College basketball transfer portal movement tracker: Grades for every top commitment from 2026 cycle

It's an awkward time in the transfer portal, with uneasiness setting in for many coaches who need difference-makers but aren't sure exactly where to find them. The top options in the transfer portal are drying up by the day, but the looming threat of the NCAA's 5-in-5 eligibility model, which could unleash a barrage of extra seniors who get to play in college basketball for one more year, is a major factor in roster-building efforts throughout the country.

Beyond numerous pending lawsuits, no one can truly predict what's in store for the five-in-five fallout. So some coaches, like Michigan's Dusty May, are choosing to just press onward, recruiting the players who are currently eligible. 

May continued his busy offseason with a monster addition at a huge position of need. 7-foot-2 center Moustapha Thiam committed to the reigning National Champions on Friday. He was one of the best players available on the portal.

To help you keep up with the madness of the transfer portal, CBS Sports is grading the commitments as they happen. The transfer portal officially closed at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, but players can commit long after that deadline. Notably, the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft to maintain college eligibility is May 28. 

🏀 Grading the top moves in the transfer portal

Louisville -- Flory Bidunga

247Sports rank: No. 1 overall, 98 grade | No. 1 PF
Former school: Kansas

Instant analysis: Landing Bidunga opens up a potpourri of options for Louisville's defensive game plans. Bidunga is one of the most switchable big men in the country. He can guard 1 through 5. He can blitz ball screens or drop back into some variety of drop coverage. That versatility to play aggressive or passive defenses should give Louisville's staff a bit more flexibility to tweak the plan based on the opponent.

It's why Bidunga is one of the most coveted assets in the portal. There just aren't many big men who can do what Bidunga brings to the table. He has a ridiculous vertical and catch radius around the basket. He will be one of the best athletes in the ACC from the jump and could lead the league in dunks. Bidunga also has some untapped potential playing on the perimeter, not because of his shooting, but because of his ability to put it on the deck. Bidunga is the most talented big man to play for the Cardinals' program in years. Grade: A+ -- Isaac Trotter

Duke -- John Blackwell

247Sports rank: No. 3 overall, 98 grade | No. 1 SG
Former school: Wisconsin

Instant analysis: With Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans expected to go pro, Duke needed an influx of 3-point volume. Boozer and Evans combined for 155 treys. Evans was one of 13 high-major players to make 100 treys. He was legitimately one of the top shooters for his position. Boozer (54 triples at a 39% clip) was also one of the best shooters for his position. That's what makes the Blackwell addition such a big deal. The veteran guard drained 96 3-pointers last year at a 39% clip. Even though he's not an elite movement shooter like Evans, Blackwell is a dangerous floor-spacer who can make 3-pointers off the catch (44%) or off the bounce. 

Blackwell's big-boy rack attacks will add some real versatility to his game. Blackwell loves to reject a ball screen on an empty side of the floor, put the defender on his hip and motor to the rack. Blackwell can put undersized guards into the stanchion with his bouldering drives, and he's a good cutter, which should be showcased in this Scheyer scheme. Both Patrick Ngongba and Drew Scharnowski can pass, so Blackwell should get spoon-fed a few easy buckets a game by just moving without the basketball. 

This type of add also gives Duke another late-clock option. Blackwell is a tough cover when the shot clock is dwindling because of his ability to draw fouls, hit pull-ups and pressure the rim. Blackwell will have to adjust his game a little bit because Duke's frontcourt doesn't space the floor nearly as well as Wisconsin's just did, but Scheyer's offense does such a good job of using non-shooters in creative spots on the floor to open up driving lanes, so it isn't too much of a concern. This feels like a really high-floor move for both sides. It's hard to see how Blackwell is not productive, and Duke should help him smooth out some of the rough edges of his game on defense and as a playmaker. Grade: A- -- Trotter

Texas A&M -- PJ Haggerty

247Sports rank: No. 7 overall, 97 grade | No. 1 PG
Former school: Kansas State

Instant analysis: Haggerty is pound-for-pound one of the best scorers in college basketball. He is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 23.4 points in 31 games. He will be the rare player to play five seasons at five different schools, having started his career at TCU during the 2022-23 season. Under coach Bucky McMillan, Texas A&M likes to play fast. The Aggies averaged 15.7 seconds per possession, which ranked No. 16 among all Division I teams (KenPom). With Haggerty, Kansas State ranked in the top 15 in that stat this season. Last year at Memphis, the Tigers were ranked inside the top 30 in average possession time. Last season, five different Texas A&M players averaged at least 10 points per game. The scoring was almost by committee. With Haggerty, the Aggies have someone who can get a bucket whenever he pleases. This is a big splash for Texas A&M and a great start to the offseason. Grade: A -- Cameron Salerno

Texas -- David Punch

247Sports rank: No. 9 overall, 96 grade | No. 3 PF
Former school: TCU

Instant analysis: This is one heck of a coup for Sean Miller. Texas's ability to retain center Matas Vokietaitis and land Punch in a 48-hour span gives the Longhorns one of the most physical, imposing frontcourts in all of college basketball, and they're both soon-to-be-juniors, so they can stick together for multiple seasons. 

Punch, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward, is an elite defender who can guard multiple positions. He anchored a TCU unit that finished No. 22 in defensive efficiency. He will slot in as a do-it-all, lunch-pail, 4-man for Texas who can wear a bunch of different hats. When Texas wants to switch 1 through 4, Punch is up for the challenge. He is happy as a clam guarding on the perimeter or fighting tooth and nail in the paint. Punch has terrific length, timing and ball skills. He's one of the elite shot-blockers for his size. No high-major player 6-foot-7 or shorter notched a higher block rate than Punch. He's also a gritty, hard-nosed rebounder. The boards will be a major strength for this Texas team with Vokietaitis and Punch on the floor.

