Part I: 23 Impact College Basketball Transfers for 2023

The 2022-23 college basketball season has concluded, as the Connecticut Huskies emerged victorious over the San Diego State Aztecs in the National Championship. Competitions on the hardwood are over for a while, but the competition off of the court is just beginning. The transfer portal has changed the landscape of college basketball, with players routinely jumping in and out of the portal in search of a new school. Titles aren't won in the offseason, but championship-caliber players can be acquired via the transfer portal across these spring and summer months. I've compiled a list of the biggest impact transfers this offseason, with my top ten listed down below. Stay tuned for part two, as my list gets up to 23 players for the 2023-24 season. Note: The grades of players are as they will be listed during the 2023-24 season

1. Sr. C Hunter Dickinson (Michigan → TBD)

2022-23 stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 56.0 FG%

Star players transferring isn’t nearly as shocking now as it may have been prior to the transfer portal, but Hunter Dickinson transferring from Michigan came totally out of left field. Dickinson seemed like a Michigan man through and through, but now he’s searching for a new home for his senior season. Any program would love to have a player like Hunter Dickinson, a true interior presence that is capable of producing a double-double every night. On top of his post prowess, Dickinson has quietly improved his outside shooting, going from virtually never shooting jump shots to now hitting threes at a 42.1% rate. Pull up jumpers aren’t his game, but Dickinson has developed to the point that you can’t leave him open anywhere on the court. I expect Dickinson to transfer to a true blue blood with Kansas and Kentucky coming to mind as viable landing spots.

2. Sr. G LJ Cryer (Baylor → Houston)

2022-23 stats: 15.0 PPG, 2.0 APG, 41.5 3P%, 45.3 FG%

In Waco, LJ Cryer continued to improve and improve each year for the Baylor Bears. Cryer became one of Scott Drew’s top scoring options, one of the more lethal weapons in the Big 12. What makes Cryer so dangerous is his three-point shooting, as he shot 41.5% from deep last year and has a career mark of 42.5%. He’s as efficient as any player in the country, which is incredibly valuable for a player that takes a ton of shots. Many college players can score, but few can score as efficiently as Cryer can. His 2022-23 season was fantastic overall, but Cryer absolutely exploded in the NCAA Tournament. In two tournament games, he averaged 22.7 PPG and single-handedly kept his team competitive against Creighton in the Round of 32, scoring 30 points on 13-22 shooting. LJ Cryer should seamlessly transition to his new role as a Houston Cougar and could be a sneaky candidate for the All-American team.

3. 5th yr Sr. G Max Abmas (Oral Roberts → TBD)

2022-23 stats: 21.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 37.3 3P%, 43.6 FG%

It’s hard not to love Max Abmas. After leading 15 seeded Oral Roberts to a Sweet Sixteen berth in 2021, Abmas remained loyal and returned to Tulsa. Now, he looks to join a high level program for his fifth season of college basketball. Abmas is absolutely electric with the basketball in his hands. He can score at all three levels and is able to take over games with ease. His usage will likely decrease when he has more talent around him at his new school, but his volume scoring also comes with efficiency, as he has a career 38.8 3P%. Abmas isn’t necessarily a defensive ace, but he’s good at counting up steals, which is a nice add-on to his offensive greatness. He could opt to follow his coach Paul Mills to Wichita State, but I find it to be more likely that he ends up at a prominent power five program like Arkansas, Texas, or Kansas State, although this is all speculative.

4. Jr. G Ryan Nembhard (Creighton → TBD)

2022-23 stats: 12.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 35.6 3P%, 43.2 FG%

Andrew Nembhard could’ve stayed at Creighton, where the majority of contributors are expected to return, but he has chosen to move on from Omaha. Nembhard had an encouraging freshman campaign in 2021-22, then built on it and improved in nearly every facet this past season. Nembhard is more than capable of getting buckets for himself, but what really makes him intriguing is his ability to create opportunities for others. Even in games where he’s not shooting well, he can still make a positive impact on the game. His overall body of work shows him to be a solid player, but his 30 point performance against Baylor in the Round of 32 is what makes folks think he can be an All-American. Arizona seems like the team to beat in the recruitment of Andrew Nembhard, which makes sense because of the portal departure of G Kerr Kriisa.

5. Sr. G Ace Baldwin (VCU → Penn State)

2022-23 stats: 12.7 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 34.2 3P%, 42.1 FG%

Adrian Baldwin Jr. is a perfectly fine name, but Ace Baldwin just sounds like a sports superstar. I don’t know if Ace is exactly a superstar, but he’s been very impressive over his three years at VCU. As a freshman, Baldwin was awful from beyond the arc and had mediocre efficiency stats, but he’s improved his numbers across the board over the last two years. Now, Baldwin has raised his career field goal rate to 40.8% and his three point rate to 34.7%. There’s still some room for him to develop more as a scorer, but he’s incredibly valuable in his current form due to his knack for making plays at the top of the key. His 5.8 APG ranks as the 15th best mark in the country, while his 2.2 SPG is good for 19th. To conclude, Ace Baldwin is a pure stud that will be a pivotal piece for coach Mike Rhoades in his first season at Penn State.

