The Oregon Ducks’ basketball program finds itself at a critical juncture following their second-round NCAA Tournament exit against Arizona. With the transfer portal window now wide open through April 22, Dana Altman’s squad is already experiencing significant roster movement that will reshape next season’s lineup.
After posting a respectable 25-10 (12-8 Big Ten) record in their debut Big Ten season, the Ducks are now navigating the annual carousel of college basketball’s transfer season. With five seniors exhausting eligibility and key underclassmen making decisions, Oregon’s 2025-26 roster remains in flux as Altman looks to reload rather than rebuild.
Players Entering Oregon
F Devon Pryor, Texas
The Ducks secured their first transfer commitment from Texas junior small forward Devon Pryor on March 29, just three days after he entered the portal. The 6’7″ forward from Houston averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12 minutes per game for the Longhorns last season.
Pryor brings athleticism and defensive versatility to Oregon, though he’ll need to improve his perimeter shooting. His quick commitment suggests Oregon was his targeted destination all along, likely influenced by Texas’ coaching change from Rodney Terry to Sean Miller.
No other transfer additions have been confirmed yet, but Oregon has shown interest in Monmouth guard Abdi Bashir Jr., who entered the portal on March 24. With five or six scholarships likely available, expect Altman to remain active in recruiting portal prospects.
Players Leaving Oregon
F Mookie Cook
The former five-star recruit became the first Duck to enter the portal on March 25. Cook played limited minutes this season as a sophomore, averaging just 2.1 points in 8.5 minutes across 15 games despite flashes of potential in Oregon’s NCAA Tournament opener against Liberty.
Seniors Exhausting Eligibility
- G TJ Bamba
- G Keeshawn Barthelemy
- G Ra’Heim Moss
- F Supreme Cook
- F Brandon Angel
Other Notable Players
C Nate Bittle: The 7-foot-tall senior declared for the NBA Draft on March 31 while maintaining college eligibility. After averaging 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in his breakout season, Bittle’s decision to stay in the draft or return will dramatically impact Oregon’s frontcourt outlook.
G Jackson Shelstad: Oregon’s leading scorer with 15.3 points per game and All-Big Ten Third Team hasn’t announced NBA Draft intentions yet. The sophomore Portland native’s potential return would provide crucial continuity for the Ducks’ backcourt in 2025-26.
Impact on Oregon’s 2025-26 Outlook
The Ducks’ roster is undergoing significant transformation, with nearly half their scholarship players departing. The loss of five senior contributors creates enormous voids in scoring, leadership, and experience that can’t be easily filled through a single recruiting cycle.
Bittle’s NBA decision looms largest for Oregon’s frontcourt outlook. His return would instantly give the Ducks an All-Big Ten caliber center around which to build. Without him, Altman must target an impact big man through the portal to maintain competitiveness in the physically demanding Big Ten.
Pryor’s addition helps offset Mookie Cook’s departure but doesn’t address Oregon’s most pressing need for a dynamic scorer. With TJ Bamba’s departure, the Ducks require a creative offensive weapon who can generate their own shots in tight games, a role potentially filled by a returning Shelstad.
Kwame Evans Jr. now faces expectations to develop into a featured player after averaging just 5.2 points as a sophomore. The former five-star recruit possesses the physical tools to excel but must demonstrate more consistent production to help Oregon maintain its NCAA Tournament standard.
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The Ducks’ 2025-26 ceiling depends heavily on Bittle and Shelstad’s decisions. Their return, combined with Devon Pryor and strategic portal additions, could keep Oregon in NCAA contention. Without them, the program faces a potential transition year in an increasingly competitive Big Ten landscape.
Altman’s postseason comments emphasizing player happiness suggest he won’t block additional transfers. This philosophy has maintained program stability through previous roster overhauls, but the accelerated timeline of modern college basketball leaves little margin for recruitment misses.
The coming weeks will prove pivotal as Oregon continues portal recruitment focused on two priorities: a physical and rebounding center to replace Supreme Cook and Brandon Angel and a dynamic scoring guard to complement or replace Shelstad’s offensive production once he departs for professional opportunities.
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