Texas is pretty clearly looking to build a smashmouth identity with this new frontcourt. Punch can shoot 3s (11 triples in 2025-26), but that's not really his game yet. He's more looking to face up, deck it and obliterate smaller defenders with power and physicality. Punch is a willing passer, so some secondary creation should make this fit a bit easier. Punch just impacts the game positively in so many ways, even when shots aren't going in. He's poised to be one of the SEC's best newcomers next season. Grade: A -- Trotter

Arizona State — Paulius Murauskas

247Sports rank: No. 10 overall, 96 grade | No. 4 PF
Former school: Saint Mary's

Instant analysis: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Murauskas's decision to follow Randy Bennett from Moraga to Tempe shows that he knows where his bread is buttered. The physical 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward immediately gives Arizona State a fulcrum to build around. He uses powerful backdowns to create leverage in the halfcourt, and Murauskas is a willing playmaker who can find cutters or shooters. Murauskas-to-Arizona State is such a high-floor move for both parties. At minimum, he will be a plus rebounder for his position with rock-solid defense, inside-out scoring and plenty of creation. The shooting has ticked up every single year, which is promising for what's to come in his senior season. Murauskas shot over 39% on 43 unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s last year. He needs to take and make more 3s because bully ball won't work against Big 12 athletes every single night. 

As of now, Arizona State has the best power forward in the Big 12 next year, unless Arizona's Koa Peat surprises by eschewing the NBA Draft to return for his sophomore season. Grade: A- — Trotter

Providence -- Miles Byrd

247Sports rank: No. 11 overall, 96 grade | No. 2 SF
Former school: San Diego State

Instant analysis: Byrd is one of the most coveted wings in this portal haul because of his defense. He is similar to a pterodactyl on that end, using ridiculous body control, real-deal bounce and a 6-foot-10 wingspan to levitate in the air and swat shots away. Byrd was the only player in college basketball this season to post at least a 6% block rate and a 4% steal rate. He is a game-changer on that end of the floor. While his offense can be a work in progress, there's a real shot that this could work very well at Providence under first-year coach Bryan Hodgson because his teams always post high transition rates. The open floor is where Byrd makes his money. We'll have a better understanding of what Byrd will be asked to do once the rest of the Friars' roster shakes out, but this is one heck of a start to the Hodgson era. Byrd will immediately be one of the best defenders in the Big East, and Hodgson's offense could be just what the doctor ordered for Byrd. Grade: B+ -- Trotter

Indiana -- Aiden Sherrell

247Sports rank: No. 12 overall, 95 grade | No. 5 PF
Former school: Alabama

Instant analysis: I really like what Indiana is doing in the portal. Addressing size is a priority for Indiana coach Darian DeVries. Indiana is also taking transfers strictly from the power conference ranks. That's a change from last season, as a handful of IU's transfers were mid-major transfers. Sherrell was coveted in the transfer portal and rightfully so. He is coming off a breakout season at Alabama, where he started all 34 games and averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. Sherrell also nearly doubled the volume of his 3-point attempts from this season to last (42 to 80_ and shot 33.8% from beyond the arc. This is a really solid pickup by Indiana. Grade: B+ -- Salerno

Michigan -- Moustapha Thiam

247Sports rank: No. 13 overall, 95 grade | No. 3 C

Former school: Cincinnati

Instant analysis: This is the Aday Mara replacement for Michigan. Thiam is all of 7-foot-2 with an enormous, 7-foot-6 wingspan. Michigan's frontcourt renovation now features prized Tennessee transfer JP Estrella (an offense-first option), Thiam (a defense-first option) with LSU transfer Jalen Reed providing depth if he can get healthy.

That's shrewd roster-building from Dusty May.

Cincinnati had a top-10 defense when Thiam was on the floor, holding opponents to just 48% at the rim, which ranked third-best nationally, according to hoop-explorer. Thiam can control the boards, protect the rim and move well enough on the perimeter to play multiple coverages defensively. 

The best part about Thiam's game is that he can get so, so, so much better. Thiam's decision-making offensively was a little weird. He'd stop-and-pop for jumpers at awkward spots on the floor. He's capable of making 3s (38 treys in two years at a 29% clip), but making jumpers needs to be a cherry on top, not the primary part of his game. If Michigan can develop Thiam into an enforcer and eliminate some of the possessions where he just floats on the perimeter, he can be a terrifying two-way difference-maker who will be in the NBA in 2027. Considering the stakes and where the market was trending for big men, an addition like this for Michigan is enormous, not just for what May can accomplish in 2026-27, but also the ramifications for other big man-needy contenders like Arkansas, North Carolina and so much more. Grade: A — Trotter 

Texas -- Isaiah Johnson

247Sports rank: No. 14 overall, 95 grade | No. 2 PG
Former school: Colorado

Instant analysis: This is a really solid portal add by Texas coach Sean Miller. Johnson was a three-star recruit in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports and had a very good freshman season at Colorado. He averaged 16.9 points while shooting 48.6% from the field, 37.8% from the 3-point line, and 82.1% at the charity stripe. Those are excellent numbers, especially factoring in that he was Colorado's leading scorer. Texas will have plenty of minutes available in its guard rotation next season with Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope out of eligibility and Dailyn Swain possibly off to the NBA. It wouldn't be surprising if he finished as Texas's leading scorer next season. Grade: A- -- Salerno

Illinois -- Stefan Vaaks

247Sports rank: No. 15 overall, 95 grade | No. 2 SG
Former school: Providence

Instant analysis: Illinois dispatched two birds with one stone by landing Vaaks. On one hand, Brad Underwood landed his new lead guard to help replace All-American lead guard Keaton Wagler. On the other hand, Illinois continued to corner the market on the top international stars. Vaaks, a Tabasalu, Estonia native, will have every opportunity to be one of the featured stars for the Illini in 2026-27. 

