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Ranking college basketball’s top 2026-27 players in transfer portal by position

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Nearly 80 of the top-100 players in the 2026 transfer portal have flown off the board, but there are still numerous teams with massive holes on the depth chart. That’s a scary proposition at this point in the cycle, especially with the transfer portal closing at 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The phones are buzzing and every rock is being turned over in college basketball’s version of free agency.

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🏀 Notable team needs

Michigan: A wing to complement Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney and a big man to shore up the depth if Morez Johnson and/or Aday Mara go pro.

Michigan State: A quality center so Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, Jordan Scott, Kur Teng and a dazzling recruiting class can be an elite Big Ten contender.

Kansas: A high-level center, in addition to winning the sweepstakes for No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes.

Texas Tech: Multiple max-contract guys — one in the frontcourt and one in the backcourt — to round out a roster that has numerous questions beyond coveted Hofstra transfer point guard Cruz Davis and prized freshman guard DaKari Spear. 

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Kentucky: A real-deal off-ball sniper with size to make up for whiffing on top 4-man targets, Sebastian Rancik and Donnie Freeman.

LSU: Best player available. Kentucky transfer forward Mo Dioubate is the lone player on Will Wade’s roster at the moment.

Arkansas: Center so that Furman transfer Cooper Bowser can be a role player, not a featured starter.

St. John’s: A big man with some physicality to add a different dimension to the Donnie Freeman-Ruben Prey combination. 

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Louisville: A 4-man who can serve as a connector, ball-mover and floor-spacer.

Virginia: Secondary guard to complement Chance Mallory and Sam Lewis.

Duke: A go-to guard who can be a bucket-getter and provide 3-point volume complement Cayden Boozer, Patrick Ngongba and Drew Scharnowski

So, who are the top names on the board? Let’s dive into the top available free agents at each position.

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Initiator point guards

1. Tylen Riley, Tulsa: Riley engineered Tulsa to a NIT Championship game appearance and is one of the most coveted mid-major stars in the portal. Riley uses shake, a tight handle and terrific footwork to generate a ton of paint touches. Oklahoma and Cincinnati are in the thick of it here.

2. Pop Isaacs, Texas A&M: Isaacs shot 40% from downtown on 154 attempts last year. The well-traveled veteran has never been able to shake the turnover bug, but he’s got a strap. 

3. Malik Mack, Georgetown: Mack is clearly a high-major point guard option, but nothing comes super easy in his game yet. The hope is that another situation with more shooting could unlock new levers of Mack’s game after two so-so seasons at Georgetown.

Editor’s note: Mack committed to Providence on Tuesday. 

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Two-guards

1. John Blackwell, Wisconsin: Blackwell is one of the best free agents on the board. Blackwell is a net-shredder (39% on 247 attempts), who can put it on the deck for get-off-me drives. He’s a plug-and-play 15 points per game scorer, who can do all the dirty work, too. Duke is in the driver’s seat.

2. Matt Able, NC State: Able is going to be a really, really good player very soon. The former top-30 recruit has terrific positional size (6-foot-6 and 205 pounds) and a polished offensive game. A full offseason in the weight room could do wonders. With the right situation, Able has breakout written all over him in 2026-27. UNC is firmly involved with both Brown and Able as Michael Malone looks to build out his backcourt.

3. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, UNLV: Gibbs-Lawhorn is a little undersized, but that didn’t matter at all last year. He led the Mountain West in scoring and was efficient doing so (41% on 3-pointers, 57% on 2-pointers). He’s a pure bucket who showed answers to the test at every single level of the floor. 

Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic is focused on the draft, but he’d command multi-million-dollar deals if he returned to college for his senior season. 
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Shooters

1. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State: Momcilovic is all-in on the NBA Draft right now, but if he returns to college, the best shooter in the sport will have a host of suitors. Unloading the clip for Momcilovic would make a ton of sense for Mark Pope and Kentucky after numerous high-profile swings and misses. 

