Dick Vitale ranks Top 5 winners of Transfer Portal ahead of 2025 College Basketball Season

The wild, wild west that is known as the NCAA Transfer Portal has finally settled.

Teams and rosters for the 2025-26 college basketball season are finally set, with some standing taller than others. ESPN college basketball analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale took a stab at ranking the top five winners of the portal ahead of the season.

His full rankings are below baby! Including some PTPers!

1. St. John’s Red Storm

Transfer Class: SG Ian Jackson (North Carolina), PF Bryce Hopkins (Providence), SF Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), SG Joson Sanon (Arizona State), PG Dylan Darling (Idaho State), SG Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), C Handje Tamba (Milligan University)

Rick Pitino and the Red Storm swung big in the Transfer Portal, hauling in two legit All-league players in North Carolina guard Ian Jackson (No. 10 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and Providence guard Bryce Hopkins (No. 20 in On3’s Transfer Rankings). A year removed from being outed in the Round of 32 by Arkansas, Pitino has certainly loaded up to make his first run to the Final Four since 2013. St. Johns‘ Transfer Portal class is ranked No. 11 by On3.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

Transfer Class: PF Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), SF Mo Dioubate (Alabama), PG Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh), G Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), SF Kam Williams (Tulane), C Reece Potter (Miami OH)

Mark Pope‘s first year at Kentucky was defined by the Transfer Portal, and so will his second year. Arizona State star power forward Jayden Quaintance (No. 4 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) will finally make his way to Lexington after originally committing in high school, along with former Alabama glue guy Mouhamed Dioubate (No. 61 in On3’s Transfer Rankings), reigning National Champion Denzel Aberdeen (No. 91 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and shifty point guard Jaland Lowe (No. 52 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) from Pitt. Kentucky’s Transfer Portal class is ranked No. 2 by On3.

3. Michigan Wolverines

Transfer Class: PF Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), C Aday Mara (UCLA), PF Morez Johnson (Illinois), PG Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina)

Michigan was truly one of the biggest winners of the Portal cycle when UAB star forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who was No. 1 in On3’s Transfer Rankings, decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and attend college. Along with two other legit collegiate stars with NCAA Tournament experience in Illinois‘ Morez Johnson (No. 40 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and North Carolina‘s Elliot Cadeau (No. 63 in On3’s Transfer Rankings), the Wolverines are seeking their first Final Four run since 2018. Michigan’s Transfer Portal class is ranked No. 4 by On3.

4. Florida Gators

Transfer Class: PG Boogie Fland (Arkansas), PG Xaivian Lee (Princeton), SG AJ Brown (Ohio)

Fresh off a National Championship last season, Todd Golden and Florida rebuilt in a major way. The Gators brought in star Arkansas point guard Boogie Fland (No. 7 in On3’s Transfer Rankings), along with two other complimentary pieces in Princeton‘s Xaivian Lee (No. 39 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and Ohio‘s AJ Brown (No. 84 in On3’s Transfer Rankings). They’re seeking yet another SEC crown along with their first two-peat since 2006-07. Florida’s Transfer Portal class is ranked No. 38 by On3.

5. Washington Huskies

Transfer Class: PG Desmond Claude (USC), SG Wesley Yates (USC), PF Jacob Ognacevic (Lipscomb), SF Bryson Tucker (Indiana), PG Quimari Peterson (ETSU), C Lathan Sommerville (Rutgers), PF Christian Nitu (Florida State)

When you talk about completely rebuilding a team, Washington‘s haul is a great example. Head coach Danny Sprinkle brought in seven new players, led by former USC stars Desmond Claude (No. 29 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and Wesley Yates (No. 27 in On3’s Transfer Rankings). Along with some other solid pieces in former ETSU forward Quimari Peterson (No. 101 in On3’s Transfer Rankings) and former Indiana forward Bryson Tucker (No. 144 in On3’s Transfer Rankings), the Huskies are seeking their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2019. Washingtons Transfer Portal class is ranked No. 3 by On3.