Jeff BorzelloCloseJeff BorzelloESPN Staff Writer Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Follow on X and Myron MedcalfCloseMyron MedcalfESPN Staff Writer Covers college basketball Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow on XMultiple AuthorsMar 28, 2026, 08:35 PM ET
Iowa prevails late for major upset of Florida (0:47)Alvaro Folgueiras sinks a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds as Iowa takes down the defending champions. (0:47)
The 2026 men’s NCAA tournament has featured its fair share of heartbreaking losses — particularly after the first weekend.
Iowa, the 9-seed that took out reigning national champion Florida in the second round and 4-seed Nebraska in the Sweet 16, finally fell to 3-seed Illinois in the Elite Eight.
The Sweet 16, meanwhile, saw exits for St. John’s, Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa State and Houston.
In addition to the Gators’ unexpected early exit in the second round, Kansas was eliminated on a buzzer-beating layup by St. John’s. Kentucky suffered its worst NCAA tournament loss since 1972. And North Carolina surrendered a 19-point lead to fall to VCU in overtime.
With some of the most storied college basketball programs ending their seasons earlier than expected, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf detail what’s next for each. Here’s your guide to their expected departures, returnees, top incoming recruits and where that leaves their personnel priorities for when the transfer portal opens April 7.
Portal priorities: Stirtz is the centerpiece of everything McCollum has done at Iowa (and Drake and Northwest Missouri State before that), so his biggest priority in the portal will be to find a point guard and playmaker to run the Hawkeyes offense. The good news is that their Sweet 16 run should help them attract a player who fills that mold.
Iowa is also losing Banks, a versatile 6-foot-7 forward who is second on the team in scoring and excellent from 3 (45% this season). The Hawkeyes need another scoring threat who can stretch the floor, unless Banks — a former junior college player — is granted another year of eligibility as a result of the NCAA’s blanket waiver.
Finally, an Iowa team that finished 17th in offensive rebounding rate and 15th in defensive effectiveness inside the 3-point line in conference play needs more frontcourt depth to keep up in the Big Ten.
The 6-foot-5 Jervis is one of four top-100 recruits — one of three in the top 50 — in Tom Izzo’s 2026 class. With Fears and Carr expected to return, Jervis will strengthen a talented Michigan State squad and have an opportunity to play with a point guard (Fears) who could enter next season as the front-runner to win the Wooden Award.
Zuby Ejiofor (16.3 PPG) Bryce Hopkins (13.6 PPG) Oziyah Sellers (10.5 PPG) Dillon Mitchell (8.2 PPG) Sadiku Ibine Ayo (1.8 PPG)
Ian Jackson (9.6 PPG) Joson Sanon (8.1 PPG) Dylan Darling (6.9 PPG) Ruben Prey (4.1 PPG) Lefteris Liotopoulos (3.0 PPG) Kelvin Odih (1.5 PPG) Imran Suljanovic (redshirt) Casper Pohto (redshirt)
Portal priorities: St. John’s is sure to lose at least four starters, with Big East Player of the Year Ejiofor, two-time All-Big East performer Hopkins, third-team All-Big East selection Mitchell and starting guard Sellers all out of eligibility. Which means we should be in for another busy spring portal season in Queens.
The focus will be up front, with only reserve big man Prey coming back. Pitino will likely need at least two starters, potentially three if he opts to go with a bigger lineup again.
One more backcourt conundrum: While this trio helped St. John’s sweep the Big East regular season and tournament championships, it felt like the Red Storm lacked a true playmaking point guard. Will Pitino go to the portal for one of those as well? — Borzello
Milan Momcilovic (17.2 PPG) Killyan Toure (8.6 PPG) Blake Buchanan (8.5 PPG) Jamarion Batemon (6.8 PPG) Dominykas Pleta (4.5 PPG)
Gray, a 6-foot-3 guard from West Allis, Wisconsin, averaged 24.3 points as a high school senior before a labrum injury in February cost him the rest of the season. But T.J. Otzelberger has had success with prep talent from Wisconsin, and Gray could be the next standout for the Cyclones.
Aden Holloway (16.8 PPG) Amari Allen (11.6 PPG) Aiden Sherrell (11.2 PPG) Taylor Bol Bowen (6.5 PPG) London Jemison (6.2 PPG) Jalil Bethea (4.2 PPG) Keitenn Bristow (3.6 PPG) Davion Hannah (3.3 PPG) Collins Onyejiaka (1.0 PPG)
Richardson surprised most of the recruiting world in early March when he committed to Alabama over perceived favorite Creighton. An explosive athlete who’s at his best in transition, he should make an impact at both ends of the floor with his length and motor. He’s not a consistent 3-point shooter yet, which makes his commitment to the most 3-point-happy team in the country an interesting marriage, but he brings plenty else to add a different dimension.
