The college basketball season may be over, but transfer portal season is here, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The first rankings were released three weeks ago, and much has changed in the sport since then. won the national championship. Tara VanDerveer has retired. Tennessee hired Kim Caldwell. On the player side, it's hard to imagine that more big names won't hit the portal in the next week or so, so we'll keep you updated. Until then, here are the top 15 prospects in the portal.
stanford junior forward
Key statistics: 19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 55 FG%
Iriafen is on the move after three seasons with The Firm. She has a “do not contact” tag, so you may already know where she wants to go. No matter which team acquires Iriafen, even if she only has her for one year, she will receive an immediate boost in terms of her potential next season. As an individual, she can lift any team. The current recipient of the Katrina McClain Award (an honor given to the top forwards in college basketball), she is one of the nation's best rebounders and one of the nation's most talented scorers. Her passing has improved significantly this season as she has gotten more playing time. Throughout last season, she drew nearly four fouls per game (in Stanford's final five games of the season, she drew five fouls per game) and was a reliable free-throw shooter, drawing nearly four fouls per game in the Cardinals' final five games of the season. He took down 91 percent of the games. .
Sophomore forward from Oregon State University
Key statistics: 17.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 66 FG%
There were multiple beavers in the portal so I felt it was only a matter of time before Beer got in as well. All she was named to the Pac-12 first team, the former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and the conference's sixth Player of the Year, she will be featured by a number of programs. . She is an elite offensive talent and a great defender who could be a cornerstone player for just about any program in the country. According to Pivot Analytics, she shoots 69 percent at the rim and plays like Mackenzie Holmes, except Beals is only a sophomore. A Pac-12 loss is a loss for all women's basketball fans. She didn't appear in a nationally televised game until the 2024 postseason, as she played for her Pac-12 (specifically Oregon State). However, given her play and the team she is likely to be called up to, she has a chance to become a household name next season.
princeton senior guard
Key statistics: 15.8 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.5 RPG, 49 FG%
Chen entered the portal in early September because the Ivy League has not allowed players to use bonuses granted due to the pandemic for years within the league. Her coaches were aware of her intentions. The two-time All-Ivy League first-team selection will choose a school. It certainly helps that two classes of Ivy League players before her have found success in power conferences: USC's trio this season and Maryland's Abby Myers last season. Chen's veteran experience, athleticism, and ability to play and distribute while playing solid defense make him a great option for a team in need of a high-value, low-risk point guard.
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oregon state junior guard
Key statistics: 10.7 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.1 RPG, 39 FG%
With Oregon State moving to the West Coast Conference, it would not be surprising to see multiple Beavers in the portal as they will likely remain on the market at the power conference level. With one season of eligibility remaining, von Olhoffen would be an attractive pickup for a program looking to replace a departing point guard or a team that needs to complement a young point guard with veteran experience. right. She is 5-11, has a solid frame, and is a strong shooter who can make contact and shoots off screens and in spot-up situations. This season, she shot a career-best 46 percent in the middle distances, according to her pivot analysis. Her 3-point shooting spree this season was back-to-back, making her 43 percent as a freshman.
— TG (@timea_gardiner) April 8, 2024
Arkansas redshirt sophomore guard
Key statistics: 10.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG (9.4 Defensive RPG), 36 FG%
Poffenberger enrolled early in college in 2021, but transferred to Arkansas after that season. She is on the move again after starting 67 games for the Razorbacks. Coaches will be drawn to Poffenberger's average of 9.4 defensive rebounds per game (only BYU's Lauren Gustin has averaged more this season) and her improvement from the arc. is impressive (33 percent this season, up from 23 percent last season). Whenever a big guard who can wipe out the glass and wreak havoc on defenses (she averages 2.5 combined blocks and steals per game) enters the portal, she garners interest from major league coaches. right. The fact that Poffenbalger has two more years of eligibility will also be a bonus for some programs.
Sophomore forward from Oregon State University
Key statistics: 11.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 45 FG%, 40 3 PT FG%
Gardiner is an interesting prospect due to his size, ability, and two seasons of eligibility remaining. Her national fans may not know much about her since the Beavers didn't have a nationally televised regular season game, but watching her play in the NCAA Tournament shows why she's so high on this list. You'll know if you're there. The 6-3 forward can finish in the paint against larger posts, but Gardiner also has good range and is a prolific 3-point shooter (five attempts per game). Playing in Oregon State's system requires a lot of defensive discipline, so she'll bring that and good defensive rebounding ability to her next team.
