College Basketball Roster Updates: The Wild, Wild West of Player Movement
If there’s one thing college basketball fans have learned in the last few weeks, it’s that no roster is ever truly set until the first tip-off. The transfer portal has been a wild west of player movement, and the 2025-26 season is already being rewritten faster than you can say “NBA draft.” It’s like a soap opera, with every trade a betrayal, every win a redemption arc, and every loss a funeral.
Let’s dive into some key rosters to see how they’ve shifted in the offseason. If Michigan’s national championship game victory over UConn feels like it happened several months ago, you’re not alone—because everything is changing so fast!
ACC
#### Boston College Eagles
*Departed or Expected to Depart: Fred Payne (15.8 PPG), Donald Hand Jr. (12.4 PPG), Boden Kapke (10.6 PPG), Jayden Hastings (6.7 PPG), Luka Toews (6.3 PPG), Chase Forte (6.0 PPG), Aidan Shaw (4.5 PPG), Caleb Steger (3.3 PPG), Jason Asemota (3.1 PPG), Marko Radunovic (2.2 PPG), Nick Petronio (redshirt), Akbar Waheed III (redshirt), Kany Tchanda
*In Limbo: None
*Expected to Return: Jack Bailey (redshirt)
*Incoming Transfers:
– *Money Williams: 20.6 PPG at Montana
– *Ernest Shelton: 15.9 PPG at Merrimack
– *Brandon Benjamin: 14.2 PPG at Fairfield
– *Andrija Bukumirovic: 13.8 PPG at UT Martin
– *Armoni Zeigler: 12.5 PPG at Ball State
– *Colby Duggan: 9.3 PPG at Charleston
– *Luke Hunger: 8.4 PPG at George Washington
– *JB Frankel: 5.9 PPG at Northeastern
– *Jacob Furphy: 0.4 PPG at UConn
*Incoming Freshmen:
– *Zak Smrekar (international)
Coach: Luke Murray
The Eagles’ roster was decimated, but they’ve brought in a mix of experienced transfers and international recruits to replace the departed stars.
#### California Golden Bears
*Departed or Expected to Depart: Dai Dai Ames (16.9 PPG), Chris Bell (14.2 PPG), Justin Pippen (14.2 PPG), John Camden (13.8 PPG), Rytis Petraitis (5.3 PPG), Semetri Carr (3.8 PPG), Milos Ilic (3.6 PPG), DeJuan Campbell (3.3 PPG), Nolan Dorsey (1.9 PPG)
*In Limbo: None
*Expected to Return: Lee Dort (8.1 PPG), Mantas Kocanas (1.7 PPG), Sammie Yeanay (1.1 PPG), Dhiaukuei Manyiel Dut (0.4 PPG), Jovani Ruff (redshirt)
*Incoming Transfers:
– *Michael Cooper: 13.4 PPG at Wright State
– *Nojus Indrusaitis: 9.1 PPG at Pitt
– *Jordan Ross: 6.7 PPG at Georgia
– *Jake Wilkins: 4.9 PPG at Georgia
– *Amier Ali: 3.2 PPG at Mississippi State
*Incoming Freshmen:
– *Nicolas Mitrovic (four-star)
– *Dionycius Bakare (NR)
Coach: Mark Madsen
The Golden Bears lost a bevy of key players but have added some solid transfers to bolster their roster.
#### Clemson Tigers
*Departed or Expected to Depart: RJ Godfrey (12.0 PPG), Jestin Porter (9.6 PPG), Nick Davidson (9.1 PPG), Dillon Hunter (7.5 PPG), Butta Johnson (6.3 PPG), Jake Wahlin (5.3 PPG)
*In Limbo: None
*Expected to Return: Carter Welling (10.2 PPG), Ace Buckner (8.3 PPG), Za…
Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC: Similar Stories of Roster Shakeup and Transfer Fever Across the Country
It’s not just the ACC where things are changing—every conference is seeing its share of player movement. The Big East has seen some major changes with St. John’s, Xavier, and Seton Hall all losing key players to transfers. The Big Ten has had a few big moves from Michigan State and Illinois as well.
The SEC has been hit hard by transfers too; Auburn, Kentucky, and Missouri have seen significant roster shifts. It’s a wild time for college basketball fans, and the thrill of every new move keeps me on my toes.
So, who do you think will be the biggest winners or losers in this offseason? Let me know down below! And remember: even if your team is rebuilding, there are always unexpected stars waiting to make their mark. Stay tuned!
Tweet
@espn, @nfl, @netflix, @bravo: The transfer portal has turned college basketball into a soap opera. Every move feels like a betrayal—or redemption arc. Let’s see how these rosters shake out! #CollegeBasketball #TransferPortalShenanigans
