The SEC is going to look completely different next season.
The transfer portal officially closed on April 22 and a few weeks later the 16 conference programs have added 71 transfers and counting — an average of just over 4 per team. For reference, last season saw the SEC add 80 total transfers, a record number that will likely be surpassed soon.
This offseason is surrounded by uncertainty, some of which is driven by the NCAA v. House settlement. If approved, this would grant an extra year of eligibility which could be applied to 2024-25 seniors. Admittedly, that’s a big “if.”
Additionally, the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is May 28, which puts extra attention on the likes of Otega Oweh, Karter Knox and Alex Condon, to name a few.
With all that context, where does each SEC program stand as we enter the month of May? What does each team still need to address moving forward? Let’s start at the top with Alabama and work our way down the list to Vanderbilt. Buckle up, because there’s a lot to cover.
Alabama
No. of transfer additions: 4 No. of high school additions: 3 Notable losses: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Jarin Stevenson, Cliff OmoruyiAlabama, as of early May, will welcome 7 newcomers to make up for the departures of Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Jarin Stevenson. The Tide return Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Latrell Wrightsell and Aidan Sherrell, and could return Labaron Philon.
All of Alabama’s offseason additions stand above 6-5 and have the ability to shoot the all-important 3, though only one of the 4 transfers particularly excelled in that arena. Guard Jalil Bethea out of Miami, C Noah Williamson out of Bucknell and F Keitenn Bristow out of Tarleton State all hover around 31-32% from range while Taylor Bol Bowen out of Florida State shot 41% from range (29-70) and 47% in ACC play (24-51).
Bol Bowen, in my opinion, is the most intriguing transfer of the bunch. His upside is gargantuan as an efficient stretch 4 with length, mobility and a good block rate, averaging just under 1.5 blocks per game. His size is a concern, though — Bol Bowen stands at 6-10 but only 205 pounds, lighter than some guards in the SEC. Still, Bol Bowen is the quintessential Nate Oats transfer and should be a strong replacement for Stevenson.
Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson is similarly mobile and, while not as efficient as Bol Bowen, can stretch the floor. He and Aidan Sherrell will hold down the 5-spot starting this fall.
Bristow and Bethea are uncertain, especially Bethea. Both are rising sophomores and oozing potential, but Bethea failed to live up to expectations at Miami while Bristow is transferring from the WAC to the SEC and deals with turnover issues and poor efficiency on the boards. With Holloway, Wrightsell and Bol Bowen all being superior shooters, these 2 are likely to carve out roles off the bench.
Arkansas
No. of transfer additions: 2 No. of high school/international additions: 4 Notable losses: Adou Thiero, Boogie Fland, Johnell Davis, Jonas AidooArkansas basketball had a good Year 1 under John Calipari and despite losing a lot of talent, there’s a ton to be excited about heading into Year 2. If Coach Cal can stick the landing, this is likely to be a preseason top 15 (maybe top 10) team.
For starters, the Razorbacks put together the best incoming freshman class in the conference, signing 5-star PG Darius Acuff, 5-star CG Meleek Thomas and 4-star CG Isaiah Sealy. Karim Rtail, a 6-9 forward who played professionally in Lithuania, is also on board for 2026. Rtail is an exciting, uber-athletic prospect who averaged just under 9 points in Lithuania’s professional NBL. It’ll be interesting to see what role he plays for this team.
DJ Wagner, Billy Richmond and Trevon Brazile are set to return while Karter Knox is slated to return but will first test the NBA waters. It should be noted that Boogie Fland is also exploring the NBA route, but he’s a more likely case to remain in the draft or go elsewhere through the portal. Adou Thiero, he announced in April, will enter the draft.
Transfers Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle are both traditional bigs who provide an immediate upgrade over Zvonimir Ivisic and Jonas Aidoo. Freshmen Thomas and Acuff will each play 25+ minutes a game, taking some stress off a veteran Wagner at the point. Richmond and Knox provide more veteran leadership, with a potential breakout year looming for the former.
