Recruiting Portal players

[TrueBluePhil]

It seems to me that finding the diamond in the rough from a lower Div mid major programs work the best for power Div 1 teams. I haven't looked at all the div 1 teams portal recruiting so this can be just a gut feeling of mine. These players have a point to prove since they have been overlooked as high school recruits but a transfer from a power Div 1 team to another Power Div 1 conference is just a player not happy about their personal situation on their team doesn't work always work out. One player wants to prove a point the other just wants to move on to another program. I might be totally off base but it seems to me finding the player that wants to prove a point as motivation is a better approach instead of a player that just wants to move on. Here are just a few examples. I think there are more.

From Division II or Lower to Power Conferences

1. Chaney Johnson (Alabama-Huntsville D-II → Auburn SEC)
   Key reserve and energy big off the bench for Auburn's 2024-25 Final Four team; efficient scorer/rebounder who provided mismatch scoring.
2. Jaylen Wells (Sonoma State D-II → Washington State Pac-12/Big 12 transition)
   Breakout star in 2023-24; averaged ~12 PPG as a starter, helped WSU to NCAA Tournament, then drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
3. Bennett Stirtz (Northwest Missouri State D-II → Drake mid-major → followed coach to Iowa Big Ten in 2025)
   MVC Player of the Year level production at Drake; expected to be immediate high-major contributor at Iowa in 2025-26.
4. Duncan Robinson (Williams College D-III → Michigan Big Ten; pre-portal but similar path in 2015)
   Sat out a year, then became a starter on Michigan's 2018 national runner-up team and elite 3-point shooter (still in NBA).

From Very Small/Low-Major D-I or Equivalent to Power ConferencesThese are from conferences well outside the high-major tier (e.g., MEAC, Horizon, ASUN, etc.):

• Johni Broome (Morehead State OVC → Auburn SEC) — Two-time All-American, SEC Player of the Year contender, led Auburn to multiple deep runs.
• Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona MAAC → Florida SEC) — Explosive scorer who became Florida's leading guard and a key piece in their 2025 title run.
• Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic C-USA → Florida SEC) — Final Four contributor at FAU, then immediate starter and defensive standout at Florida.
• Max Abmas (Oral Roberts Summit → Texas Big 12) — All-time leading mid-major scorer; averaged 18+ PPG in Big 12 and helped Texas to NCAA Tournament.
• Grant Nelson (North Dakota State Summit → Alabama SEC) — Double-double machine who became Alabama's starting PF and tournament standout.
• Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado Big Sky → Tennessee SEC) — 2024 consensus All-American, 20+ PPG scorer, 1st-round NBA draft pick.

 

[AllBall]

Good luck getting our staff to find those.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

It seems to me that finding the diamond in the rough from a lower Div mid major programs work the best for power Div 1 teams. I haven't looked at all the div 1 teams portal recruiting so this can be just a gut feeling of mine. These players have a point to prove since they have been overlooked as high school recruits but a transfer from a power Div 1 team to another Power Div 1 conference is just a player not happy about their personal situation on their team doesn't work always work out. One player wants to prove a point the other just wants to move on to another program. I might be totally off base but it seems to me finding the player that wants to prove a point as motivation is a better approach instead of a player that just wants to move on. Here are just a few examples. I think there are more.

From Division II or Lower to Power Conferences

1. Chaney Johnson (Alabama-Huntsville D-II → Auburn SEC)
   Key reserve and energy big off the bench for Auburn's 2024-25 Final Four team; efficient scorer/rebounder who provided mismatch scoring.
2. Jaylen Wells (Sonoma State D-II → Washington State Pac-12/Big 12 transition)
   Breakout star in 2023-24; averaged ~12 PPG as a starter, helped WSU to NCAA Tournament, then drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
3. Bennett Stirtz (Northwest Missouri State D-II → Drake mid-major → followed coach to Iowa Big Ten in 2025)
   MVC Player of the Year level production at Drake; expected to be immediate high-major contributor at Iowa in 2025-26.
4. Duncan Robinson (Williams College D-III → Michigan Big Ten; pre-portal but similar path in 2015)
   Sat out a year, then became a starter on Michigan's 2018 national runner-up team and elite 3-point shooter (still in NBA).

From Very Small/Low-Major D-I or Equivalent to Power ConferencesThese are from conferences well outside the high-major tier (e.g., MEAC, Horizon, ASUN, etc.):

• Johni Broome (Morehead State OVC → Auburn SEC) — Two-time All-American, SEC Player of the Year contender, led Auburn to multiple deep runs.
• Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona MAAC → Florida SEC) — Explosive scorer who became Florida's leading guard and a key piece in their 2025 title run.
• Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic C-USA → Florida SEC) — Final Four contributor at FAU, then immediate starter and defensive standout at Florida.
• Max Abmas (Oral Roberts Summit → Texas Big 12) — All-time leading mid-major scorer; averaged 18+ PPG in Big 12 and helped Texas to NCAA Tournament.
• Grant Nelson (North Dakota State Summit → Alabama SEC) — Double-double machine who became Alabama's starting PF and tournament standout.
• Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado Big Sky → Tennessee SEC) — 2024 consensus All-American, 20+ PPG scorer, 1st-round NBA draft pick.

Freaking love this!!! Great work! Would love if you expanded further, and perhaps deep dived this topic. Consider me intrigued.

