The finalists have been jostling in pursuit of Husan Longstreet, the nation’s top uncommitted quarterback, in the weeks leading up to the fast-approaching finish line.
As the dynamic prospect from Corona (Calif.) Centennial prepares to reveal a college choice Sunday, perhaps it’s appropriate that the crowded battle has dwindled to a quartet of contenders.
“Four is my favorite number,” Longstreet said. “It’s the age I began playing football, it’s what I wear on my jersey, so I thought it would be a cool touch to have the number four in every part of the decision date.”
Nothing that the state’s No. 1 prospect and nation’s No. 28 overall player does is by chance. After securing his ticket to the Elite 11 Finals at the Los Angeles Regional last month and thus checking off a big item on the offseason to-do list, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Longstreet quickly turned his attention to recruiting and hit the road for visits.
It’s a process that Longstreet has not taken lightly, according to Centennial pass game coordinator and former star quarterback Anthony Catalano.
“It’s been really interesting to see what he truly values and in how many ways he’s broken down these schools,” said Catalano, who signed with Southern Utah as part of the 2016 class. “The questions he asks when he’s inside the coaches’ offices are really far from what most 17-year-old kids are probably thinking about.
“Husan has very, very high football intelligence. He loves the game and, in his free time, I don’t think he does anything else. We’ve actually tried to get him into other things, and at times he probably needs to get away, but he’s super competitive. You don’t get to see that much from him on the field because he is kind of quiet, but he’s always so locked in. He just wants to win.”
A victor will soon be crowned. The list of suitors for Longstreet’s signature features finalists Auburn, Ole Miss, Oregon and Texas A&M, among other admirers.
KEEP READING: 247Sports handicaps the recruitment as things stand with a decision set for this weekend.
Saturday’s spring game begins one of the most pivotal seasons in modern Alabama football history as the Crimson Tide look to defend their place as one of the premier programs in the sport without Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in the sport’s history. Kalen DeBoer understood the gravity of following in Saban’s wake, or he would not have accepted the job after leading Washington all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2023. The annual A-Day scrimmage provides our first look at how DeBoer’s team and program might look similar, and also different, to the Alabama teams of year’s past.
This is not the first time DeBoer has faced a pivotal spring practice, and if previous examples are any indication, it’s a good sign for Alabama’s future with him at the helm. When DeBoer took over at Washington heading into the 2022 season, he inherited a roster that had been shellshocked by a rapid drop from the top of the Pac-12 to a four-win season. Many of those veterans understood that transferring out was an option, but DeBoer only asked for a chance in the spring to prove that he and his staff could lead the Huskies back to the top. Many took him up on that offer and eventually became the fifth- and sixth-year leaders who were the face of Washington’s run all the way to last year’s title game.
But this spring practice carries even more weight. DeBoer is not taking over a Washington program that slipped from a Chris Petersen-established standard. He’s taking over an Alabama program that totaled six national championships under Saban and just last year won its ninth SEC Championships since 2009. DeBoer is a proven winner, but his challenge is not to save a program; it is to maintain the Tide’s status atop the sport. That work started during this key transitional spring, and on Saturday we’ll get a good look at how things are shaping up for 2024.
Different format for A-Day Under Saban, A-Day involved the roster being divided between a Crimson Team and White Team. One would have the first-team offense and second-team defense, while the other would have the second-team offense and first-team defense, and the score would kept just like a regular game. DeBoer is choosing a different method, focusing solely on offense vs. defense with a unique scoring system in which the offense scores touchdowns and field goals, while the defense can score points with big plays like sacks, tackles for loss and interceptions.
“Format for the spring game will be offense vs. defense,” DeBoer said Thursday, via 247Sports. “We won’t have divided teams. Couple of reasons, number one, I like to look at it as practice No. 15. We’ll see a lot of great scrimmaging out there, but it’s a chance for us to get better, a chance for us to take the next step, a chance for us to evaluate. We’ll really get down to the bare bones of playing some football.”
Unique scoring systems like this can be a little difficult to follow for fans who aren’t dialed into the game from start to finish, but DeBoer is correct in how the scrimmage-like setup can allow for evaluation of how the different units have progressed this spring.