Vaaks is all of 6-foot-7 and 212 pounds, so he has the positional size that Underwood craves. He's a dynamic shot-maker with extremely deep range. Vaaks deposited 91 3-pointers last year at Providence, and he was one of the most dangerous pull-up shooters in the sport. Vaaks ranked 12th nationally, averaging 1.4 made pull-up 3s per game last season. For reference, Wagler ranked 15th nationally at 1.3 pull-up treys per game. That off-the-dribble shooting prowess is something Illinois' offense desperately needs. With Illinois' cavalry of pick-and-pop bigs, Vaaks is positioned to thrive as an on-ball creator who can score inside and out. The playmaking is another attractive trait. Vaaks has the size to peer over the top of double teams, and he showed real promise stretching out the defense to create easier lanes to deliver precise dimes. Vaaks needs to clean up his body and become a better defender, but size, skill and shooting are at the epicenter of Illinois' recruiting philosophy these days. Vaaks checks off all three of those boxes. Grade: A -- Trotter

St. John's — Donnie Freeman

247Sports rank: No. 16 overall, 95 grade | No. 6 PF
Former school: Syracuse

Instant analysis: Freeman has multiple offensive rebounds in just 11 of his 37 career games. That ain't going to cut it for Rick Pitino. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward is going to be asked to raise his motor to a level it hasn't sniffed before. The idea of Freeman as this mismatch-hunting menace is better than the reality. Freeman was a turnover machine in post-ups, isolations or whenever he tried to initiate pick-and-rolls. He's tried to prove that he can play on the perimeter, but defense and energy will get him to the NBA quicker. St. John's looks poised to scale down his on-ball responsibilities, and I think he can flourish playing next to a maestro point guard like Quinn Ellis if he buys into moving without the basketball and simplifying his game. Attack long closeouts. Play off two feet. Cut, cut and cut one more time. Hunt offensive rebounds. Fly in transition. 

Overall, I really like this decision by Freeman. He's going to get challenged to embrace the meat and potatoes of basketball. If it clicks, there's All-Big East upside, but there will be some rocky moments. Grade: B+ — Trotter

Houston -- Dedan Thomas Jr.

247Sports rank: No. 17 overall, 95 grade | No. 3 PG
Former school: LSU

Instant analysis: Thomas-to-Houston is a sign of the ebbs and flows of the point guard market. Houston was chasing both Thomas and Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton. Kelvin Sampson has clearly settled on Thomas, who is more of a playmaker, instead of Burton, who has more of a score-first mindset. The LSU transfer is an excellent pick-and-roll navigator who was well on his way to a big-time season for the Tigers before succumbing to a season-ending foot injury. Houston's backcourt picture is wide open with Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp off to the pros and Isiah Harwell exiting into the transfer portal. Thomas will be a plug-and-play, set-the-table maestro for the Cougars. Houston's offense values point guards who play clean basketball and can get shots on the rim, so its offensive rebounding can flex its muscles. That's Thomas' game. He is exceptional at taking care of the basketball. He posted a 3.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last year at LSU. That isn't an outlier either, even if it's boosted by playing a weak non-conference slate. Thomas was at a 2.45-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2024-25 at UNLV. Those are exceptional numbers. 

Durability will be a question, though. Thomas has missed significant chunks of each of the last two seasons. He's a little slight at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, and he will be tested defensively in the rough-and-tumble Big 12. But he's a veteran with high feel in ball screens and exceptional vision. With additions on the way to this Houston backcourt, the Thomas addition should be tantalizing for scoring guards. Thomas will make 'em better. Grade: A- -- Trotter

Louisville -- Jackson Shelstad

247Sports rank: No. 18 overall, 95 grade | No. 4 PG
Former school: Oregon

Instant analysis: Louisville's new lead guard has some serious burst. Shelstad is one of the quickest guards in the country with a first step that can leave defenders in the dust. The former Oregon star is a torrid transition scorer who can fill it up off the bounce. Shelstad is one of the top pull-up shooters in all of college basketball, both from beyond the arc and from the midrange. Louisville's pace-and-space scheme should give Shelstad plenty of opportunities to show his overall game. I like the idea of Shelstad's sneaky-good, off-ball cutting potentially being showcased in this Louisville scheme that has plenty of counters in its dribble-handoff-heavy scheme.

The question comes down to whether Shelstad can be a set-the-table point guard or just a scorer, masquerading as a point guard. Pairing Shelstad with another creator could be smart. Can Adrian Wooley be that? Or does Pat Kelsey believe he needs to add another big-name guard in free agency? The jury is still out on that front. Also, defensively, Louisville has to find a complementary cast that can really guard. Shelstad is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. He is a solid defender for his position, especially navigating screens, but there are some limitations here. Bidunga improves Louisville's defensive outlook tremendously. Shelstad improves Louisville's offensive floor tremendously. But more help is needed if Kelsey wants to contend for the ACC crown in 2026-27. Grade: B+ -- Trotter

Tennessee -- Terrence Hill Jr.

247Sports rank: No. 19 overall, 95 grade | No. 5 PG
Former school: VCU

Instant analysis: Hill is poised to get the first crack at replacing Ja'Kobi Gillespie. Tennessee is replacing a bucket-getting guard with another bucket-getting guard. Hill is a dynamic shooter off the catch, can hit pull-up treys, can get to his midrange and even wiggle his way downtown to finish through the trees. He's a true three-level scorer, and he made smart decisions with the ball all year long. Only 13% of his 140 pick-and-roll reps ended in a turnover. That mix of scoring and ball-control is exactly what Rick Barnes needs.

Hill can play point guard, but Jalen Haralson's addition assures that Hill will also be able to be utilized off the ball as a shot-maker. An addition like Hill also gives Tennessee some real lineup versatility. It can go offense-heavy with Hill, Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade and Jalen Haralson surrounding a big man. Or it can go double-big with three perimeter shooters/scorers around Miles Rubin and DeWayne Brown. That optionality is vital. With all these mouths to feed, Tennessee has some role allocation to figure out, but Hill is poised to get a big piece of this pie. Grade: B+ — Trotter

Miami -- Acaden Lewis

247Sports rank: No. 20 overall, 95 grade | No. 1 CG
Former school: Villanova

Instant analysis: When Lewis first entered his name in the transfer portal, I was a little confused. Lewis was in a great situation at Villanova, where he was handed the keys to the offense as a freshman. Lewis started 33 games and averaged 30.5 minutes per game. With that said, Lewis landed in an ideal situation at Miami, where he will be the leader of the offense. I have loved what coach Jai Lucas has done this offseason by landing Lewis and Somto Cyril via the transfer portal while also retaining Shelton Henderson after a standout freshman season.

