English Football LeagueChampionship clubs have rejected the opportunity to implement a video assistant referee (VAR) challenge system for the upcoming season.
The proposed Football Video Support (FVS) system, a variant of VAR already utilised in other sports, was initially put forward by Professional Game Match Officials during the EFL’s annual meeting in March.
Under the FVS model, managers would have been granted two reviews per match, with the referee consulting different camera angles at a pitchside monitor.
A key feature was that successful challenges would not count against a team’s allocation.
However, following a subsequent EFL survey, the introduction of the system was opposed by the majority of clubs, the Press Association has learned.
Advertisement
VAR was introduced to the Premier League in 2019, but a recent survey by the Football Supporters’ Association discovered that three-quarters of top-flight fans are against its use (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, goal-line technology is set to continue its use in the Championship next season. There is also potential for its extension to League One, pending a vote on fully costed proposals scheduled for June.
VAR was introduced to the Premier League in 2019, but a recent survey by the Football Supporters’ Association discovered that three-quarters of top-flight fans are against its use.
Nearly 8,000 supporters, just over half of whom attend in excess of 15 home games a season, took part in the poll to assess attitudes to the technology.
The results demonstrated just how unpopular it has become, with more than 97 per cent of respondents opposing the statement that VAR makes watching football more enjoyable, while more than 90 per cent disagreed that it has made the matchgoing experience better.
Asked if they support the use of VAR in football, meanwhile, 75.71 per cent said they do not, with more than 70 per cent disagreeing that it has improved the overall accuracy of refereeing decisions. More than 90 per cent also believe the technology has removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations.
A domestic cricket match in the West Indies was abandoned after the pitch was deemed “dangerous” for play. The match, taking place at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium, saw senior West Indies pacer Jayden Seales taking a total of seven wickets before the game was called off. The decision to end the match prematurely came after one of Seales’ deliveries hit a batter on the helmet after producing a sharp bounce off the pitch. The contest under the spotlight was a West Indies Championship match between the Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
Bowling to the Leeward Islands’ Jeremiah Louis, a delivery by Seales produced an unexpected bounce, rising sharply to hit the batter’s helmet. The batter immediately fell to the ground, and his helmet also came off. In frustration, Louis kicked his helmet and walked off the field.
Jayden Seales has claimed the first seven wickets to fall in an innings for Trinidad & Tobago against Leeward Islands, but looks set to be denied the chance to take 10 with the game halted due to a dangerous pitch. The last ball before the suspension is not for the faint-hearted pic.twitter.com/o4G5ULiSAh
The Leeward Islands were 140/7 when the incident took place, with all seven wickets being taken by Seales. Louis was taken to the hospital for a concussion check and is said to be stable.
Cricket West Indies Statement
Cricket West Indies (CWI) also issued a statement after the game, saying the match had to be abandoned due to the dangerous pitch conditions at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium.
“Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that the second match of the Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago bilateral series in the 2026 West Indies Championship has been abandoned as a draw due to dangerous pitch conditions at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium.
Advertisement
“Play was halted in the first session of the third day after the pitch began to exhibit unpredictable and uneven behaviour, raising serious concerns for player safety. During this period, Leeward Islands player Jeremiah Louis was struck while batting. He was immediately attended to by medical personnel and subsequently transported to hospital to be evaluated for a possible concussion and is reported to be in stable condition.
“The decision to abandon the match was made in accordance with the official playing conditions governing the competition. Under these conditions, when on-field umpires determine that it is dangerous or unreasonable for play to continue, play must be stopped, and the CWI Match Referee consulted.
“Following discussions with the curator, it was determined that the pitch could not be safely repaired without creating an unfair advantage and was therefore deemed unfit to resume, resulting in the match being abandoned as a draw. Both teams will be awarded points earned up until the abandonment of the contest in accordance with the championship’s playing conditions.
“CWI further advises that no matches are scheduled at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium until the Championship Final, set for 17-20 May, and confirms that all necessary resources and expertise will be deployed to ensure the preparation of a safe and competitive playing surface for that fixture,” it read.
Advertisement
The final of the tournament is also due to be held at the same venue. CWI has assured that it will take all necessary measures to ensure a safe and competitive pitch is prepared.
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Coventry City have clinched the Sky Bet Championship title with a resounding 5-1 victory over Portsmouth, featuring a brace from Ephron Mason-Clark.
Haji Wright opened the scoring before Mason-Clark capitalised on a Nicolas Schmid error just 90 seconds after the break. Regan Poole’s own goal compounded Portsmouth’s woes three minutes later.
Adrian Segecic pulled one back for the visitors, but Mason-Clark swiftly added his second, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden completing the rout in added time.
