The 2024 college basketball transfer portal is all but wrapped. There will be some movement in the offseason, but the rosters for the 2024-25 college basketball season are pretty much set. While the idea of what potential additions could be is intoxicating during the portal season, retention is still vital. For many programs, retaining the top players on your roster is the most important part of the offseason.
Landing a transfer is important, even if it’s just for one year (see Dalton Knecht, Harrison Ingram or Marcus Domask). But keeping a transfer for a second year has been a cheat code.
Look at the 247Sports All-American team from this past season. UConn’s Tristen Newton? Year 2 transfer. Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr.? Year 2 transfer. Alabama’s Mark Sears? Year 2 transfer. Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman? Year 2 transfer. Kansas’ Kevin McCullar? Year 2 transfer. Providence’s Devin Carter Jr.? Year 2 transfer. Auburn’s Johni Broome? Year 2 transfer. Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves? Year 2 transfer.
Even in previous years, studs like Penn State’s Jalen Pickett and Marquette’s Tyler Kolek elevated into All-Americans in the … second year with their new team.
You get the point.
“When you’re a freshman in college, there’s a period of adjustment –– unless you’re one of those ones –– where it basically takes a whole year,” said Baylor’s Jalen Bridges, who leveled up in his second year with the Bears after transferring from West Virginia. “Basically, when you transfer, you’re doing that all over again. You’re learning a system, learning what’s expected, learning everything all over again. I feel like I have a better feeling of comfort. I know what’s expected. I know the system. I know everything. From a culture aspect, everything at West Virginia was break-them-down, build-them-up. (Baylor) is straight positivity. Coach (Scott) Drew is the easiest coach in America to play for. It’s so different.”
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2023 transfer portal stars like Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Arizona’s Caleb Love and Houston’s LJ Cryer are all back for the 2024-25 season and will be significant lynchpins on National Title contenders. That trio was productive last year, and they’ll continue to put up numbers moving forward.
Who are some of the other big Year 2 transfer breakout candidates for the 2024-25 campaign? Let’s dive in.