Lewis attempted 171 shots at the rim and converted at a 61.4% percent clip. An area of improvement for him will be the 3-point shooting. He knocked down just 27.3% of his 99 total attempts last season. Still, this is a great fit all around. Well done by Lucas. Miami is an early winner of the offseason. Grade: A -- Salerno

Michigan -- JP Estrella

247Sports rank: No. 23 overall, 95 grade | No. 7 PF
Former school: Tennessee

Instant analysis: Estrella is one of the most skilled bigs in this transfer portal class. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound big man is a load on the offensive glass, possesses a feathery touch to finish over shot-blockers and can make quick reads as a playmaker. All of those traits are essential in Michigan's scheme. Plus, there's proof of concept here. The Wolverines' hit rate with bigs in the portal under Dusty May has been elite. Danny Wolf, Vlad Goldin, Morez Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara have all flourished in this scheme. Lendeborg is off to the NBA, and Michigan could very well lose both Johnson and Mara, too, so the opportunity is here for Estrella to hop on the jetpack joy ride next. Even if one of Johnson or Mara decides to cash in and return to Ann Arbor for a second year, Estrella's mobility and skill should fit snugly next to either of the big fellas. Grade: A -- Trotter

Miami -- Somto Cyril

247Sports rank: No. 21 overall, 95 grade | No. 4 C
Former school: Georgia

Instant analysis: Jai Lucas believes smashmouth basketball can elevate Miami near the top of a mostly finesse ACC. Cyril is a massive piece of that puzzle. 

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound big man is one of the most impressive athletes in the portal. He is enormous, fast, powerful and explosive. With Ernest Udeh Jr. and Malik Reneau departing, Miami's frontcourt is wide open for Cyril to walk into a featured role. Cyril has all the physical tools to be a two-way enforcer. He was one of the best offensive rebounders and shot-blockers in the country last year. But Lucas' player-development chops will be key to helping Cyril eliminate some of the negative plays from his portfolio and add to his game. Cyril can be very switchable defensively. He can be a better defensive rebounder. He can add more polish to his offensive game (this far, Cyril hasn't shown much as a passer, can't shoot and can't punish mismatches on the block as a low-post scorer). At minimum, Cyril is Miami's Udeh replacement, but there's a sky-high ceiling here that Lucas is hoping to extract. Grade: A- -- Trotter

North Carolina -- Neoklis Avdalas

247Sports rank: No. 22 overall, 95 grade | No. 2 CG
Former school: Virginia Tech

Instant analysis: New UNC coach Michael Malone is on the board with one of the most unique players in the portal. Avdalas is a 6-foot-9 lead guard who showed moments of brilliance in his first season of college ball at Virginia Tech with a combination of size and skill that can be tantalizing. If UNC can get big man Henri Veesaar to return to Chapel Hill for a second season, the pick-and-pop game between Avdalas and Veesaar could be potent. Avdalas is a skilled playmaker who can see over the top of defenders and be a dangerous playmaker.

So what's with the 'B' grade? Avdalas' struggles in conference play were real. He labored to create separation, which led to turnovers, rough shot selection and nothing easy. Against top-100 competition, Avdalas shot 46% on 2-pointers (below average), 28% on 3-pointers (below average), notched a 20% turnover rate (below average) and wasn't a big asset on the glass or on defense. 

The rest of this UNC roster is still very much up in the air. If North Carolina can add more on-ball creators, that could make Avdalas' life a lot easier. At the NBA Draft Combine, Avdalas flashed serious potential as an off-ball shot-maker who could attack defenses on the second side of the floor. If it's up to Avdalas to run the show over and over again, there could be growing pains for a guy who probably is best-suited as a secondary creator who wants to be a lead guard to maximize his value for the NBA.

The size, skill, off-the-dribble shooting and passing make Avdalas a fascinating prospect, but UNC has to round out the supporting cast so there's not too much on his plate. If he's the Robin, not Batman, Avdalas can outplay his contract. Grade: B -- Trotter

Indiana -- Markus Burton

247Sports rank: No. 23 overall, 94 grade | No. 6 PG
Former school: Notre Dame

Instant analysis: Indiana's point guard play left plenty to be desired a year ago, and that issue was exacerbated on a nightly basis during conference play when IU was consistently losing that matchup against the top teams in the league.

Burton should help change that.

The Notre Dame transfer is instant offense. Burton is an elite midrange artist who can stop and pop from the elbow at a moment's notice. His job at Notre Dame was to create his own offense on almost every trip. I think there's more playmaking here, but we'll see on that front. Indiana's barren roster needs to fill out in the frontcourt before we know exactly what Burton's job description will be in Bloomington, but a barrage of buckets seems to be in the cards. We've seen Darian DeVries build his offenses around a ball-dominant guard (Javon Small at West Virginia), and that seems like the most likely outcome as of now. Burton is generously listed at 6-feet and 190 pounds, so Indiana smartly buffed up on perimeter size with additions like 6-6 sharpshooter Darren Harris and 6-6 wing Jaeden Mustaf. This is a rock-solid, floor-raising move for DeVries, but the next additions will determine IU's ceiling. The Hoosiers can't compete for this Big Ten crown without a dude or two in the frontcourt. Grade: B -- Trotter

Tennessee — Jalen Haralson

247Sports rank: No. 24 overall, 94 grade | No. 3 CG
Former school: Notre Dame

Instant analysis: I really like the player, but I am not enamored with the fit at Tennessee. Haralson is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound jumbo initiator who can't shoot (13-for-54 on jumpers last year), so he's reshaped his entire game around knifing to the paint. Where's the space if Tennessee is trotting out lineups with two frontcourt non-spacers in Miles Rubin and DeWayne Brown II? There are ways this does work here, but it's going to take some creativity and adaptation. Haralson coming off pindowns and flinging himself into a crowded paint hoping for a foul seems inevitable some nights. 

Now, he is a skilled passer and owns a real knack for drawing fouls. Haralson could certainly sniff at least six free throw attempts per game. The playmaking, defense, rebounding and creativity as a driver give him real paths to success, and Tennessee made smart decisions to pair the Haralson add with Tyler Lundblade (a dynamic movement shooter) and Dai Dai Ames (career 37% 3-point shooter). Haralson is going to be a good player in Knoxville. I'm just a little concerned that his biggest strength could be slightly neutered. The jumper has to come along. If it does, watch out. Grade: B- — Trotter