Frank Lampard’s side had already secured promotion following their 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday night, but went a step further to claim the title four days later.
This triumph marks the Sky Blues’ return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, following their relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season.
Advertisement
The defeat ended Portsmouth’s run of three straight victories without conceding, including over promotion-chasing Ipswich and Middlesbrough, but Oxford’s loss to Wrexham means John Mousinho’s side have secured their place in the Championship for next season.
The newly-crowned champions were up and running inside 11 minutes when Jack Rudoni’s corner was nodded in by top scorer Wright.
The Coventry players celebrate after securing the title (Mike Egerton/PA)
Pompey goalkeeper Schmid should have done better as he flapped at the corner and allowed Wright to notch his 17th of the season.
It was the 27th goal the Sky Blues had scored from a set-piece this season, and they almost added another before half-time.
Bobby Thomas’ late goal at Ewood Park on Friday had secured Coventry’s promotion, and the defender headed another Rudoni corner onto the top of the crossbar.
Advertisement
Portsmouth had registered just one shot in the opening 45 minutes and found themselves two goals behind almost immediately after the break.
It was another moment to forget for Schmid, whose heavy touch from Poole’s backpass allowed Mason-Clark to steal in and tap into an empty net.
Things were starting to unravel for Portsmouth as Poole then diverted Milan van Ewijk’s cross into his own net just five minutes into the second half.
Wright should have made it four when he missed a glorious chance on the hour mark.
Advertisement
Rudoni took aim from distance and rifled his low effort off the post before American Wright lifted the follow-up over the bar with the goal gaping.
Pompey were next to take advantage of a lack of concentration as Segecic latched onto Rudoni’s loose pass and lashed beyond Carl Rushworth from the edge of the box.
But any hopes of an unlikely comeback were dashed almost immediately as Victor Torp’s defence-splitting pass played in Mason-Clark, who made space to fire in his second.
Substitute Kesler-Hayden put the icing on the cake when he slotted in Rudoni’s cross at the back post to notch Coventry’s 90th league goal of the season.
Liverpool could move for Randal Kolo Muani, Kobbie Mainoo verbally agrees to new Manchester United deal and Bernardo Silva is on Arsenal and Barcelona’s radar.
Liverpool have identified France international Randal Kolo Muani, 27, as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah but face competition from Juventus for the Paris St-Germain forward. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
Barcelona are leading the race for Eduardo Conceicao, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastlealso interested in the 16-year-old Palmeiras forward. Any move to Europe could not happen until he turns 18 next year. (TeamTalk), external
Advertisement
West Ham are willing to let Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, 28, leave this summer amid interest from the Bundesliga, but will demand a big fee. (Football Insider), external
Caitlin Clark showed off her sharp shooting skills in front of the Indiana Fever advisor and former coach Lin Dunn. On Tuesday, the Fever’s Instagram account shared a video of their star guard sinking a 3-point shot from the corner during practice in Dunn’s presence.
Clark turned around and looked at Dunn after making the shot. She put out her tongue and raised her right hand with her index and middle fingers pointing at the former Fever coach. She placed her left hand on the inside of her elbow to complete the celebration before running in the other direction.
Advertisement
The celebration reminded a fan of Grizzlies star Ja Morant‘s celebration.
“Why CC is doing a lot of Ja Morant gestures lately? Idk or maybe I’m trippin’,” the fan commented.
“Talk yo s**t CC. I wanna see Iowa CC again,” another fan commented.
“She turned around before that ball even hit. Oh, she’s back. She’s back better than ever👏😍😍😍” another fan said.
Here are more reactions:
“Lin and Caitlin are both amazing people! Love them both!” one fan said.
“I think she’s gonna hit a game-winner this season,” another fan commented.
“😂😂 She’s such a goof,” another fan said.
Fans comment on Caitlin Clark’s 3-point shot in Linn Dunn’s presence.
Clark and the Fever begin the season on May 8 in a game against the Dallas Wings.
Caitlin Clark makes her thoughts on Lin Dunn clear
Lin Dunn has always showered praise on Indiana’s superstar guard. In return, Clark has honored the Fever legend on occasions. On Tuesday, Clark dropped in the comments section of the post featuring a video of her sinking a 3-pointer in front of Dunn to make her thoughts clear on the former Fever coach.
“Lin is my everything,” she wrote.
Caitlin Clark shares her thoughts on Linn Dunn.
Caitlin Clark had a great rookie season. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game to win the Rookie of the Year award. The Fever superstar won the award by 66 of 67 votes, one vote short of being a unanimous win. However, for Dunn it was an unanimous win.
