NIL

The Top 10 Under

Published

4 months ago

September 1, 2025

As more than 2,000 players entered the men’s transfer portal this offseason, many of them cruised under the radar. More than 1,600 hoopers committed to new schools since the portal opened, presenting opportunities for surprise stars all across the country.

With the 2025-2026 season approaching rapidly, look no further than the partnership between The Portal Report and Hoops HQ for in-depth transfer portal coverage.

So, without further ado, here are 10 transfers being slept on headed into the 2025-26 men’s hoops season.

1. Brian Moore Jr., 6-foot-2 graduate senior guard, Grand Canyon (Norfolk State)

Moore arrived at Norfolk State following two seasons at Murray State, where he made 57 appearances but never averaged more than 9.2 points per game. Spartans head coach Rob Jones was able to unlock his talent, with Moore quickly filling into the program’s long coveted lead-guard role. Starting 35 games for Norfolk State, he averaged career highs of 18.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to help secure the 2024-25 MEAC Championship. Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew had to replace multiple graduating seniors this offseason amidst the program’s transition to the Mountain West Conference, and with all three of the Antelopes’ leading scorers gone, Moore will be asked to carry the offensive load as Drew and Co. look to return for a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Brian Moore Jr. is an elite guard and the offensive engine Grand Canyon needs headed into the 2025-26 season

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Robinson has had success at every level of college basketball. After dominating for two years at the JUCO level, he was selected to the 2023-24 All-AEC Third Team; this afforded him an opportunity at Mercer, where was once again incredibly productive, starting 33 games and leading the Bears in both points and assists with 16.9 and 5.0 per game, respectively. Because he’s undersized at 5-foot-10, Robinson’s abilities have always been undervalued, but it’s allowed UAB head coach Andy Kennedy to capitalize. In the same mold as Jordan “Jelly” Walker, Robinson already looks the part of Kennedy’s next lead scoring guard and should thrive in that role next season.

At South Suburban, a JUCO in northwest Illinois, Jones was selected as the 2023-24 NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year due to his outrageous scoring production. In 37 appearances, he managed 33.6 points per game, which caught the attention of Cal State Bakersfield’s Rod Barnes along with just about every other coach in the nation. With the Roadrunners, Jones maintained that offensive prowess and went on to earn 2024-25 Big West Newcomer of the Year while averaging 18.9 points per game on 48-percent shooting. With the Aggies departing all five senior starters and more, Jones will be heavily relied upon as the program’s primary offensive weapon in 2025-26.

Jemel Jones is a high-octane guard, whose prolific scoring earned him Big West Newcomer of the Year distinction last season

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Despite being unranked as a high-school prospect and receiving only five Division I offers, Jones committed to Cal Poly and surprised many as a freshman. As the Mustangs struggled to a winless season in the Big West, Jones was thrust into the lineup and started 31 out of 32 games while averaging 9.7 points per contest. With Cal Poly’s head coach relieved the following offseason, Jones entered the portal and joined Northern Illinois, where he improved his production to 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, which led the Huskies offense in both scoring and playmaking. Northern Illinois finished dead last in the MAC, however, which led Jones to enter the portal once again and commit to Josh Schertz’s program at Saint Louis. With seniors Isaiah Swope and Gibson Jimerson both out of eligibility, Jones once again finds himself in a situation where he’ll be a key part of the starting five thanks to his invaluable offensive consistency.

Despite tearing his labrum in late January and missing the remainder of the season, Taylor’s impact in just 20 games as a freshman for Central Arkansas was evident. He started all 20 of those games and led the team in scoring during that stretch with 17.4 points per night, which was enough to earn ASUN All-Freshman honors. Now fully healthy, Taylor is already showing flashes of that scoring and playmaking ability in some limited minutes during the Racers’ summer exhibitions.

Layne Taylor showed flashes of greatness last season, and promises to be an impact player with Murray State, should he remain healthy

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Reaves has been a dominant scorer at literally every stop of his college career. With Trinidad State, a JUCO in Colorado, he was selected as an All-American while averaging 23.5 points per game on 53/38/85 shooting splits. A move up to Northern Colorado saw much of the same, as Reaves scored 14.9 points per game and was selected as the Big Sky’s Sixth Man of the Year. He returned back to his native New York and joined Iona for the 2024-25 season and truly flourished with 17.3 points per contest, but with former head coach Tobin Anderson relieved, Reaves will once again transfer locally and now finds himself in the midst of a rebuild at Fordham. Under new Rams head coach Mike Magpayo, Reaves will be at the forefront as the lead veteran in a backcourt where he’ll likely have to carry the offensive load.

