There were over 2,000 players who entered their names in the NCAA Division I transfer portal this spring. And for the first time in history, more than half of the points scored in college basketball last season were from players from the transfer portal.
So the need for portal impact never has been greater.
The dizzying pace of the transfer portal includes dozens of former players from the Chicago area and throughout the state. Here are some familiar names from their high school days — the best of the best — including where they’ve been and where they are headed for the 2025-26 season.
Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick
Where he has been: Following a brief and uneventful stop at Kentucky, Hopkins emerged as a star at Providence. While injuries have hampered his career, the 6-6 former two-time all-stater remains a major, ultra-productive weapon at the college level when healthy.
Where he’s headed: Hopkins will stay in the Big East for his final season. He will play for Rick Pitino and a loaded St. John’s team which should be among the nation’s best.
Morez Johnson, Thornton
Where he has been: The former Sun-Times Player of the Year and top-ranked prospect in Illinois in the Class of 2024 spent just one year at Illinois. He made an impact as one of the top freshmen in the Big Ten,
averaging seven points and 6.7 rebounds while playing 18 minutes a game.
Where he’s headed: The powerful 6-9 big man will stay in the Big Ten as part of a Michigan portal class that is among the best in the country.
Owen Freeman, Moline
Where he has been: While at Iowa he averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman. He followed it up last year with 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, though a finger injury in late January proved to be season-ending
Where he’s headed: As a legit 6-10 big man and former Big Ten Freshman of the Year two seasons ago, Freeman was one of the most coveted portal players in the country. He’s headed to Creighton where he will have two more years to play.
Rashaun Agee, Bogan
Where he has been: The veteran big man will be at his fifth school in six years this coming season. The most recent stop was at USC, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
Where he’s headed: Agee makes the move from the Big Ten to the SEC as he will finish up his career at Texas A&M. He will be one of eight new transfer-portal additions for first-year coach Bucky McMillan.
Brock Harding, Moline
Where he has been: After leading Moline to a state championship in 2023, Harding spent the last two seasons at Iowa. He started 24 games, playing 25 minutes a game, and averaged 8.8 points and 5.3 assists this past season.
Where he’s headed: TCU and coach Jamie Dixon landed the true point guard who will have two years to play in the Big 12.
Bobby Durkin, Glenbard West
Where he has been: After averaging 8.5 points as a freshman at Davidson, Durkin upped that number to 13.5 points as a sophomore and chipped in 5.9 rebounds. He continued his elite shooting with 91 three-pointers on the year.
Where he’s headed: Durkin had Ohio State and Louisville heavily involved but decided on Minnesota, joining first-year head coach Niko Medved.
Sam Lewis, Simeon
Where he has been: The athletic 6-5 wing enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign this past season at Toledo, putting up 16.2 points a game while shooting 44% from three. He was an All-MAC second team selection.
Where he’s headed: Lewis was the first portal recruit for first-year coach Ryan Odom of Virginia.
Xavier Amos, Young
Where he has been: The 6-8 forward had a low-key freshman season at Northern Illinois two years ago. But he broke through as a sophomore, averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. Then he transferred to Wisconsin where he spent his junior campaign playing a minimal role off the bench.
Where he’s headed: Amos is heading home, committing to Loyola and coach Drew Valentine for his senior season.
Bryce Heard, Homewood-Flossmoor
Where he has been: After leading H-F to a state championship in 2024 as a junior, Heard reclassified and headed to North Carolina State. He played very little as a freshman before coach Kevin Keatts was fired this spring.
Where he’s headed: With three years still to play, Heard will look to make an impact for coach Anthony Grant at Dayton.
Quentin Jones, Marian Catholic
Where he has been: One of the real sleepers in the Class of 2023. All Jones has done in two years of college is produce — first at Cal-Poly (9.7 poings, 4.4 rebounds as a freshman) and then at Northern Illinois (16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds as a sophomore).
Where he’s headed: With Saint Louis
in the Atlantic 10 as his next stop, Jones keeps taking a step up each year he plays in college.
Dai Dai Ames, Kenwood
Where he has been: The 6-2 scoring guard started at Kansas State, followed by a sophomore season at Virginia where he averaged 8.7 points a regular starter.
Where he’s headed: Cal will be his third stop in three years for Ames.
Others: Jurell Baldwin, Hyde Park (Missouri State to Arkansas State); Isaiah Barnes, Simeon (Tulsa to Valparaiso); AJ Casey, Simeon (Saint Louis to Evansville); Gianni Cobb, H-F (Columbia to NIU); Tyler Cochran, Bolingbrook (Minnesota to Rhode Island); Mekhi Cooper, Bolingbrook (Miami-Ohio to Lindenwood); Brayden Fagbemi, Benet (Central Arkansas to UC-Davis); Louis Lesmond, Notre Dame (Harvard to Fordham); Mekhi Lowery, Oswego East (Towson to UIC); Chris Riddle, Kenwood (DePaul to Toledo); Jaden Smith, Kenwood (Fordham to St. Joseph); and Asa Thomas, Lake Forest (Clemson to Furman).
