The transfer portal opened on Monday, March 24, 2025, offering basketball players a 30-day chance to potentially swap schools. That includes any of the roughly 1,000 players on the 68 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
2025 Sets New Record Transfer Portal Totals for Opening Day
The men’s Sweet 16 will begin Thursday, but several players are already looking for other colleges. On Monday afternoon, Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 reported that more than 500 men’s basketball players entered the transfer portal.
Last year, 1,425 men’s basketball players entered the portal by about the midpoint of the open window.
Several well-known athletes have already made waves with their transfer decisions:
- Xavier’s Departures
Xavier faces a significant roster shake-up as Dailyn Swain, Trey Green and Cam’Ron Fletcher have entered the transfer portal. - Seton Hall’s Leading Scorer Exits
Isaiah Coleman, who averaged 15.6 points per game, has also entered the portal, leaving a major void in the team’s offense. - Siena Trio Transfers
Siena College announced that junior guard Major Freeman, freshman center Devin Brafford and sophomore forward Michael Ojo have all entered the transfer portal.
The NCAA’s decision to open the transfer portal during a critical postseason stretch has drawn criticism. Former NFL player J.J. Watt called the timing “preposterous,” arguing it forces teams still competing in tournaments like March Madness to juggle current games with looming roster changes.
“Literally cannibalizing your sport,” Watt said. “Imagine NFL free agency starting the Monday after Wild Card Weekend.”
With the portal open until April 22, 2025, more movement is expected. Coaches and programs must navigate the shifting landscape while balancing integrating new talent and developing existing players.
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The high volume of transfers underscores the importance of continued recruiting, not just in high school but in the portal as well as their own roster retention in an attempt to stay competitive.
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