West Virginia — Mo Sylla

247Sports rank: No. 26 overall, 94 grade | No. 5 C
Former school: Georgia Tech

Instant analysis: West Virginia coach Ross Hodge engineered a unit that ranked No. 18 in defensive efficiency without elite rim protection. That will change next year with Sylla, who projects to be one of the most impactful defenders on the squad next year. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound center gives West Virginia real scheme flexibility defensively. He can play drop coverage and loom as a rim protector. Sylla has the mobility to switch or hard-hedge if needed. That mobility gives Hodge a potpourri of options to build defensive game plans. While he's raw on offense, Sylla should provide a lob threat to add some vertical spacing to twitchy, speedy guards like incoming freshman Miles Sadler and Butler transfer Finley Bizjack. Sylla also showed promise as an offensive rebounder, which should raise the floor for this WVU offense. The Mountaineers rated just 12th in the Big 12 in offensive-rebound rate in league play. This is a rock-solid addition at a huge position of need. Plus, Sylla has so much room to grow. Grade: B — Trotter

Kentucky — Zoom Diallo

247Sports rank: No. 27 overall, 94 grade | No. 7 PG
Former school: Washington

Instant analysis: Kentucky's pick-and-roll offense was very pedestrian (40th percentile) after Jaland Lowe's injury, so Diallo will be an upgrade in that department. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound point guard has real positional size and showed vast improvement in ball screens last year. He ranked seventh in Big Ten play with an assist rate north of 30.0 and flashed a much-improved offensive game. Over 40% of Diallo's shots came at the rim, and he's got a knockdown floater and an automatic midrange, pull-up jumper in his bag. When teams went under on screens, he's big and physical enough to use that extra space as a launching pad to get downhill and absorb contact.

I also think his defense is better than the all-encompassing metrics may indicate. Opponents shot just 6-for-35 (17%) on drives against Diallo. He throws the first punch defensively, routinely beats guys to the spot and has the size and length to guard multiple positions.  It's not always perfect, but Diallo just competes, and he's reliable and tough. Those attributes get you a long way. Grade: B+ — Trotter

Texas Tech — Cruz Davis

247Sports rank: No. 29 overall, 94 grade | No. 8 PG
Former school: Hofstra

Instant analysis: The Grant McCasland-Jeff Linder braintrust does a really good job of simplifying the game offensively. Davis was one of the top pick-and-roll maestros in the portal, so expect a ton of ball screens in Lubbock next year. It doesn't have to be complicated. The shifty 6-foot-3 lefty has terrific court vision and made smart decisions as a scorer or playmaker all year. He only turned it over on 13% of his 282 pick-and-roll possessions. Davis can get to his pull-up jumper whenever he wants, which gives him a "get out of jail free" card against drop coverage, and the combination of speed, pace and change-of-direction makes him a headache to defend.

Davis also shows promise as an off-ball threat. He shot over 41% on catch-and-shoot 3s on 108 attempts, and he is a willing cutter. If Texas Tech wants to play Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn or DaKari Spear on the ball for stretches, Davis can still bring value to an offense.

Davis is a plug-and-play difference-maker, especially under this coaching staff, which has established a proof-of-concept year after year. Grade: A — Trotter

Baylor — Kayden Mingo

247Sports rank: No. 30 overall, 94 grade | No. 4 CG
Former school: Penn State

Instant analysis: Scott Drew is pairing Mingo (a paint-touch guard) with Liberty transfer Brett Decker (a sharpshooting off-ball guard). That makes plenty of sense. Mingo is always in attack mode, and he can defend, rebound, create and pressure the rim. Mingo shot 63% at the rim on a whopping 151 attempts, even though most defenders were not scared of his jumper. They were loaded up on his drives, and Mingo still found a way to wiggle past them and get downhill. He's going to be a two-way difference-maker, but the jumper needs to become a real factor for Mingo to become a star. Grade: B — Trotter

Duke — Drew Scharnowski

247Sports rank: No. 31 overall, 94 grade | No. 8 PF
Former school: Belmont

Instant analysis: No physicality? No chance in this supersized era of college basketball. Duke won't have to worry about that with the Scharnowski addition to a frontcourt that features junior returner Patrick Ngongba and some talented freshmen. Scharnowski is 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds with an enormous wingspan and real fluidity. He can pass, which Duke covets from its big men. He can run the floor and throw down dunks. He can face up, put it on the deck and drive it. He can slide the puppies on the perimeter and also protect the rim. He just plays with force and violence. This addition gives Jon Scheyer the ability to play a double-big lineup of Scharnowski and Ngongba to combat any giant lineup it could face. Even though he isn't a floor-spacer, there's a real path to a 20-to-25-minute role for Scharnowski.

The big man market is also sparse, so Duke swooping in for Scharnowski to fortify its depth is a massive blow to other potential contenders like Kansas or Texas Tech, who have major voids in the frontcourt. Grade: B+ — Trotter

UConn — Najai Hines

247Sports rank: No. 27 overall, 94 grade | No. 6 C
Former school: Seton Hall

Instant analysis: Hines' nickname is 'Baby Shaq.' Pretty apt descriptor! The 6-foot-10, 265-pound center is a husky monster in the paint, who ranked 19th in offensive-rebound rate and was a sneaky-good low-post scorer for Seton Hall. That stuff is exactly what UConn needs from its centers in its layered offensive system. Hines' superpower is his hand-eye coordination. His timing and anticipation defensively are outstanding. He ranked second in block percentage, despite not being an explosive vertical athlete. 

Dan Hurley's development with big men is impeccable, and Hines can be a flat-out handful if he cleans his body up. He already moves pretty well on the perimeter — even flashing the ability to blitz some ball screens or show and recover — and with time, he could be a nasty, all-around defensive anchor. An addition like Hines explains why freshman big man Eric Reibe dipped into the portal. I don't think Reibe would've beaten Hines out for the starting gig. Grade: A- — Trotter

Arkansas — Jeremiah Wilkinson

247Sports rank: No. 32 overall, 94 grade | No. 5 CG
Former school: Georgia

Instant analysis: The days of John Calipari clubs playing slow are over, so dipping into the portal for one of the most dangerous transition scorers makes plenty of sense. Wilkinson's game is treys, free throws and transition buckets. The 6-foot-1, scoring guard is a little undersized for his position and struggles to finish at the rim (45% on layups last year), but he's good at what he does. Meleek Thomas' stay-or-go, NBA Draft decision will have a major impact on Wilkinson's volume. If Thomas stays in the draft, Wilkinson could be one of the SEC's leading scorers again. If Thomas returns, Arkansas has two straight-up bucket-getters who can oscillate between playing on or off the ball, surrounding five-star lead guard Jordan Smith Jr., who loves to get others involved. Wilkinson shot 37% on a high volume of catch-and-shoot 3s last season, and he took some strides as an on-ball decision-maker. While he's certainly not on the floor to get others involved, Wilkinson did only have an 11% turnover rate in 81 pick-and-roll possessions.