“As far as I’m concerned, she’s the unanimous Rookie of the Year,” Dunn told IndyStar in October 2024. “It’s not even close with the accomplishments that she made, how she affected our team, you know, she just had a phenomenal season. And so kudos to her, flowers to her. She deserved this recognition because she absolutely earned it on the court.”
Lin Dunn and Caitlin Clark share a good relationship, which is a positive sign for the Fever fans and the franchise’s growth.
The final component needed has been secured by Getta Good Feeling on her quest for an inaugural Group 1 triumph.
Barrier five is the draw for the Danny O’Brien-trained filly in Saturday’s Australasian Oaks (2000m) conducted at Morphettville.
The card features a maximum of 16 acceptors and four emergencies for this key Group 1 race among Adelaide’s Saturday features.
In the event emergencies don’t start, Getta Good Feeling takes barrier three with Billy Egan aboard again, the rider who guided her to wins at Flemington and Caulfield this time in.
Advertisement
O’Brien passed on the Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield April 11, going with a Geelong jump-out last week.
“She trialled really well,” O’Brien said.
“She has come back very well this prep. Both starts she has won, and this was always her target for the autumn.
“We specifically didn’t get ready for Sydney because we wanted to have a crack at this, at 2000 metres, and everything’s gone to plan.”
Advertisement
While O’Brien contemplated the Caulfield race for Getta Good Feeling, he decided against it to possibly fit in another outing toward the end of the campaign.
“She’s fit and well, and I’m sort of half minded that if she won the Oaks, in Adelaide, that we’d take her up to Brisbane, for the Oaks up there,” O’Brien said.
“I thought I’d rather have another run up my sleeve for later, rather than get another one into her now.
Advertisement
“She won the Wakeful (Stakes 2000m) and run third in the 1000 Guineas (in the spring), so four of our last five have been very, very good runs, and she’s a very classy filly.
“She got 2200 (metres) in the VRC Oaks (over 2500m) and the Queensland Oaks is 2200 and that is why we thought this as well.
“Plus, it gave us a bit more time to give her a proper break after the spring when we decided that we wouldn’t try and get to Sydney.”
A furious Liam Rosenior accused his Chelsea players of lacking “desire, spirit and courage” and said they put in an “unacceptable and indefensible” performance as defeat to Brighton marked the club’s worst run of form in 114 years.
Rosenior said he felt “numb” and “angry” after Chelsea suffered a fifth defeat in a row in the Premier League without scoring a goal and brilliant Brighton went above them into sixth in the table with a fully deserved 3-0 win on the south coast.
The nature of Rosenior’s post-match comments were a departure from his support of a young, expensively assembled Chelsea squad, while his own future is now also in the spotlight ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds at Wembley.
Rosenior was the subject of X-rated chants from the Chelsea fans at Brighton and he said the defeat, where his side failed to land a shot on target in a toothless performance, was “by far” the worst night of his three-month reign in charge.
“It as unacceptable, in every aspect of the game,” he told Sky Sports. “I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.
Advertisement
“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United [on Saturday], genuinely the result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, the spirit was lacking – determination wasn’t there apart from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.
“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change.”
Advertisement
Chelsea could find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League by the time they play their next league fixture, with hopes of a top-five finish and Champions League football all but over. Blues co-owner Behdad Eghbali was also watching on at the Amex Stadium.
The Chelsea players appeared shell-shocked as they went to the away supporters at full-time. Enzo Fernandez, who captained the Blues despite being dropped by Rosenior just two weeks ago, appeared to shrug towards the angry away fans.
(Reuters)
Rosenior, who was without the injured Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and club captain Reece James, hinted at personnel changes for the FA Cup semi-final. Rosenior said before the Brighton game that Palmer and Pedro could be available this weekend.
“I will look at the team, will look at individuals and I will look at a team I can trust to do the basics of football and we should not be talking about the basics of football at this level. It is something we have to adjust very quickly,” Palmer said.
“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight. Nowhere near good enough and we have to improve that.”
An advantageous barrier is a prized asset, most notably on venues with compact turns.
Hence, Lindsay Park swiftly decided to eliminate Plymouth from the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) held last Saturday, even with the prize including a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) this October.
Plymouth, prepared by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, was allocated barrier 17 in that Mornington Cup, while Kings Valley from gate 6 triumphed and gained the Caulfield Cup qualification.
Following the scratch at Mornington, Plymouth pivots to the 2000m Benchmark 100 at Flemington on Saturday.
Advertisement
Ben Hayes expressed disappointment over the Mornington no-go but stressed the barrier’s difficulty for the gelding.
“Unfortunately, 17 over 2400 metres at Mornington, we didn’t feel it was right,” he said.
“He needed a nice barrier. Last start he drew well and we ended up too far back, so we decided to scratch from Mornington, and we will head towards the 2000-metre race at Flemington on Saturday.
