Re-ranking ESPN's Top 100 Transfers - Pt. 4 - 1-25

Re-Ranking ESPN's Top 100 Transfers

Today, I will be re-ranking ESPN’s preseason top 100 transfers list. My criteria for this list are as follows:

  1. Team Success (since they are transfers after all)

  2. Individual Success (numbers/stats)

  3. Fit with team (Sharing ball, shooting at high percentages/good efficiency)

  4. Playing time/impact (Worse players playing more > Better players playing backup/bench/reserve roles)

For the injured 4 that were included on this list, I have replaced them with some of my own underrated picks. With that being said, I have one more thing to clarify: the “Prev” category represents what ESPN ranked that player at the start of the season. Also know that some of this information is a bit outdated, as I released each section over time.


1-25 Rankings

  1. Kendric Davis | SMU → Memphis | Prev: 1 |

Not only has Davis been the best transfer in the country, he’s been debatably a top 10 player overall. At a high-major, he’s averaging 20 PPG (16th in the country), and 6 APG (10th in the country). He’s led an 11-4 Memphis team to a likely tournament berth. He’s not a stranger to big games either, as he scored 30 in a 3-point loss at #4 Alabama.

  1. Ricky Council IV | Wichita State | Prev: 32 |

Out of all the players on this list, Council has the best combination of team and individual success.  He’s averaging 18 a game as the Razorbacks are currently ranked 13th in the country. And the best thing is: he plays better in big games. In their games against Creighton, San Diego State, and Oklahoma, he scored 24, 19, and 16, respectively.

  1. Terrence Shannon | Texas Tech → Illinois | Prev: 13 |

Unlike the first two guys on the list, Shannon has been extremely inconsistent, as has Illinois. He scored 29 in Illinois’ win against UCLA, and scored around 20 in some other important games, but only scored 9 and 4 in the Illini’s losses to Virginia and Penn State. Here’s an interesting stat - In Illinois’ 4 losses, Shannon has shot 20%, 0%, 0%, and 0% from 3. It seems that Illinois’ success in the future will depend on if Shannon can become more consistent from downtown.

  1. KJ Williams | Murray State → LSU | Prev: 9 |

KJ Williams has been MUCH better than expected. It’s pretty rare to see a mid-major transfer keep their same stats when they transfer to a high major, but to have BETTER stats is insane. This just shows how good Williams is. This season, he’s become a more well rounded player than we first expected, as he is now shooting nearly 50% from 3, which is insane for a big man, as he shot 32% last season.

  1. Souley Boum | UTEP → Xavier | Prev: 42 |

Here is another instance of a mid-major player having as good of stats in their high-major. Boum has led a Xavier team to a 12-3 record, a #18 ranking, and a recent win over formerly #2 ranked and undefeated UConn. However, I don’t blame ESPN, as I don’t think anyone expected a player from a middling C-USA team to be this good.

  1. Keyontae Johnson | Florida → Kansas State | Prev: 77 |

I know everyone’s heard this enough, but Johnson has been the best story college basketball’s had in a while. Here’s the timeline - All-SEC preseason selection → collapsed on the court early in the season due to a heart condition → 2 years of recovery (many doubted he would play again) →  18PPG on a 12-1 Kansas State team. We’ll see where this season takes him, but it seems to be a March Madness appearance for now.

  1. Mark Sears | Ohio → Alabama | Prev: 12 |

Sears has fit into his new team as quickly and smoothly as anyone else in the country. Usually when transfers arrive at their new destinations, it takes them a bit to build chemistry with their teammates. But, with Sears, it seems he has fit in immediately. This is proven by the fact that the Crimson Tide’s only losses have come when Sears failed to reach double digits in scoring.