Right now, Arkansas has a lot of guys who can just go hoop in Wilkinson, Thomas, Smith, JJ Andrews, Billy Richmond III and Abdou Toure. This transition offense is going to purr, but with all this talent, there's a chance that Wilkinson could get passed up in the pecking order if he doesn't clean up some aspects of his game. If he can improve his finishing at the rim, add more to his arsenal in the middle of the floor and bring more clamps defensively, Wilkinson can outplay his contract.  Grade: B — Trotter

UConn -- Nikolas Khamenia

247Sports rank: No. 33 overall, 94 grade | No. 3 SF
Former school: Duke

I love this pickup for UConn. Khamenia will serve as Alex Karaban's replacement at forward. The former five-star recruit will play for the team that eliminated his former team, Duke, in the Elite Eight. Khamenia shot 37.4% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. UConn's offensive system, which is designed to get shooters open through a variety of actions, is exactly what he needs to take the next step. Khamenia will likely be a Day 1 starter for coach Dan Hurley, something he didn't do often during his freshman season at Duke. He started just five games and logged just under 20 minutes per outing. Grade: A -- Salerno

Missouri -- Bryson Tiller

247Sports rank: No. 34 overall, 94 grade | No. 9 PF
Former school: Kansas

Instant analysis: Tiller is a very interesting pickup by Missouri. There were certainly flashes of his four-star billing this season at Kansas, but it was inconsistent at times. He was benched against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament and played just 14 minutes. In his final game at Kansas, he scored zero points in 27 minutes against St. John's. The highs of his time at Kansas were great, though. He stole the show against BYU by scoring 21 points in a game that featured Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. He scored 18 points in an upset win over Arizona at home without Dybantsa in the lineup. Missouri is building a very solid foundation for incoming five-star guard Jason Crowe Jr. to work with. If Tiller can put together consistent starter minutes, this will be worth the swing. Grade: B — Salerno

USC -- KJ Lewis

247Sports rank: No. 35 overall, 94 grade | No. 4 SF
Former school: Georgetown

Instant analysis: Eric Musselman loves big guards. He retained offense-first lead guard Rodney Rice, and now he dips into the portal for Lewis, who is a 6-foot-4, athletic, bouncy guard who can bring the clamps on defense. That 1-2 punch looks formidable on paper. Lewis looks poised to take on the role of a perimeter stopper for the Trojans in 2026-27. He should get tasked with guarding the top dude on the scouting report every single night. 

The offense remains mostly a work in progress. If Rice and Alijah Arenas are the top offensive weapons for the Trojans, that could open up Lewis to hum as an off-ball cutter and slasher who can attack rotating defenses and get downhill. Lewis knocked down 33% of his 72 catch-and-shoot 3s, which is a big improvement, but he's definitely at his best in transition, where he can zoom to open pastures in the open floor.

Lewis-to-USC is a high-floor move because he rebounds extremely well for his position, adds a little playmaking, plays defense and can get you double-digits without stuff being run for him. But I'd be surprised if he's in the mix for All-Big Ten honors. Grade: B — Trotter

Vanderbilt — Sebastian Williams-Adams

247Sports rank: No. 38 overall, 94 grade | No. 9 PF
Former school: Auburn

Instant analysis: Williams-Adams was one of the top defenders in the SEC last year as a freshman. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward can guard multiple positions and plays smashmouth basketball. Williams-Adams could crack double figures every night without a play being run for him in this scheme. His cutting is his superpower, and Vanderbilt can get really big, really quickly if Mark Byington chooses to insert Williams-Adams at the 3 surrounded by Berke Buyuktuncel and Bangot Dak. Williams-Adams should be an outstanding two-way role player for Vanderbilt. Grade: A- — Trotter

Xavier -- Chance Westry

247Sports rank: No. 39 overall, 94 grade | No. 6 CG
Former school: UAB

Instant analysis: The 6-foot-6, 205-pound lead guard has elite positional size and just creates a lot of advantages. Westry posted nearly a 3-to-1, assist-to-turnover rate at UAB last year, to go along with oodles of transition buckets and a to-the-rim mentality. That's exactly what Xavier needed to get the dominoes falling for a supporting cast that includes two guards who don't create a ton of offense for themselves (Tru Washington and Ruben Dominguez) and two bigs who need lobs (Mike Nwoko) or throwbacks for 3s (Jovan Milicevic). Westry is going to be the catalyst for this group. There's going to be some high-highs and low-lows for a mercurial player, but it's a worthy swing for a Xavier club that really needed an influx of talent and more positional size. Westry reminds me a little of former NC State guard Quadir Copeland. If Westry's jumper can ever improve like Copeland's did, Xavier could have a gem. Grade: B — Trotter

Marquette -- Sananda Fru

247Sports rank: No. 40 overall, 94 grade | No. 8 C
Former school: Louisville

Instant analysis: The advanced analytics are obsessed with Fru. Googly-eyed, enamored, all the adjectives. I can't quite get there, but Fru is a good player and a much-needed addition for Marquette at a massive position of need. Pairing a fluid, mobile lob threat like Fru with a dynamic point guard like Nigel James makes plenty of sense. Fru is a very physical screen-setter (a bunch of his turnovers are because he set some violent screens), which will help scrape defenders off the already-explosive James. Marquette needed rebounding and some interior oomph in the worst way. If Fru wanted a ton of post touches, Marquette probably isn't the place for it, but maybe Shaka Smart acquiesces a bit to keep Fru engaged in the other aspects of the game. You could make the case that Marquette will have a top-two center in the Big East next season with this addition. That works every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Grade: A- — Trotter

Villanova -- Kwame Evans Jr.

247Sports rank: No. 42 overall, 94 grade | No. 10 PF
Former school: Oregon

Instant analysis: From a pure "points per possession allowed" standpoint, last season was the worst defense for a Kevin Willard-coached team in 11 years. Villanova was also the second-shortest Big East club because it relied so heavily on a three-guard lineup exclusively. Evans should provide a real jolt to help shore up Villanova's positional size and defensive versatility. Evans is a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward who can toggle between a perimeter-based, small-ball 5 and a mismatch-hunting, jumbo power forward. Evans is an above-average rebounder for his position and adds some secondary rim protection and switchability. 

