The best of the College Basketball Transfer Portal

Who from the college basketball transfer portal could fill the scholarships left behind by David Johnson and Quinn Slazinski?

The tempestuous Louisville basketball offseason took another turn on Wednesday when sophomore Quinn Slazinski officially announced he planned to enter the college basketball transfer portal.

The loss of Slazinski means that Louisville will only have three rostered players next season that were on the team in 2019-20.

However, his departure means that the Cardinals have a second open scholarship available heading into the 2021-22 campaign.

How could Louisville use the final two scholarships? Let’s take a look at the top available transfers and who the Cardinals have a legitimate shot of landing.

Tier 1 –

1. Marcus Carr
2. Tre Mitchell
3. Bryce Thompson

• Louisville basketball is sorely hurting for “star power” right now in my opinion, but I don’t see them targeting anyone in tier 1. Marcus Carr is hands down the best player available. If he decides to stay out of the draft and Mack hasn’t filled one of the scholarships, then maybe you see Louisville express interest.

• Mitchell wouldn’t want to be a backup to Malik Williams, so he’s more than likely out of the picture. Thompson is very intriguing, considering is former five-star status. After an up-and-down year at Kansas, he’s likely looking for another blue blood to give him a fresh start. I’d lean towards Duke, Kentucky, or UNC prioritizing him.

Tier 2 –

1. Bryce Hamilton – UNLV
2. Shavir Wheeler – Georgia
3. Alterique Gilbert – Wichita State
4. Darryl Morsell – Maryland (also declared for NBA Draft)
5. Brandon Johnson – Minnesota

There are a lot of really good players available in tier 2 who could be good fits for Louisville.

• Hamilton is the most dangerous out of the group and could make an argument for being in tier 1. He averaged 18, 6, and 3 last season He scored in double figures on 20 occasions, including dropping 25+ three different times.

• Wheeler already has cut his list, but he’s still a very dangerous passer and pure point.

• Gilbert is a former highly-touted prospect who has had stints with UConn and Wichita State. He’s a redshirt senior who would bring a ton of veteran leadership and is more than comfortable playing on and off the ball. He dealt with a ton of injuries, but finally got healthy last year and balled out. He averaged 10, 3, and 4 (which doesn’t sound like much) but was instrumental in their near run to the NCAA Tournament. This is a player I think Louisville could realistically land but the question is, do they need another small guard?

• Morsell is another veteran who has his name in the portal. He’s also declared for the NBA Draft with the ability to come back. Morsell has played in a log-jammed backcourt for 4 years, so I see him wanting to play somewhere as the star. That wouldn’t be Louisville.

• Brandon Johnson is one of the best under-the-radar bigs in America in my opinion. He’s about as good of a rebounder as you can ask for and excels in all other “dirty-work” areas. He averaged 15 and 8 as a junior at Minnesota before seeing his stats drop as a senior. He’s in the NBA Draft and very well could stay there, but should Mack decides he needs more beef Johnson should be the call.

• Trending: Looking ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft

Tier 3 –

1. Te’Jon Lucas – Milwaukee
2. Rocket Watts – Michigan State
3. Aaron Cook – Gonzaga
4. Collin Smith – Central Florida
5. Steffon Mitchell – Boston College

• Lucas entered the portal this week and instantly became a top guard available. He’s averaged over 14 points a game the last two seasons, as well as 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The point guard spot is where he’d probably play the most minutes, although he can play off the ball. I’d be shocked if he didn’t end up at Illinois where he started his career.

• Watts was a name mentioned as a target for Louisville earlier this offseason before Mack looked elsewhere. Watts could be a nice piece for Louisville at the 2 spot, which is where he wants to play. Not sure Louisville would get back involved, but you never know. He’d be a big name player who could come in and play 20+ minutes a night.

• Aaron Cook was once-upon-a-time a low-major darling who transferred out for a chance at a bigger role. He ended up at Gonzaga (after playing at UNT) and nearly won a championship. His role likely wasn’t what he wanted, thus entering his name into the college basketball transfer portal. I wouldn’t be opposed to Mack targeting a veteran and battle-tested guard like Cook. He just went through the rigors of playing for an undefeated team who lost in the championship, so you know he’d be hungry. He’s a name I’d watch for.

• Collin Smith & Steffon Mitchell are both veteran, senior bigs who are looking to finish their careers on a high note. Smith sat out 2020 due to COVID, but averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game at UCF as a junior in 2019. At 6’11, 240-pounds he’s got good size. He’s a modern big who can run, stretch the floor to the mid-range, and also score around the rim. Mitchell doesn’t have nearly the athleticism of Smith, but he’s a guy who would also fit nicely at Louisville. He’s been putting up 7 and 12’s for nearly all of his career and with the right opportunity could be a really nice impact player.