April turning into May has always signified a chance for Jon Rothstein to finally go to sleep, but in the transfer portal era, it now serves as a serious warning to teams, you better finish up your roster in the next few days. And with the end of the fifth year seniors who played in the 2021 season, the overall talent pool lacks the depth of players that could be found in the past few years.
We Sleep in May.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 1, 2026
Goodnight, America. pic.twitter.com/8OSyoAJaWC
It is now slim pickings for the teams still trying to fill out a rotation at the highest level (hundreds of mid-major and low major caliber players remain for those teams). To put it into context, of the one hundred sixteen players listed by ESPN's Jeff Borzello on his top one hundred list, plus honorable mentions, only seven remain available. Three of those players (Milan Momcilovic, Allen Graves, Juke Harris) are possible first round NBA Draft picks who are currently going through that process.
That leaves former NC State shooter Paul McNeil Jr as the clear best player available who is guaranteed to stay in school. Meanwhile, most teams are searching for rotation players, and while many just need another bench option, a handful are certainly becoming desperate as coaches fall under pressure to improve subpar rosters.
I'll be looking at ten of those teams, the level of pressure they are under to get the next acquisition right, and the player who would be the best possible fit.
Subpar Blue Bloods
Kentucky
-Desperation Level: 10 out of 10 (The fans are turning on Mark Pope)
-Biggest Need: Elite Forward
-Ideal Addition: Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) or Allen Graves (Santa Clara)
No fanbase is more frustrated at the moment then Kentucky's, after last year's reported $22 million roster failed to even make the Sweet Sixteen, and now the Wildcats have only brought in two major transfers in combo guards Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman). They might need one of the three major talents testing the Draft to even land in the Top 25 next season, and with their best power forward being redshirt freshman Braydon Hawthorne (I think??), they need to write a giant check if Momcilovic or Graves comes back to college.
Kansas
-Desperation Level: 6 out of 10 (Not going to have many more years with Bill Self and a #1 recruit on the roster)
-Biggest Need: Veteran Guard
-Ideal Addition: Paul McNeil Jr (NC State)
Kansas has failed to make the Sweet Sixteen in all four years of the transfer portal era, with the disappointment reaching a peak last season with Darryn Peterson on the roster. Now, a new top rated recruit in Tyran Stokes and fellow five star guard Taylen Kinney will try to break that inglorious streak, with the help of a few transfer bigs. Sophmore backup Cole Rosario is the most "experienced" player on the perimeter, and with Stokes as the alpha, McNeil's streak shooting is the last major upgrade available that would fit the Jayhawks.
North Carolina
-Desperation Level: 8 out of 10 (Roster isn't very good for having the second highest paid coach in the sport)
-Biggest Need: Center
-Ideal Addition: David Fuchs (San Francisco)
UNC took some swings in the backcourt (Terrence Brown, Neoklis Avdalis, Matt Able) with Michael Malone's first college roster, but are extremely short on proven talent, and now depth (with the news that Maxim Logue will not be enrolling) at the center position. Unfortunately, the center market is just about tapped out. David Fuchs is far from a flashy option, but he's a skilled big, who was an above average starter in the A-10 and WCC, and strong enough to mostly offset being an undersized center at this level.
Hot Seat Coaches
Georgetown
-Desperation Level: 9 out of 10 (Ed Cooley is 16-44 in Big East games with the Hoyas)
-Biggest Need: More High Major Talent
-Ideal Addition: Abdi Bashir Jr (Kansas State)
The Ed Cooley era has been a disaster, like the Patrick Ewing era before it and the end of the John Thompson III years before that. The Hoyas have cobbled together a middle of the pack Big East roster, but it's lacking in depth and Jaland Lowe (Kentucky) may be the lone player with star potential. Assuming that Georgetown can't get any of the expensive top players should they leave the Draft, they can still swing for a top notch wing scorer in Bashir, to try to avoid another program reset.
