The changing landscape in college basketball is primarily caused by the transfer portal, which can either decimate or strengthen programs depending on who comes and goes.
As the third week of the spring transfer portal period ends, I’ll list three programs and one player who was hit the hardest over the last seven days.
Biggest Question Marks Following Week 3 of the College Basketball Transfer Portal
Cincinnati Bearcats
Since April 7, the Bearcats have seen eight players enter their names into the transfer portal, vacating many depth roles and key contributor, forward Dillon Mitchell, who averaged 9.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg this season.
Fellow junior, 6’6″ guard Dan Skillings Jr. also departs after scoring 9.2 ppg on 44.0% shooting from the field as a scoring option off the bench.
Former four-star small forward Tyler Betsy, who saw limited action this season for Cincinnati but was projected as a long-term impact player, is also gone.
Five others expected to step into more prominent roles this upcoming season are gone, signaling a mass exodus of transfers out of the Bearcat program.
Head coach Wes Miller’s seat is already hot after his team finished 12th in the Big 12 and extended its NCAA Tournament trough to six consecutive seasons. With the loss of over half of his team, Miller and his staff will surely be busy in the portal attempting to recoup what they lost—but they’ll likely feel the effects regarding lack of continuity with an entirely new group.
Transfer Portal G A.J. Storr
After being named to the All-Big 10 Second-Team as a sophomore with the Wisconsin Badgers, Storr transferred to join the Kansas Jayhawks for his junior season. After posting averages of 6.1 ppg and 1.7 rpg on only 38.7% from the field, Storr has once again entered his name into the portal.
But this isn’t new for the 6’7″ combo guard.
In fact, his next school will be his eighth in eight years, dating back to his freshman year of high school—a huge red flag for many college programs due to his seeming lack of commitment and perseverance.
Programs that contact Storr should treat the relationship like a hot stove; it can cook when used properly, but one mistake could ruin the whole experience.
With NIL money now in the conversation, it’s hard to see a program sticking its hand out too far for Storr, who may just leave within the following year.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
It was a mixed bag of emotions this week for Red Raider fans, as 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year forward J.T. Toppin announced his decision to forego the NBA Draft and return to Lubbock for another season.
Shortly after, news broke that fellow forward Darrion Williams would be testing the NBA Draft waters and entering his name into the transfer portal. Williams was instrumental in Texas Tech’s run to the Elite Eight, averaging 21.0 ppg and hitting numerous clutch shots.
Though the Red Raiders will still likely be ultra-competitive next season, their national title aspirations took a massive hit with Williams’ announcement.
Baylor Bears’ NIL Reputation
The Bears had a solid go of it in the transfer portal, receiving word of commitments from All-WCC forward Michael Rataj of the Oregon State Beavers, high-scoring combo guard Obi Agbim of the Wyoming Cowboys, and J.J. White of the Omaha Mavericks, who engineered an NCAA Tournament appearance.
That was until news began to swirl about the Bears’ freshman point guard, Robert Wright III, ‘s potential departure.
Reports said that the BYU Cougars had offered Wright $3.5 million to be their point guard — in a sense, outbidding Baylor.
Or Baylor wasn’t even given a chance to match. The true story is still unclear and may never be clear. But we know that the Bears’ program was publicly spurned by their highly talented point guard over funds.
KEEP READING: Derrion Reid Transfer Portal: Top 5 Landing Spots for Alabama’s Former Five-Star Recruit
It’s not a great look in the age of college basketball, when players are looking for more money in NIL, and Baylor didn’t have enough.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