Milroe’s command of a new offense Last season saw Jalen Milroe get off to a rocky start under new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees only to settle in to the QB1 role with strong playmaking over the second half of the season on the way to an SEC championship and College Football Playoff appearance. When Milroe’s greatest strengths (his deep ball passing and mobility in the open field) were highlighted, the offense took on a new dimension and erased the early season frustrations.
Saturday’s A-Day will be our first look at not only how DeBoer wants to use Milroe, but how Milroe’s game has developed throughout the offseason. All public comments have indicated that Milroe will have the reins of the offense and is not in the midst of a quarterback competition at the moment, but solidifying his claim on QB1 can certainly be a takeaway if he performs well in the spring game.
Which pass-catchers show out? There is a ton of production that needs to be replaced at the wide receiver position, and the offense-defense format should allow for us to get a good look at the top options available for Milroe and the new offensive scheme. Jermaine Burton (NFL Draft), Isaiah Bond (Texas), Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville) and Malik Benson (Florida State) are all gone, and that’s a ton of receptions and yards to replace from last year’s College Football Playoff team. Kobe Prentice and Kendrick Law both contributed in previous seasons, making them obvious options to pick up the additional opportunities. But there are also a couple of intriguing newcomers to keep an eye on, like Germie Bernard, who followed DeBoer from Washington and was the team’s fourth-leading receiver in 2023, and five-star early enrollee Caleb Odom, who is built more like a tight end but has drawn positive reviews for his play at wide receiver.
It is officially spring game season, and the first major slate kicks off this weekend with showcases around the nation. Saturday is a big day for the SEC, in particular, with eight of its now 16 teams hitting the field to bring their spring practice sessions to an end.
That includes Alabama, which underwent a coaching transition for the first time in more than 15 years, and Georgia, which is looking to make it back to the College Football Playoff after its three-peat quest fell short last season. LSU is breaking in a new quarterback now that Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is off to the NFL.
It’s not just the SEC’s day to shine, though. Elsewhere around the country, Ohio State will play in front of a national audience after an invigorating offseason that saw major changes to both the coaching staff and roster. Though technically still a member of the Pac-12 until July, Utah is gearing up for a move to the Big 12 and a potential run at even loftier goals.
Here’s a look at some of the top storylines to keep track of during this weekend’s spring games, as well as a rundown of the other notable teams in action on Saturday.
Alabama: Ushering in new era For the first time in almost 20 years, Alabama will be taking the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium without Nick Saban leading the way. Kalen DeBoer will make his on-screen Crimson Tide debut Saturday; Alabama’s much-anticipated spring game will be broadcast on national cable television in an uncontested, prime slot. There’s plenty of reason for the hype, clearly.
DeBoer brought a brand new staff with him, highlighted by two fresh coordinators in Nick Sheridan on offense and Kane Wommack on defense. Alabama lost some stars to the transfer portal, but returning names like quarterback Jalen Milroe provide plenty of hype for a season that should be filled with excitement — no matter how it ends up.
Ohio State: Paradigm shift underway The buzzword for coach Ryan Day as he enters a crucial 2024 season is “physicality.” The Buckeyes went all-in on revamping their offense this offseason. They pulled off an absolute coup by convincing sitting UCLA coach Chip Kelly to join the staff as offensive coordinator. His tough-running inside zone scheme is evidence of a major change taking place in Columbus.
Ohio State also dipped into the portal to add former Kansas State star Will Howard as its expected starting quarterback. The 6-foot-5 and 242-pound Howard may not have the dazzling arm talent we’ve come to expect from Ohio State QBs under Day, but he is a punishing runner with a Mack Truck frame that’s comfortable with the ball in his hands. Former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, another impressive offseason acquisition, fits Kelly’s scheme like a glove. Day is changing his philosophy and going all-in for a national championship run in 2024. Saturday marks the beginning of it all on national television.
Utah: All eyes on Cam Rising Utah is an early favorite to win the Big 12 in its first season with the conference, but its hopes hinge on the health of veteran quarterback Cam Rising. Entering his seventh year of college football, Rising is coming off a devastating knee injury that resulted in multiple torn ligaments and corrective surgery. Without him running the show in 2023, the Utes had the worst passing attack in the Pac-12 — and one of the worst nationally — while averaging fewer than 200 yards passing per game.
Yet Utah still posted a respectable 8-5 record with the defense leading the way. No wonder there’s hype surrounding this team with Rising expected back. He’s gone through spring thus far, and since quarterbacks typically aren’t live in spring games, he’ll likely see plenty of work.
