I give you the 21-22 College Basketball Transfer Rankings
We're about to experience the three best weeks on the sports calendar: The NCAA tournament. Well, 68 teams are going to experience it, at least. The rest of college basketball is already planning for the 2021-22 season, a season everyone is hoping resembles more of a normal campaign than the last five months.
The transfer portal is going to be busier than ever this spring, with upwards of 1,500 names expected to enter their names. And with the NCAA either passing a long-awaited one-time transfer rule or simply granting another blanket waiver, extreme roster turnover could be on its way.
So for the teams that need to refresh and rebuild their rosters into a group that can hear its name on Selection Sunday, the following names are a good start.
Updated March 12, 2021. Will be updated regularly.
1. Oscar Tshiebwe, 6-foot-9, 260 pounds, PF, sophomore, West Virginia
Committed to Kentucky
Tshiebwe was one of the best big men in the country as a freshman (11.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG), but struggled through 10 games this season before leaving. He ultimately chose Kentucky over the likes of Miami, Illinois and NC State.
2. Justin Powell, 6-6, 205 lbs., G, Fr., Auburn
Before getting hurt in early January, Powell was one of the more surprising freshmen in the country. He was handling playmaking duties for the Tigers, while also making shots and scoring. Averaged 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists, shooting 44.2% from 3. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Kentucky, Louisville and others get involved.
3. Caleb Mills, 6-3, 175 pounds, SG, sophomore, Houston
Committed to Florida State
Mills entered the season as the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, but struggled with injuries and other issues and only played four games this season. He's a big-time scorer who averaged 13.2 points in 2019-20.
4. Xavier Johnson, 6-3, 200 lbs., PG, Jr., Pittsburgh
Left the program with a few weeks left in the season, but had been a consistent contributor for three seasons with the Panthers. Averaged 14.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season, and went for 32 points and seven assists in a game earlier this season vs. Virginia Tech.
5. Nimari Burnett, 6-6, 220 pounds, G, freshman, Texas Tech
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Burnett struggled offensively early and saw his role diminish as the season progressed. He can play either guard spot and is also solid defensively. Averaged 5.3 points.
6. Paul Atkinson, 6-10, 220 pounds, PF, junior, Yale (GRADUATE)
Committed to Notre Dame
The Co-Player of the Year in the Ivy League last season, Atkinson averaged 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds and was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection. He should immediately help the Fighting Irish next season.
7. Au'diese Toney, 6-6, 210 lbs., SG, Jr., Pittsburgh
Toney left shortly after Xavier Johnson, and had a list of 20-plus schools that reached out in the first couple days following him entering the portal. Averaged 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in the backcourt next to Johnson.
8. Jamison Battle, 6-7, 225 lbs., SF, Soph., George Washington
A name that had been rumored for a couple months, Battle entered the transfer portal and immediately heard from the likes of Marquette, Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona and others. Averaged 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds this season.
9. Storm Murphy, 6-0, 180 lbs., PG, Sr., Wofford
The Wisconsin native earned first-team All-SoCon honors this season after averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 assists and shooting 40% from 3-point range. There's some talk he could follow former coach Mike Young to Virginia Tech, but could the homestate Badgers also get involved?
10. Wynston Tabbs, 6-2, 193 lbs., SG, Jr., Boston College
Committed to East Carolina
Tabbs was suspended from the team for violating COVID-19 protocols and entered the transfer portal shortly after. He's a talented guard who averaged better than 13 points each of the last two seasons and shot nearly 40% from 3-point range this season.
11. Matt Cross, 6-6, 220 pounds, F, freshman, Miami
A former ESPN 100 recruit, Cross showed flashes of his offensive ability during his two months in Coral Gables, but had two DNPs in his final two games before leaving. Cross scored 16 points against both Louisville and Virginia Tech, and shot 40% from 3-point range in 14 games.
12. Stef Smith, 6-2, 185 lbs., SG, Sr., Vermont
Smith has been a stellar piece of Vermont's success the last few years, earning second-team All-America East honors this season after landing on the first team last season. Averaged 13.6 points and shot 36% from 3-point range this season.
13. Parker Stewart, 6-5, 210 pounds, SG, junior, Tennessee-Martin (GRADUATE)
Committed to Indiana
He earned second-team All-Ohio Valley honors last season after averaging 19.2 points and 3.8 assists, and also averaged 9.1 points as a freshman at Pittsburgh. Stewart is the son of former UT-Martin coach Anthony Stewart, who passed away suddenly before the season began.
14. AJ Bramah, 6-7, 210 lbs., F, Sr.. Robert Morris
Bramah was one of the most productive players in the country before leaving Robert Morris in mid-February, averaging 21.0 points and 10.3 rebounds -- second in the Horizon in both categories. Had more than 20 programs reach out to him, but he's taking his time with a decision.
15. Rich Kelly, 6-1, 175 lbs., SG, Sr., Boston College
Kelly spent one season at Boston College after transferring from Quinnipiac, averaging 11.0 points for the Eagles. Was highly effective at Quinnipiac, scoring nearly 17 points per game and shooting around 40% from 3-point range in 2019-20.