Virginia Tech
-Desperation Level: 8 out of 10 (No NCAA Tournament appearances since 2022)
-Biggest Need: Wing Shooters
-Ideal Addition: Vyctorius Miller (LSU)
Injuries throughout the season may have saved Mike Young's job after the Hokies narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament again. He responded by immediately bringing back his two best players in Amani Hansberry and Ben Hammond, but Virginia Tech's portal class has been underwhelming, positioning Tyler Johnson as the team's third scoring option. They need to change that, while continuing to fill their offense with the shooters that Young often needs around the floor. Miller remains as one of last ceiling raisers left who fits that profile.
Rhode Island
-Desperation Level: 6 out of 10 (One twenty win season since Dan Hurley left in 2018)
-Biggest Need: Defensive Big
-Ideal Addition: Musa Sagnia (NC State)
Archie Miller (last NCAA Tournament in 2017) and Rhode Island (last NCAA Tournament in 2018) are both mired in a decade long struggle as they enter year five of their partnership, one that has failed to produce better than a tenth place A-10 finish. The roster is filled with scoring options along the perimeter, but stretch big Matas Deniusas (UT Martin) is currently slated to be the primary paint defender. The Rams really need a big body to pair with Deniusas and deal with rim protection. Sagnia (if he's willing to move down for a bigger role) is likely the best option who fits that description and may actually be attainable.
Why Hasn't It Gone Better Programs?
BYU
-Desperation Level: 5 out of 10 (Two NCAA Tournament wins since 2010)
-Biggest Need: Forward
-Ideal Addition: Hamad Mousa (Cal Poly)
Despite having potential #1 pick AJ Dybansta and one of the most expensive rosters in the sport last season, BYU's year crashed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the third straight time. With point guard Robert Wright III back and joined by another big money lineup, the expectation should be for the Cougars to take another step this season. But outside of five star freshman Brian Branch and former Syracuse bench player Tyler Betsey, the forward spots are desolate. Enter Mousa, who was First Team All-Big West in his huge breakout season.
San Francisco
-Desperation Level: 3 out of 10 (No NCAA Tournaments under Chris Gerlufsen, but WCC is now wide open)
-Biggest Need: Point Guard
-Ideal Addition: Prophet Johnson (Sacramento State)
Since promoting Chris Gerlufsen to replace Todd Golden, San Francisco has been solid (three twenty win seasons in four years) but haven't really sniffed NCAA Tournament contention. But now, Gonzaga is off to the PAC-12, Randy Bennett is going to Arizona State and Santa Clara's two best players are headed to the ACC and NBA respectively. The door is open for the Dons to establish themselves as the new WCC powerhouse, but are sorely lacking a lead guard. All-Big Sky Prophet Johnson, fits in skillset and geography. Who wouldn't want to move from Sacramento to San Francisco??
Auburn
-Desperation Level: 2 out of 10 (Bruce Pearl's son can't miss back to back NCAA Tournaments)
-Biggest Need: Shooting Guard
-Ideal Addition: Dennis Parker Jr (Radford)
Auburn's NIT championship took off some of the sting of missing the NCAA Tournament, but after Bruce Pearl pulled a quick retirement to get his son the head coaching job, questions about Steven Pearl's coaching acumen will continue until he not only makes it, but starts to win games on the biggest stage. This current roster might be capable of doing that, but the perimeter group leaves a lot to be desired beyond Tahaad Pettiford. Parker pairing with another former low major star in George Kimble III (Vanderbilt/Eastern Kentucky) may do the trick.
Too Busy On Zillow To Check The Portal?
LSU
-Desperation Level: 10 out of 10 (It's May and there are only two players on the roster!!)
-Biggest Need: Players (preferably a lead guard)
-Ideal Addition: Jaylen Curry (Oklahoma State)
We know Will Wade had time to prepare for portal season (he put his Raleigh house on the market a month before he was hired at LSU) and that he isn't lacking for funds (its LSU, whose athletic department apparently controls the Louisiana economy), yet he has only signed big man Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky) and Italian forward Saliou Niang. He'll need to go back to Europe to finish the roster regardless, but it wouldn't hurt the get the last proven power conference ball dominant guard left available, Jaylen Curry.
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