This article is part of our Draft Kit series.
The college basketball transfer market is one of the few things keeping the news cycle hot these days, so let's take an early look at some players who have changed scenery and could become fantasy relevant in 2020-21. We'll stick to players who are a) likely to be eligible in the upcoming season and b) are transferring into a "power" conference.
Seth Towns, F, Ohio State
Towns was the offseason's most coveted transfer despite an extensive injury history. He last played in 2017-18 for Harvard and was named Ivy League Player of the Year. With Kaleb Wesson departing for the NBA (and hiring an agent) and his brother Andre graduating, there's an immediate starting spot available for Towns. It's one of the toughest leagues for big men, but the usage projection and overall skill set appear to be a recipe for success.
Bryce Aiken, G, Seton Hall
Aiken also hails from Harvard, and like Towns, has frequently been bitten by the injury bug. He also has a 2018-19 season under his belt in which he averaged 22.2 PPG in 18 games. The Pirates need scoring with Myles Powell (21.0 ppg) gone, and with point guard Quincy McKnight lost to graduation as well, there's a massive backcourt vacancy.
Jordan Bruner, F, Alabama
Sticking in the Ivy League, Bruner had Yale in the NCAA Tournament before it was ultimately canceled. At 6-foot-9, Bruner played mostly power forward last year, but he'll be the perfect five in Nate Oats' fast-paced motion offense. The tempo boost alone should keep his counting stats (10.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg) relatively similar.
Cartier Diarra, G, Virginia Tech
Diarra could very well be the most impactful transfer on this list, but he's getting his draft stock evaluated first. He'd be the favorite to lead the Hokies in scoring in 2020-21 if he returns, especially considering Landers Nolley is now in the transfer portal.
Carlik Jones, G, Louisville
A 20.0 PPG scorer for Radford, Jones will give the Cardinals a more traditional point guard option beyond David Johnson. At the very least, he'll see the minutes of the now-departed LaMarr Kimble, another graduate transfer. Darius Perry is exploring the transfer portal as well, which might leave the door wide open, especially in a weaker recruiting class.
Mike Smith, G, Michigan
Another 20-plus PPG scorer, Smith manned the point guard spot for a brutal Columbia team last season. With Zavier Simpson out of the picture, Smith will get a chance to compete for a similar role at Michigan but is a bit undersized at 5-11. He also benefits from David DeJulius entering the transfer portal.
E.J. Anosike, F, Tennessee
Tennessee has a guard-heavy roster, but Anosike should be able to jump right in and complement John Fulkerson in the frontcourt. The Vols do have three recruits in ESPN's top-100, but only the lowest-ranked one is a forward. Anosike won't be a nightly double-double threat in the SEC like he was at Sacred Heart, but he should still be good for plenty of scoring and rebounding.
Jalen Harris, G, Georgetown
Harris essentially takes on the role of Terrell Brown, but his fantasy value could rise even further if Mac McClung elects to remain in the NBA Draft pool.
Alterique Gilbert, G, Wichita St.
Gilbert started 51 games for UConn before leaving for his final year of eligibility. He should immediately become the Shockers' starting point guard, a position that had little consistency in 2019-20. The only negative is that this team typically runs a deep rotation.
Davion Mintz, G, Kentucky
Kentucky likely is losing its entire backcourt, but as is typical, Big Blue will bring in five recruits in ESPN's top 50. Mintz brings experience to the bunch, but the minutes won't come nearly as easily as they did at Creighton. If Devin Askew doesn't win the starting PG job, however, Mintz could be a candidate to rack up assists early.
Vance Jackson, F, Arkansas / Jalen Tate, F, Arkansas
Arkansas was a team that struggled with the frontcourt spots last season, but coach Eric Musselman will look to bring in some consistency via the transfer market. Jackson profiles as the better fantasy option having played for both New Mexico and UConn, plus has the size advantage at 6-9. Tate profiles as more of a depth option. Both could benefit if Mason Jones stays in the NBA draft.
Patrick Tape, F, Duke
Tape committed, de-committed and then committed again, but he's now officially a Blue Devil. Duke brings in six recruits from ESPN's top 50, however, which includes two listed at PF and one at C. The minutes will be tough to come by.
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Jeriah Horne, F, Colorado
Horne should step in and get the minutes left behind by Tyler Bey, who officially declared for the NBA Draft. He's not the same rebounder Bey was, but the Pac-12 isn't too far off from the American in terms of talent from top to bottom, so Horne's 11.1 points and 5.2 boards with Tulane last year could be sustainable.
Terrell Brown, G, Arizona
Brown was a 20-plus PPG scorer for Seattle last season, but will share the rock with the likes of James Akinjo and Brandon Williams in 2020-21. The recruiting class is underwhelming, so he'll have a shot at earning a starting job.
Ian DuBose, F, Wake Forest
A major all-around producer for Houston Baptist, DuBose draws a much more difficult conference, but the door is open to carve out a starting role with Brandon Childress and Andrien White both gone.