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2. Paul McNeil, NC State: McNeil made 105 treys at a 43% clip last season. He is an exceptional movement shooter, who can sneakily get to the foul line at a high rate to diversify his profile. The 6-5, 190-pound guard has two years of eligibility and will be a threat to lead any high-major league in treys next year. New NC State coach Justin Gainey is trying hard to keep him in Raleigh. McNeil could have three different coaches in three years at NC State (Kevin Keatts, Will Wade and Gainey) if he chose to stay.

3. Joson Sanon, St. John’s: The 6-5 guard is on the move again, looking for his third school in three years. The jumper is the sell. He’s a career 35% 3-point sniper who can get it going in the midrange, too. But shot selection and Sanon’s impact on winning are questions at this point. 

Wings

1. Juke Harris, Wake Forest: Harris is a dangerous movement sniper who showed his feel for the game as a cutter, slasher, rebounder and secondary creator. Harris can play in pick-and-rolls, but he’s most dangerous off the ball. Michigan and Tennessee are certainly in the mix here, but the NBA beckons.

2. Dwayne Aristode, Arizona: Aristode is so toolsy. The 6-8, 215-pound freshman was a top-30 recruit in the 2025 class for good reason. He commands a sky-high price tag, but the combination of size, shooting and defensive versatility is tantalizing. 

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3. LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech: Watts’ bootyball game didn’t translate as well as hoped at Texas Tech, but Watts will still have a real market as a bounce-back candidate. He’s an unselfish playmaker who needs to make more 3-pointers and play with more force to hit his ceiling.

Santa Clara transfer Allen Graves is an analytical darling. 
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Forwards

1. Allen Graves, Santa Clara: Graves is a five-tool player who broke out in a huge way to help Santa Clara earn an at-large bid. The 6-9, 225-pound forward creates havoc on defense (4.8% block rate and 4.8% steal rate). He can be a jumbo playmaker (2.5-to-1, assist-to-turnover ratio). He’s a dangerous pick-and-pop threat from downtown. He can put it on the deck and drive it. He can play in post-ups and has proved to be a high-feel cutter. Graves’ first focus is the NBA Draft, but if he returns to school, teams like hometown LSU and Duke are primed to have a check with his name on it.

2. Paulius Murauskas, St. Mary’s: Murauskas is a yoked forward who combines outstanding positional size with an inside-out game. The 6-8, 235-pound forward uses backdowns to obliterate smaller defenders, and he can do a little bit of everything as a passer, handler and spot-up shooter. Murauskas is more of a 4-man who can play on the wing than vice versa, but he defends multiple positions and impacts the game positively in an abundance of ways.

Despite interest from everywhere, Murauskas is currently expected to follow his long-time coach, Randy Bennett, to Arizona State.

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3. Sebastian Williams-Adams, Auburn: Williams-Adams is a splashy late entry to the portal. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward can guard all five positions and plays with a ton of force and fire. He’s still a bit of a bull in a china shop, but if he refines his game, Williams-Adams can be a load. He played for JL3 Elite in AAU, so Miami coach Jai Lucas has a ton of ties to this one, but Vanderbilt has surged as a major player.

Big men

1. Massamba Diop, Arizona State: No big man runs the floor as smoothly as Diop, and he can put it on the deck unlike any other center in this class. Diop also has a huge catch radius in the pick-and-roll game, with burgeoning touch out to the 3-point stripe. The 7-1 soon-to-be sophomore has no idea how good he can be. St. John’s and Gonzaga are the top ones in the thick of it, but it’s hard to imagine Arkansas and Kansas not trying to get involved here with their current depth chart situations. 

2. Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati: Thiam is a few tweaks away from being a menace. The 7-footer can be a fearsome rim protector and true defensive anchor, but offensively, there’s so much meat on the bone. If he refines his shot selection and plays with more force, Thiam can play in the NBA. Michigan, to no surprise, is sniffing around this one, but Thiam has a bunch of suitors.