Ole Miss: Transfers take center stage In anticipation of what Ole Miss hopes is a College Football Playoff year, coach Lane Kiffin once more hit the transfer portal hard to fill roster holes and upgrade talent across the board. The Rebels eventually signed a robust 15-player transfer class during the winter window, almost enough to field a new starting lineup on both sides of the ball, that occupies No. 1 in 247Sports’ Team Transfer Rankings.
Highlighting the haul is former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who is the No. 3 overall player and second-highest ranked defender in 247Sports’ rankings. He immediately increases Ole Miss’ defensive ceiling with his ability to plug up the middle and disrupt offenses at the point of attack. Former South Carolina wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. should be a top target for returning quarterback Jaxson Dart, and running back Logan Diggs from LSU adds some versatility to a backfield that has a lot of production to replace. Kiffin and the Rebels are hinging their hopes on these transfers jelling with one another. Spring is where a lot of work gets done in that process.
Tennessee: It’s Nico time Tennessee fans got their first enticing look at quarterback of the future, Nico Iamaleava, in Tennessee’s 2023 Citrus Bowl win against Iowa. Iamaleava earned the game’s offensive MVP honors after tallying four total touchdowns and showing impressive command of the offense for a freshman in his first career start. Now, the proverbial keys to the castle are unquestionably his moving forward. As a former No. 2 prospect nationally, there’s understandable buzz ahead of his first year as a starter. The spring game will show where he’s progressed in his preparation and how comfortable he is with directing the offense on a full-time basis.
Jack Gohlke turned in one of the most memorable performances in March Madness history last month when he made 10 3-pointers and finished with 32 points in Oakland’s 80-76 upset of Kentucky in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament that more or less ended John Calipari’s time at UK.
If you saw it, you’ll never forget it. It was legendary stuff.
But Oakland’s best player this past season? That was actually Trey Townsend, the 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.4 minutes per game while earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors and the Most Valuable Player trophy at the Horizon League Tournament. He entered the transfer portal three weeks ago, considered Michigan State and visited both Ohio State and Michigan. But, on Wednesday, Townsend passed on those three schools and ended his recruitment by announcing that he’ll play his fifth season of college basketball at Arizona, which is why the Wildcats are up to No. 15 in Version 11.0 of the 2024-25 CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings.
Kansas remains No. 1.
The only other developments that impacted Version 11.0 of the Top 25 And 1 are Creighton, Texas and UCLA also securing commitments from transfers. Creighton added Jamiya Neal, a 6-6 guard who just averaged 11.0 points and 5.4 rebounds at Arizona State. The Bluejays are now No. 11 in the Top 25 And 1. Texas added Jordan Pope, a 6-2 guard who just averaged a team-high 17.6 points at Oregon State while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. The Longhorns are now No. 21 in the Top 25 And 1. UCLA added William Kyle III, a 6-9 forward who just averaged 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds at South Dakota State while helping the Jackrabbits with both the Summit League regular-season title and Summit League Tournament. The Bruins are now No. 24 in the Top 25 And 1.
USC freshman Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is entering the NBA Draft and the transfer portal, he announced earlier this month on Instagram. The former four-star recruit played in 25 games for the Trojans after making his college debut on Dec. 10 against Long Beach State less than five months after going into cardiac arrest during a summer workout at USC. James made six starts during the 2023-24 season and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“I’ve had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete,” James wrote. “I’ve made the decision to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility, and will also be entering the NCAA transfer portal. Thank you to USC for an amazing freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, friends, doctors, athletic trainers and fans for their support.”
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James missed USC’s overseas trip to Greece and Croatia for a three-game summer tour and was absent from the start of fall workouts because of the cardiac arrest incident. After his minute restriction was lifted in January, James showcased his potential as both a playmaker and defender in an expanded role.
James’ future came into question earlier this week when rumors surfaced that the 19-year-old would enter the transfer portal and explore his college options.
“I don’t know where it came from,” LeBron James said after the Lakers beat the Raptors 128-111 in Toronto. “But at the end of the day, Bronny is his own man. He has some tough decisions to make. When he’s ready to make those decisions, he’ll let us all know. But as his family, we’re going to support whatever he does.”