We're about to experience the three best weeks on the sports calendar: The NCAA tournament. Well, 68 teams are going to experience it, at least. The rest of college basketball is already planning for the 2021-22 season, a season everyone is hoping resembles more of a normal campaign than the last five months.
The transfer portal is going to be busier than ever this spring, with upwards of 1,500 names expected to enter their names. And with the NCAA either passing a long-awaited one-time transfer rule or simply granting another blanket waiver, extreme roster turnover could be on its way.
So for the teams that need to refresh and rebuild their rosters into a group that can hear its name on Selection Sunday, the following names are a good start.
Updated March 12, 2021. Will be updated regularly.
1. Oscar Tshiebwe, 6-foot-9, 260 pounds, PF, sophomore, West Virginia
Committed to Kentucky
Tshiebwe was one of the best big men in the country as a freshman (11.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG), but struggled through 10 games this season before leaving. He ultimately chose Kentucky over the likes of Miami, Illinois and NC State.
2. Justin Powell, 6-6, 205 lbs., G, Fr., Auburn
Before getting hurt in early January, Powell was one of the more surprising freshmen in the country. He was handling playmaking duties for the Tigers, while also making shots and scoring. Averaged 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists, shooting 44.2% from 3. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Kentucky, Louisville and others get involved.
3. Caleb Mills, 6-3, 175 pounds, SG, sophomore, Houston
Committed to Florida State
Mills entered the season as the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, but struggled with injuries and other issues and only played four games this season. He's a big-time scorer who averaged 13.2 points in 2019-20.
4. Xavier Johnson, 6-3, 200 lbs., PG, Jr., Pittsburgh
Left the program with a few weeks left in the season, but had been a consistent contributor for three seasons with the Panthers. Averaged 14.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season, and went for 32 points and seven assists in a game earlier this season vs. Virginia Tech.
5. Nimari Burnett, 6-6, 220 pounds, G, freshman, Texas Tech
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Burnett struggled offensively early and saw his role diminish as the season progressed. He can play either guard spot and is also solid defensively. Averaged 5.3 points.
6. Paul Atkinson, 6-10, 220 pounds, PF, junior, Yale (GRADUATE)
Committed to Notre Dame
The Co-Player of the Year in the Ivy League last season, Atkinson averaged 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds and was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection. He should immediately help the Fighting Irish next season.
7. Au'diese Toney, 6-6, 210 lbs., SG, Jr., Pittsburgh
Toney left shortly after Xavier Johnson, and had a list of 20-plus schools that reached out in the first couple days following him entering the portal. Averaged 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in the backcourt next to Johnson.
8. Jamison Battle, 6-7, 225 lbs., SF, Soph., George Washington
A name that had been rumored for a couple months, Battle entered the transfer portal and immediately heard from the likes of Marquette, Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona and others. Averaged 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds this season.
9. Storm Murphy, 6-0, 180 lbs., PG, Sr., Wofford
The Wisconsin native earned first-team All-SoCon honors this season after averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 assists and shooting 40% from 3-point range. There's some talk he could follow former coach Mike Young to Virginia Tech, but could the homestate Badgers also get involved?
10. Wynston Tabbs, 6-2, 193 lbs., SG, Jr., Boston College
Committed to East Carolina
Tabbs was suspended from the team for violating COVID-19 protocols and entered the transfer portal shortly after. He's a talented guard who averaged better than 13 points each of the last two seasons and shot nearly 40% from 3-point range this season.
11. Matt Cross, 6-6, 220 pounds, F, freshman, Miami
A former ESPN 100 recruit, Cross showed flashes of his offensive ability during his two months in Coral Gables, but had two DNPs in his final two games before leaving. Cross scored 16 points against both Louisville and Virginia Tech, and shot 40% from 3-point range in 14 games.
12. Stef Smith, 6-2, 185 lbs., SG, Sr., Vermont
Smith has been a stellar piece of Vermont's success the last few years, earning second-team All-America East honors this season after landing on the first team last season. Averaged 13.6 points and shot 36% from 3-point range this season.
13. Parker Stewart, 6-5, 210 pounds, SG, junior, Tennessee-Martin (GRADUATE)
Committed to Indiana
He earned second-team All-Ohio Valley honors last season after averaging 19.2 points and 3.8 assists, and also averaged 9.1 points as a freshman at Pittsburgh. Stewart is the son of former UT-Martin coach Anthony Stewart, who passed away suddenly before the season began.
14. AJ Bramah, 6-7, 210 lbs., F, Sr.. Robert Morris
Bramah was one of the most productive players in the country before leaving Robert Morris in mid-February, averaging 21.0 points and 10.3 rebounds -- second in the Horizon in both categories. Had more than 20 programs reach out to him, but he's taking his time with a decision.
15. Rich Kelly, 6-1, 175 lbs., SG, Sr., Boston College
Kelly spent one season at Boston College after transferring from Quinnipiac, averaging 11.0 points for the Eagles. Was highly effective at Quinnipiac, scoring nearly 17 points per game and shooting around 40% from 3-point range in 2019-20.
