The college basketball transfer portal is getting busy as players make big decisions about their futures. Coaches are scrambling to build rosters, and the race is on for snagging fresh talent before everybody else. Here’s everything you need to know about the key dates driving this chaotic period.
All Important Dates and More That You Need to Know
The NCAA transfer portal for college basketball shuts its doors on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. That’s the last day athletes can jump in and signal their intent to switch schools for the 2025-26 season. It opened on Monday, March 24, just after the NCAA Tournament’s second round ended. This 30-day period (shorter than the old 45-day window) kicks off a wild stretch of roster shakeups.
The transfer portal is officially open and will remain open for the next 30 days before closing on April 22nd.
More than 2,000 players hit the portal last year.
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) March 24, 2025
The portal kicked off with a bang this year. Over 700 players entered on day one. By Tuesday, that number soared past 1,000. “You can’t afford to be in battles for six-seven guys in the portal every spring,” a high-major staffer told Sports Illustrated. The fast start hints at a record-breaking cycle. Last year, around 2,000 players entered in total. This season might top that.
Money is fueling the frenzy as top players are cashing in big. One elite point guard already has $3 million offers on the table. High-end roster budgets are climbing from $5 million to $7 million. Revenue sharing and NIL deals are pushing the market for stars skyward. Some programs are ready to spend even more to lock down talent.
Iowa’s roster drama is stealing early headlines. The Hawkeyes are in flux after firing Fran McCaffery and hiring Ben McCollum. Forward Owen Freeman and guard Josh Dix are hot commodities. Freeman is visiting Creighton and eyeing Auburn.
Dix, averaging over 14 points per game, has bluebloods calling. Meanwhile, McCollum snagged point guard Bennett Stirtz from Drake. Stirtz, an NBA prospect, averaged 19 points and nearly six assists this season.
Some special rules are also in the mix. If a coach leaves, players get an extra 30 days to enter the portal starting the day after the exit. Graduate transfers must still hit the April 22 deadline, unlike before, when they had no cutoff.
KEEP READING: Jon Rothstein Criticizes Transfer Portal Opening During March Madness
As the transfer season continues, coaching shifts and big commitments could flip the script before April 22. This season is already one for the books.
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