The college basketball transfer portal can be dizzying and overwhelming. With so much movement every year, it’s difficult to keep track of who’s changing schools.
In Division 1 men’s basketball, there are a ton of factors at play as players hit the portal and coaches and programs navigate a constantly changing landscape. It’s not easy, and some of these decisions are even made before the season is over. This year, the portal opened on March 18, coinciding with the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, and closed on May 1, with several commitment decisions carrying over into the summer.
More than 1,000 players entered the transfer portal this year looking for new opportunities. Some, of course, are simply looking for playing time. Some are looking for a better fit, others are looking to capitalize on NIL (name, image and likeness) opportunities. The reasons are endless.
There were several players with New England roots who decided to take their talents elsewhere in 2024-25, and some have already begun practicing with their new squads. Here are five noteworthy transfers to know about.
TJ Power
Duke → Virginia
6-9 forward, Worcester Academy/Shrewsbury, Mass.
Power, the 2022 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year and a nationally-ranked recruit in the 2023 class, was not a significant contributor as a freshman at Duke as he earned just 6.7 minutes per game for coach Jon Scheyer. Minutes can be hard to find as a freshman in the first place, especially at a place like Duke, but it didn’t figure to get any easier this season as the Blue Devils welcomed a loaded recruiting class headlined by Cooper Flagg (Newport, Maine). Power decided to head to an in-conference rival in Virginia, where he projects to have a significant role after the Cavaliers lost several pieces of their frontcourt.
Bensley Joseph
Miami → Providence
6-2 guard, Putnam Science/Arlington, Mass.
After three strong years at Miami that included a Final Four appearance in 2023, Joseph returns close to home for his final college season. Joseph, who averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 assists as a starter for the Hurricanes last season, projects as a starter for Providence in a crowded backcourt. His high-level defense and winning experience will be an important boost for the Friars following the departure of Devin Carter to the NBA.
Sebastian Thomas
Albany → Rhode Island
6-1 guard, Bishop Hendricken/Providence, R.I.
After a lone season at Albany, Thomas surprised many by returning to Rhode Island, where he spent the first two seasons of his college career. The former Bishop Hendricken star left URI after an underwhelming 2022-23 season under first-year coach Archie Miller, who didn’t initially recruit him and was bringing in his first recruiting class. But after a breakout season with the Great Danes, where he averaged 19.4 points per game, he returned home to play for Miller again. Thomas figures to play a more prominent role this time for the Rams.
Gavin Griffiths
Rutgers → Nebraska
6-8 guard, Kingswood-Oxford/Simsbury, Conn.
A former top 50 recruit out of Kingswood-Oxford, Griffiths struggled to latch on to the Rutgers rotation as a freshman last season. Known for his shooting ability, he went just 28.2 percent from 3-point range. With the Scarlet Knights bringing in a nationally-ranked recruiting class, Griffiths opted for a fresh start by transferring to Big Ten rival Nebraska, where he hopes his shot can find more consistency under coach Fred Hoiberg.
Desmond Claude
Xavier → Southern California
6-6 guard, Putnam Science/New Haven, Conn.
After spending two seasons at Xavier – where he was named the Big East’s most improved player – Claude decided to take a big bet on himself. He finished sixth in scoring in the Big East last season at 16.6 points per game and that put him on the radar of several high-major programs. He ultimately landed at USC under new coach Eric Musselman, whose track record of helping guards make the jump to the NBA was a reason Claude cited in his decision.
Five more transfers to know
Brycen Goodine
Fairfield → Oklahoma
6-4 guard, St. Andrews/New Bedford, Mass.
Matt Cross
UMass → SMU
6-7 forward, Brewster Academy/Beverly, Mass.
Reid Ducharme
Xavier → Siena
6-7 forward, Brewster Academy/Milton, Mass.
Dion Brown
UMBC → Boston College
6-3 guard, Vermont Academy/Great Barrington, Mass.
Dasonte Bowen
Iowa → St. Bonaventure
6-2 guard, Brewster Academy/Boston, Mass.