Moving forward, expect the Razorbacks to add another guard and power forward from the transfer portal.
Auburn
No. of transfer additions: 4 No. of high school additions: 5 Notable losses: Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles KellyYou could make the argument that Bruce Pearl and Auburn lost the most talent of any SEC program. Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Chaney Johnson and Dylan Cardwell are all out the door, and Tahaad Pettiford still has a decision to make, though I’d wager he stays put.
Given the circumstances, what Pearl was able to do on the portal and high school recruiting trail is very impressive. Auburn’s length heading into next season is truly out of this world with D2 transfer Elyjah Freeman, UCF’s Keyshawn Hall and Mississippi State’s KeShawn Murphy. Kevin Overton out of Texas Tech is on board, too — a strong all-around player who helped the Red Raiders crack the Elite Eight.
Freeman and Hall on the same team is almost unfair. Both averaged over 17 points per game at their previous stops, and both can score at all 3 levels. Hall dropped 25+ points 6 times last year for the Knights. Freeman, an athletic freak and efficient scorer at 6-8, is considered to have legitimate NBA upside and is likely to be among the most impactful D2 transfers in the sport.
Defensively, things could get a little shaky for both. Hall was not a consistent defender at UCF and Freeman will be making a massive jump from D2 to the best D1 conference in the country. I don’t expect either to crash and burn in this department, but it’s definitely something to monitor.
Murphy would start at center if the season began today, but Auburn would probably rather that not be the case. Murphy’s skillset suits him best as Auburn’s starter at the 4, and as it stands he’s the Tigers’ only plus rebounder. At least… until freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams or JUCO product Emeka Opurum prove otherwise.
With Pettiford’s future uncertain, expect Pearl to look to add another guard for depth and a starting 5 to maximize Murphy down low.
Florida
No. of transfer additions: 2 No. of high school additions: 2 Notable losses: Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, Will RichardThe Florida Gators just won the national championship and look poised to put together a solid unit in 2025-26, but Florida’s roster outlook is very uncertain right now. Let’s start with what we know.
Forward Thomas Haugh is back, as are C Micah Handlogten and G Urban Klavzar. The Gators are still awaiting word on frontcourt stars Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu as they weigh their NBA/college options, but the general expectation is that both will stay in college.
Assuming they stay, Florida is in excellent shape from 3-5. Todd Golden insisted at the end of April that Haugh will start at the 3 should Condon and Chinyelu both return.
Golden still had to bring in a standout PG to ensure the transition from Walter Clayton Jr. goes smoothly, and Princeton’s Xaivian Lee fits the bill. Lee sat on the bench during Princeton’s run to the Sweet 16 in 2023, quietly developed into a starter in 2024 and entered the transfer portal after posting a First-Team All-Ivy League season in 2025. Lee is an elite playmaker and posted strong shooting numbers at 36% from range and 47% from 2.
Florida’s only other transfer addition (so far) is Ohio SG AJ Brown, who finished with an impressive 57.4% effective shooting percentage last season and remains a true 3-level scorer. He joins his younger brother, Isaiah Brown, who will be stepping into a bigger role in 2025-26.
The Gators signed a pair of high school prospects: 4-star CG Alex Lloyd and 4-star SF CJ Ingram — the No. 22 overall prospect in the country. From here, expect the Gators to pursue another plug-in at the 4 and one more score-first guard. Keep an eye on USC transfer Desmond Claude, who is set to visit the Gators this week.
Georgia
No. of transfer additions: 5 No. of high school additions: 3 Notable losses: Silas Demary Jr., Asa Newell, Tyrin LawrenceGeorgia got obliterated by Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and enters 2026 without Silas Demary Jr., Asa Newell, RJ Godfrey or Tyrin Lawrence. So, all things considered, Mike White has done some solid work in rebuilding the roster.
