Thriving in the transfer portal is *the* way to success in college basketball these days, and it’s exactly how programs landed inside FOX Sports’ Casey Jacobsen’s top 25 for the 2026-27 season. We’re talking about players who just dropped into new squads and immediately cranked them into national recognition. These aren’t just depth pieces; these are game-changers, and here’s one from each of Jacobsen’s top-25 teams that you absolutely need to watch.
Impact Players Are Shaking Up the Guard Spots
First up, Indiana nabbed *dynamo scorer* Markus Burton from Notre Dame for his senior season. This guy averaged 18.5 points, 2.8 boards, and 3.7 assists per game in 2025-26. He’s stepping in after Lamar Wilkerson and Darian DeVries graduated, and get this: Burton led the ACC and ranked ninth nationally in usage rate for both of his seasons at Notre Dame (33.5% in 2023-24, 34.4% in 2024-25). That’s a serious workload, and he can handle it.
Then there’s Cruz Davis, heading to Texas Tech for his senior year after a monster junior season at Hofstra where he dropped 20.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 4.7 APG, even helping the Pride make an NCAA Tournament appearance. Davis is stepping up to replace Christian Anderson (NBA) and Jaylen Petty (transfer to UCLA). His stat to know? He was one of just two Division I players in 2025,26 with at least 700 points, 150 assists, and 80 made 3-pointers while shooting 40% or better from beyond the arc. That’s pure fire.
And don’t forget Tounde Yessoufou, who made some noise before landing at St. John’s. As a freshman at Baylor, he averaged 17.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.6 APG. He declared for the NBA Draft, but pulled out on the final day, opting to transfer. Imagine him and Quinn Ellis forming one of the best backcourts in the nation. This kid became one of only three major-conference freshmen since 2010 with at least 600 points, 175 rebounds, and 60 steals, joining Zion Williamson and Ben Simmons. Yeah, that kind of company.
Lastly, Leroy Blyden Jr. is making waves at Kansas. As a freshman for Toledo, he put up 16.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG. He’s now joining a Kansas squad loaded with fifth-year veterans and new freshmen, which is going to be a fascinating mix.
Bigs and Wings Making Moves
Out in the frontcourt, Jaxson Kohler spent four years at Michigan State, averaged 12.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.3 APG last season, and even played for the Utah Jazz in the NBA Summer League. He got a temporary injunction for a fifth year of college and is now bringing his talents to BYU. Here’s the crazy part: Kohler was one of only two power-conference players in the entire country to record at least 300 rebounds and 50 made 3-pointers last season. He crashes the glass *and* splashes from deep. What a combo!
USC picked up Eric Reibe, a center who averaged 5.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 0.5 APG as a freshman at UConn. He’s heading west for his sophomore season after playing behind Tarris Reed Jr. He was expected to start for the Trojans, but he’s currently injured, which is a bummer. Still, as a freshman at UConn last season, Reibe led all Division I freshmen in effective field goal percentage (67.1%) and field goal percentage (65.8%) with a minimum of 150 attempts. When he’s healthy, that efficiency is going to be huge.
Alabama also made a strong play, grabbing Drew Fielder from Boise State. Fielder averaged 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 1.3 AST last season. He could bring similar versatility on the wing to what Grant Nelson did for the Crimson Tide. His shooting splits at Boise State last year were wild: 60.6% on 2-pointers, 40.9% on 3-pointers, and 78.5% from the line, leading to a 65.0% true shooting percentage. That kind of all-around scoring is going to be massive.
What’s Next for College Hoops
The 2026-27 college basketball season is about to kick off, and with these dudes making such huge moves, every single game is going to feel like a high-stakes showdown. Keep your eyes peeled on how these transfers change the entire landscape of college hoops. It’s gonna be wild, people!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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