Bronny James’ NBA Draft projection James’ draft stock is considered a mystery. His overall stats weren’t great this season, but that won’t prevent a respective team from drafting him. The 2024 NBA Draft class is a mystery because it’s one of the weaker draft classes at the top in nearly a decade. That could ultimately benefit James and convince him to declare for the draft if a team wants to take a swing on a prospect with upside.
James has the tools to be a successful player at the next level. He’s a high-motor defender with a playmaking upside. James also has an incredible basketball IQ like his father. Something that James will have to improve on at the next level is his 3-point shooting. James connected on only 26.7% from distance on 2.4 attempts per night.
In the 2024 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings from CBS Sports, James isn’t currently ranked, and he wasn’t in any first-round mocks. James likely will drop to the second round, but he should get an opportunity at the next level no matter what — which could be on a regular contract or a two-way deal.
Entering the NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility is common among college prospects who aren’t entirely sure about where they project in the draft process. In this case, Bronny projects as a potential second-round pick, so keeping his options open by entering the transfer portal will allow him to go through the draft process, work out for NBA teams, and get feedback before making a final decision. James will have until May 29 — the withdrawal deadline set by the NCAA — to decide to remain in the draft or return for his sophomore season. The NBA has a later withdrawal deadline (June 16) but the NCAA has its own set of rules that states the deadline is 10 days after the NBA Combine ends. The 2024 NBA Draft is June 26-27.
James will need approval from NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel before he can become eligible to participate in team workouts, the draft combine in May or be selected in the draft due to the cardiac arrest, according to ESPN.
LeBron has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season that he could hypothetically decline, which can create an easier path for the two to pair up next season. The Lakers own their second-round pick for the 2024 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Pelicans own the Lakers first-round pick and have the right to receive their 2025 first-round pick instead.
Portal possibilities Days after his father shot down the rumors of him entering the transfer portal, USC poached Arkansas coach Eric Musselman to replace Andy Enfield, who left town to take the vacant job at SMU. Despite Musselman having ties to the James family, he still elected to enter the upcoming draft and the transfer portal.
The younger James played with Arkansas signee Isaiah Elohim at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. Musselman recruited Elohim to Arkansas before he left for the vacant job with the Trojans. However, James decided to enter the portal – the first step for a player who intends to transfer.
Early logical options to land James out of the transfer portal Ohio State, Duquesne, Oregon, UCLA, and SMU. Coming out of high school, James committed to USC over Oregon and Ohio State. Duquesne recently named Dru Joyce III — LeBron’s former high school teammate from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School — its next coach of the program.
Impact on USC USC has already lost star wing Kobe Johnson via the transfer portal this offseason to crosstown rival UCLA. Collier is expected to enter the NBA Draft, and four-star guard Trent Perry recently de-committed from the school after the coaching change.
Musselman is an excellent high school and transfer portal recruiter. While he was at Arkansas, he helped land the No. 2 overall recruiting class behind Duke in the 2022 cycle. Musselman is known to use the transfer portal to attract talent, which will likely be the case as the Trojans transition to the Big Ten.
Most top high school talent in the 2024 recruiting class already signed their National Letter of Intent to their respective schools. Musselman’s best option to replace James, Collier, and Boogie Ellis in the backcourt is to convince Perry to stay.
The key to a March Madness run in college basketball’s modern era can often be discovered during the April avalanche. It was during this disorienting month of transfer portal movement last year that Tennessee landed a commitment from Dalton Knecht, Purdue landed a pledge from Lance Jones and DJ Horne announced he was heading to NC State.
Those are just a few of the big-name players who chose their 2023-24 schools in the days and weeks after the 2023 NCAA Tournament ended. The era of plotting out future rosters years in advance through large high school recruiting classes is largely over. But for programs with some NIL money to spend, a willingness to adjust on the fly and a keen eye for fit, there are rewards to reap in what has essentially become free agency.
While much of the flurry transpires in April, it doesn’t stop then. During the 2023 transfer cycle, seismic activity continued well into May with the commitments of Hunter Dickinson to Kansas and Caleb Love to Arizona. June even saw some high-level pop, when Cam Spencer’s committed to UConn. Given how prominent transfers have become over the past five years in college basketball and how focused the sport’s attention is on the portal in April, we debuted the CBS Sports Transfer Player of the Year and All-Transfer team this time last year.