Blue Cain and Dylan James are back, as is Somto Cyril down low. Sharpshooters Marcus “Smurf” Millender out of UTSA and Justin Bailey out of Wofford are exciting additions, both above 43% 3-point shooters. All 5 will receive significant minutes in 2025-26.
Cal’s Jeremiah Wilkinson is likely to be Georgia’s 6th man, while Saint Mary’s transfer Jordan Ross provides solid depth at guard. Kanon Catchings, a 6-9 wing who played well for BYU early last year, should start at one of the forward positions.
Georgia signed 3 freshmen: 4-stars Jacob Wilkins and Kareem Stagg as well as 3-star Jackson McVey. Stagg and Wilkins may see limited roles, but expect McVey to redshirt with Justin Abson returning in the frontcourt.
Depth is an immediate plus for Georgia, but there are definitely some drawbacks as well. Size in the backcourt immediately stands out. Wilkinson, Ross, Bailey and Millender all stand at or below 6-3, and Millender is 5-11.
Kentucky
No. of transfer additions: 5 No. of high school additions: 3 Notable losses: Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Jaxson RobinsonKentucky basketball’s 2026 roster is Loaded with a capital L.
On paper, the Wildcats possess the most talent in the conference; But can Mark Pope put the pieces together? With a healthy balance of incoming talent and veteran retention, Kentucky is almost sure to start the year within the preseason top 15.
The Wildcats currently boast the No. 4 transfer class in the country, having secured commitments from Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance, Tulane’s Kam Williams, Pitt’s Jaland Lowe, Alabama’s Mouhamed Diabate and Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen. Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Brandon Garrison are set to return, with Otega Oweh’s NBA Draft decision still in the balance.
Incoming freshmen Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno are likely to see limited minutes because of the sheer amount of talent on the roster. Andrija Jelavic is the most interesting freshman addition though, a 6-11 power forward with the mobility of a wing and the handles of a guard. The Croatian prospect was made in a lab for Mark Pope’s offense, and I have a hard time believing he won’t immediately contribute in Lexington.
Keeping up with the potential roster combinations for this team is dizzying. The starting lineup is likely to look something like Lowe/Oweh/Williams/Dioubate/Garrison with Quaintance set to ease into the lineup in November after nursing an ACL injury. Chandler, freshman Jasper Johnson and Aberdeen will likely start at least 1 game each as Pope tweaks the lineup, too.
LSU
No. of transfer additions: 6 No. of high school additions: 3 Notable losses: Corey Chest, Cam Carter, Jordan SearsLSU has consistently been among the worst teams in the SEC under Matt McMahon. Can 2026 flip the trend?
Well, we’ll see. LSU’s frontcourt should be solid, but there are definitely questions to be asked about the backcourt. Jalen Reed, Robert Miller, Mississippi State transfer Michael Nwoko and Omaha transfer Marquel Sutton make up McMahon’s strongest unit.
UNLV PG transfer Dedan Thomas is a strong facilitator, that’s for sure, but his inefficiency as a scorer and undersized frame will make the transition from UNLV to the SEC difficult. The lack of high major experience in the entirety of the backcourt is a major cause for concern, really.
Guards Rashad King, Max MacKinnon and wing Pablo Tamba have definitive upside, but King and MacKinnon are not particularly efficient scorers. Tamba looks to have the most upside, though I wouldn’t be surprised if MacKinnon becomes a solid piece for McMahon’s squad as the most well-rounded of the trio. Expect freshman Mazi Mosely — Magic Johnson’s nephew — to see some time on the court as well.
All that’s missing for LSU to complete the roster is a guard who can properly space the floor. Keep an eye on Memphis’s PJ Carter to address this need, Tigers fans.
Mississippi State
No. of transfer additions: 5 No. of high school additions: 4 Notable losses: Cameron Matthews, Claudell Harris, KeShawn MurphyLet’s start with the positives.
Ja’Borri McGhee and Quincy Ballard, 2 of Mississippi State’s 5 transfer additions, will be really, really good players in this conference. I’m particularly bullish on Ballard, who plays like a completely insane person in the post. He is built for the SEC, and he’s a perfect center for Jans and Co.