Even though it came in a lost Oregon season, Evans started to show growth offensively, draining a career-best 31 3-pointers and notching a career-best 13.6 assist rate. Evans looks like a plug-and-play starter regardless of how this roster shakes out, although it's hard to shake the feeling that Villanova is probably the best version of itself if he's the third or fourth fiddle. Grade: B -- Trotter

Missouri — Jamier Jones

247Sports rank: No. 41 overall, 94 grade | No. 5 SF
Former school: Providence

Instant analysis: Jamier Jones is flat-out one of the most explosive and violent (that's a compliment) players in college basketball. Jones hammered 54 dunks last season, which ranked second amongst all freshmen behind UNC lottery pick Caleb Wilson. He's a grown man. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound wing is a big, strong, confrontational driver. Jones ranked third in Big East play in free-throw rate — which is something Dennis Gates covets — while averaging nearly five points in transition alone. Jones is a freight train in the open floor. He can be one of the most dangerous transition scorers in the SEC and give Missouri a changeup around five-star guard Jason Crowe Jr.'s halfcourt heroics as a mismatch hunter who can obliterate smaller defenders with get-off-me drives. Jones has to refine his decision-making, grow as a shooter and eliminate some of the defensive miscues that littered his tape at Providence, but if he does that, he can be a two-way beast. Jones has all the physical tools to be an elite defender. There's no reason he can't lock in mentally and lock down. It's up to Gates to get that out of him. Grade: B+ — Trotter

Kentucky — Alex Wilkins

247Sports rank: No. 43 overall, 94 grade | No. 7 CG
Former school: Furman

Instant analysis: Wilkins is a 6-foot-5 lead guard with positional size, shooting and feel. Those are the attributes you usually want to bet on, and he tore it up at Furman as one of the top pick-and-roll creators. But this fit at Kentucky is a lot to unpack. Mark Pope has chosen to pair Wilkins (a heavy ball-screen point guard) with Zoom Diallo (a heavy ball-screen point guard). That positional overlap could be something that trips Kentucky up if it doesn't mesh, but I'm optimistic that it can click because there are multiple outs. Wilkins is a good 3-point shooter off the catch (37% on 108 attempts), and Diallo is a dynamic driver. Kentucky could oscillate between Wilkins and Diallo as the on-ball engine — based on who has the favorable matchup — to generate advantages because both are willing playmakers. Playing Wilkins on the ball gives Diallo a chance to attack rotating defenses with stampede drives. Playing Diallo on the ball gives Wilkins some chances to operate as a cutter, spacer or secondary creator without quite as much pressure to handle the burden of every on-ball rep. Kentucky's passing should be much, much, much better with Wilkins and Diallo on the floor together than it was with Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh.

Wilkins projects as a solid, useful starter as a sophomore at Kentucky with room to grow into so much more if he sticks around for multiple seasons. He has to get stronger to survive in the SEC, and I wouldn't expect high-level defense to be played early in his Kentucky tenure. Grade: B — Trotter

BYU -- Collin Chandler

247Sports rank: No. 44 overall, 94 grade | No. 4 SG
Former school: Kentucky

Chandler is returning to the place where he technically began his college career. Chandler, who signed with BYU to play for coach Mark Pope out of high school, never played a minute at the school. That's because he served an LDS mission. After it was over, he followed Pope to Kentucky. Chandler is a Utah native who was Kentucky's best 3-point shooter last season. He knocked down 41% of his 4.9 attempts per game and will add shooting to BYU's team. He knocked down 73 3-pointers at Kentucky, which would've ranked first on BYU this season. After star guard Richie Saunders went down with a torn ACL, BYU's 3-point shooting as a team took a hit. Saunders probably won't lead BYU in scoring, but he will provide valuable shooting and an opportunity to scale up his role. Solid fit. Grade: B+ -- Salerno

North Carolina — Terrence Brown

247Sports rank: No. 45 overall, 94 grade | No. 8 CG
Former school: Utah

Instant analysis: North Carolina's backcourt needed some wiggle to complement Neoklis Avdalas, who is more of a plodder. Brown has wiggle in spades. His first step is explosive, and he can get past that first wave of defenders without breaking a sweat. Brown has real bounce, too. He was one of just three high-major guards to throw down 20+ dunks, joining Kentucky's Otega Oweh and Kansas State's Nate Johnson. 

The idea of Avdalas being the jumbo initiator with Brown operating as an off-ball slasher makes some sense to me. He will give UNC a jolt of transition buckets, and he can play in pick-and-rolls if needed. I'm just curious about how he impacts the game with a smaller role. The 6-foot-3 guard won't have a massive 32% usage rate as he enjoyed at FDU in 2024-25 or Utah in 2025-26. Does that unlock a new level for Brown defensively since he won't have to conserve as much energy for offense? Can he shoot better than 33% on 90 catch-and-shoot 3s? The talent is obvious, but there's risk here if he can't scale down into a smaller role. Grade: C — Trotter

North Carolina — Matt Able

247Sports rank: No. 46 overall, 94 grade | No. 5 SG
Former school: NC State

Instant analysis: Whew, this is the one. There is a real world where Able is UNC's best guard next season. Better than Neoklis Avdalas and better than Terrence Brown. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound soon-to-be sophomore has real-deal positional size, and he has so much more game than he showed last year at NC State. Able can play on or off the ball, and he has a strap from downtown, a comfortable pull-up game and a bunch of different finishes in his bag to navigate shot-blockers at the rim. Able flashed some nastiness to put his face in the fan on the glass, and the secondary playmaking glimpses are intriguing.

Able is one more offseason away from putting it all together as a do-it-all guard who can fit into any lineup and wear a bunch of different hats. Able can outplay his contract in a major way for Michael Malone. Grade: A — Trotter

Georgetown -- Jaland Lowe

247Sports rank: No. 49 overall, 93 grade | No. 11 PG
Former school: Kentucky

Instant analysis: Let's just call a spade a spade. Georgetown's series of moves this offseason hinted that its brass believed it could find an upgrade at point guard over Malik Mack after a 16-18 campaign. Mack left via the portal, and Lowe was tabbed to be the replacement. So who is better? 

