Five Hidden Gems in the Transfer Portal
Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon
Every transfer portal window brings forth players who are often overlooked by teams that don’t fully recognize their potential. While it's easy to spot quality among the well-known names in college basketball, what truly sets a great coaching staff apart is their ability to identify impact players flying under the radar. Many factors can influence a transfer's production, including system fit, role and chemistry with new teammates and coaching staff. However, some transfers find themselves in the perfect situation to exceed expectations with a new program. This transfer portal cycle is no exception, as several prospects have been underestimated but possess the potential for a much more significant season than expected.
Here are five under-the-radar transfers poised to make a significant impact this season:
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Kolby King ─ Junior ─ Guard
Previous School: Tulane │ Transferring To: Butler
Photo Credit: Tulane Athletics
Kolby King already has high major experience under his belt as a freshman during his time with St. John’s in the 2022-23 season. Now back in the Big East with Butler, King has a great understanding of what is expected of him to be a productive guard in this league. While his lone season with the Johnnies only saw him average 1.7 points in 7.7 minutes per game, he showed flashes of his potential and looked like a player that can develop into a great college guard in the future. With the arrival of Rick Pitino a year later, King opted to transfer to highly respected mid major Tulane.
With the Green Wave, he immediately got off to a great start scoring in double figures in 12 of his first 13 games and finished the season averaging 10.4 points per game. However, conference play did not treat Tulane, nor King well as the Green Wave only picked up five wins with King struggling throughout AAC play. With two full seasons of collegiate experience, including one in the conference he is transferring back to, King will likely find himself as the lead guard for the Butler Bulldogs next season. With the departure of Butler’s starting backcourt in Posh Alexander and DJ Davis, expect King to have a high usage rate especially if he can get into a consistent rhythm.
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Yohan Traore ─ Junior ─ Forward
Previous School: UCSB │ Transferring To: SMU
Photo Credit: UCSB Athletics
A former Top-30 recruit in the 2022 class, Yohan Traore signed with the Auburn Tigers out of high school with some expecting him to go pro after one collegiate season. However, like many freshmen, he struggled adjusting to the college game with averages of 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. After a year with the Tigers, Traore transferred to UCSB where he immediately showed why he was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school.
He finished the 2023-24 season averaging 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, scoring twenty or more points six times. He also finished the season with the 26th best field goal percentage in all of college basketball at 58.3 percent. He is ranked as the 359th best player in the portal, per 247sports, which is certainly not showing any respect for his past and potential future. Traore is transferring to SMU where he will look to help the Mustangs find success in their first season in the ACC. Under new coach Andy Enfield, Traore can surely become a dominant force in all of college basketball back in a high major conference.
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Zion Harmon ─ Junior ─ Guard
Previous School: Bethune-Cookman│Transferring To: Seton Hall
Photo Credit: Bethune-Cookman Athletics
Zion Harmon was a Top-50 recruit in the 2021 class and committed to Western Kentucky directly out of high school over some notable basketball powerhouses including Kansas and Kentucky. The Maryland native transferred to Bethune-Cookman a year later but unsurprisingly saw his name fade away from the media over his first two collegiate seasons. While he wasn’t consistently battle tested against high major opponents, Harmon still produced solid numbers averaging 13.7 and 14.6 points with the Hilltoppers and Wildcats respectively.
Not only does his recruiting history say enough about his untapped potential but it must also be mentioned that he will be transferring to a coach who has a track record of player improvement in Shaheen Holloway. What makes this more promising is that Holloway, like Harmon, was also an undersized guard for Seton Hall back in his playing days and will hope some of his experience can rub off on him. Harmon has already shown he can be a consistent player at his first two stops, but the biggest question will be if he can replicate those numbers in one of the best conferences in the country. Now a rising junior, Harmon has walked into a golden opportunity to once again become a household name and prove he is much better than his dismal 271st transfer ranking, according to 247sports.
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Corey Washington ─ Junior ─ Forward
Previous School: Saint Peter’s │ Transferring To: Undecided
Photo Credit: Saint Peter’s Athletics
No, he was not part of the Saint Peter’s team that made it to the Elite Eight in 2022 but he sure has the toughness and grittiness that would make you think he was. Corey Washington played his first two collegiate seasons with the Peacocks and became one of the most promising players in the MAAC. As a freshman, Washington made the All-MAAC Rookie Team averaging 6.8 points per game. His sophomore year saw him more than double his production averaging 15.9 points per game hitting on 45.5 percent of his shots. He may not be the biggest threat from behind the arc, but Washington has the scoring ability, physicality, toughness, and consistency to make his presence felt at a high major.
Washington is currently ranked as the 220th best transfer, per 247sports, which is extremely low for a player that has so much to prove, especially considering he has the mentality and mindset to push himself to the limits. While he is yet to decide on where he will play next season, many teams will surely be kicking themselves for not aggressively pursuing him during this portal cycle.
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Derek Simpson ─ Junior ─ Guard
Previous School: Rutgers │ Transferring To: Saint Joseph’s
Photo Credit: Rutgers Athletics
It was a disappointing end for Derek Simpson as a Scarlet Knight but after two seasons with Rutgers, Simpson has decided to take his game elsewhere. His freshman campaign was filled with hope and promise with Rutgers potentially seeing him as their point guard of the future. However, with the incoming freshman class and minimal improvement in year two, Simpson will transfer to Saint Joseph’s to continue his college career. As a freshman, Simpson showed massive potential averaging 7.1 points in 20.1 minutes per game, and some could argue that was his best season in New Jersey. A year later with an expanded role, Simpson barely increased his production, averaging 8.3 points in a six-minute increase while struggling tremendously from the field at 30.5 percent. He didn’t improve as expected and as their lead guard, he drastically fell below expectations. He now finds himself transferring outside of a power conference but looking to move past his struggles from last season.
A successful junior season could revive Simpson’s career and potentially garner attention from many high profile programs for his senior year. However, Simpson first must rediscover the form that once made him one of the most promising guards in the Big Ten. After playing two full seasons in the Big Ten, one would think Simpson can dominate the competition in the Atlantic 10, proving he still possesses the quality to play for a high major program. Expect Simpson to increase his production dramatically with his new team, showcasing he still has what it takes to play at the highest level of college basketball.