Johnson’s career began at the Division II level with Concordia-Texas, where he was selected as ASC Freshman of the Year for averaging 19.6 points per game. He then spent a season with one of the country’s premier JUCO programs, Southern Idaho, and led the Golden Eagles to a 23-9 record while contributing 14.9 points and 4.3 assists per contest. The Division I offers finally came pouring in as Johnson joined Tennessee Tech ahead of last season and went on to lead the program in scoring and assists with 14.3 and 4.8 per game, respectively. With two years of eligibility remaining, he’ll now head to the Big South as new Radford head coach Zach Chu looks to stake his claim with a rebuilt roster. If this staff is to help return the Highlanders to any postseason glory in the near future, it’ll start in the backcourt with the playmaking and scoring ability of Johnson.

Committing to join a rebuilding Iona program as a freshman afforded Aranguren some coveted playing time in his first year at the Division I level. In 21.8 minutes per game, he averaged a solid 8.1 points, including a 22-point effort to lead a win over Colgate. His improvement caught the attention of many and as he entered the transfer portal last offseason, Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton showed interest. Since taking over the Pride, Claxton has become known for his development of guard talent, so it was no surprise when Aranguren opted for the trip to Long Island. Though Hofstra struggled for stretches last season, Aranguren proved a capable do-it-all contributor by managing 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while starting 33 out of 33. Now he’s heading to George Washington, where head coach Chris Caputo is hoping his Revolutionaries can take the next step toward contention in the Atlantic 10. If they’re truly going to do so, Aranguren’s continued development will be critical.

Jean Aranguren has demonstrated consistent improvement as a guard and could be a versatile contributor for George Washington

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Mincey currently remains one of the few players across the country still in search of a hardship waiver from the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. Should he receive it, new Campbell head coach John Andrzejek could have one of the most talented offensive wings in the entire CAA. Mincey finally worked his way into the starting lineup for UMass-Lowell last season and averaged 16.8 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 39 percent from three. He was crowned Second Team All-America East in 2024-25 for his effort, and though his waiver seems a long shot at this point, his impact would be invaluable should he be deemed eligible.

Despite Dunn proving to be one of the premier playmaking and scoring guards in all of Canada’s USports league, his signing by Buffalo flew completely under the radar last offseason. In his lone campaign with the Bulls, Dunn averaged 12.4 points and a program-leading 5.3 assists per game. But with Buffalo struggling to a 9-22 record, Dunn entered the portal and his acquisition by UC San Diego is once again flying under the radar. Coming off an historic 30-win season under former coach Eric Olen, newly minted head coach Clint Allard takes the helm; no doubt he’ll lean on Dunn as the veteran playmaking point guard who can lead his offense.

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Miami WR Malachi Toney Announces Career News Amid College Football Season

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes defeated the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was a defensive battle, ultimately decided by a late fourth-quarter score and red-zone interception by Miami.

With the score tied at 3 and 1 minute, 44 seconds left in the game, Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Carson Beck.

Up next for the Hurricanes is a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic matchup against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s an uphill battle, as ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Hurricanes a 29.5% chance of winning.

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10).© Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Before his heroic performance, though, the wide receiver revealed an exciting Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) update. In a joint Instagram post, Toney revealed a new NIL partnership with Hellstar, a popular clothing brand that has a sports training component.

“We are so proud to announce our first Hellstar Sports College Athlete NIL signing – Malachi Toney🌟.,” the post caption read. “We had the privilege to coach @malitoney10 while he was apart of our high school 7 on 7 program, so now seeing him shine on the collegiate level we couldn’t be more proud.”

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What Colorado’s Athletic Department Valuation Says About Buffaloes’ Growth

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the growing landscape of college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals play a vital role in sports. Some programs are set up better than others based on a program’s valuation. Programs with higher valuations can help some of the top-performing teams stay successful.

CNBC released its valuation rankings for the country’s athletic departments, showing their growth from the 2024 fiscal year. The Colorado Buffaloes are ranked No. 47 in the nation, a rise from No. 55 in 2024.

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field — Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Breaking Down Colorado Buffaloes’ Valuation Ranking

Colorado’s 2025 valuation is $574 million, with a year-over-year value change of 22 percent. The program’s 2024 revenue is set at $147 million, with a 16 percent year-over-year revenue change.

A program’s valuation determines its monetary worth, and it is important to look at the growth, which shows that Colorado is trending in the right direction. It is also important to note that the valuation rankings are based on all of the athletics, not just the football program.

Where Colorado Ranks In The Big 12

When focusing on the Big 12 conference, several of the programs are in the same vicinity with their valuation ranking.