McGhee is a shifty guard who will find the floor whether Josh Hubbard stays or leaves. Though slightly undersized for the SEC — a definite question mark, admittedly — he makes up for it with an impressive offensive bag. He only got better as last season wore on, and I can see him elevating his game further in the SEC.
The Bulldogs better hope so, because the rest of the roster is pretty underwhelming.
Jayden Epps was an average shooter at Illinois and trended downward at Georgetown. Amier Ali and Achor Achor both have some upside but failed to crack the starting rotation for power conference programs that failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. To make it worse, MSU’s depth consists of four low-end 4-star prospects — King Grace, Tee Bartlett, Jamarion Davis-Fleming and Cameren Paul — as well as reserve returner Dellquan Warren.
Ole Miss
No. of transfer additions: 3 No. of high school additions: 2 Notable losses: Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray, Sean PedullaOle Miss is a solid point guard away from a really good starting 5. As it just so happens, Memphis PG PJ Haggerty is reportedly interested in Chris Beard’s $3.5 million offer.
Even without Haggerty, Beard has put together an enticing lineup. Star center Malik Dia is back, with Kansas transfer AJ Storr set to hold down the 3 and LSU transfer Corey Chest — the Tigers’ best player last season as a freshman — primed to start at the 4. French shooting guard Ilias Kamardine has tons of upside and there’s reason to believe Eduardo Klafke is poised for a breakout year behind Storr.
Louisville transfer Koren Johnson is set to pick up significant minutes after taking a medical redshirt last season. Johnson averaged 11.1 points per game at Washington in 2023-24 and, if the season started today, would be Ole Miss’s starter at point guard.
Finally, Augusto Cassia out of Butler is set to provide some frontcourt depth behind Dia and Chest. Apart from the PG position, Beard’s primary objective moving forward is to find one more depth piece at the 4/5 to complement the 3 primary current players on the roster.
Mizzou
No. of transfer additions: 4 No. of high school additions: 2 Notable losses: Tamar Bates, Tony Perkins, Caleb GrillMizzou has upgraded its frontcourt and is set to have one of the better units in the SEC next season. Right off the bat, that’s a major boon for Dennis Gates.
Peyton Marshall, Josh Gray and Aidan Shaw are out the door with Arizona State’s Shawn Phillips, Loyola Marymount’s Jevon Porter and Oklahoma’s Luke Northweather set to join Mark Mitchell down low. Phillips and Mitchell should start with Porter and Northweather as solid depth pieces. All 3 frontcourt transfers are 6-11 or taller, which means Mizzou will have one of the tallest lineups in the country once again.
Sebastian Mack joins Anthony Robinson in the backcourt, with freshman Aaron Rowe and rising sophomore TO Barrett set to come off the bench. In a perfect world, the Tigers would snag one more guard to plug behind Robinson in case of emergency.
Above all else, though, Gates needs to add a proven small forward (such as Rylan Griffen, perhaps) to complete the lineup. For now, Jacob Crews and Annor Boateng make up the depth at the 3.
Oklahoma
No. of transfer additions: 4 No. of high school additions: 3 Notable losses: Jeremiah Fears, Duke Miles, Jalon MooreOklahoma has a chance to be better than anticipated next season. Porter Moser has quietly put together a solid group with impressive depth.
It starts with the transfers, all of whom are going to see the court often in Norman. St. Joseph’s Xzayvier Brown and Miami’s Nijel Pack will start with Jadon Jones and Dayton Forsythe as reliable options off the bench. 2024 JUCO transfer Jeff Nwankwo would have been a contributor last season but missed most of the year due to injury, and he’ll see healthy run at forward alongside Notre Dame transfer Tae Davis, who loves to attack the basket at 6-9.
Freshmen Alec Blair and Kai Rogers are likely to see a good number of minutes as well, especially Blair. The 4-star wing will play behind Nwankwo and some have even thrown out the possibility that he will start.
