UNC names Mike Malone as new head coach of men’s basketball team
After weeks of tension, UNC has finally named Mike Malone as its new men’s basketball head coach.
It’s been just over a week since the NCAA transfer portal opened, and college basketball fans are getting a glimpse of what next season’s rosters will look like.
Players have one week left to access the portal until Tuesday, April 21st. Even if the portal closes, teams can still make additions to their rosters ahead of next season.
As the 2025-26 season taught us with Michigan’s national title run, growing through the transfer portal is as important as ever in college basketball.
With the NCAA approving a shortened transfer portal period for the 2026 season, the window in which teams can add talent becomes even more important.
Here is a list of winners and losers in the early stages of transfer portal activity for the 2025-26 season.
Transfer by conference: ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Stock Exchange | Big East
winner
Luciville
- Added transfers: PG Jackson Shelstad (15.6 points per game, 4.9 assists per game, 2.9 rebounds per game at Oregon). C Florrie Bidunga (13.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.5 asp for Kansas State). G. Carter Knox (8.1 ppg, 4.5 aps at Arkansas)
- Key transfer lost: PF Karni Ruth (5.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg); C Sananda Fur (9.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg); C Vangelis Zougris (2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
There’s no bigger winner in the early transfer portal than Louisville. The Cardinals have the No. 1 transfer portal recruiting class thus far with the addition of Vidunga, who had established himself as the best player entering the portal this season.
Adding Helstad and Knox to the mix will help head coach Pat Kelce round out the roster for a competitive season.
Indiana
- Added transfers: PG Marcus Burton (18.5 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 2.8 rebounds per game at Notre Dame), SG Jayden Mutaf (10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 rebounds per game at Georgia Tech). SF Darren Harris (3.3 ppg at Duke)
- Key transfer lost: G Nick Dorn (8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg); Jason Drake. SG Jasai Mile. Alexa Ristic. PF Josh Harris
The football program is the defending national champion, but the basketball program has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2022-23. Something doesn’t add up. With the addition of Verden, a proven scorer, and several rotation candidates, can the Hoosiers get back on the map in 2026-27?
providence
- Added transfers: Dink Pate (16.0 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game for the G League’s Westchester Knicks). Miles Byrd (10.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.6 apg for San Diego State). Gavin Hightower (4.1 ppg in South Florida)
- Key transfer lost: SG Stefan Virks (15.8 ppg, 3.2 apg); SG Jason Edwards (16.5 ppg, 3.0 apg); SG SF Jamier Jones (11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg); C Oswin Elfunmwunse (6.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
With the hiring of Brian Hodgson, the Friars had a strong portal season. Adding two big-time scorers in Pate and Bird will help the team replace last season’s second- and third-best scorers. Adding a player like Hightower who is familiar with the system is also a big benefit.
texas
- Added transfers: PF David Punch (14.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game at TCU). PG Isaiah Johnson (16.9 ppg, 3.0 aspg at Colorado)
- Key transfer lost: F Cam Heide (5.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg); G Simeon Wilcher (5.6 ppg)
Sean Miller’s first season leading Texas basketball was a rocky one. The Longhorns have reached the Sweet 16 and have a chance to build on it with strong transfer portal acquisitions so far. Puch was USA TODAY’s No. 5 ranked player and Johnson was in the top 20.
loser
Kansas
- Lost key transfer: F Flory Vidunga (13.3 points per game, 9 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks per game). F Bryson Tiller (7.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg); G Elmarco Jackson (4.8 ppg); G Jamari McDowell (3.3 ppg); G Jayden Dawson (2.1 ppg)
- Added transfers: Not applicable
Despite Bill Self’s announcement that he will return to the Jayhawks for the 2026-27 season, there is a mass exodus from Kansas basketball. Losing Bidunga is the biggest loss to the program. That’s because he’s their second-best player, and their best player will go on to the NBA Draft.
Self will likely have his work cut out to make key additions for the remaining games, as he will be starting from scratch with rotation players from last season.
kentucky
- Lost key transfer: G Denzel Aberdeen (13.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, 2.5 rebounds per game). G Colin Chandler (9.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg); F Muhamed Diubateh (8.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg); G Jaland Lowe (8 ppg, 2.4 apg); F Andrija Jelavic (5.5 ppg, 4 rpg); G Jasper Johnson (4.9 ppg); C Brandon Garrison (4.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
- Added transfers: Not applicable
Is Mark Pope in trouble in Lexington, Kentucky? The Wildcats were withdrawn from the NCAA Tournament again in early 2026 and have since lost eight players to the transfer portal, including two starters to SEC opponents. Kentucky needs to add players to its roster to remain competitive in 2026-2027.
Good news: Seven-foot center Malachi Moreno could return. He entered the NBA Draft while remaining eligible.
LSU
- Lost key transfer: PG Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.3 points per game, 6.5 assists per game). C Mike Nwoko (13.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg); PF Jalen Reed (9.5 ppg, 5.7 ppg); SG Maji Mosley (6.3 ppg);
- Added transfers: Not applicable
LSU opted to retain Matt McMahon while hiring and bringing back Will Wade. While this hire may work out well for the Tigers in the long run, it does impact the transfer portal with eight players leaving Baton Rouge and no players returning to the program yet.
north carolina
- Lost key transfer: G Luka Bogavac (9.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg); G Derek Dixon (6.5 ppg, 2.7 apg); W Jonathan Powell (4.8 ppg); G Can Evans (4 ppg, 2.5 rpg); F Zyden Haigh (3.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
- Added transfers: G/F Neocris Avdalas (12.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.1 rpg at Virginia Tech)
With the departure of Hubert Davis and the addition of Mike Malone, the Tar Heels will have a different look for the 2026-27 season, including a brand new backcourt. In addition, top recruit Dylan Mingo has resumed his commitment.
However, unlike the other teams on this list, Malone began a rebuild with the strong addition of Neokris Avdalas.