  1. Grant Sherfield | Nevada → Oklahoma | Prev: 35 |

Sherfield, as a transfer, has essentially carried Oklahoma to a 9-4 record. He comfortably leads the Sooners in scoring at 18 PPG, and has looked especially good recently, scoring over 20 points in 6 out of his 8 games. Oklahoma has gotten rather unlucky as well, losing by 1, 1, and 4 in some of their more important games of the season. 

  1. Tyree Appleby | Florida → Wake Forest | Prev: 90 |

Appleby has been one of the bigger surprises of the season. After an inconsistent career at Florida, it seems Appleby has finally found his fit as a grad transfer. Appleby brought a Wake team that many thought would finish dead last in the ACC to a 10-4 record and a bubble status in terms of March Madness. He’s somehow been even better recently, scoring 24 and 18 points as well as 7 and 8 assists against Virginia Tech and Duke,

  1. Bryce Hopkins | Kentucky → Providence | Prev: 48 |

Similar to Terrence Shannon, Hopkins was labeled as a “breakout player” before the season started. The former top-50 recruit didn’t play much at Kentucky last season, but immediately broke out this season. However, much like Shannon, he was inconsistent at first. But ever since he scored 24 and 29 in Providence’s two most important games of the season thus far against Seton Hall and Marquette, he’s looked a lot better.

  1. Trevon Brazile | Missouri → Arkansas | Prev: 18 |

Brazile was a breakout player as well following a lackluster season at Missouri, and he started with a bang. He looked extremely athletic, and paired with some solid 3 point shooting, he was looking like Kevin Durant. Unfortunately, his incredible season ahead was cut short by a season-ending ACL injury. His first series of games seems to be enough to keep Brazile from returning to the Razorbacks for another season, but with the world of NIL, it’s always possible that he comes back.

  1. Baylor Scheierman | South Dakota State → Creighton | Prev: 4 |

Last year’s March Madness Tournament. South Dakota State’s Baylor Scheierman scores 18 in SDST’s close loss to Providence. Meanwhile, Creighton’s freshman Trey Alexander and Arthur Kaluma combine for 30 in their win over San Diego State. Then, they combine for 38 without their 2 best players, Ryan Kalkbrenner or Ryan Nembhard. Creighton’s 4 stars all announce their return, and with Scheierman entering the transfer portal, that 5th spot looks perfect, as Scheierman transfers to Creighton. You would think this team would be good right? No. Creighton has been the most disappointing team in college basketball. Scheierman has been good, and Creighton should still make the tournament, but Scheierman has dropped a bit because of the Bluejays’ unsuccessful start.

  1. Tyrese Hunter | Iowa State → Texas | Prev: 3 |

Though Hunter started the season off the way he ended it last year, he recently hasn’t found the same success. In his last 6 games, he’s only averaged about 6 per game. Before that, he was incredible and looked like a top-5 transfer. It could be due to Chris Beard’s departure, but he’s not coming back, so Hunter needs to figure something out.

  1. Johni Broome | Morehead State → Auburn | Prev: 10 |

Auburn lost their best 2 players from last year in PF Jabari Smith and C Walker Kessler in what was the best frontcourt of the season. If they could reload their frontcourt, and with their returning backcourt, the Tigers could be a top-10 team once again. Now Broome isn’t a Jabari Smith, but he’s been a viable replacement as a defender, rebounder, and recently, a scorer.

  1. Tyreke Key | Indiana State → Tennessee | Prev: 53 |

Tennessee was debatably the best team in the country at the end of conference tournaments last year, but after losing their best player in Kennedy Chandler, nobody knew how that production was going to be replaced. Zeigler is a good defender and scorer, but not as good as Chandler. Key seemed to be the answer, and that he was. He’s been both good on defense and offense, allowing for Tennessee to be a better-rounded team, which could cure their march madness woes after all.

