Grand Canyon University has emerged as an unlikely powerhouse in a college basketball landscape increasingly dominated by the transfer portal. The Antelopes secured the No. 33-ranked transfer class nationally for 2025, standing alone as the only mid-major program to crack the top 50 rankings while outpacing numerous power conference schools.
Bryce Drew has masterfully navigated the new era of college basketball recruiting, assembling a formidable roster through strategic transfer acquisitions. His approach combines identifying underutilized high-major talents, proven mid-major performers, and ascending small-conference stars, creating the perfect mid-major blueprint.
Desert Dynasty: Inside GCU’s Transfer Portal Success
“Bryce Drew’s cooking in the desert 🔥,” noted College Basketball Report in their viral assessment of GCU’s transfer class, highlighting the program’s remarkable ability to compete with power-conference schools in the increasingly competitive transfer market.
Grand Canyon is the only mid-major with a top-50 portal class (No. 33) 😳
4⭐️ Brian Moore Jr. (18.1 PPG – Norfolk St.)
4⭐️ Dusty Stromer (4.3 – Gonzaga)
4⭐️ Jaden Henley (12.5 – UNLV)
4⭐️ Nana Owusu-Anane (14.7 – Brown)
3⭐️ Wilhelm Breidenbach (4.5 – UW)Bryce Drew’s cooking in… pic.twitter.com/kYbV2KN0my
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) May 5, 2025
The Antelopes’ 2025 transfer haul features an impressive collection of talent, headlined by Norfolk State guard Brian Moore Jr., who brings elite scoring credentials after averaging 18.1 PPG last season. The dynamic 6’2″ senior from Harlem delivered consistent production with remarkable efficiency, shooting 54.5% from the field.
Former Gonzaga guard Dusty Stromer represents a classic case of untapped potential, bringing his former top 100 recruit pedigree to Phoenix. Despite limited playing time with the Bulldogs (4.3 PPG), Stromer’s combination of size and shooting touch makes him an intriguing addition with significant upside in an expanded role.’
The wing positions received major upgrades with UNLV’s Jaden Henley and Brown’s Nana Owusu-Anane. Henley, a 6’7″ junior who averaged 12.5 PPG brings valuable experience from stops at Minnesota and DePaul before blossoming at UNLV. Meanwhile, Owusu-Anane was a standout in the Ivy League, contributing 14.7 PPG with impressive versatility.
Rounding out the class is Wilhelm Breidenbach, a 6’10” graduate transfer from Washington who averaged 4.5 PPG and 2.4 RPG while shooting over 50% from the field. With more than 100 NCAA games under his belt from his time at Nebraska and Washington, Breidenbach provides crucial frontcourt depth and experience.
The strategic compilation of this transfer class puts Grand Canyon in a prime position to dominate the WAC and potentially make national noise in March.
KEEP READING: Why College Basketball Players Keep Transfer Options Open After Declaring for the NBA Draft
With high-caliber transfers bringing scoring punch, defensive versatility, and veteran leadership, the Antelopes have established themselves as the model for mid-major programs looking to build sustainable success in the transfer portal era.
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