Chris Cenac Jr. (9.6 PPG) Joseph Tugler (8.5 PPG) Mercy Miller (5.2 PPG) Chase McCarty (4.0 PPG) Isiah Harwell (3.6 PPG) Cedric Lath (0.5 PPG) Jacob McFarland Bryce Jackson (redshirt)
Even with all the expected personnel in the fold next season, Houston could use an immediate-impact player at point guard. The Cougars need a playmaker and facilitator, as they found last season with Uzan and this season with Flemings.
Up front, much depends on whether Cenac and Tugler return. Cenac is still a projected first-round NBA draft pick but is not the surefire lottery selection he was at the start of the campaign, and Tugler was not in ESPN’s most recent mock draft after previously looking like a potential first-rounder. Diane is a ready-made replacement if one of them opts to depart. — Borzello
Meleek Thomas (15.6 PPG) Billy Richmond III (11.1 PPG) Karter Knox (8.1 PPG) D.J. Wagner (7.4 PPG) Isaiah Sealy (2.9 PPG) Paulo Semedo (redshirt) Karim Rtail (redshirt)
Other question marks: Will Wagner return? Will Knox forgo the NBA draft again? If they, Thomas and Richmond all return, Calipari will have a rotation nearly finished.
There will have to be a frontcourt revamp with Brazile, Ewin and Pringle all out of eligibility. As things stand, there might not be a natural point guard on the team, either. But Smith, Thomas and even Wagner — to an extent — have the potential to be the team’s primary playmaker. A Thomas-Smith backcourt, in particular, could excel at both ends of the floor. — Borzello
Pryce Sandfort (17.9 PPG) Braden Frager (11.7 PPG) Connor Essegian (5.4 PPG) Ugnius Jarusevicius (7.0 PPG) Berke Buyuktuncel (6.7 PPG) Cale Jacobsen (4.6 PPG)
Both Lanier and Colin Rice (No. 94) will help Fred Hoiberg’s team reload this season after losing a trio of seniors (and perhaps its best player, too). Both incoming freshmen should be physically ready — Lanier is 6-foot-5 and Rice is 6-8 — to compete in the Big Ten.
Sean Miller could lose the bulk of his starting rotation this offseason, but the 6-foot-5 Goosby could be the Longhorns’ next star. The No. 1 recruit from the state of Texas has a chance to put together a one-and-done campaign. Depending on Swain’s decision, Goosby could become the top option from the moment he arrives. He headlines a Texas recruiting class that features two more top-100 recruits: Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling.
Portal priorities: Swain has emerged as a borderline first-round NBA draft pick following a fabulous season leading the Longhorns in scoring, so his potential departure could mean a significant loss in experience with senior starters Pope and Mark on their way out. If Swain leaves, Miller could use a veteran guard or two.
The Longhorns are also losing a lot of size in their frontcourt. Vokietaitis should be the centerpiece if he’s back, but Miller will have to add depth around him in the post. — Medcalf
Alex Condon (14.9 PPG) Boogie Fland (11.7 PPG) Rueben Chinyelu (11.2 PPG) Urban Klavzar (9.7 PPG) Isaiah Brown (5.6 PPG) CJ Ingram (2.2 PPG) Viktor Mikic (1.3 PPG) Alex Lloyd (1.2 PPG) Alex Kovatchev (0.5 PPG) AJ Brown (redshirt)
Florida has essentially eschewed immediate impact freshmen under Todd Golden, landing only two top-100 recruits in the past four recruiting classes combined. The incoming class is no different, with only the unranked Lay in the fold. He will very likely be a depth player early in his career, then his future will depend on development. The Gators did take a couple of swings at recruiting top-50 prospects, but will instead go to the portal or overseas for the rest of their newcomers.
Flory Bidunga (13.3 PPG) Bryson Tiller (8.1 PPG) Elmarko Jackson (4.8 PPG) Jamari McDowell (3.4 PPG) Kohl Rosario (3.3 PPG) Paul Mbiya (1.1 PPG) Samis Calderon (0.4 PPG)
Kinney is one of the best point guards in the 2026 class, and will step in immediately as the playmaking focal point of the offense with Peterson’s departure. He’s better as a scorer at this point in his development, especially when taking his defender off the dribble and attacking the rim. Kinney has improved as a passer and creator over the past year, so the next step on offense is becoming more consistent from the perimeter. His length should help him early as a defender.
Portal priorities: The frontcourt should be in good shape if Bidunga and Tiller both return; it would make sense for both to be retention priorities. Bidunga developed into one of the best defensive players in the country this season while also proving to be a capable scorer in the post. And Tiller showed very impressive flashes despite struggling down the stretch.
There’s also the elephant in the room: Bill Self’s status. Self said after the loss to St. John’s that he hasn’t decided on whether he will return next season. If he doesn’t come back, it’s entirely unclear how the Kansas roster will look. — Borzello
Jaland Lowe (8.0 PPG) Collin Chandler (9.7 PPG) Mouhamed Dioubate (8.8 PPG) Brandon Garrison (4.7 PPG) Kam Williams (6.0 PPG) Malachi Moreno (7.8 PPG) Jasper Johnson (4.9 PPG) Andrija Jelavic (5.5 PPG) Trent Noah (3.0 PPG)