No. 39 Kansas: $620M
No. 41 Oklahoma State: $600M
No. 42 Baylor: $585M
No. 46 Iowa State: $575M
No. 47 Colorado: $574M
No. 49 Texas Tech: $570M
No. 50 TCU: $568M
No. 55 Arizona: $529M
No. 57 BYU: $500M
No. 58 West Virginia: $481M
No. 60 Utah: $451M
No. 62 Kansas State: $435M
No. 63 Arizona State: $430M
No. 68 Cincinnati: $280M
No. 70 UCF: $262M
No. 73 Houston: $222M

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

While from the top valuation of Kansas to the bottom, which is Houston is a significant difference in the Big 12, the conference teams are still in a similar vicinity overall. With it having to do with all athletics, the programs that have consistently strong teams, such as Kansas’ basketball team, make sense to have a higher valuation.

Looking at the Big 12 as a whole shows that the Colorado Buffaloes are in the top five for their valuation and trending upward.

Calling Back To Deion Sanders’ Comments On Fairness

While valuation is not the same as revenue, seeing the difference in the conferences does call back to Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ comments on the fairness between programs. The schools in the top five for their valuation are either in the Big Ten or the SEC, and all are in the billions.

“You talk about equality,” Sanders said during the Big 12 media day. “All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you understand darn near why they’re in the playoffs. It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving $25, $30 million to a darn freshman class.”

Although the valuation is on the programs’ overall athletics, Sanders has been outspoken about money when it comes to building the football program. With the Buffaloes facing a mass exodus through the transfer portal, Sanders has highlighted that several players are leaving because of money.

The positive side is that the Buffaloes’ valuation is growing with a 22 percent increase. This shows that the school’s athletics overall are being valued higher, and will help lead to more money poured into the program. With more money, the Buffaloes can put more of an emphasis on NIL as they look to build their roster and compete in the Big 12.

Insider Reveals Biggest Reason Behind Colorado’s Transfer Portal Mass Exodus

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

From a player retention standpoint, the first few weeks of the offseason haven’t been kind to the Colorado Buffaloes.

Several key Buffs have announced their intentions to enter the college football transfer portal when it opens next month, including wide receiver Omarion Miller, safety Tawfiq Byard and freshman defensive end Alexander McPherson. While every situation is unique, one Colorado insider believes money has been a common denominator among players’ reasons for leaving Boulder.

Insider Reasons Colorado Transfer Portal Exodus Buffaloes NIL Deion Sanders Alexander McPherson Tawfiq Byard Omarion Miller — Oct 25, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) is tackled by Utah Utes defensive back JC Hart (14) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

“The super majority of those people, I’m talking 95 percent, are going to be leaving for a bigger bag,” Thee Pregame Show’s Uncle Neely said on his YouTube channel. “This ain’t transferring in 1990. This ain’t transferring in the year 2000. This is 2025. This is business now. This isn’t, ‘Oh, I don’t like the coach. Oh, I don’t want to be treated the way they treat me.’

“This doesn’t mean something is wrong. These are business decisions now. But what we like to do is run with the narrative that woe is me, something must be wrong, something must be going on. How are all these people leaving?”

The NIL (name, image and likeness) era has rocked college football, and the depressing truth is that schools with more money will ultimately land the best players. In the Big 12, no school better exemplifies that trend than new conference champion Texas Tech.

Who’s Leaving Colorado?

As of Sunday, 16 Colorado players will enter the transfer portal next month. That group includes 12 defensive players, six members of the Buffs’ 2025 high school signing class and a few other Buffs who spent only one season in Boulder.

Below is an updated list of Colorado players who plan on entering the transfer portal:

Safety TJ Branch
Defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis
Cornerback Noah King
Cornerback Teon Parks
Linebacker Mantrez Walker
Safety Terrance Love
Safety Tawfiq Byard
Wide receiver Omarion Miller
Defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain
Offensive lineman Carde Smith
Defensive end Alexander McPherson
Offensive lineman Tyler Brown
Defensive tackle Gavriel Lightfoot
Defensive tackle Christian Hudson
Defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas
Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller

Uncle Neely shared his take that Colorado’s losses should be replaceable via the transfer portal.

“Have you ever stopped to say, what am I actually losing by those people leaving?” Uncle Neely said. “Have you ever looked at the numbers production-wise of who has announced that they’re getting up out of here and what you’re actually losing by them leaving?… Is it replaceable via the portal? And in this business in college football, is it replaceable cheaper? I would wager to say the answer is yes in all regards.”

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

The college football transfer portal will open on Jan. 2 and close Jan. 16. Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his staff can begin adding players from the portal at the start of that period.

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Report: LSU finalizes deal to hire Ole Miss’ Kevin Smith, puts him among highest paid RBs coaches

Published

7 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lane Kiffin is bringing another Ole Miss assistant with him to LSU. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Tigers have finalized a deal to hire Rebels running backs coach Kevin Smith for the same role.

Smith is reported to have a salary of close to $1 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid running backs coaches in the country. He is the sixth Ole Miss assistant to follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge.

The other coaches joining Kiffin at LSU are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach Joe Cox, receivers coach Joe McDonald, inside receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens. So far no defensive assistants from the Rebels have made the jump to Baton Rouge.

