8 college basketball transfer portal sleepers your team needs to target

The college transfer portal currently reflects NBA free agency. With more fluidity and freedom in players than ever before, programs shuffle their decks every offseason, adding veteran talent through the portal aside from high school and international recruits.

Names like Robbie Avila, Tucker DeVries, Bronny James, Jonelle Davis, and Jevon Porter have appeared in the portal as a number of high-profile transfers. As always, lesser-discussed hidden gems will emerge that impact college players and future NBA players. Here are eight underrated transfers who will change teams this offseason.

St. Thomas — 6’7 wing transferred from Northern Colorado.

St. Thomas scores efficiently from all over the floor, creating easy shots for himself and his teammates. He is a natural pull-up shot maker and flows smoothly into jumpers on isolations and pick-and-rolls. It’s rare to find a winger who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend like Thomas.

His production was great, slashing 19.7-9.8-4.2 with solid efficiency. He has the tools, feel and size to succeed in the high majors. As it turns out, Northern Colorado’s last transfer scoring wing was excellent. Does the light come on twice?

Adu Tierro — 6’8 forward transferred from Kentucky

Adu Tiello, the ideal platonic “glue,” showed off modern perimeter skills at the University of Kentucky in a traditional forward frame. He was Kentucky’s connective tissue this season, adding passing, finishing and defense that Kentucky’s young players desperately needed.

Once limited as a finisher at the rim, Tierro’s ball-handling has become more widespread, attacking from the catch and looking for shots for himself and his teammates in transition. Any team (and I mean any team) in need of a smart, athletic defensive ace should prioritize Thiero.

Joshua Jefferson — 6’8 forward transferred from St. Mary’s

Jefferson has been one of the nation’s most underrated jack-of-all-trades forwards this season, leading St. Mary’s defensively while adding value in a link-up attack. His passing was stand-up, flashing second pick-and-roll juice and inside passes from the post.

Shooting is the final step for Jefferson (27.6%), and his solid volume, free throw percentage, and touch could indicate development there. Either way, teams will appreciate Jefferson’s disruptive off-ball defense (3.1% steal rate) and positional defensive versatility.

Frankie Fiddler — 6’7 wing transferred from Omaha

Frankie Fiddler raises the roof of any offense he participates in, combining his outside shooting, mid-range scoring, and playmaking to make him a versatile threat on and off the ball. His dominance inside the arc is impressive. Fiddler shot 43.5% on long twos and lived on the edge of the free throw line (56.5% free throws), where he shot 86.8%.

If the team needed Fiddler to run the offense, he would cash in his pull-up midi and pass to the big man in the pick-and-roll. If not, clear the floor and run in transition. His defense can be exploited, but the offense will find a home for him.

Carrie Booth — 6’10 forward/center transferred notre dame cathedral

Carey Booth, the son of Denver Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, offers the highest return in the entire portal. Throughout his freshman season at Notre Dame, Booth displayed rare skill on both ends of the floor and outstanding mobility for a player nearly 7 feet tall.

Despite his low 3-point percentage (29.7%), Booth’s volume, shot versatility, and confidence in making and making shots could suggest improved shooting in the future. If Booth develops into a formidable shooter, his handling at both big spots and defensive versatility will make him an X-factor somewhere down the line.

Garwey Dual — 6’5 guard transferred from Providence.

The Garvey acquisition serves two purposes. He is a threatening all-round defender and has the potential to further develop. The stats are impressive for a freshman, with +2.9 D-BPM, 2.4% steal rate, and 3.7% block rate, making him a wreck off-ball and shut down on the ball.

Dual struggled greatly in 3-point shooting and overall points (41.2% true shooting rate) last season, so his offensive aspect is still unknown. But his athleticism is undeniable and his dual game sense is solid. With the tools he has as an advantage creator, he could rise to stardom.

Chris Manon — 6’5 wing transfer from Cornell University.

Analytics loves Chris Mannone. For example, he has a box plus-minus of 7.9%, a steal rate of 5.5%, and a shooting percentage of 61.7% on a usage rate of 27.8%. Looking at the numbers, you can see that he is an impact player with the potential to thrive at a higher level of competition.

Manone stands out for his ability to cut into the paint, and is also a strong passer on drives and post-ups. Manone isn’t an outstanding shooter (33.8%), but his combination of decision-making as a handler and defensive strength on and off the ball is that of a top starter in the majors.

Rayden Blocker — 6’2 guard transferred from Arkansas State.

Rayden Blocker averaged 13.3 minutes per game and fell short of four points, but his impressive counting stats shouldn’t scare teams away. Although his role was inconsistent, his explosiveness and quickness as a blocker helped him contribute defensively.

Blocker was a top-45 recruit coming out of high school and showed upward talent with his rim pressure and boundless energy. Improving his jumper and handle, combined with his impressive defense, could create a real turnaround on the ball. Keep Blocker in mind as a star prospect who could break out in the next year or two.