Now, it’s time for the second edition of those honors as we reflect one final time on the 2023-24 season by recognizing the country’s top transfers from the past season. The selections were determined by David Cobb and Matt Norlander and limited to players who were in their first season with their new school.
CBS Sports 2023-24 All-Transfer Team dalton-knecht-tennessee-usatsi.jpg Knecht was a revelation for the Vols, turning in a First Team All-American season after leaving Northern Colorado. USATSI Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (Transfer of the Year) Knecht’s arrival from Northern Colorado sparked a revitalization of Tennessee’s offense and set the stage for the program’s second-ever Elite Eight run. The Volunteers won the SEC regular season title with Knecht averaging 25.5 points per game on 42.4% 3-point shooting against conference opposition. That gaudy production for a winning team made him an easy pick for SEC Player of the Year, and Knecht didn’t stop there as he took home consensus first-team All-American honors. Though he couldn’t will the Volunteers to their first-ever Final Four, Knecht went toe-to-toe with National Player of the Year Zach Edey of Purdue in an Elite Eight showdown by setting a program record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game with 37.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard surpassed 30 points eight times and hit three or more 3-pointers in 17 games. What made Knecht so difficult for opponents to handle was the versatility in his game. While his ability to rise up over defenders and drill long-range jumpers stood out, Knecht showed a deft touch with mid-range shooting and proved to be a relentless attacker capable of getting to the rim and finishing once he got there. Knecht established himself as a potential lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft while capping an unlikely journey from unheralded junior college prospect to top transfer in college basketball.
spenceralltransfer.jpg UConn’s second straight national title was possible, in no small part, because of Spencer’s 3-point shooting and vocal leadership. Getty Images Cam Spencer, UConn 2023-24 UConn is one of the best teams of the past four decades … but would it have won a title if Cam Spencer wasn’t on the roster? I have my doubts. That’s how good/valuable Spencer was. The grad transfer from Rutgers was the perfect infusion to UConn’s system and Dan Hurley’s culture. He was cocky, competitive, efficient and ever-reliable. Spencer started all 40 games and averaged 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and shot 44% from 3. The irony that’s been largely forgotten in all of this: UConn expected to bring in Nick Timberlake to transfer, only to see him pick Kansas. That opened a path for Spencer to head to Storrs and make history in the process. Hurley and UConn fans could not have asked for a more ideal plug-and-play grad senior than the spicy Spencer. — Matt Norlander
The Jayhawks had a down season for their standards, but Dickinson still delivered as a dynamic offensive big. Getty Images Hunter Dickinson, Kansas The Kansas center (by way of Michigan) was our preseason Transfer of the Year pick. He mostly panned out as expected in Lawrence, though he was not the First Team All-American that some projected. Dickinson averaged 17.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and shot 54.8% for a Kansas team that was hampered late by injuries (including a shoulder one for Dickinson). He and Kevin McCullar Jr. (who also was hurt down the stretch) shared the load as co-MVPs for Bill Self’s program. All told, Kansas’ 23-11 year was a let-down. Feels like there’s unfinished business here. Dickinson hasn’t publicly revealed his decision to return for one final year of college eligibility, but he’s expected to return. If he does, he won’t be eligible for this honor in 2025. Our All-Transfer Team only applies to players in the immediate season following their decision to play for a new school. — MN
Great Osobor won Mountain West Player of the Year and turned himself into a top 30-40 player in America heading into next season. Getty Images Great Osobor, Utah State Whereas Dickinson isn’t going to be eligible for this honor next year, Osobor will have a chance to repeat. That’s because the one-year Utah State standout has become of the most coveted transfers on the market in 2024. Osobor followed Danny Sprinkle from Montana State to USU. He guided the Aggies to their first Mountain West regular-season championship and won the league’s player of the year award after averaging 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and shooting 57.7%. (Like Knecht, Osobor came over from the Big Sky.) The Aggies were a No. 8 seed in the NCAAs and reached the second round before falling to top-seeded Purdue. Osobor is currently considering offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Texas Tech and Washington. Will we see him back on this list a year from now? — MN
The Wildcats helped Caleb Love rewrite some of his story — and he helped Arizona to a 2-seed in the West. Getty Images Caleb Love, Arizona Our final honoree barely won out over a transfer who made the Final Four: NC State’s DJ Horne. But Love did well for himself after leaving North Carolina. He won Pac-12 Player of the Year on an Arizona team that got a 2-seed and reached the Sweet 16. Love’s final game at Arizona (the loss to Clemson in the Sweet 16) was a flop, but we are looking at the entire body of work and his stop through Tucson deserves one final accolade. Love averaged 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He committed himself to refining his game and buying in on Tommy Lloyd’s vision for how he could rebuild his reputation after a rocky 2022-23 season at North Carolina. Remember, Love planned on going to Michigan but was unable to enroll. Then the Wildcats provided a new path and he capitalized. — MN
Honorable mentions to DJ Horne (NC State), Marcus Domask (Illinois), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), AJ Storr (Wisconsin) and Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon). For a look at who’s poised to compete for this list next year, here’s our latest look at the top 80 transfers for the 2024 offseason.