Smith worked with Kiffin as a running backs coach at Florida Atlantic form 2017-19 and joined his very first staff at Ole Miss in 2020. He stayed for the next two seasons in Oxford before leaving to take the running backs coach position at Miami in 2022.

Smith’s stint with the Hurricanes was a short-lived one as he returned to Ole Miss in 2023 and stayed through this season. Now he’ll look to continue the success he has enjoyed with Kiffin while building up the running backs room at LSU.

Smith helped to develop running backs such as Quinshon Judkins and Kewan Lacy during his time in Oxford. This past season, Ole Miss ranked fifth in the SEC with 185.6 rushing yards per game as Lacy led the conference with 21 rushing touchdowns and ranked second with 1,366 yards.

Ole Miss had its best season in program history this year to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. However, Kiffin was not granted permission from the school to finish out the season with the Rebels after he accepted the LSU job.

Other assistants, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., were allowed to complete the playoff run with Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated Tulane in the first round and will face No. 3 Georgia, which they lost to earlier this season, in the quarterfinals.

As of right now, it looks like most of the Ole Miss offensive staff will follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge. The defensive side keep defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who has been on staff at LSU since 2024.

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Former 4-star QB announces plans to enter college football transfer portal

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The quarterback market is expected to be extremely competitive this offseason.

A ton of experienced signal-callers have announced their decisions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, including Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, and TCU’s Josh Hoover, among countless others.

The right move can benefit young quarterbacks, as players such as USC’s Jayden Maiava and Oregon’s Dante Moore benefited from transferring early in their careers.

An offseason coaching change has led one former blue-chip recruit to explore his options in the portal.

Former Four-Star Quarterback Expected To Enter Portal

On Sunday, Memphis true freshman quarterback Antwann “AJ” Hill announced his plans to leave the program after one season, per On3.

Hill appeared in two games in 2025, earning a redshirt. His most extensive action came in a 31-24 loss to UAB on October 18. Hill entered the contest after starting quarterback Brendon Lewis went down with an injury. In roughly two quarters of action, he completed 13/25 passes for 176 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

On the season, Hill connected on 19/32 passes for 223 yards with 1 touchdown to 1 interception.

Hill is transferring after Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield was hired away by Arkansas. The Razorbacks don’t have a ton of depth at quarterback. Redshirt freshman KJ Jackson holds the most experience on the roster with five appearances and one start last season.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Arkansas is involved in Hill’s transfer recruitment.

Hill was one of the highest-ranked prospects in program history to sign with Memphis. He was regarded as the No. 15 QB and a top-200 recruit in the 2025 class. Hill chose the Tigers over Florida following official visits to both schools.

During his prep career at Houston County High School, Hill compiled over 11,000 passing yards and led his team to at least one playoff victory in all three seasons as a starter.

Overall, Hill completed 800-of-1239 passes for 11,020 yards with 123 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. He added six more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback is expected to have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Former Carolina wide receiver set for WWE main roster debut

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Former South Carolina wide receiver Matrick Belton is reportedly going to get a real shot on the main roster in the WWE. Belton, who goes by Trick Williams in the top professional wrestling and sports entertainment company, joined WWE in 2021 in the NXT brand. Now, he’s going to move up to either the Raw or Smackdown roster.

NXT is basically the developmental arm of WWE while Raw and Smackdown – shows on Mondays and Fridays, respectively – are considered the main roster. According to this report from PWInsider.com, Belton will make an appearance on the upcoming Smackdown, which was pre-taped.

Whether Belton moves to Raw or Smackdown is to be determined. Here’s the reporting from PWInsider:

Former WWE NXT and TNA Champion Trick Williams will debut on Smackdown on 12/26 with the storyline being he’s a free agent looking to sign with the brand. We are told Williams has not been officially listed internally on a brand yet, so he could appear on Raw in the upcoming weeks as well, but he’ll be moving to the main roster in 2026.

Belton is a two-time NXT champion and also held the TNA World Championship for 140 days earlier this year. Belton, a former SEC football player who was in the Philadelphia Eagles’ minicamp in 2018, recently got engaged to another former SEC athlete – women’s basketball player Anriel Howard, who played for three years at Texas A&M and her final year at Mississippi State.

Belton, a Columbia native who played for Keenan High School, joined the program in 2014 after spending his first two years out of high school at Hampton University. After sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules, Belton played in every game for South Carolina in 2015 and made five starts. He caught 11 passes for 121 yards his first season on the field.

As a senior in 2016, he played primarily on special teams, appearing in nine games. He played in 21 games over the course of his two-year career with the Gamecocks and made five starts.

Belton also spent time in training camp with Philadelphia Eagles. However, he decided to take a chance on pro wrestling and started training at the Combat Zone Wrestling Academy in New Jersey.

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