College Transfer Portal Tops 1,838 Players

The transfer portal has reshaped college basketball: 1,838 Division I players moved last spring after the NCAA began allowing immediate eligibility for transfers in 2021. Coaches are increasingly embracing the portal — Oklahoma’s Porter Moser assembled the nation’s 11th-ranked transfer class this offseason, and three transfers scored in double figures in an exhibition win over No. 24 Wisconsin. Programs are also confronting the risk that high transfer grades do not always translate to sustained production, prompting retrospectives and occasional busts at schools such as West Virginia. Analysts are tracking high-upside, multi-stop additions like Baker‑Mazara as they assess college impact and NBA potential. The portal’s reach extends to the professional level; former Gonzaga and Washington State players populate NBA rosters and recent signees like Ryan Nembhard (an undrafted two‑way with Dallas) show transfers can convert into pro opportunities.