 

[Anon1759768907]

It seems to me that finding the diamond in the rough from a lower Div mid major programs work the best for power Div 1 teams. I haven't looked at all the div 1 teams portal recruiting so this can be just a gut feeling of mine. These players have a point to prove since they have been overlooked as high school recruits but a transfer from a power Div 1 team to another Power Div 1 conference is just a player not happy about their personal situation on their team doesn't work always work out. One player wants to prove a point the other just wants to move on to another program. I might be totally off base but it seems to me finding the player that wants to prove a point as motivation is a better approach instead of a player that just wants to move on. Here are just a few examples. I think there are more.

From Division II or Lower to Power Conferences

1. Chaney Johnson (Alabama-Huntsville D-II → Auburn SEC)
   Key reserve and energy big off the bench for Auburn's 2024-25 Final Four team; efficient scorer/rebounder who provided mismatch scoring.
2. Jaylen Wells (Sonoma State D-II → Washington State Pac-12/Big 12 transition)
   Breakout star in 2023-24; averaged ~12 PPG as a starter, helped WSU to NCAA Tournament, then drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
3. Bennett Stirtz (Northwest Missouri State D-II → Drake mid-major → followed coach to Iowa Big Ten in 2025)
   MVC Player of the Year level production at Drake; expected to be immediate high-major contributor at Iowa in 2025-26.
4. Duncan Robinson (Williams College D-III → Michigan Big Ten; pre-portal but similar path in 2015)
   Sat out a year, then became a starter on Michigan's 2018 national runner-up team and elite 3-point shooter (still in NBA).

From Very Small/Low-Major D-I or Equivalent to Power ConferencesThese are from conferences well outside the high-major tier (e.g., MEAC, Horizon, ASUN, etc.):

• Johni Broome (Morehead State OVC → Auburn SEC) — Two-time All-American, SEC Player of the Year contender, led Auburn to multiple deep runs.
• Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona MAAC → Florida SEC) — Explosive scorer who became Florida's leading guard and a key piece in their 2025 title run.
• Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic C-USA → Florida SEC) — Final Four contributor at FAU, then immediate starter and defensive standout at Florida.
• Max Abmas (Oral Roberts Summit → Texas Big 12) — All-time leading mid-major scorer; averaged 18+ PPG in Big 12 and helped Texas to NCAA Tournament.
• Grant Nelson (North Dakota State Summit → Alabama SEC) — Double-double machine who became Alabama's starting PF and tournament standout.
• Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado Big Sky → Tennessee SEC) — 2024 consensus All-American, 20+ PPG scorer, 1st-round NBA draft pick.

antonio reeves is another one, wilkersom, pierre

i hate when these people say "the game wont translate" and it always does

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

antonio reeves is another one, wilkersom, pierre

i hate when these people say "the game wont translate" and it always does

Well, it’s interesting.
Sometimes it doesn’t. Remember UNC building around Cade Tyson last year and his game didn’t translate? Definitely would be interested in seeing a comparison between various different types of portal players. In my own studies, I found that teams with “top” portal classes rarely ended up actually having top portal classes on the floor. Wonder if OP may have found a reason.

 

[chasingwildcat]

antonio reeves is another one, wilkersom, pierre

i hate when these people say "the game wont translate" and it always does

koby brea, amari

Both from non p5 programs

And finally became nba draft picks

 

[chasingwildcat]

Well, it’s interesting.
Sometimes it doesn’t. Remember UNC building around Cade Tyson last year and his game didn’t translate? Definitely would be interested in seeing a comparison between various different types of portal players. In my own studies, I found that teams with “top” portal classes rarely ended up actually having top portal classes on the floor. Wonder if OP may have found a reason.

I think if you have athleticism or you are physical, you game will transform to bigger league


If you only have skills with bad body, your may be bust in bigger league

 

[chasingwildcat]

There is a reason Kam Williams is second best transfer currently (only behind Aberdeen)

Seems he fits the model well

 

[Anon1759768907]

Well, it’s interesting.
Sometimes it doesn’t. Remember UNC building around Cade Tyson last year and his game didn’t translate? Definitely would be interested in seeing a comparison between various different types of portal players. In my own studies, I found that teams with “top” portal classes rarely ended up actually having top portal classes on the floor. Wonder if OP may have found a reason.

i dont think cade tyson was a focal point of anything for last year, i think he was their ansley, but i think they were building around ian, drake powell, and rj

 

[chasingwildcat]

I always thought Pierre would kill it at Kentucky with his explosion and scoring skill

But "he is not good fit"...

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

i dont think cade tyson was a focal point of anything for last year, i think he was their ansley, but i think they were building around ian, drake powell, and rj

Well you’re right that it certainly ended up that way. He was a “big time” portal addition in the offseason and was supposed to be their starting stretch four, but it became apparent quickly that he was terrible and fell deeper and deeper out of the rotation. May forget but we were actually in on him at one point

 

[chasingwildcat]

i dont think cade tyson was a focal point of anything for last year, i think he was their ansley, but i think they were building around ian, drake powell, and rj

Cade was destroyed by Davis system

Last year UNC offense system was disaster, mainly ISO basketball

I also believe Cade Tyson's lacking of athleticism was also the reason he struggled

 

[Anon1759768907]

Well you’re right that it certainly ended up that way. He was a “big time” portal addition in the offseason and was supposed to be their starting stretch four, but it became apparent quickly that he was terrible and fell deeper and deeper out of the rotation. May forget but we were actually in on him at one point

i think if u have a transfer class of like 5-6 guys, i think its almost essential to get a guy that averaged like 17 or so on a small team, so even at his WORST you know what he can provide

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

i think if u have a transfer class of like 5-6 guys, i think its almost essential to get a guy that averaged like 17 or so on a small team, so even at his WORST you know what he can provide

I’m not knowledgeable enough yet in that area to know but you could be right