The National Champion was crowned, and as we all predicted, the transfer portal entrants have picked up in quality. There isn’t as high of a quantity, given that the total bodies in the transfer portal already exceeds what it was last year; that isn’t a surprise. The quality of the players in the portal keeps getting better every day.
The amount of money exchanging hands in the portal this season is unlike anything the sport has ever seen. There have been reports that some players may receive upwards of 3 million dollars to play basketball. That is life-changing money for almost everyone, so it makes sense to jump at the opportunity.
Monday and Tuesday were slower days in the portal, but the entrants picked up quickly on Wednesday. The recruiting dead period ends tomorrow night, so there will likely be many more entrants in the last 11 days of the portal. Here are the 10 best portal entrants since Monday.
No. 10 Jamal Fuller - Long Island Sharks
12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
The first year of Divison 1 basketball for Fuller went better than he probably even hoped. He was a transfer from the Academy of Art, where he had a successful career but could only get low significant offers. Long Island had a good season in the NEC, and Fuller was a big reason.
The Toronto graduate student was a significant offense source for head coach Rod Strickland and the Sharks. The undersized forward shot 49% from the floor and 39% from three. Fuller is a good rebounder for a 6’5” player and uses his athleticism to get to the rim. He will be a nice pickup for someone at the mid-major level.
No. 9 Owen Koonce - Cal Poly Mustangs
16.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
The Mustangs were not a good team and finished near the bottom of the Big West. Koonce was one of the lone bright spots for Cal Poly. Koonce is a guy that very few know about, given that the Mustangs played late at night and were not very good.
Whoever is the team that secures Koonce's commitment is getting one of the smoothest offensive players in the portal. He shoots over 40% from deep, over 50% from the floor, and 70% from the line. He isn’t a volume shooter and can put up points quickly because of his efficient offense. A better team around him will make it all the more effective.
No. 8 Ahmad Robinson - Mercer Bears
16.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists
Look at that other point guard who stuffed a stat sheet. There are point guards like this all over the transfer portal; don’t worry, if your favorite team doesn’t get their top choice, they can just move on down the line and find an impact player. Robinson is going to be successful wherever he ends up.
The graduate student made his way to Mercer after a fantastic season at New Hampshire, where he formed one of the best duos in the sport with Clarence Daniels. Robinson proved it wasn’t a fluke year and could shine in the spotlight. The point guard is at his best, driving to the basket and making plays for others. He is a guy who can get a bucket when you need one.
No. 7 Hayden Gray - UC San Diego Tritons
11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists
It is hard to know where to begin with Gray. He was the point guard on one of the country's best three-point shooting teams. UC San Diego also was one of the best defensive teams in the country, and he was the leader of the defense. Finally, the Tritons turned the ball over less than anyone in the country.
Gray wasn’t solely responsible for these things but played a big part in them. The point guard shot over 40% from deep. He will have many offers in the portal because he led the country in steals with 3.2 per game. He also had a 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He takes three and D to a whole new level.
No. 6 Daniel Rivera - UMass Minutemen
11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists
UMass has had some rough years under head coach Frank Martin. Unfortunately, they have a rabid fan base who deserves a winner. Rivera is just one of many Minutemen who entered the transfer portal, but his loss will hurt UMass more than the rest.
Rivera had an enjoyable season. He was still UMass's best player, but his numbers decreased across the board. A change of scenery would do him well. The Puerto Rican forward is only 6’6” but was one of the best offensive rebounders in the Atlantic 10. He has to play inside the three-point arc; if he does, he will get some easy points.
No. 5 Cedric Coward - Washington State Cougars
17.7 points, 7.0 points, 3.7 assists
Coward followed head coach David Riley from Eastern Washington, and during his first six games, he looked like he was going to be a shoo-in for the all-conference team. Coward was turning into a star this year, and had he not gotten hurt, who knows how the Cougars season would have ended up?
The Cougars forward will be ready for next season, and whatever team he chooses will be getting one of the most efficient offensive players in the country. The guard shoots nearly 60% from the floor and just under 40% from three. Those numbers will play for anyone. Coward is an elite rebounder and fantastic passer. He can play multiple positions and will excel at all of them. He may have gone to a Blue Blood and had not gotten hurt.
No. 4 Jarin Stevenson - Alabama Crimson Tide
5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, .8 assists
Stevenson is the second Alabama big man to enter the transfer portal in the last two weeks. Granted, Stevenson was a backup, but it just shows that no team is immune from the portal, not even those who play for fantastic teams. The big man would likely see an uptick in minutes this year for coach Nate Oats.
Ignore the stat lines for Stevenson; he wasn’t a massive part of the offense when he came into the game for Alabama. You shouldn’t ignore his ability to run the floor and hit threes. Alabama loves to shoot threes, and Stevenson made them at about 30%. He does have a good offensive game but needs to be in the right system. He is originally from Chapel Hill.
No. 3 Keshawn Murphy - Mississippi State Bulldogs
11.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Murphy had a huge year and saw increases across the board. The big man entered the transfer portal briefly last year before deciding to stay at Mississippi State. After his breakout season, he decided to put his name in the transfer portal again, and this time, he will likely remain in.
The appeal of the big man was always his defensive ability. He is a good defender in the paint, racks up, steals rebounds, and, most importantly, protects the rim. Murphy worked hard on his offensive game and is now a trustworthy source of offense in the post. He can do it all for a big man, and he will be rewarded in the portal.
No. 2 Jamir Watkins - Florida State Seminoles
18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Legendary coach Leonard Hamilton retired, and the roster was gutted. Watkins is a star and one of the best players in the ACC. After spending two seasons at VCU, the forward did it, where he put up okay numbers; he got into coach Hamilton’s system and became a star.
Watkins was already an efficient scorer but worked to improve his game last summer. He decided to take more threes but did it within the offense. He is not a guy who will hoist a three if it’s a lousy shot. Despite the increase in three-point attempts, the forward still got to the line over 200 times and maintained his efficiency inside the three-point arc. He is going to get a lot of offers.
No. 1 Dillon Mitchell - Cincinnati Bearcats
9.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Mitchell has entered the transfer portal for the third time after two seasons at Texas and one at Cincinnati. The former five-star is still waiting for his breakout, but the talent and athleticism remain. He has not yet played in the best offensive system for his talent, but his defense is elite, and that should be enough to get him an offer anywhere.
Mitchell has excelled in whatever role he is given, but as a former 5-star recruit, it would make sense to put him as the focal point of an offense. Mitchell is limited, as he doesn’t shoot the ball from deep, but he can jump out of a gym and is not easy to guard when he gets the ball in the post.
Mitchell added a jump shot this year, and while he is best suited to play in the paint if he can start spreading the floor by hitting threes, watch out! The development of the jump shot, his ability to finish near the rim, and his excellent defensive grades give him the top spot in the rankings.