NCAA Basketball: Top 25 team winners from 2024 transfer portal results

15. Xavier Musketeers

After a year where youth and a lack of depth proved to be their undoing, Xavier was aggressive this offseason with its roster building, landing seven transfers. That starts with the backcourt, as Oklahoma center John Hugley gives them the needed size and depth, joined by Lassina Traore, a 6’9 forward who averaged a double-double at Long Beach State.

Even without leading scorers Quincy Olivari and Desmond Claude, Xavier’s strength should be on the wings again. Cam’Ron Flecther dealt with injuries at FSU but when healthy gives needed versatility as a capable defender and athlete. Ryan Conwell was one of the star scorers at Indiana State, averaging 16.6 ppg on 41% shooting from deep at over seven attempts a game.

Marcus Foster (17.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg) is one of the top pound-for-pound rebounders in the country, coming from Furman as a proven lead guard. That’s the same as Dante Maddox, an All-MAC performer from Toledo, averaging 15.6 ppg and 2.8 apg on 40% shooting from deep. Roddie Anderson III was a starting guard at Boise State and adds more ball-handler depth in the backcourt as well.

With starting forwards Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter set to return from injury, Xavier will have plenty of depth, both inside and out. How the pieces coming back work out will be interesting since half of the roster has an injury history. But on paper, this roster has a chance to contend in the Big East.