3. Franck Kepnang, Washington: Kepnang has been around forever, but injuries have opened the door for the 6-foot-11 big man to get another year. He cleans the glass, protects the rim and plays with real energy. He’s just limited offensively, but at this point in the portal, some of these teams just need high-major size. Kepnang certainly has that, but don’t expect much more than a play-finisher offensively. 

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First-place Victoire miss chance to extend lead with loss to Goldeneyes

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VANCOUVER — Tereza Vanisova scored and contributed a pair of assists, and the Vancouver Goldeneyes held on for a 4-3 win over the Montreal Victoire on Tuesday.

Sarah Nurse tallied her eighth goal of the season, Ashton Bell added a power-play marker midway through the second and Claire Thompson rounded out the scoring for the Goldeneyes (9-2-4-14).

Thompson’s goal at the 5:06 mark of the third period gave Vancouver a 4-0 lead, but Montreal (16-5-2-6) pulled goalie Sandra Abstreiter with more than seven minutes left on the game clock in favour of an extra attacker.

Hayley Scamurra responded with three goals over two minutes and 44 seconds to cut the Victoire’s deficit to a single goal with the first hat trick of her PWHL career. Nicole Gosling registered three assists and Erin Ambrose had two helpers.

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Vancouver goalie Kristen Campbell stopped 25 of the 28 shots she faced and Abstreiter made 14 saves for Montreal.

The Victoire have locked up their playoff spot but are still looking to secure first place so they can pick their semifinal opponent. The Goldeneyes have been eliminated from post-season play, but are aiming to rack up draft order points with strong showings in their final games.

Goldeneyes: Earned their first-ever win against Montreal. The Victoire came out on top in the three previous meetings this season by a combined score of 8-2. … Defender Sophie Jaques contributed an assist on Thompson’s goal, marking her 50th PWHL point.

Victoire: Outshot Vancouver 10-4 across the first period but couldn’t get a puck past Campbell. … Ann-Renée Desbiens did not dress for the game. The Montreal goalie leads the league in save percentage (. 955) and goals-against average (1.12), and is tied with Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet for most wins (18).

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Victoire star Laura Stacey picked off a puck in the defensive zone for a short-handed breakaway midway through the second period and steamed up the ice unimpeded, only to see Campbell make a solid save, sending the blistering shot off the knob of her stick.

The Goldeneyes have earned at least one point against every other PWHL team during their first season in the league.

Victoire: Visit the Seattle Torrent on Saturday.

Goldeneyes: Close out their inaugural season Saturday when they host the Minnesota Frost.

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Tolu Arokodare Faces Uncertain Future as Wolverhampton Wanderers Suffer Relegation

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Tolu Arokodare’s Wolverhampton Wanderers have been relegated from the Premier League following a disappointing 2025–26 campaign.

Their drop was confirmed on Monday after other results went against them, leaving Wolves unable to close the gap on teams above and ending their eight-year run in the top flight.

It has been a frustrating season from the start. Wolves failed to win a league match until January, putting them under early pressure. Although results improved later, including a draw with Arsenal and wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool, they remained stuck in the relegation zone.

  • Zaidu SanusiZaidu Sanusi

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A change in the dugout saw Rob Edwards replace Vítor Pereira, but the situation did not improve enough. Wolves struggled in attack and defence, conceding 61 goals and scoring only 24 in 33 matches, leaving them with the worst goal difference in the league.

Relegation means the club must now regroup in the Championship, with key decisions expected about the squad. For Arokodare, it brings uncertainty over whether to stay and fight for promotion or seek a move elsewhere.

Arokodare’s difficult debut season

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The Nigerian striker joined from KRC Genk in September 2025 after finishing as the Belgian league’s top scorer. However, his first season in England did not meet expectations.

He featured in 28 league games, mostly as a substitute, scoring three goals and providing one assist. It was a modest return for a player brought in to lead the attack.

There were a few bright moments. His first Premier League goal came as a late header against Arsenal, showing his strength in the air. He also contributed in a surprise win over Liverpool and impressed more in cup competitions, scoring twice in the EFL Cup.

However, he struggled for consistency. Despite his height and physical presence, he found it difficult to convert chances, reflecting a low scoring rate. Like many of his teammates, adapting to the speed and intensity of the league proved challenging.