The depth only continues with Alabama transfer PF Derrion Reid and returning C Mo Wague. The Sooners could probably use one more center out of the portal, but quality options are starting to run thin.
South Carolina
No. of transfer additions: 6 No. of high school additions: 5 Notable losses: Collin Murray-Boyles, Nick Pringle, Jacobi WrightSouth Carolina’s offseason started with North Dakota’s Treysen Eaglestaff committing and subsequently decommitting. Obviously, not a great way to get going.
Meechie Johnson and Mike Sharavjamts are the additions of the offseason, without a doubt. Johnson is a familiar face who transferred from South Carolina to Ohio State to play at the 2. Now he’s back in Columbia alongside Sharavjamts, a 6-9 Utah transfer who played primarily shooting guard for the Utes. These 2 should play well off each other in a 2-man game.
Nordin Kapic is undersized for an SEC center, but he’s likely to get the nod over Providence transfer Christ Essandoko and returning C Jordan Butler. Kapic was a starter for a quite impressive UC San Diego squad that made the NCAA Tournament last season. He’ll be a good player for Lamont Paris’s group.
Myles Stute and Cam Scott are unknowns. Stute played well at Vanderbilt but was off to a bad start last season before injury ended his year. Scott played sparingly as a freshman but could develop into a solid depth piece.
Boston College PF transfer Elijah Strong… well, he plays basketball. The rising junior desperately needed a change of scenery after a strong freshman campaign was followed by a disappointing sophomore season. Unless freshmen EJ Walker or Hayden Assemian wow the staff in camp, he’ll likely be the starter at the 4.
With Collin Murray-Boyles out the door and some questionable fits aside from Sharavjamts and Johnson, it’s hard to see South Carolina not being a bottom 5 team in the conference for the 3rd time in 4 years.
Tennessee
No. of transfer additions: 3 No. of high school additions: 5 Notable losses: Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Chaz LanierTennessee had a lot to address this offseason, but the Vols still might start next year with a top 3 squad in the conference.
There’s no replacing Zakai Zeigler’s value to the Vols, but Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie provides a good place to start. Gillespie can let it fly from deep and averaged a little under 5 assists per game in College Park, making him one of the most sought-after guards in the portal. An elite defender to boot, the East Tennessee native will fit right in back home on Rocky Top.
As will 5-star freshman Nate Ament, who is going to field lofty expectations for his lone year in Knoxville. Ament, a 6-9 wing out of Virginia and the No. 4 overall prospect in the country, is an elite shooter, an elite defender and the highest-rated commit in program history.
Perhaps the most complete group for Tennessee heading into next season is the frontcourt, which added Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey and 4-star freshman DeWayne Brown to compliment a stout unit featuring Felix Okpara, JP Estrella and Cade Phillips. Estrella had the makings of a potential breakout player in 2024-25 before a foot injury sidelined him in November. Then, of course, there’s Ament.
The question mark for the roster is definitely the backcourt outside of Gillespie. Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram is likely to start at the 2 as a good shooter and plus defender, but behind him there’s a lot of inexperience. Clarence Massamba, an athletic guard who played for the AS Monaco U21 team in Europe, joined the fray in late April. There is absolutely a path for Massamba to be a legitimate piece for the Vols, but he could also ride the bench for the entirety of the season while adjusting to Division I. For what it’s worth, I lean towards the former.
Texas A&M
No. of transfer additions: 6 No. of high school additions: 1 Notable losses: Henry Coleman, Wade Taylor IV, Pharrel PayneBucky McMillan gets a pass.
The newest Aggies head coach joined the fray late and has still put together a serviceable lineup out of the portal. That aside, the Aggies are very likely to be one of the least competitive teams in the conference.
As of May 2, Texas A&M has 9 players on the roster: 7 transfers, 1 high school commit and lone returner Chris McDermott — who played a grand total of 44 minutes last season.
