3. Darrion Williams – Texas Tech
After brilliant work in Las Vegas as a high school star, Williams stayed somewhat close to home at Nevada and was very productive right away in Reno. Williams did good work with the Wolf Pack in a season that won him MWC Rookie of the Year with solid production while showing great potential and he’s only exceeded that since he transferred to Texas Tech right after.
After a measured step forward as a sophomore, Williams developed even further going into his junior year. A major part of Texas Tech’s run to the Elite Eight, Williams put up 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, affecting the game in a myriad of ways during a highly productive season for the Red Raiders. He was a major addition for new head coach Grant McCasland two years ago and hopes to be an even bigger boon at his next and likely final collegiate stop.
2. RJ Luis Jr. – St. John’s
A Miami native who spent his freshman season at UMass, Luis transferred to St. John’s after showing his potential and would become a major piece of Rick Pitino’s equation. He was good for just over 11 points a game with the Minutmen as a true freshman and was putting up similar numbers in his first season with the Red Storm, but his junior year is what really solid him as a top player.
Luis emerged onto the scene as a major player for St. John’s, leading the Red Storm on a shocking run to regular season and tournament titles in the Big East. He averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game with solid shooting figures and was named Big East Player of the Year as a result. Some will look at his tough ending, benched in the final minutes of St. John’s Tourney loss, but Luis is a highly productive guard who will be a playmaker as a senior.
1. PJ Haggerty – Memphis
Unquestionably worth a pretty penny, Haggerty is the rare super productive player in the transfer portal; though perhaps not a rarity in a NIL-dominated world. Seeking a major payday, Haggerty is fresh off an explosive redshirt sophomore year at Memphis in an AAC that he’s dominated for two seasons. A former TCU redshirt and Tulsa standout was the AAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, but he far exceeded that when transferring to Memphis.
Haggerty put up 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while making 36% of his 3-pointers, leading the Tigers back to the Big Dance again and becoming the AAC Player of the Year. Haggerty’s explosive numbers, which put him among the top scorers in the entire nation, also won him Second Team All-American honors. Whichever team lands him gets one of the best scoring guards in the country and it won’t come cheap.