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Off the pitch, his situation became more complicated after reports of a dressing-room clash with teammate Mateus Mané following a heavy loss to West Ham United. The incident led to disciplinary action, including a fine and his omission from the squad.

Big decision ahead

At 25, Arokodare faces an important choice. He could remain with Wolves and try to rebuild in the Championship, where his physical style may suit the demands of the league.

With more regular playing time and better support, he has the chance to regain confidence and rediscover his scoring form, similar to his time in Belgium. However, staying would also require him to rebuild trust within the squad and prove himself again to the coaching staff as Wolves prepare for a fresh start.

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IPL 2026, LSG vs RR Preview: Will Lucknow Super Giants finally feel at home at the Ekana? | Cricket News

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IPL 2026, LSG vs RR Preview: Will Lucknow Super Giants finally feel at home at the Ekana?
Lucknow Super Giants’ skipper Rishabh Pant and teammates. (ANI Photo)

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Super Giants return to the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday needing more than a win — what they need is a course correction. LSG have lost four of their first six matches, including a 54-run defeat to Punjab Kings in their previous outing, and are still without a home win this season after two losses in Lucknow. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, arrive better placed, with four wins from six games and third place on the points table.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For LSG, the concern is straightforward: their top order has not given them enough. The side has too often been forced into recovery mode and on a ground where setting up the innings matters, another shaky start could leave them chasing the game early. That makes the first six overs the clearest tactical window of the contest. Asked what whas wrong with their batting unit, LSG’s Aiden Markram said, “It’s probably just a case of maybe struggling for a bit of rhythm. It’s quite strange. We laugh about it in the sense that one or two guys can struggle, it’s part of the game, but when the full batting lineup does so… the odds of that happening normally are quite slim.”Rajasthan look better equipped in that phase. Jofra Archer has been their early enforcer, with nine wickets in his last eight T20s, and he goes up against an LSG batting group still searching for rhythm. If Archer breaks through up front, Rajasthan can immediately squeeze a middle order that has not consistently played from positions of control. Lucknow’s counter lies with Prince Yadav, whose recent numbers also stand out.

LSG vs RR

He has been one of LSG’s few bright spots with the new ball and his duel with Rajasthan’s aggressive opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaswal could shape the match. If Prince can strike in the Powerplay, LSG would have already done half the job.There is also a wider context for LSG. They are yet to feel at home at the Ekana stadium after three winless games. Home cannot become a disadvantage and on a red-soil pitch, Lucknow’s batter have a lot to play for.

82 – Sanju Samson’s unbeaten knock off 52 balls in Jaipur on March 24, 2024 is the highest individual score in matches involving RR and LSG.

4/41 – Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling performance for RR at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on April 10, 2022 is the only four-wicket haul in games involving these two teams.

—Stats: Rajesh Kumar

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Glass shatters behind Kings bench, delays playoff game vs. Avalanche

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DENVER — Los Angeles interim coach D.J. Smith quickly ducked when shattered glass fell on him after a pane broke behind the Kings bench Tuesday night in Game 3 against Colorado.

It happened right after Quinton Byfield was stopped on a penalty shot by Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood with 16:48 remaining in the second period. The glass began to sway as fans pounded on it in excitement and then gave way, with pieces raining on Smith. He covered his head and then brushed the glass off his suit before heading down the tunnel to the locker room. He returned a few minutes later.

The Avalanche cleanup crew brought out shovels and buckets to clean up the fragments from the L.A. bench. The Kings players mingled on the ice as they waited for a new pane to be brought in and installed.

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog told ESPN hockey analyst Erik Johnson he’s never seen something like that happen before. Landeskog added: “It was loud there when ‘Wedgy’ made that save and fans got a little too excited.”

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The delay took more than 15 minutes. The score was 0-0 when play was halted.

