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

9. UCLA Bruins

A year ago, the Bruins added just one transfer (Lazar Stefanovic), along with a freshmen-heavy class that featured several international prospects. It didn’t work out, with the team finishing under .500. Coach Mick Cronin went the portal route this time around, adding six players that are proven at the high-major level.

In the backcourt, there is a trio of guards with ties to Los Angeles. Kobe Johnson comes across town from USC, who in two years as a starter, was both a double-digit scorer and all-conference defender. Skyy Clark (13.2 ppg) led Louisville in scoring this past season, while Dominick Harris comes up from LMU, another double-digit scorer who shot 45% from three-point range.

Replacing Adem Bona in the frontcourt are three forwards. Another former Pac-12 starter joining the now-Big Ten program is Tyler Bilodeau, who produced 14.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg at Oregon State, shooting 53% from the field. Eric Dailey Jr. started 16 games at Oklahoma State as a freshman, averaging 9.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg, and will be a breakout candidate to watch. William Kyle is a 6’9 big man from South Dakota State, producing 13.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg while being the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year.

Kyle might not be as good of a defender as Bona but the frontcourt depth should be fine. And the combination of shooting and defense that the guards bring in, UCLA’s depth shouldn’t be an issue as they head to the Big Ten next season.