6. Sr. G Tramon Mark (Houston → Arkansas)

2022-23 stats: 10.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 39.0 FG%

Tramon Mark’s baseline stats may not wow the average fan, but he has the makings of a fantastic player. When shooting at a high volume, Mark tends to produce great results, as indicated by his 40 combined points against Auburn and Miami in the NCAA Tournament. In Houston, Mark was probably the third or fourth scoring option, which is fair given the presence of Marcus Sasser and Jarace Walker, but limited some of his upside. Arkansas will certainly be importing tons of other talented players via the transfer portal, but Mark should have more of an opportunity to be a primary player on offense. His track record from three isn’t particularly impressive, but it’s improved each year. Should he progress just a little bit from deep, Tramon Mark will be one of the best players in the SEC.

7. Jr. C Graham Ike (Wyoming → TBD)

2021-22 stats: 19.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 51.0 FG%

It’s disappointing that Graham Ike missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season due to injury, but don’t forget that he’s a monster when he’s healthy. During the 2021-22 season, Ike and Hunter Maldonado were a dynamic duo for the Wyoming Cowboys, willing them to a spot in the field of 68. Ike is your prototypical back to the basket big man, a ferocious scorer at the rim and a tenacious rebounder. Ike had 13 games with 10+ rebounds and 15 games with 20+ points. Not bad! I find Graham Ike to be very comparable to Kentucky C Oscar Tshiebwe, as both are undersized at the position (6’9”), but corral rebounds better than just about anyone else in the country. Crystal balls have been pointing towards Providence landing Ike, which would help make Kim English’s Friars a legitimate threat in the Big East.

8. Sr. G Caleb Love (North Carolina → Michigan)

2022-23 stats: 16.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 37.8 FG%

Caleb Love is quite the polarizing player. There’s no doubt that he can score the ball, as he has a career average of 14.6 PPG. Going back to North Carolina’s magical run to the National Championship game two seasons ago, Love was beautiful in his 30 point performance vs UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen and 28 points vs Duke in the Final Four. On the flip side, Love shot 5-24 in the championship game against Kansas. His tournament performance(s) serves as a microcosm for who Caleb Love is as a player. He’s going to shoot the ball very often, and even if he’s missing shots, he will continue to shoot. He’s incredible when he’s on, but he often destroys his team’s chances of winning when he’s off. Love loves to huck threes, but his 29.9 3P% from last season indicate that he should probably scale back and cut down on contested/heat check shots from deep. It’s not hard to imagine how Caleb Love will play at Michigan, he’s gonna score plenty, but it remains to be seen if he can aid the Wolverines to more success.

9. 5th yr Sr. G Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware → TCU)

2022-23 stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.4 SPG, 44.5 FG%

Jameer Nelson has been out of the NBA for several years, but his son has taken over as the basketball prodigy of the family. Jameer Nelson Jr. started his career at George Washington before ultimately transferring to Delaware. At Delaware, he was nothing short of spectacular, averaging 13.6 PPG on 44.6 FG% his first season in the program, then 20.6 PPG on 44.5 FG% this past season. Nelson’s usage climbed, but his efficiency remained stellar. He’s plenty good on the offensive side of the ball, but he also impacts the game with this 2.4 SPG, good for 9th best in the country. There may be an offensive learning curve for Nelson as he moves to the loaded Big 12, but his pick-pocketing prowess will be valuable from day one in Fort Worth. Replacing star G Mike Miles Jr. will be nearly impossible for coach Jamie Dixon, but Jameer Nelson Jr. should do a solid job in filling the void.

10. 5th yr Sr. F/C Jesse Edwards (Syracuse → West Virginia)

2022-23 stats: 14.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 59.2 FG%

Syracuse has fallen off in recent years, but that’s not because of Jesse Edwards. Edwards played sparingly as a freshman and sophomore, but burst onto the scene as a junior. He averaged 12.0 PPG on an impressive 69.5 FG% during the 2021-22 season. His usage spiked up this past season, elevating his PPG to 14.5 PPG. Additionally, Edwards began to dominate on the glass as a senior, averaging 10.3 RPG. That rebounding mark is good for 12th in the country, a notable feat. He’s simply a steady frontcourt presence that can succeed even if he isn’t the primary scoring option. As is the case with most portal players, Arkansas seems like a logical landing spot for Edwards, but he should have many power five schools courting for his commitment.

UPDATE: Jesse Edwards just committed to West Virginia, a huge get for coach Bob Huggins.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! Who do you think is the best player in the portal? Who do you want your team to land? Let me know in the comments below!

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