If Lowe can get healthy after a nagging shoulder injury derailed his lone season at Kentucky, he's got a pretty convincing argument. Lowe isn't quite as good a 3-point shooter as Mack, but he's bigger, a better natural playmaker and generally more explosive and dynamic in pick-and-rolls. Mack rated in the 26th percentile in ball-screen effectiveness last year. Lowe was in the 58th percentile in pick-and-roll efficiency during his last healthy season at Pitt back in 2024-25. There are more buttons you can press when Lowe is at the sticks of an offense because of his vision, combined with all his rim pressure. 

I'm cautiously optimistic that the Georgetown-Lowe connection can make both sides happy here. Grade: B+ -- Trotter

Arizona -- Derek Dixon

247Sports rank: No. 51 overall, 93 grade | No. 9 CG
Former school: North Carolina

Instant analysis: Arizona's perimeter size is going to be so apparent when the 6-foot-5 Dixon is playing point guard next to 6-foot-6 freshman guard Caleb Holt and 6-foot-7 wing Ivan Kharchenkov. Dixon's positional size, shooting and switchability on defense will be assets for this Arizona club without question. 

Dixon shot 40% from downtown on 3.8 attempts for UNC, which will be a valuable addition for this shooting-starved Arizona roster. His release looks pure both off the catch and off the bounce. Dixon posted an impressive 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman with a ton of on-ball responsibilities, which provides a promising outlook for what playmaking Arizona can expect. He's got the pocket pass in his arsenal -- which is an essential aspect to unleash the Wildcats' empty-side, pick-and-rolls -- and showed real touch throwing lobs.

But there are some red flags. Dixon isn't that fast or explosive off the bounce, which led to some struggles to get to the paint and finish in traffic. He shot just 28% at the rim, and over 79% of his shots were jumpers. That's a tough life to live. If Arizona can help Dixon become more of a complete player, he will outperform his contract. Grade: B+ -- Trotter

Villanova -- Devin Royal

247Sports rank: No. 54 overall, 93 grade | No. 13 PF
Former school: Ohio State

Instant analysis: Royal is an undersized 4-man who has tried to add some perimeter tools to his bag to find answers to the test. Royal converted 31 treys at a 31.6% clip last year, but the 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward is at his best in the middle of the floor playing in backdowns where he's looking to bully his way to his spot for feathery midrange jumpers or a trip to the charity stripe. Kevin Willard should dial that up repeatedly to get Royal in advantageous spots to go to work. There are real pathways for Royal to be one of the top-scoring newcomers in the Big East, but his style of play is a bit limiting because of the lack of playmaking and high-impact defense in his portfolio.

Royal is a matchup-dependent piece. He can be a destroyer when he has a good matchup against an overmatched team. But he's been pedestrian against most of the top teams that he's squared off against in each of the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Ohio State. It just is what it is. Grade: C+ -- Trotter

Pitt -- Baye Ndongo

247Sports rank: No. 57 overall, 93 grade | No. 14 PF
Former school: Georgia Tech

Instant analysis: Death, taxes and Ndongo delivering 12-point, eight-rebound seasons. That rather consistent production should add a bit of steadiness to a Pitt club that will very likely have eight or nine fresh rotation pieces. There aren't many surprises with Ndongo's game. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man does almost all his work as a roller, post-up hub and on the offensive glass. Lowering the turnover rate has to be a priority for Ndongo to level up in his senior season. Ndongo has posted at least a 19.5 turnover rate in three straight seasons. Pitt also needs more out of him defensively to go along with the 12-and-8. Grade: B- -- Trotter

NC State -- Christian Hammond

247Sports rank: No. 58 overall, 93 grade
Former school: Santa Clara

Instant analysis: Hammond is a rock-solid first addition for new NC State coach Justin Gainey because the 6-foot-4, 195-pound combo guard can play with anybody and wear a ton of different hats. Need him to play off the ball? That works. Hammond shot 40% on catch-and-shoot treys and showed real promise as a cutter. Need him to play on the ball? OK, cool. Hammond was a high-volume pick-and-roll weapon for Santa Clara last year, who got into the teeth of the defense routinely for his patented high-arcing runner and showed more than enough playmaking chops. Hammond doesn't have one unquestioned superpower, but he's just helpful. NC State isn't pigeon-holed into building a specific roster to best maximize Hammond because he blends so smoothly. We're not projecting a star here, but a rock-solid second or third option is firmly in the range of potential outcomes. Grade: B -- Trotter 

Tennessee -- Tyler Lundblade

247Sports rank: Four-star transfer, 93 grade
Former school: Belmont

Instant analysis: Tennessee uses floppy action and pindowns to spring shooters open. It has been a staple of Rick Barnes' scheme for years. Dalton Knecht was fabulous in it. Chaz Lanier was really good in it. Tyler Lundblade isn't quite as electric as those two guys, but he is a strong scheme fit for what Tennessee wants to do. The four-star Belmont transfer has drilled 56 3-pointers off screens in the last two years combined. That ranks in the top-10 in the nation. Lundblade isn't just a good shooter. He's a special shooter. He's drained at least 100 triples in back-to-back seasons. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior has good positional size, which should help on the defensive end. He's kind of a one-trick pony, but the one trick is pretty valuable for a Tennessee team that needs to make more 3-pointers in 2026-27. He won't be a star, but Lundblade projects to be a rock-solid role player. Grade: B -- Trotter

UCLA -- Filip Jovic

247Sports rank: Four-star transfer, 93 grade
Former school: Auburn

Instant analysis: Offensive rebounding has become such an essential trait to buoy top offenses, but it wasn't a strength of UCLA's club last year. Mick Cronin is out to fix that with Jovic. The Auburn transfer has a ridiculous motor and ranked inside the top-10 in offensive-rebound rate in SEC play last year. Jovic is a little undersized for a 4-man at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, but the activity level, physicality and toughness is clear as day. Jovic needs to become a better shooter, but he makes a lot of sense on paper next to UCLA's frontcourt duo of Eric Dailey and Xavier Booker, who are more comfortable operating on the perimeter. Jovic isn't a star, but he can be a serviceable Big Ten role player who fills a valuable role. Grade: B -- Trotter