“After that, and depending on his performance, he could then head towards the Warrnambool Cup.”
Advertisement
Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 7 represents a target, one Lindsay Park took out in 2019 via Furrion with David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig training.
Plymouth entered his last run with creditable results.
Second in March 20’s Albury Cup, he was then 12th of 14 in April 3’s Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield won by Ambassadorial.
“He’s fine and it was just the barrier why we didn’t run,” Hayes said.
Advertisement
“It’s very hard from out there, especially at Mornington.”
Visit premier betting sites to find the best racing odds for the Flemington Benchmark 100 featuring Plymouth.
Fabian Hurzeler and Brighton pushing for Europe: ‘It’s about staying humble’
Brighton were 13 points behind Chelsea just a few weeks ago. Now, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have gone above them into sixth. They’ve picked up 13 points from their last 15 available since a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the start of March.
“We played a good game, we defended well, we had a good structure in possession and created a lot of chances. All in all a good performance and now we have to keep going.
“Another great night and another great connection with the fans. Overall a positive night and now it is about staying humble,” Hurzeler told Sky Sports.
Advertisement
Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 02:30
‘We didn’t let Chelsea breathe’
Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, outstanding tonight and a goalscorer in the 3-0 win over Chelsea, sums up how the Seagulls dominated their opponents.
“Today we didn’t let them breathe. Amazing game from every player. We have to continue like this as we have some goals this season.”
Advertisement
They’re pushing for Europe!
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 01:30
Trevoh Chalobah claims Chelsea players ‘gave it our all’
Speaking to Sky Sports, defender Trevoh Chalobah claimed Chelsea put in their full effort against Brighton.
He said: “We can be accountable. As players, we have to be accountable for the performance. We know how much the fans are behind us, we know they’re disappointed with the results. We’re not winning games. We have to stick together and pulled through.
Advertisement
“I think the boys were running their socks off. If you look in the dressing room, everyone is tired. It’s nothing to do with effort. We gave it our all. We got beat today.”
The stats would disagree. Chelsea were outran for the 34th time in 34 league games this season.
Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 00:45
Advertisement
Liam Rosenior turns on Chelsea players and warns ‘something has to change’
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.
“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change.”
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 23:59
Advertisement
The night Chelsea’s failed experiment sunk to breaking point
It was one of those games where you’d love to focus on Brighton’s performance but, at the end of yet another chastening evening it was hard to take the eyes off the Chelsea captain. There was Enzo Fernandez, standing there mostly motionless in front of the away crowd, other than shrugging his shoulders. That he was wearing the armband only two weeks after being dropped from the first team added to the sense of farce, of a club shredded by so many bad decisions.
What was Fernandez actually doing here? What was he thinking? Maybe it was an apt image in its own bizarre way, because you can say this of the entire club right now. “A sad night for the club”, as one Chelsea insider said. Most visibly, there’s just the way they’re playing. What is Liam Rosenior trying to do?
Miguel Delaney21 April 2026 23:30
Advertisement
Has Liam Rosenior turned on his players?
In his interview with Match of the Day Sports, Liam Rosenior also accused his Chelsea players of lacking “desire, spirit and courage”.
“It is accountability. I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing but I can’t defend that performance. It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.
“I feel numb I’m so angry. I always speak on what I see and that was unacceptable. The goals we conceded were unacceptable and that is something I have to hold my hands up to.
“I will look at the team, will look at individuals and I will look at a team I can trust to do the basics of football and we should not be talking about the basics of football at this level. It is something we have to adjust very quickly.
Advertisement
“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight. Nowhere near good enough and we have to improve that.”
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 23:00
Liam Rosenior comes out strong after ‘unacceptable, indefensible’ Chelsea defeat
Liam Rosenior said he is “numb” after the manner of Chelsea’s defeat. He called it “unacceptable”, “indefensible”, and said “something has to change”.
He told Sky Sports: “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.
Advertisement
“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, spirit was lacking – determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.”
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:32
Advertisement
Chelsea fail to land a punch
Chelsea have failed to score a Premier League goal in almost eight hours.
They didn’t even manage to have a shot on target tonight.
Brighton had nine. They dominated every department.
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:30
Advertisement
Where do Chelsea go next?
It’s a FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday at Wembley. Leeds have won back-to-back games and will be full of confidence. Chelsea had no fight, no spirit, no ideas tonight. Leeds will be up for it, that’s for sure.
Does Rosenior even get to Sunday?
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:11
Advertisement
Chelsea’s 114-year low: Five defeats in a row without scoring
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.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.
Getty Images
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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.
Getty Images
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.
Advertisement
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login