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OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA’s top clutch performer

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NBA: Playoffs-Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City ThunderApr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes up for a basket beside Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the runaway winner in the Clutch Player of the Year award balloting, revealed Tuesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 96 of 100 first-place votes in balloting for the Jerry West Trophy. He had 484 total points, well ahead of Denver Nuggets standout Jamal Murray (117) and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards (116).

Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning league MVP and is favored to win the award again this season.

But he liked receiving the Jerry West Trophy too.

“This award means a lot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the Clutch Player award on NBC Sports. “To get this award, you have to help your team win games late and what I’m about more than anything is winning games.”

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Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with 175 points that occurred in clutch time, defined as games that were within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

He shot 60.9% from the field (39 of 64) during clutch time and made a league-best 16 go-ahead field goals.

Fourth-place Cade Cunningham (50 points) of the Detroit Pistons received one first-place vote, fifth-place Jalen Brunson (42 points) of the New York Knicks landed two and sixth-place Nikola Jokic (37 points) of Denver received one.

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This was the fourth season in which the award was given out. De’Aaron Fox (then with the Sacramento Kings) won the 2023 award, followed by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in 2024 and Brunson last season. Fox now plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

West was known as “Mr. Clutch” during his stellar career (1960-74) with the Los Angeles Lakers due to his many late-game exploits. He died in 2024.

–Field Level Media

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Blessed Stars Edge FC ONE Rocket to Make Winning Start to NLO Season

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Blessed Stars FC began their 2025/2026 Nationwide League One campaign on a bright note with a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC ONE Rocket on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Eket Stadium.

Blessed Stars Vs FC ONE RocketBlessed Stars Vs FC ONE Rocket

Blessed Stars showed strong character to claim all three points despite playing most of the second half with ten men. Defensive midfielder Godwin Akpan was sent off in the 52nd minute after denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

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Earlier in the match, FC ONE Rocket had the first real chance when Godswill Ita Ndaeyo broke through on goal but chose to pass instead of shooting with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Isaiah Adeoye of Blessed StarsIsaiah Adeoye of Blessed Stars

Blessed Stars responded well and nearly took the lead before the break, but Isaiah Adeoye’s effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Blessed StarsBlessed Stars

The turning point came in the second half when Blessed Stars, despite being a man down, pushed forward in search of a goal. Their effort paid off in the 70th minute as right-back Victor Umoh rose highest to head home a well-delivered free kick from Victor Benjamin.

Blessed StarsBlessed Stars

FC ONE Rocket increased the pressure in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser, but Blessed Stars stood firm. The defence, led by Emmanuel Nwoke and Austin Oboho, remained organised, while goalkeeper Emediong Dickson made key saves to protect the lead.

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The victory was witnessed by the club’s major sponsor, Wikiproject by Medally, along with partners Judex Autos, KASTREAM, Kleva’s Couture, ED Signature, Ibom Sports Hub, and Emeka Gadgets.

Blessed StarsBlessed Stars

The match was a repeat of the opening fixture from last season, which ended 1-1 at the Uyo Township Stadium. This time, however, Blessed Stars secured maximum points to go top of the table after the first round of matches.

Blessed StarsBlessed Stars

In other results, Blackpool FA came from behind to hold Krane FC to a 1-1 draw.

Looking ahead, FC ONE Rocket will face KMK Academy on Saturday, April 25, while Blessed Stars will take on Krane FC on Sunday, April 26, both matches scheduled to take place at the Eket Stadium.

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[Must Watch] Brandon Hagel lands one-punch KO on Juraj Slafkovsky during fiery Bolts-Habs Game 2

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The Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel and the Montreal Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky dropped the gloves in Game 2 on Tuesday.

The incident unfolded during the second period when Hagel landed a solid right hand that dropped Slafkovsky to the ice. Hagel then taunted him on the way to the penalty box with a sleeping gesture and chirped toward the Canadiens’ bench.

Watch the video below:

The Canadiens and the Lightning, meanwhile, are battling hard in overtime after a 2-2 tie in regulation. Brandon Hael and Nikita Kucherov were the scorers for the Bolts. Meanwhile, Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens.

This is a developing story that will be updated later.