Wrapping Up 2023: Top 5 Transfers That Defined NCAA Men’s Division

This year was an incredible journey for everyone in NCAA basketball. One thing that definitely got the coaches buzzing off in different directions was the transfers. While it is a good opportunity for the players to switch their teams and look for homes that bring out the best in them, it is a pain for the coaches. More so, this year, there were a whopping 1000 potential candidates in the NCAA transfer portal in the Division I men’s category.

As the year comes to a close, we can’t get over the many memorable moments on the college basketball court. Here are the five top transfers this year that have transformed their teams’ performance.

Top NCAA transfers of 2023

To begin with, one of the most headlined transfers was Harrison Ingram’s move from Stanford to North Carolina. The 21-year-old was one of the most promising prospects for Stanford as a freshman. He collected the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award following his 10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game average. Apparently, USC was looking for another frontcourt/wing scorer to complement Armando Bacot. On the fourth spot is the 2021 Lou Henson Award winner Max Abmas. The 6 ft shooting guard announced his commitment to Texas after spending four years at Oral Roberts. One of the main reasons why The Longhorns went for him was his exceptional scoring average of 20.8 per game. Moreover, he was the NCAA season-scoring leader in their 2021 campaign.

Making his way into the top three is the Canadian sensation Ryan Nembhard. He was an effective member of the Creighton Bluejays locker room for two years. The talented No.0 was named the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2021. However, in 2023 Gonzaga scouted him when they were searching for a point guard for another deep run. The Bulldogs now have a great chance to make an impact in the West Coast Conference.

These three are not the only transfers in the NCAA that have been a significant addition to their new homes. Let us check out the top two.

Ace Baldwin follows his coach from VCU to Penn State

One of the most talked points of this season’s NCAA was the trade-in of Ace Baldwin from VCU to Penn State. The 6 ft 1 inches point guard decided to enter the transfer portal immediately after the exit of VCU head coach Mike Rhoades. Following this, he decided to join Penn State as soon as Rhoades took over as their new boss. Baldwin flourished under the guidance of Mike Rhoades in the Atlantic 10 from 2020–2023. He got an honorable mention in the Second-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2022.

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2023 proved to be a breakout year for him. The 22-year-old maintained an impressive average of 12.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. As a result, he was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year along with being the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to this, Baldwin made it to the First-team All-Atlantic 10 of 2023.

Despite so many accolades, Ace Baldwin couldn’t become our No.1 pick in this transfer list. So who took the No. 1 spot?

The top of the table transfer

Saving the best for the last is Hunter Dickinson’s decision to make a switch to Kansas after being a prolific athlete at Michigan for almost 3 seasons. The 7 ft 2 in towering giant is one of the four Big Ten players in the last 25 seasons to have an average of 18 points and 9 rebounds per game along with grabbing twenty 3-pointers in a season. In his last NCAA season, Dickinson ended up scoring 286 points on his post-ups. As a result, he was ranked fourth nationally. Apparently, only Zach Edey and Drew Timme were ahead of him.

His fascinating move provides a much-needed boost to the Jayhawks. In his last season, Dickinson alone secured 287 post-ups. Meanwhile, Kansas as a team could only secure 108.  They had a dismal efficiency rate as only 3.8% of the Jayhawks’ possessions could lead to a successful post-up. As a result, they tied for 326th position. Dickinson further improves the squad’s offense. His versatility has allowed Bill Self to try different combinations to get the best out of his team.

Why was there hype behind Hunter Dickinson’s No.1 move from Michigan to the Jayhawks?

Hunter Dickinson’s great footwork and extraordinary hand-eye coordination are a nightmare for the opponents. Furthermore, his ability to make full use of both of his shoulders can make a mockery of even good defense. Considering his size, Dickinson is an exceptional and willing passer. Evidently, the No.1 center produced 73 assists in the 2021-22 which became the fifth-most by a player 7 feet or taller over the last quarter-century. Also, he also possesses the talent of sensing good reads which is an added advantage for the team.

These exciting transfers are so far proving to be productive additions to their new teams. However, it is still mid-season and these potential players can benefit their new teams even further. As we soon approach the business end of the tournament, it will be interesting to see which of these transfers has the most impact.

What do you think about these top contenders of transfers this year? Tell us in the comments below.

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