North Alabama guard Jacari Lane, Indiana forward Mackenzie Mgakbo and Oklahoma guard Duke Miles are all solid pieces who will make up the bulk of Texas A&M’s scoring. Mgakbo is a former 5-star recruit who will benefit being away from Mike Woodson’s offense in Bloomington and Miles is a highly efficient scorer who shot 43% from 3 for the Sooners. Lane will be the primary ballhandler and can get similarly hot from range. Both Miles and Lane are undersized at 6-2 and 6-1, respectively, which could be a problem in the SEC.
There are definitely some strange fits in this group, too. Marcus Hill is a shooting guard who shot 20% from 3 last season at NC State. Kansas transfer Zach Clemence rode the bench for most of the year, and Samford guard Josh Holloway acted as a reserve guard for McMillan’s Bulldogs squad last season.
Finally, there’s Jamie Vinson, who I think is a solid gamble for Texas A&M considering the circumstances. The former Texas center hardly played for the Longhorns his freshman year but has a chance to take a big step in College Station in Year 2.
Texas
No. of transfer additions: 5 No. of high school additions: 1 Notable losses: Tre Johnson, Arthur Kaluma, Kadin ShedrickSean Miller is cooking heading into Year 1 in Austin. The Longhorns may lose Tre Johnson and Kadin Shedrick, but the players they added raise the floor for this squad immediately.
Texas will boast an experienced backcourt with the most continuity in the SEC. Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope are back in the mix, as is Chendall Weaver. Simeon Wilcher struggled to connect from range at St. John’s last season, but he provides some always appreciated veteran leadership and depth to fill out the unit.
While the backcourt is set to be dependable and consistent, the frontcourt brings the fireworks. Transfers Camden Heide out of Purdue and Matas Vokeitaitis from FAU are both starting-caliber players and will likely get the nod at the 4 and 5, respectively. Xavier’s Lassina Traore serves as an elite backup 5 with returner Nic Codie and incoming 4-star freshman John Clark sure to contribute as well.
Finally there’s Dailyn Swain, another Xavier transfer, who will start at small forward. He’s not a threat from outside, but Swain is a strong defender, effective within the arc and a good rebounder for his size. A starting lineup of Pope, Mark, Swain, Heide and Vokeitaitis will contend with the best in the conference.
Vanderbilt
No. of transfer additions: 6 No. of high school additions: 2 Notable losses: Jason Edwards, AJ HoggardMark Byington finished Year 1 with Vanderbilt’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, and he’s looking to carry that momentum into 2026.
Adding talent the point guard position was a top priority for Byington with Jason Edwards now at Providence. TCU transfer Frankie Collins was brought in with returning shifty guard Tyler Tanner likely to be the first player off the bench.
Devin McGlockton is the next player of interest. The 6-7 forward entered his name into the NBA Draft but is expected to return at the 4 alongside starter Tyler Nickel at small forward. Cornell transfer AK Okereke, who is also testing the NBA waters, is another option at the 3. Okereke is wildly efficient and an impressive athlete who will have his eyes on the rim every possession, but can also dish it out having averaged 4.1 assists per game last year for the Big Red.
Jacksonville State center Mason Nicholson shot an impressive 65% from 2 in 2024-25 and will lock down the center spot with freshman Jayden Leverett as a depth piece. North Carolina transfer Jalen Washington had a disappointing stint in Chapel Hill but should fit in nicely as a depth piece for the Commodores.
And in case all that isn’t impressive enough, Washington transfer G/F Tyler Harris finished last season as the most efficient 3-point shooter in the country. Harris hit 44 of his 89 attempts – an otherworldly 49.5% – and was Washington’s top-rated offensive player. Mike James, who sat out last year at NC State following a strong 2 years at Louisville, will play 20+ minutes per game off the bench.
I’m not sure there’s enough here for the Commodores to be truly elite – especially with depth issues at the 1 and 2 – but Vanderbilt should be in line to make a run at the NCAA Tournament once again.
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