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 AuthorsApr 6, 2026, 11:35 PM ET
Braylon Mullins’ dagger 3 sends UConn to its third title game in 4 years (0:16)Braylon Mullins’ dagger 3 sends UConn to its third title game in four years. (0:16)
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf outline expected departures, returnees, top incoming recruits and transfer portal priorities for every team that made the Sweet 16 — and for storied programs with earlier exits, like Florida and Kansas.
McCoy headlines Michigan’s top-10 recruiting class for next season. He’s one of the top-five point guards in the class and becomes coach Dusty May’s first five-star prospect since taking over in Ann Arbor. A big playmaker, he sets the pace with his speed and ballhandling, and his high-level lateral quickness is a factor on defense. Expect McCoy to immediately form one of the best perimeter groups in the country alongside Cadeau and McKenney.
Two talented players on next year’s roster — Cason and incoming freshman Lincoln Cosby — are also likely to redshirt after suffering injuries this season.
If Mara and Johnson come back, and Cadeau and McKenney remain to man the backcourt, the Wolverines have as good a returning quartet as you’ll find in college basketball. If the bigs leave, May’s portal priority will obviously be the frontcourt. Regardless, Michigan needs to reinforce the wing production — and the question here is whether May will opt to go with another jumbo lineup and try to find someone with Lendeborg’s size for the small forward spot. — Borzello
Record: 34-6 (17-3 in the Big East) How their season ended: Lost to Michigan in the national championship
A few years ago, the one-time promising wide receiver committed to playing basketball full time. Landrew steadily rode up the SC Next 100 and could be a star early for a Huskies team that could lose its entire starting backcourt.
More than anything, the Huskies will need star power. Hurley might have enough guards to handle the scoring load, but Reed is a dominant, skilled big man and arguably the most important player on the roster. Replacing him will have to be Hurley’s biggest priority as he continues to pursue championships in Storrs. — Medcalf
Brayden Burries (16.0 PPG) Koa Peat (13.7 PPG) Jaden Bradley (13.3 PPG) Tobe Awaka (9.3 PPG) Anthony Dell’Orso (8.8 PPG) Evan Nelson (0.6 PPG)
Ivan Kharchenkov (10.2 PPG) Motiejus Krivas (10.4 PPG) Dwayne Aristode (4.1 PPG) Sidi Gueye (1.3 PPG) Bryce James (redshirt) Mabil Mawut (redshirt)
The priorities will be at point guard and power forward. While Holt can play on the ball, he’s equally adept off the ball and could excel without the responsibility of immediately becoming the team’s primary playmaker. Lloyd has long emphasized size and depth on the interior, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Arizona land multiple bigs. The Wildcats are also one of the premier destinations for high-level European prospects, so expect them to explore those options, too. — Borzello
David Mirkovic (13.6 PPG) Andrej Stojakovic (13.5 PPG) Tomislav Ivisic (10.2 PPG) Zvonimir Ivisic (6.8 PPG) Jake Davis (5.6 PPG) Brandon Lee (1.7 PPG) Mihailo Petrovic (1.6 PPG) Ty Rodgers (redshirt) Toni Bilic (redshirt)
Portal priorities: There are only two seniors in Illinois’ rotation (Boswell and Humrichous), and only one underclassman is projected to go in the NBA draft (Wagler). If those are the only three players to leave Champaign this offseason, coach Brad Underwood could have a terrific core of returnees. But Wagler is sure to leave as a projected lottery pick, and others could enter the transfer portal.
As things stand, the biggest needs are in the backcourt. Boswell and Wagler were the team’s primary playmakers, with Wagler having taken on a larger share of the offensive responsibility as the season progressed, particularly during Boswell’s injury. Mirkovic is a very good passer and can facilitate as a 6-foot-9 forward, but he’s not a guard. Morillo can help from a passing standpoint, but he’s a freshman and not one ranked in the top 50 of the class.
Underwood will need a primary playmaker and ball handler, as well as someone with real scoring punch to start immediately. The offensive system is enough to create shots, but it needs players who can capitalize on advantageous matchups — and Underwood needs a couple of them. — Borzello
Isaiah Evans (15.0 PPG) Patrick Ngongba II (10.5 PPG) Caleb Foster (8.5 PPG) Cayden Boozer (7.5 PPG) Dame Sarr (6.4 PPG) Nikolas Khamenia (5.8 PPG) Darren Harris (3.5 PPG) Sebastian Wilkins (redshirt)
Williams will give Duke a top-five recruit for a third straight season — but don’t expect the same level of impact as his predecessors, Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer. Williams broke out during the spring and summer before his senior year of high school, and clearly possesses one of the highest ceilings in the 2026 class. He’s 6-foot-11 with range out to the perimeter and an ability to guard multiple positions. Expect him to slot into the Blue Devils’ frontcourt immediately.
Portal priorities: As always, Duke has several stay-or-go NBA draft decisions to wait out. Cameron Boozer will be out the door and will be drafted inside the top five in June, that’s clear. Things are less clear with Evans, Ngongba and Sarr. Entering the NCAA tournament, all three were projected in the No. 25-31 range in ESPN’s mock draft. If all three return, Jon Scheyer might have the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
If Evans and Sarr leave, Scheyer will need to find an impact wing in the portal, and try to keep Khamenia for his sophomore season. Top-25 recruit Bryson Howard, one of the elite shooters in the class, is also arriving and should help immediately.
If Ngongba leaves — and maybe even if he doesn’t — expect Duke to look for an impact big in the portal. Brown is leaving, and four-star recruit Maxime Meyer is more of a long-term prospect, so the Blue Devils will need to reinforce the post, regardless.
The point guard situation will also be interesting to monitor. Foster and Cayden Boozer could return, and five-star recruit Deron Rippey Jr. is entering the fold. Scheyer could look to use more two-point-guard lineups next season if all three are on the roster. — Borzello
Scott is a 6-foot-7 positionless recruit who is as comfortable on the perimeter as he is handling the ball or using his size to excel in the post. He has attributes comparable to those that have made Ament a projected NBA draft lottery pick in Rick Barnes’ system, though he might need to add muscle to his frame in order to compete in the SEC. Regardless, he has the talent to make an impact as a freshman.
Portal priorities: With his top scorers expected to depart, expect Barnes to follow the same blueprint that has worked the past three seasons: identify a primary scorer to be the focal point of his offense.
In 2023-24, he signed Dalton Knecht from Northern Colorado, who went on to become that year’s SEC Player of the Year and a first-round NBA draft pick. Last season, Barnes brought Chaz Lanier in from North Florida; he emerged as a second-team All-SEC selection. This season, the Vols coach recruited Gillespie from Maryland; he earned All-SEC honors.
Estrella might be ready for a bigger role as a junior next season, but Barnes will likely find a true catalyst for his offense in the portal to extend the three-year trend of having a transfer who has averaged at least 18 points per game.
Braden Smith (14.3 PPG) Fletcher Loyer (14.1 PPG) Oscar Cluff (10.5 PPG) Trey Kaufman-Renn (14.1 PPG)
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. — Medcalf
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