Chevez Goodwin, F, USC / Isaiah White, F, USC
The Trojans lose Nick Rakocevic to graduation and Onyeka Okongwu to the NBA draft, so this pair of forwards will help out the frontcourt depth. There may not be a ton of minutes to go around, however, as USC will retain Isaiah Mobley and bring in his younger brother Evan, who happens to be ESPN's No. 2 overall recruit in the 2020 class. Both Goodwin and White played most of their minutes at center with their former teams.
Kevin Marfo, F, Texas A&M
Marfo led the entire NCAA in rebounding last season at 13.3 per game with Qunnipiac. That mark will almost certainly decline, but the starting center grab is still up for grabs after the graduation of Josh Nebo.
Brandon Johnson, F, Minnesota / Liam Robbins, C, Minnesota
The Gophers are re-tooling their frontcourt after the loss of Daniel Oturu, and both Johnson and Robbins should see minutes right away. Johnson is eligible immediately as a grad transfer after averaging 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds for Western Michigan, while Robbins is in the process of filing a waiver for immediate eligibility.
Aaron Cook, G, Gonzaga
Gonzaga and other WCC teams might not be included in traditional fantasy formats, but Cook gets a nod with coach Mark Few one of the best there is at getting the most out of the transfer market. Ryan Woolridge and Admon Gilder — two former grad transfers themselves — have since departed, leaving a big hole to fill in the backcourt.
Purdue's Matt Haarms will be the final domino to fall, and could easily top this list depending on his final landing spot. He lost playing time to Trevion Williams and battled injury last season, but at 7-3, the senior can be a force on both ends of the floor.
Honorable Mentions
Dimencio Vaughn, F, Ole Miss
Amauri Hardy, G, Oregon
Charles Minlend, G, Louisville
Tahj Eaddy, G, USC
Ferron Flavors, G, Oklahoma State
Nate Johnson, G, Xavier
Rich Kelly, G, Boston College
Frederick Scott, F, Boston College
Don't forget about these key players who sat out last season after transferring, but will now be eligible at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign.
Justice Sueing, F, Ohio State
The Cal product should immediately start at one of the wings, especially with both Wesson brothers gone from the program. He'll go from being the best player on a horrendous team to one of the better players on an average team.
Sam Hauser, F, Virginia
Hauser decided he no longer wished to co-exist with a ball-dominant Markus Howard at Marquette, so opted to play his final year of eligibility elsewhere. With another year on the sidelines to develop his game, he has a chance to lead Virginia in both scoring and rebounding.
Joey Hauser, F, Michigan State
Brother of Sam (above), Joey has a tougher path to playing time with five Spartans seeing regular minutes at power forward in 2019-20. His case would be helped if Xavier Tillman elects to stay in the NBA draft.
Jahvon Quinerly, G, Alabama
A former top Villanova recruit, Quinerly gets a year on the sidelines to hone his skills, along with a major tempo boost on offense.
Cormac Ryan, G, Notre Dame
Ryan saw inconsistent playing time at Stanford, but projects to replace Temple Gibbs in the Notre Dame backcourt this year, presumably starting alongside Prentiss Hubb.
Nysier Brooks, C, Miami
Brooks got significant run and consistent production with Cincinnati, and now gets to try his hand at a Power-5 school. He likely will start at power forward with Keith Stone gone but could see minutes at center in smaller lineups as well.
Lastly, here are some players who likely won't be eligible until 2021-22, UNLESS the NCAA approves a rule to grant a one-time waiver to all non-graduate transfers. Should that happen and take effect this season, the following players would be back on the radar, ranked loosely in terms of how much fantasy production I expect each to contribute:
Trey McGowens, G, Nebraska
Fred Hoiberg has been known for aggressively playing the transfer market since his days at Iowa State, and he lives up to that reputation here by bringing in one of the best available assets. McGowens was a double-digit scorer both season at Pittsburgh, averaging 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals a season ago. He'll be the favorite to take over at shooting guard when eligible.
Johnny Juzang, G, UCLA
A four-star recruit in a loaded class, Juzang never got into a rhythm at Kentucky, but can provide immediate three-point shooting for the Bruins once eligible.
Alex O'Connell, G, Creighton
Competed with a constant influx of five-star recruits to hold down backcourt minutes at Duke, but there's a clearer path to playing time with the Blue Jays. Ty-Shon Alexander's presumed early departure only helps.
Erik Stevenson, G, Washington
Washington has a young backcourt, so look for Stevenson to carve out a role when eligible. He had comparable numbers to McGowens above, but put up those stats in the AAC, not the ACC.
On the Radar
Kobe King, G, Nebraska Tyrese Martin, F, Connecticut
Jairus Hamilton, G, Maryland
Alan Griffin, G, Syracuse
Ed Croswell, F, Providence
Joshua Morgan, F/C, USC Jimmy Sotos, G, Ohio State
