College Basketball: Week 1 Transfer Portal Power Rankings
Week one is in the books for the college basketball season. Every other week the plan is to update the power ranking of transfers from the 2023 cycle. This list looks at the players who are having the biggest effect on the sport through their in-season play.
While it is no surprise that Hunter Dickinson, the best player on the best team, sits at No. 1, Tennessee senior Dalton Knecht used week one to take the college basketball world by storm.
Let’s discuss the top ten transfers in college basketball, so far in the 2023-24 season.
1. C Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Through two games, Hunter Dickinson is averaging 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The Michigan transfer is leading the A.P. No. 1 ranked Kansas in points and rebounds. Next on the schedule is Kentucky at the Champions Classic.
2. SF Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Dalton Knecht averaged 21.2 points last season. Through two games at Tennessee, the 6-foot-7 wing is averaging 20.5 points on 53.8 percent from the field, including a game-high 24-point and 5-rebound outburst against Wisconsin this weekend. Next up is Wofford on Tuesday.
3. PG Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Gonzaga has only played one game, and it was not until the weekend, but it was a good one for Ryan Nembhard. In his two years at Creighton, he was never known as a scorer, he finished with 16 points to go along with his seven assists in the win against Yale. The Bulldogs will next play Eastern Oregon on Tuesday.
4. PF Grant Nelson, Alabama
Grant Nelson was one of the more intriguing transfers to hit the market this off-season. The North Dakota State junior went viral in January and followed that up by averaging 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season. Alabama is currently 2-0 and sitting at No. 22 in the A.P. Poll. Nelson has gone over 20 points in both games, averaging 22.0 points on 63.6 percent shooting from the field.
5. SG TJ Bamba, Villanova
TJ Bamba has started both games for Villanova, and he is leading the way in assists (3.5) while sitting second in threes made (3.0) and points per game (14.0). Bamba came to Villanova from Washington State where he averaged 15.8 points last season. Next up for the Wildcats is Penn in the Big 5 Classic.
6. CG Aaron Estrada, Alabama
Along with Grant Nelson, Aaron Estrada has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for defending SEC regular season and tournament champions. The Hofstra transfer is averaging 21.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 61.5 percent from the field through Alabama’s two wins. Next up for A.P. No. 22 ranked Alabama is South Alabama on Tuesday.
7. CG Max Abmas, Texas
Texas came in at No. 18 in the week 1 A.P. Poll rankings and the Longhorns have four players averaging in double figures and seven averaging 7.0 or more. Max Abmas is second on the team in points (15.5), assists (4.0), and threes made (3.0). The Oral Roberts transfer is also shooting 50.0 percent from the field and from three. Rice comes to Austin on Wednesday for their next matchup. Abmas is currently college basketball’s active all-time leading scorer with 2.592 points.
8. SG Khalif Battle, Arkansas
Khalif Battle has scored 21 points in both of Arkansas’ games this season. His 42 total points have come in 45 minutes played. Battle is leading the A.P. No. 14 ranked Razorbacks in scoring, despite coming off the bench. Next in line is Old Dominion tonight at home.
9. SG LJ Cryer, Houston
LJ Cryer won a national championship at Baylor while averaging 11.3 points and shooting 42.5 percent from three in his three seasons with the Bears. A transfer to Houston has him second on the team in scoring (12.0) and threes made (1.5) while playing tough on the ball defense for the A.P. No. 6 ranked Cougars. Next up is Stetson, at home, on Monday.
10. PF Tre Mitchell, Kentucky
Tre Mitchell is one of the more unsung transfers in college basketball, but his presence is certainly a major factor in why Kentucky is ranked No. 17 in the current A.P. Poll. Mitchell is a 6-foot-9 grad transfer who has scored 1,425 points and grabbed 614 rebounds in his college career. This season, for Kentucky, with three seven-footers out, Mitchell has been asked to play the five. He is leading Kentucky in minutes played and rebounding while averaging 13.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Next up is Kansas, on Tuesday, in the Champions Classic.