The 2026 Transfer Portal Just Opened and 800 Players Are Already on the Market

The 2026 college basketball transfer portal officially opened, and the floodgates came loose fast. On Monday it was just 160 players. By Tuesday? Over 800 names in the portal ready to find new homes. For weeks beforehand, roughly 1,000 players had already said they were coming, giving schools time to prep and agents time to game out the best landing spots. But here's the deadline that matters: April 21. That's it. The portal closes in 14 days, and no new names can enter after that. That said, players can still take visits and commit after it closes, and if there are coaching changes, there's a 30-day window that might extend things.

Flory Bidunga Is Going to Command Serious Attention

The Kansas center announced his transfer on Thursday, April 2, and yeah, he's the real deal. Schools have been circling for weeks now. Michigan, Louisville, Duke, St. John's, and BYU are all watching closely. He has Indiana ties from high school, but the Hoosiers aren't expected to land him. Auburn is back in the mix too, after nearly getting him when he hit the portal last year. Don't sleep on Louisville, Duke, St. John's, and Michigan either, they're going to be aggressive here. One note though: Texas Tech reports saying they're "well down the road" with Bidunga? Apparently that's overblown. They haven't even offered.

Other Elite Names Making Moves

Jackson Shelstad from Oregon is a top-tier guard prospect with serious playmaking and shooting skills. Louisville and Arizona are the two schools to watch with him. Arizona especially has need since Jaden Bradley is graduating, and this is shaping up as a Cardinals versus Wildcats battle.

Juke Harris out of Wake Forest was the ACC's Most Improved Player this season. He put up 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. At 6-foot-7, his size plus his scoring touch makes him one of the best on the market. Miami, Indiana, NC State, and Louisville are tracking him.

Markus Burton from Notre Dame only played eight games but averaged over 18 points and three assists. The Indiana native is expected to draw heavy interest from the Hoosiers, though Houston is now in serious contention too.

Finally, Paulius Murauskas from Saint Mary's is one of the best big men available. He averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and can score inside, finish in transition, and step out for threes.

14 days to lock in commitments. The dominos are about to fall fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.