Transfer waivers for everybody, combined with the lure of name, image and likeness opportunities from coast to coast, have turned the first few weeks of this offseason into an unusually busy April with impactful players bouncing around nonstop.
It’s hard to keep up.
As evidence, consider that I was only compelled to update the CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings 21 times all of last offseason in a span of roughly seven months from April through November. Fast forward to this year, and we’re already up to Version 12.0 of the Top 25 And 1 only 17 days into the offseason, which should illustrate just how regularly nationally relevant programs are losing and adding important pieces these days.
It happened again Thursday.
That’s when Tennessee secured a commitment from Felix Okpara, a 6-foot-11 center who just started 34 games at Ohio State while averaging 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 23.6 minutes per contest. He should start in the middle next season for Rick Barnes’ Volunteers, who are up to No. 18 in the Top 25 And 1 despite losing three of the top five scorers from this season’s team — most notably Dalton Knecht, the reigning SEC Player of the Year who is also a projected lottery pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
The only other development that impacted Version 12.0 of the Top 25 And 1 was Miami’s Wooga Poplar entering the transfer portal. As a result, the Hurricanes have been removed from these rankings and replaced by Xavier, which is the new No. 26 thanks largely to the expected return of Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter. Both Musketeers missed all of this season with injuries, but they were the second-leading scorer (Freemantle) and sixth-leading scorer (Hunter) at Xavier two seasons ago when the Big East program won 27 times while advancing to the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey added another significant piece to his first roster on Thursday with the commitment of former Wisconsin point guard Chucky Hepburn. Ranked the No. 19 player in the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings, Hepburn will bring three years of Big Ten starting experience to the Cardinals as Kelsey looks to immediately turn the fortunes of a proud program.
He is merely the latest splashy addition for the Cardinals, who also have commitments from No. 27 transfer Terrence Edwards (James Madison) and No. 66 transfer J’Vonne Hadley (Colorado). In total, Kelsey has pledges from eight transfers, all of whom appear to be ACC-caliber contributors.
Landing Hepburn was especially significant because of his experience as a floor general for a quality high-major team. The 6-foot-2 All-Big Ten Defensive Team honoree averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Badgers this past season.
247Sports college basketball guru Isaiah Trotter identified a point guard as Louisville’s priority in his breakdown of team needs in the portal this week. He noted, “Kelsey needs a veteran lead guard who can get the ball where it needs to go for a Louisville team that plans to shoot a billion 3-pointers.” That box has officially been checked with Hepburn as the makings of a competitive group continue coming together for a program coming off a dismal 12-52 two-year run under former coach Kenny Payne.
Sorting out Louisville’s hierarchy Hepburn was once the leading scorer for a Big Ten team, Washington transfer Koren Johnson was the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year and Edwards was the Sun Belt Player of the Year. Going down the list of Louisville’s transfers, there’s also Hadley, who averaged 11.6 points per game for a Colorado team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Outside shooting wizard Reyne Smith was the leading scorer at his old school (Charleston) and Long Beach State transfer Aboubacar Traore played a major role for an NCAA Tournament team.
So, who will be the alpha for Louisville? While the smart money is likely on Edwards to be the team’s leading scorer, it’s a trick question. Based on how Kelsey’s teams played at Charleston, the Cardinals are likely to spread the wealth around during the 2024-25 season.
Charleston ranked in the top 40 nationally in bench minutes during each of Kelsey’s three seasons, per KenPom, and the Cougars received balanced scoring from a variety of sources while playing at a breakneck pace. Given the way Kelsey prefers to play, look for the Cardinals to continue to be active in filling out their roster with guys who can come in and immediately play rotation roles.
