Nearly two months after the transfer portal opened — and more than two weeks after it closed — there are still a number of players in ESPN’s top 100 transfer rankings without a destination. Schools around the country are finalizing rosters, but seven top-20 transfers and 10 of the top 52 names in the rankings remain on the board. And don’t count out some surprises along the way; Florida transfer Riley Kugel decommitted from Kansas earlier this week after committing in late March.
The one major wrinkle in the recruiting process for many of these remaining ranked transfers is the NBA draft. Several are going through the process and were invited to either the NBA draft combine or the G League Elite Camp. With the draft withdrawal date set for May 29, expect plenty of these recruitments to drag into June.
Let’s take stock of the portal landscape. Where do things stand with some of the top transfers, and what are some of the most intriguing 2024-25 teams still looking for in the portal?
Florida State wing Jamir Watkins, who withdrew from the NBA draft at the deadline, announced Friday he’s returning to the Seminoles for his senior season. He earned honorable mention All-ACC honors after averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Went for 34 points against Virginia Tech in the ACC tournament. Watkins was invited to the NBA draft combine and had a chance to be selected had he remained in the draft.
Outlook: Watkins’ decision to return to Tallahassee comes after a battle between Michigan and St. John’s for his commitment. Both schools will have to look elsewhere, particularly St. John’s, which still needs another frontcourt piece. As for Florida State, Watkins will return to be the team’s go-to guy for the second season in a row. The Seminoles added a slew of new faces, highlighted by Hampton transfer Jerry Deng and four-star point guard DaQuan Davis.
Talented forward Trevon Brazile announced Tuesday he was going back to Arkansas, withdrawing from the transfer portal just over a week after withdrawing his name from the NBA draft. A high-ceiling 6-foot-10 sophomore, Brazile averaged 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds last season under Eric Musselman, but looked on the verge of a breakout campaign in 2022-23 before tearing his ACL after nine games. He’s got size, can shoot from the perimeter and is an effective shot-blocker.
Outlook: Arkansas had been in pursuit of a number of options to round out John Calipari’s first roster in Fayetteville, but Brazile could be the final piece. He brings SEC experience, he brings more size and length to the frontcourt and he offers a different dimension to Calipari’s current options down low. Expect Brazile to provide inside-outside balance to Jonas Aidoo’s around-the-basket offensive game.
BYU Cougars transfer Jaxson Robinson has withdrawn his name from the NBA draft and is committing to Kentucky, he told ESPN on Thursday. Robinson was one of the best players left in the portal, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors last season after averaging 14.2 points and shooting 35.4% from 3. He was the league’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Outlook: Robinson is the best of Kentucky’s nine transfers this spring, and already knows Mark Pope’s system from the two years spent under him in Provo. He will play on the wing alongside Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh and Dayton transfer Koby Brea, two other perimeter shooters with size. Pope prioritized 3-point shooting when building this roster and Robinson gives him more shot-making plus a legitimate go-to guy offensively.