  1. D’Moi Hodge | Cleveland State → Missouri | Prev: 73 |

Some players have been big surprises, but the most surprising team has been Missouri. After finishing third to last in the SEC, it was clear that the Tigers needed a change. After bringing in one of the best transfer classes, Missouri is now #20, with recent throttlings over Illinois and Kentucky. Hodge is Missouri’s leading scorer, and the most consistent scorer in the country. He’s scored 15 or more in 10/13 games, and has only had one game below 10 with 9 against Lindenwood, in which he didn’t play much because it was a blow out.

  1. Keion Brooks | Kentucky → Washington | Prev: 30 |

After being a role player at Kentucky for 3 seasons, it’s good to see that Brooks has broken into the spotlight. At Washington, he’s leading the Huskies in scoring at 16 PPG. Washington hasn’t been incredible, but in a weak PAC-12, it’s very possible that they could finish in the top half following Brooks’ leadership.

  1. Norchad Omier | Arkansas State → Miami | Prev: 11 |

Omier has been nothing short of incredible so far this season. He’s near 14 PPG, so he has translated from mid-major to high-major very well. He’s also 26th in the country in rebounds, getting near 10 boards a game. He’s also been one of the best defensive transfers on this list as expected, and helped lead Miami to a #12 ranking, where they currently sit at #1 in the ACC.

  1. Jake Stephens | VMI → Chattanooga | Prev: 33 |

Stephens is the biggest unicorn in college basketball this season. He’s 7 feet tall with a 7’10 foot wingspan. And the crazy thing is, he’s shooting 42% from 3. He’s 13th in scoring in the country, 14th in rebounding,  and the biggest matchup issue that most teams in the Southern conference will not be able to handle.

  1. Emoni Bates | Memphis → Eastern Michigan | Prev: 29 |

After Bates had a rough start at Memphis, many were calling him the biggest disappointment of the season. After transferring to 5-15 Eastern Michigan, some people said that his career was over. However, he instantly silenced everyone, scoring 30 in EMU’s narrow loss to Michigan. However, despite this impressive start, EMU is 3-10. They’ve played a lot of teams close, but for Bates, it seems that he is back into the NBA Draft.

  1. Manny Bates | NC State → Butler | Prev: 26 |

Bates missed the entirety of the 21-22 season with a shoulder injury. Before that, he was a very solid big man who a lot of people thought would be one of the best in the country in the 21-22 season. At Butler, he’s been much more productive, as he looks like a top 5 big man in the Big East. 

  1. Kevin McCullar | Texas Tech → Kansas | Prev: 8 |

McCullar was coming into the portal as one of the best defensive players and was expected to be a role player at Kansas. That is exactly what he has been. Recently, it seems that he has fully meshed in with this Kansas squad, as he’s started to score more in Kansas’ closer games. 

  1. Jahmir Young | Charlotte → Maryland | Prev: 22 |

Maryland had an incredible start to the season, trouncing Saint Louis and Miami, as well as beating Illinois. However, they’ve lost 4 of their last 6 to top-25 teams. However, it does not seem to be entirely Young’s fault. In these 4 losses, he’s scored 3 and 5, but also 18 and 17. Young himself could be more consistent, but maybe he has not built enough chemistry with his teammates, which would have caused these losses.

  1. Tristen Newton | East Carolina → UConn | Prev: 19 |

Unlike Young, Newton has fit perfectly into his role as a point guard. He’s shot with good efficiency, which has allowed for more opportunities for his teammates. This is why UConn is ranked #4 in the country. He’s the most reliable all-around point guard in the Big East, and the Huskies’ success reflects that as well.

  1. Tre Mitchell | Texas → West Virginia | Prev: 76 |

Tre Mitchell has had a wild college basketball career. He spent his first two seasons at UMass, where he was one of the best players in the A10, scoring 18 PPG then 19PPG. He then transferred to Texas, where he saw a backup role in Texas’ deep roster. Now, he’s at West Virginia, where he has averaged 13PPG and helped West Virginia to a resume worthy of a March Madness bid. He’s a part of the Mountaineer’s 6 leading scorers, who are all seniors.

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