Chucky Hepburn’s game Hepburn was rated as Wisconsin’s most efficient player and No. 2 defender this past season, per evanmiya.com. It was a credit to Hepburn’s all-around game that he still proved effective even as his 3-point shooting percentage slipped from 40.5% as a sophomore to 32.2% as a junior. While defense and distribution are Hepburn’s calling cards, he can step up as a scorer when needed.
The Nebraska native averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game for the Badgers in the 2022-23 season, albeit on just 37.7% shooting. Given the quality of offensive talent surrounding him at Louisville, Hepburn should be able to serve as a facilitator and secondary scorer who can get things organized on both ends of the floor.
He also gives Kelsey yet another veteran. Seven of the eight transfers landed by Kelsey thus far have multiple seasons of Division I experience under their belt. That should give the Cardinals a leg up on their quest to quickly flush the failures of the previous regime.
Arkansas’s 2024-25 roster under first-year coach John Calipari is slowly taking shape. On Friday, Arkansas landed a commitment from four-star wing Billy Richmond, who previously signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Calipari at Kentucky.
Richmond is the third member of Kentucky’s star-studded 2024 recruiting class to follow Calipari to Arkansas. Four-star forward Karter Knox was the first to flip his commitment to Arkansas to play for Calipari. The Knox family has ties to Calipari, as his older brother, Kevin Knox ll, played for him at Kentucky during the 2017-18 season.
Calipari’s second high school commitment of the offseason came from another former player from his recruiting class at Kentucky. Calipari landed four-star guard Boogie Fland shortly on Thursday. The first commitment of the Calipari era at Arkansas was another familiar face in Zvonimir Ivišić, who played at Kentucky last season.
There is still plenty of work for Calipari and his staff to do to form a complete roster ahead of the season that starts in less than seven months, but after making the biggest splash of the offseason earlier this month to replace former coach Eric Musselman with one of the prominent figures in the sport, the Razorbacks are off to a strong start.
CBS Sports is tracking the status of the Arkansas roster and recruiting class in real time. Here’s where every current Arkansas player and commitment currently stand.
NCAA Basketball: Kentucky at Vanderbilt Zvonimir Ivišić abd John Calipari will reunite in Fayetteville. USATSI Arkansas newcomers Zvonimir Ivišić (Transfer from Kentucky) GP: 15 | GS: 0 | PPG: 5.5 | RPG: 3.3
While Ivišić didn’t play a ton during his freshman season, he made an impact when he played. Hours after he was ruled eligible by the NCAA on Jan. 20, Ivišić recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists in his collegiate debut. Days after Ivišić entered the transfer portal, he announced he would follow Calipari and had committed to Arkansas. He should see a larger role in Year 2.
Arkansas players not expected to return Tramon Mark (Committed to Texas) GP: 31 | GS: 28 | PPG: 16.2 | RPG: 4.3
Mark will be at his third school in three years after transferring into the program from Houston last offseason. The 6-foot-6 guard is coming off the best season of his career and posted a career-high in points. Mark committed to Texas to continue his college career.
Khalif Battle (In transfer portal) GP: 32 | GS: 13 | PPG: 14.8 | RPG: 3.3
Battle started his career at Butler during the 2019-20 campaign before transferring to Temple. Battle spent three seasons with Temple before spending his only season with the Razorbacks. Battle’s next and final stop of his college career will be his fourth school. He entered the transfer portal earlier this month.
Mitchell averaged 8.6 points and started five games for Arkansas this past season. Before his arrival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, he had stops at Maryland and Rhode Island.
Trevon Brazile (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 26 | GS: 23 | PPG: 8.6 | RPG: 5.9
Brazile declared for the 2024 NBA Draft after averaging 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Brazile started his career at Missouri before transferring to Arkansas ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Keyon Menifield Jr. (In transfer portal) GP: 14 | GS: 4 | PPG: 7.9 | RPG: 2.1
Menifield started 21 games during his freshman season at Washington before transferring to Arkansas. He started four games and appeared in 14 total games. He will be looking for his third school in three years.
