It can be dizzying trying to keep up with the player movement in college basketball.
The NCAA transfer portal didn’t slow down in the 2026 offseason. More than 2,500 players entered the portal, with a high percentage of them landing at new schools. The roster turnover was significant across the country, especially at high-major programs.
Many of those names that transferred this spring and summer had New England roots, whether they are natives or former prep school stars. Some are moving up to higher levels in power conferences, while some may have found a greater opportunity at a smaller school than they were. The reasons for transferring vary – but many of them have a real chance to make an impact on their new teams this season, and some have already made strong early impressions in the preseason.
Here are 10 men’s Division 1 transfers with New England connections to watch for in 2026-27.
Brandon Benjamin, Boston College
Sophomore, 6-8 forward
St. Thomas More/Newark, N.J.
Benjamin was one of the most productive freshmen in the country last season, averaging 14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game (which ranked 10th in the country) at Fairfield. Expect more of that physicality and high motor – which made him a coveted prospect in his postgraduate season at St. Thomas More – under new BC head coach Luke Murray. He projects as a starter in his first season with the Eagles.
Dasonte Bowen, Penn State
Redshirt senior, 6-2 guard
Brewster Academy/Boston, Mass.
Bowen started 33 games at St. Bonaventure last season, averaging 10.9 points and a career-best 4.8 assists per game. Now entering his fifth season of college hoops, Bowen – who started his career at Iowa – is back in the Big Ten and will be one of the most experienced guards for head coach Mike Rhoades’ Nittany Lions, who are looking for a bounce-back season after struggling in 2025-26.
Jordan Clayton, UMass
Senior, 6-2 guard
Bradford Christian/West Medford, Mass.
When Clayton entered the transfer portal this spring, UMass coach Frank Martin was the first to call him. The two had a recruiting relationship when Clayton was a prospect and the veteran coach views him as a critical piece of the Minutemen’s backcourt. Clayton’s Northwestern numbers don’t jump off the page, but he became a trusted member of the Wildcats’ rotation and made six 3-pointers in a game last season. Reuniting with Rivals teammate Jayden Ndjigue should give him added comfort and confidence.
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton
Junior, 6-10 forward
Putnam Science Academy/Benin City, Nigeria
After two standout seasons at Providence, Erhunmwunse chose to stay in the Big East at Creighton, where he was named to the league’s preseason third team. He ranked second in the Big East with 70 blocked shots and in the top five in the league in rebounding, and he figures to continue being an interior centerpiece with the Bluejays.
J.P. Estrella, Michigan
Senior, 6-11 forward
Brewster Academy/Scarborough, Maine
Estrella spent three seasons at Tennessee, where he made three Elite Eight appearances and earned a starting role last season while averaging 10 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, including 2.8 on the offensive glass. He committed to Michigan before head coach Dusty May left for the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks, but will stay under interim head coach Mike Boynton. He’ll give the reigning national champions experienced frontcourt size alongside fellow Middlesex Magic alum Quinn Costello, an incoming freshman.
Jaylen Harrell, Washington State
Redshirt freshman, 6-5 guard
CATS Academy/Boston, Mass.
Harrell’s freshman season at Providence was cut to just six games due to a meniscus injury, and he chose to head west after the Friars underwent a coaching change. He’ll have a fresh start with the Cougars; he’s fully healthy and has reportedly slimmed down. The two-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year has a plethora of tools, including 3-point shooting and playmaking, to make an immediate impact.
Tahlan Pettway, UNC Wilmington
Sophomore, 6-2 guard
St. Thomas More/Worcester, Mass.
Pettway got better and better as his freshman year progressed at Western Carolina; he averaged 13.4 points and shot 40 percent from 3-point range over his final 12 games of the season, including a 23-point outing in a late-season victory over Furman. An electric scoring playmaker, Pettway is on an upward trajectory and should settle into a lead guard role at UNC Wilmington.
Keyshuan Tillery, Charlotte
Sophomore, 6-1 guard
New Hampton/Albany, N.Y.
Tillery flashed his potential as a freshman at Cincinnati but should assume a larger role at Charlotte after following head coach Wes Miller there. The former New Hampton standout was a Top 50-ranked player in the 2025 class and the best point guard prospect coming out of New England that season. With a year of college experience under his belt, I expect him to be an impact contributor in the American Athletic Conference.
Luka Toews, Furman
Junior, 6-1 guard
Newman/Tokyo, Japan
Toews had a bigger role as a sophomore at Boston College, where he made 20 starts and scored in double figures eight times, but he’ll take on a fresh start at Furman after the dismissal of Earl Grant. A former standout at Newman, Toews projects to take a starting lead guard role left by the next player on this list; he has the talent to be a major contributor in Year 1 in a smaller conference.
Alex Wilkins, Kentucky
Sophomore, 6-6 guard
Brooks/Boston, Mass.
Wilkins erupted as a breakout freshman in his lone season at Furman, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists as he led Furman to an NCAA Tournament berth as the SoCon tournament MVP. He punctuated his season with an impressive 21-point, four-assist effort against UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament that firmly put the 2025 NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year on the high-major radar. At Kentucky, he’s expected to play alongside Zoom Diallo in an interchangeable lead-guard backcourt. Kentucky coach Mark Pope last week described Wilkins as a high-ceiling player. A premier scorer with 3-point shooting and playmaking ability, Pope said they’ve been focusing on Wilkins’ two-point field goal efficiency and ball security.
