to continue this trend in Chapel Hill, stepping into the starting lineup in place of Ryan. Tyson’s sophomore season saw him average 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, with impressive shooting percentages of 49.3% from the field and 46.5% from beyond the arc, ranking him second nationally by the NCAA in three-point shooting. Standing at 6-foot-7, his combination of height and shooting prowess is rare, and under Davis’ guidance, he’s anticipated to shine alongside UNC’s talented backcourt. Tyson is primed to make a significant impact as one of the top transfers in the nation next season.