Jalen Graham (Out of eligibility) GP: 21 | GS: 5 | PPG: 7.6 | RPG: 3.0
After spending the first three years of his career at Arizona State, Graham transferred to Arkansas. He averaged 7.6 points in his final college season.
El Ellis (Out of eligibility) GP: 31 | GS: 22 | PPG: 6.5 | RPG: 2.0
The former Louisville guard averaged 17.7 points and 4.4 assists during the 2022-23 campaign. He started 22 games in his final college season at Arkansas and averaged a career-low 6.5 points per game.
Davonte Davis (In transfer portal) GP: 30 | GS: 23 | PPG: 5.9 | RPG: 3.4
The former three-star prospect committed to Arkansas in the 2020 recruiting cycle and spent the last four seasons with the program. The highlight of his Arkansas career was a 25-point outburst in a win over Kansas in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Davenport spent the first four seasons of his college career at Cincinnati before transferring to Arkansas last offseason. He appeared in 31 games and averaged 5.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists.
Layden Blocker (In transfer portal) GP: 27 | GS: 5 | PPG: 3.7 | RPG: 1.6
The former four-star prospect from the 2023 recruiting cycle averaged 3.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists during his freshman season in Fayetteville. Blocker entered the transfer portal last month.
Lawson was a four-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle and had stops at Oregon and Memphis before spending his final college season with Arkansas. Lawson started 27 games and made 33 total appearances.
Joseph Pinion (In transfer portal) GP: 19 | GS: 1 | PPG: 2.4 | RPG: 0.6
Pinion entered the transfer portal after appearing in 19 games this past season with Arkansas. He made 26 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign.
Baye Fall (In transfer portal) GP: 9 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0.8 | RPG: 1.3
Fall entered the transfer portal after making nine appearances this past season. Fall was the No. 29 overall player in the 2023 recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
Denijay Harris (In transfer portal) GP: 11 | GS: 1 | PPG: 0.6 | RPG: 0.8
Harris entered the transfer portal after appearing in 11 games this past season. He spent the three years before that at Southern Miss.
Arkansas recruits no longer committed No. 45 Isaiah Elohim (Committed to USC) The former Arkansas signee requested a release from his National Letter of Intent shortly after Musselman took the job at USC. Elohim committed to USC on Monday.
No. 72 Jalen Shelley Like Elohim, Shelley de-committed from Arkansas shortly after the coaching change. Shelley committed to the Razorbacks out of high school over Louisville, Alabama, Creighton, Houston, and more. He is expected to have plenty of suitors for his services because he is one of the top uncommitted players on the board.
Arkansas’ incoming recruiting class Kentucky finished with a top-five recruiting class every cycle since 247Sports started tracking team rankings in 2010 under Calipari. The Wildcats landed the No. 1 recruiting class in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2023 under his watch. But in an era when age and experience rule the day in college basketball, relying so heavily on one-and-done prospects began to hurt Kentucky in recent seasons. Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting star-studded class ranked only behind Duke in the team rankings. Most of Calipari’s previous commits at Kentucky are expected to at least give Arkansas a look before deciding where they will play next season.
Here is a look at Arkansas’ roster and incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.
No. 20 Karter Knox (Previously committed to Kentucky) Knox committed to Kentucky on March 9 over Louisville, USF, and a return to Overtime Elite. He was the highest-ranked high school player on the board available after former Indiana signee Liam McNeeley requested a release from his NLI. Knox’s brother, Kobe, is a current player at USF. Former Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne, now on Calipari’s staff at Arkansas, helped recruit Kevin to Kentucky and attempted to recruit Karter to Louisville before his firing.
No. 22 Billy Richmond (Previously committed to Kentucky) Richmond committed to Kentucky on Dec. 21 over Alabama, LSU, and Memphis but decommitted on April 16. The Richmond family has deep ties to Calipari. Richmond’s father, who is also named Billy Richmond, played for Calipari at Memphis from 2002 to 2004. Richmond is considered an athletic lefty wing with the chance to make an immediate impact when he steps onto campus this fall at Arkansas.
No. 26 Boogie Fland (Previously committed to Kentucky) The McDonald’s All-American is one of the best combo guards in the country and ranked only behind Rutgers signee Dylan Harper for the top player at the position. Fland originally committed to Kentucky over Alabama, UConn, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and St. John’s. Fland followed Calipari to Arkansas and will play for the Razorbacks this season.
