Top 5 Transfer Portal Winners for the 2026-27 College Basketball Season

The transfer portal continues to reshape college basketball, and this offseason delivered major talent shifts across several powerhouse programs. From defensive anchors to high-scoring guards and versatile wings, these five teams made the most impactful additions. Here's our ranked list of the biggest winners. Louisville Cardinals

It’s hard to argue against Louisville sitting at the very top of this list. The Cardinals are headlined by star center Flory Bidunga, who averaged more than 2.5 blocks per game while grabbing 9 rebounds per game for Kansas last season. Kansas ranked 9th in KenPom defensive efficiency, and Bidunga’s presence should provide a massive upgrade for a Louisville squad that finished 27th in defensive efficiency last year.The additions don’t stop there. Louisville also landed guard Jackson Shelstad, who put up three straight double-digit scoring seasons at Oregon, and Karter Knox, who battled injuries last season after helping Arkansas reach the Sweet 16 two years ago. They further bolstered the frontcourt with power forward Alvaro Folgueris, who hit a game-winning shot against eventual national champion Florida to help Iowa advance to the Elite Eight.With elite talent and experience added across every position, Louisville looks primed for a major leap in the ACC and a deep tournament run.

Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns had one of the most productive offseasons in the country, successfully replacing key departures from their Sweet 16 team. Their biggest need was defensive improvement after finishing 83rd in KenPom defensive efficiency, and they addressed it immediately by adding forward David Punch from TCU. Punch helped the Horned Frogs post a top-25 defense and secure a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Ohio State.On the perimeter, Texas added high-upside guards Isaiah Johnson and Mikey Lewis. Johnson exploded as a freshman at Colorado, averaging 16.9 points per game while shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.8% from three. Lewis contributed 13.9 points per game for Saint Mary’s and helped lead them back to the NCAA Tournament.Depth was also enhanced with wings Elyjah Freeman (Auburn) and Amari Evans (Tennessee). Both bring valuable postseason experience — Auburn won the NIT last season, while Tennessee reached the Elite Eight. Texas looks significantly more balanced heading into next year.

Tennessee Volunteers

After yet another Elite Eight appearance, Tennessee kept the momentum going with another strong portal haul. The headliner is Juke Harris from Wake Forest, who made a massive leap by increasing his scoring from 6.1 to 21.4 points per game in a single season while improving both his field goal and three-point percentages.They also added guard Terrence Hill Jr. from VCU and forward Jalen Haralson from Notre Dame. Hill Jr. was sensational in the NCAA Tournament, dropping 34 points with seven made threes in an overtime first-round win over North Carolina. Haralson averaged 16.2 points per game as a freshman while shooting 51.5% from the field.This group gives Tennessee a completely revamped and highly talented roster from top to bottom. Expect the Volunteers to once again contend at the highest level in the SEC. Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana made major splashes in both the frontcourt and backcourt. The Hoosiers landed former Alabama forward Aiden Sherrell, who averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting above 50% from the field on a Crimson Tide team that ranked 3rd nationally in KenPom offensive efficiency. In the backcourt, they added Notre Dame guard Markus Burton, who put up 18.5 points per game before an injury cut his season short (and averaged 21.3 ppg the prior year).They also brought in Samet Yigitoglu from SMU, who had a breakout season with 10.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 62.8% from the field. These additions provide Indiana with significant upgrades, especially in the frontcourt, as they look to take the next step in the Big Ten. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M struck gold by landing one of the portal’s top scorers in PJ Haggerty, who ranked 4th nationally in scoring last season. Given that the Aggies finished 49th and 42nd in KenPom offensive efficiency over the past two years, Haggerty’s arrival should provide an immediate and significant boost on that end of the floor.Additional guard help came via Tyshawn Archie from McNeese, who averaged 14.3 points per game for a March Madness team and shot 90% from the free-throw line. They also added forward Jalen Shelly from LMU, who contributed 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.With a defense that ranked 10th nationally last season, these offensive reinforcements could help Texas A&M become a more complete and dangerous team in the SEC. These five programs turned the transfer portal into a strategic weapon, adding proven producers who should translate quickly to winning basketball. The 2026-27 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.