Texas A&M sophomore forward
Key statistics: 12.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 48 FG%
With two years of eligibility left and a strong resume in the SEC as a capable two-way player, Barker needs to choose a school. Her two best scoring performances of the season (21 points each) came against defensive teams Ole Miss and LSU. According to Synergy, she conceded just 0.553 points per possession on the season, which placed her in the top 4% of players. Barker will need to reduce her turnovers (2.7 per game), but her ability to defend in the paint and be an offensive threat makes the 6-4 forward a highly coveted transfer. It has become.
pen junior guard
Key statistics: 14.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 39 3PT%
If you've heard this before, please stop. A veteran Pen guard with a hot arm from long range has entered the transfer portal. …Yes, this may sound like a bit of Kayla Padilla deja vu, and you're not wrong. Padilla's former teammate may not be a great scorer, but he is a great rebounder and is looking for a home for his final season. Obi was successful at his 39 percent on triples, and his high athleticism allowed him to average 33 minutes per game throughout his three-year career at the University of Pennsylvania. She started 82 games for the Quakers, and given Padilla's ability to fit perfectly around Watkins at USC, it's safe to assume that Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb (and others) are keeping an eye on Obi. I need to think about it.
North Carolina senior guard
Key statistics: 16.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3.9 RPG, 35 FG%
Kelly is a proven scorer, averaging more than 16 points per game as the Tar Heels' main weapon over the past three seasons. Her point shooting hasn't been the strongest part of her game, but she's used to shooting mid-range and in the paint. She is a strong perimeter defender and on the glass she can compete well with 5-8 guards. Could the Texas native land somewhere near his hometown? Or could she move to the Big Ten as a stopgap scorer and perimeter player on a team with young guards?
One more thing ✔️🇺🇸
Congratulations DK @WBCA1981 Winner of the US title for 3 years in a row!
🔗: https://t.co/6rZm7DKox4#goheel | @dejakelly25 pic.twitter.com/WGV8UI71Fw
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) April 5, 2024
Syracuse freshman forward
Key statistics: 8.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 46 FG%
After an impressive freshman campaign, Latham was named to the ACC All-Freshman team this season. She has all the makings of an all-conference player. The 6-2 forward has three years of eligibility in the program, and she already has experience playing alongside the dominant scorer at Diyaisha Fair. Latham is an active defenseman who ranked in the top 20% in Hakeem rate (a player's combined block and steal rate) as a freshman and was an effective part of the Orange's offensive line.
michigan junior guard
Key statistics: 16.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG
This was a move that really surprised us Athletic. The Cincinnati native is a great fit in Kim Barnes Arico's system, and the Wolverines relied on her the most in the post-Naz Hillmon era. Ferrier does most of her offense within 15 feet of the basket, but she has proven to be a dangerous 3-point shooter from either corner. Her defensive ability is not well known, but her experience and scoring ability will attract the attention of many teams.
Penn State sophomore guard
Key statistics: 11.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 42 FG%
Ceski could be an especially attractive pickup for teams looking to add a 3-point specialist. As a freshman, she shot 42 percent from behind the arc, this season she shot 37 percent, and this year, 60 percent of her shot attempts have come from 3-second shots. was. She is similar to Lauren Hansen as a transfer, except that Cieschi has two years of eligibility remaining, so she is a more stable presence in her future program rather than a one-year term. It will be.
𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.
Shay Chesky's 8️⃣ three-pointers today tied her for second in Lady Lion history for most three-pointers made in a single game.#Lionmentality | @shay_ciezki pic.twitter.com/0q2XVzHvgy
— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) December 20, 2023
kentucky senior guard
Key statistics: 12.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 34 FG%
A native of Kentucky, Schar entered the portal and spent his first two seasons at Oregon State before transferring closer to his hometown. Following Elsie's dismissal, she is looking for her new landing spot. Schar's shooting has been slow this season, but in the right system she could be a force and add another layer of experienced guard to any roster. (She has 87 career starts.) Sher has playmaking talent on offense and defense, and ranks among players in steals per game, blocks per game, and assists per game. Ranked at 15%. However, in order for her to take it to the next level in the next game, she will need to reduce her turnovers and fouls.
Decision to transfer
player | former team | new team |
---|---|---|
georgia amoore |
Virginia Tech |
kentucky |
mama dembele |
missouri |
south florida |
Izzy Higginbottom |
ark sanzas |
arkansas |
lucy olsen |
villanova |
iowa |
Paulina Paris |
north carolina |
arizona |
Ajay Petty |
kentucky |
Ohio |
talia scott |
arkansas |
auburn |
clara strok |
Virginia Tech |
kentucky |
Grace Townsend |
richmond |
north carolina |
haley van lith |
LSU |
TCU |
jersey wolfenbarger |
arkansas |
LSU |
(Photo of Kiki Iriafen and Regan Beers: Yim Soobun/Getty Images, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)