The NCAA Basketball transfer portal will close in 24 hours. If a player has not entered the portal in that time, they must play at the school they were at previously. Hopefully, there will be some resolution on the new proposals regarding revenue sharing when the portal closes. There will be more on that as it becomes a reality.
The final push of players into the transfer portal picked up in a big way on the Monday after the easter weekend. As always, there is still a lot of talent in the transfer portal. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the increasingly large number of players entering the portal with no eligibility. Those players will not play anywhere next year unless the rules drastically change.
Surprisingly, in the final days of the portal, many of the five power starters have entered. Today, an all-conference player and one of the best defensive players in the country joined the mix as well. Some of these players got pushed out from their previous teams, but most are just trying to get that one last shot at the NCAA Tournament and a payday from increased NIL dollars.
Here are the 10 best transfer portal entrants from the Easter weekend. All these players have eligibility remaining heading into the 2025-2026 season.
No. 10 Cliff Davis - UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
The Vaqueros had one of their most talented teams in a long time, and Davis was included in that group of talented Vaqueros. The guard was a unique player because he rarely shot the ball from inside the three-point line, and if there were an official ranking system for such things, he would be considered one of the best three-point shooters in the country.
Davis took 332 total shots this season, and 262 came from downtown. He made 98 threes on the year, which was good enough for 37%. Anytime a player can make close to 100 threes, they will be in every conversation about who the best three-point shooter is. Davis has one year left and will likely go to a team that needs a three-point specialist.
No. 9 Malcolm Wilson - Queens Royals
5.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, .7 assists
Wilson is a lot of fun to watch play basketball. Mainly because he played for Queens, and their style of play is fun to watch. Also, Wilson is a monster in the paint with a lot of athleticism and can do things many other 7’0” tall guys cannot.
The big man was the Atlantic Sun defensive player of the year. He won the award because he was one of the best shot blockers in the country. Wilson blocked well over three shots per night. He didn’t get the ball on the offensive end much, but he shot almost 60% from the floor when he did. Elite rim protectors are hard to find, and Wilson fits that bill.
No. 8 Jayden Stone - West Virginia Mountaineers
20.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists
The statline is from the 2023-2024 season while the guard was at Detroit Mercy. Stone was the best player on the Detroit Mercy Titans team that won very few games. The guard transferred to West Virginia, where he got hurt in the offseason and was forced to redshirt. Stone is healthy and ready for his final season of college basketball.
Two seasons ago, the guard turned into one of the best scorers in the country. Yes, he was a volume shooter and the only offensive source for a bad Titans team, but he was relatively efficient at 42% even as a volume shooter. Stone was expected to be a key piece for West Virginia this season, but it never worked out. He will be a big piece for his next team.
No. 7 Simeon Wilcher - St. John’s Red Storm
8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Wilcher was a big-time recruit and was one of the first high school players to commit to head coach Rick Pitino. After rarely playing in his first year, the guard stepped into a starting role for the Red Storm, and the hope was that he would provide some much-needed three-point shooting for St. John’s
Wilcher had a tough year on the offensive end, at least shooting the ball from deep. The guard showed a nice mid-range game and was able to get to the rim and get fouled. It was a bad year shooting the ball, but Wilcher is a good shooter who needs to see a few go in and get some confidence. He chose St. John’s over North Carolina, will he end up in Chapel Hill?
No. 6 DeZayne Mingo - Marshall Thundering Herd
12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists
Mingo arrived at Marshall after a successful career in JUCO, but he was still an unknown. The point guard fixed that quickly and became one of the best guards in the Sun Belt. Considering the long list of guards that played in that conference this year, that is saying something.
Mingo is another guy who enters the transfer portal with elite passing skills. He is a pass-first point guard who can score when his team needs it, but is better as a passer. Mingo has a lot of value for a team needing a point guard, especially this late in the portal calendar.
No. 5 Tavari Johnson - Akron Zips
13.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists
The Zips were one of the country's best mid-major teams, and head coach John Groce had talent everywhere. Johnson is the second Akron guard to enter the portal in the last two weeks. The guard will likely be the second Zips player to attend a high-major school this week.
Johnson was a starter for Akron. It was the first time he had started for the Zips, so he had a breakout season. The guard has always been a great three-point shooter; this year, he showed the ability to set up an offense as an effective passer. Johnson can play both guard positions and is a steal this late in the portal season.
No. 4 Lamar Washington - Pacific Tigers
13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists
A change of scenery can do wonders for a player and their confidence. That was the case with Washington. He started his career at Texas Tech, where he rarely played. The point guard decided to transfer to Pacific, where he could finally showcase his ability. His ability showed that he can be one of the country's best point guards.
Washington finished tied for 25th in assists and was one of the best rebounders at the guard position in the country. Pacific wasn’t a good team, and the point guard would have likely had many more assists if the Tigers were a better team. That is all speculation, of course. Washington is another huge steal in the portal this late. He is a game changer.
No. 3 Arturo Dean - Oklahoma State Cowboys
7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Dean is another multi-year transfer who will play at a Power Five school. I know that the points per game and the rest of the counting stats look average, but Dean brings a lot of leadership and experience to his next team. His biggest asset is on the defensive end of the floor, and few players in the portal will be better than Dean in on-ball defense.
The point guard is a two-time all-defensive team player, led the country in steals last year, and was in the top 5 in that category this season. He is a good passer who will set up the offense in the half-court. His offense comes on fast breaks and drives to the basket. If you need defense, get the point guard.
No. 2 Jordan Ross - Saint Mary’s Gaels
8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Saint Mary’s is one of the most consistent programs in the country; they win a lot. They also play a lot of defense and take smart shots. It doesn’t matter the numbers; Gaels players will be highly coveted in the transfer portal because of the program's pedigree. Another bonus is that former Gaels often succeed at the higher level, adding to their long list of pros for coaches.
Ross was thrust into the starting lineup this season after playing sparingly as a freshman. He didn’t disappoint. The guard was never a huge part of the offense, but he could get to the rim and finish through contact. He is a great defender, and with a few more looks and a little retooling, he can turn into a capable three-point shooter.
No. 1 Jayden Epps - Georgetown Hoyas
12.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists
The transfer portal has destroyed Georgetown in the last 24 hours, and no transfer will hurt the Hoyas more than losing their star point guard. The Hoyas may not have won much with Epps as the star, but Epps did enough individually to put himself in a prime position as the lead guard at a power-five school.
The guard started his career at Illinois, where he first established his high ceiling and played a lot on a top Big Ten team. His transfer to Georgetown surprised many in the Illinois basketball community. The transfer makes sense in how Epps has progressed in his career and his role at Georgetown versus his likely role in Illinois.
If Epps were going to transfer again, last year would have been when his value was the highest, but even with the down year, he could still shoot 40% from the floor and put up his best numbers from the three-point line. The guard played off the ball a lot more this season. He is at his best as a point guard, which should be the role he seeks in the portal.