BREAKING: Another transfer portal’s updated 15 key best prospects
The pool of top college basketball players available in the transfer portal is rapidly shrinking. With high-end talent becoming scarce as we approach the latter half of May, teams are eager to fill the remaining gaps in their 2024-25 rosters. So, who are the best players still on the board?
This spring, over 2,000 players entered the transfer portal during a record-setting 45-day window. Currently, fewer than 20 of the top 100 prospects in the latest transfer rankings remain uncommitted. Some of these players have also declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while keeping their college eligibility open, giving them until May 29 to withdraw from the draft.
Recruiting visits for these transfers are ongoing, making the list of available players fluid as decisions from top prospects are finalized.
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Here’s an updated look at the best available prospects in the college basketball transfer portal as of Sunday, May 19, 4:10 p.m. ET:
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 3 SF | No. 10 overall
Jamir Watkins, who led Florida State in scoring last season with 15.6 points per game, initially declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. However, he also entered the college basketball transfer portal shortly before it closed in early May. As a junior, Watkins averaged 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 45.7% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. He has until May 29 to withdraw from the NBA Draft and is considering a potential return to college basketball for the 2024-25 season.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 3 SG | No. 11 overall
Chaz Lanier, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard from North Florida, had a breakout season, averaging 19.7 points per game while shooting 51.1% from the field and 44.0% from three-point range. This marked a significant improvement from his first three seasons with the Ospreys, where he averaged less than five points per game. With an additional year of eligibility, Lanier aims to capitalize on his improved stock. He received an invite to the G League Elite Camp and had planned visits to Tennessee and Kentucky. Both SEC programs are actively competing to secure this highly sought-after transfer.
3. JAYLEN WELLS WASHINGTON STATE
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 SF | No. 15 overall
Jaylen Wells, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound wing, was instrumental in helping Washington State return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 years. After just one season with the Cougars, Wells is on the move again. He previously earned Division II All-America honors at Sonoma State before transferring to Washington State, where he averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 43.6% from the field. Having entered the transfer portal, Wells could be a significant asset for a high-major program in the 2024-25 season, though declaring for the NBA Draft remains a strong possibility.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 SG | No. 16 overall
Minnesota freshman guard Cameron Christie entered the transfer portal just before the deadline, having also declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound shooter averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this past season, shooting 40.3% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. Ranked as a top-100 prospect coming out of high school in the 2023 class, Christie is more likely to pursue an early start to his NBA career, with his transfer recruitment being relatively quiet, according to Travis Branham.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 5 SG | No. 19 overall
Miami’s Wooga Poplar, one of their top scorers, entered the transfer portal after a season where he averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. The explosive wing has one year of eligibility left and has shown significant development during his time with the Hurricanes. Poplar discussed his transfer process at the G League Elite Camp, revealing interest from Arkansas, Duke, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, and Villanova, according to Isaac Trotter.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 96 rating | No. 4 PF | No. 24 overall
Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound stretch big man, has entered the transfer portal while keeping his options open for the NBA Draft. Hawkins, who shot 36.9% from three-point range this season, averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. He has one year of eligibility left after a four-year tenure at Illinois, where he started 82 out of 126 games. Programs in need of a versatile big man are expected to pursue him vigorously. North Carolina is a potential landing spot if Hawkins decides to return to college for another season.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 95 rating | No. 5 PF | No. 28 overall
New Mexico’s JT Toppin, the Mountain West Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, entered the transfer portal just before the spring window closed. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound big man had an impressive freshman season with the Lobos, averaging 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and shooting 62.3% from the field. Toppin has three years of eligibility remaining. While he is exploring the NBA Draft process, Texas and Texas Tech are potential transfer destinations, according to Travis Branham.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 95 rating | No. 8 SF | No. 36 overall
Jaxson Robinson, who declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, also entered the transfer portal to keep the option of returning to college for a fifth and final season. The 6-foot-7, 190-pound small forward from BYU is considering following head coach Mark Pope to Kentucky, among other destinations. Robinson earned the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year honor, averaging 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 42.6%. He started his college career at Texas A&M, then transferred to Arkansas for a season before moving to BYU, where he played for the past two years.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 95 rating | No. 8 PG | No. 38 overall
DJ Wagner, one of the top players left in the transfer portal, visited Arkansas as he considers his options. New head coach John Calipari aims to add Wagner to what is already the No. 1 ranked transfer class in the nation. Florida and USC have also shown interest in the former five-star recruit. Wagner started 28 games for Kentucky last season, averaging 9.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He is the son of former Memphis star DaJuan Wagner, who played for Calipari at Memphis.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 95 rating | No. 6 PF | No. 41 overall
Trevon Brazile, who spent two seasons at Arkansas after transferring from Missouri, has entered the transfer portal. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound power forward averaged 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a regular starter for the Razorbacks this past season, though he missed most of February due to knee soreness. Brazile played only nine games during his sophomore year after tearing his ACL. He has at least one year of eligibility remaining at his next destination.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 94 rating | No. 12 SG | No. 66 overall
Georgia Tech’s leading scorer, Miles Kelly, entered the transfer portal in late April just before the window closed, while also declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6, 180-pound guard averaged 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists this past season, shooting 36.9% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. If Kelly decides to return to college basketball for another year, he might consider returning to Georgia Tech, provided a spot is still available for him.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 94 rating | No. 15 SF | No. 75 overall
Chris Ledlum has re-entered the transfer portal after one season at St. John’s. The former Harvard player averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as a starter for the Red Storm during the 2023-24 season. Despite a drop in production, Ledlum had a significant impact, shooting 42.7% from the field. He has also declared for the 2024 NBA Draft but applied for a waiver to maintain his college eligibility for another season.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 93 rating | No. 10 CG | No. 112 overall
Garwey Dual entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2024 NBA Draft after one season at Providence. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound combo guard, a former top-50 recruit, averaged 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in less than 20 minutes per game, making six starts in 33 games. If Dual receives unfavorable feedback from the NBA Draft process, he plans to continue his college career at a different school.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 93 rating | No. 17 PF | No. 117 overall
Ven-Allen Lubin, who led Vanderbilt in rebounds and blocks this past season, entered the transfer portal in early May just before the deadline. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward made significant strides as a sophomore, averaging 12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field during the 2023-24 campaign. Lubin has attracted attention from North Carolina, having taken an official visit to Chapel Hill last week, but has yet to make a decision regarding his transfer.
**Transfer Portal Ranking:** 4-star | 93 rating | No. 11 CG | No. 118 overall
Wesley Yates, a former top-60 recruit, didn’t play in any games during his freshman year at Washington due to injury. However, he still has four years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard from Beaumont (Texas) United had an impressive high school career, averaging 19.7 points and 4.0 rebounds as a senior and helping his team win the Texas 5A State Championship in 2023. Yates visited Louisville in late April but has yet to finalize his transfer decision.