Transfer portal breakdown: 15 mid- and low-major transfers to watch as March approaches

As we creep ever closer to March, it’s just 20 days until “Selection Sunday” (March 12). And as the regular season winds down, the jockeying for NCAA tournament bids intensifies. To that end, here are 15 low- and mid-major transfers who need to continue to play big roles for their power conference teams down the stretch and into the conference tournaments.

We looked at key offseason transfers in the Power 5 leagues plus the AAC, Big East and Mountain West. No player who transferred from those leagues was considered. In addition, we only looked at players who transferred this past offseason. And there obviously are more than 15 transfers who need to play well.

The players are listed alphabetically by school.

Alabama G Mark Sears

Transfer from: Ohio U.
At stake: Potential overall No. 1 seed in NCAA tourney
The buzz: Mark Sears (6 feet 1, 185 pounds) played for two seasons at Ohio, and after being a part-time starter as a true freshman, he became a full-time starter last season. He was a first-team All-MAC guy in 2021-22, when he averaged 19.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals. Sears transferred “home” – he’s from Muscle Shoals, Ala. – in the offseason and has become a key player for the Tide. He’s second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), leads the Tide in steals and is third in assists.

Auburn C Johni Broome

Transfer from: Morehead State
At stake: Top-three finish in SEC
The buzz: Johni Broome (6-10, 235) started for two seasons at Morehead State and was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference performer each season. He was one of the hottest commodities available in the transfer portal. Broome leads the Tigers in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.9 rpg), and has been especially good offensively of late, averaging 17.1 ppg over the past nine games (with four double-doubles).

Connecticut G Tristen Newton

Transfer from: East Carolina
At stake: Top-five finish in the Big East
The buzz: Tristen Newton (6-5, 190) – a cousin of Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones – was a three-year starter at ECU, and was a second-team All-AAC guy last season. He has started every game for the Huskies and leads them in assists and steals. He definitely is a complementary scorer and has been erratic from 3-point range. But Newton has been excellent from the line and his height bothers opposing guards.

Creighton G Baylor Scheierman

Transfer from: South Dakota State
At stake: Big East title
The buzz: Baylor Scheierman (6-7, 205) was the Summit League player of the year last season, when he averaged 16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and shot 46.9 percent from 3-point range and 80.2 percent from the line. He is third on the Bluejays in scoring (12.9 ppg) and is shooting 83 percent from the line but just 36.9 percent from 3-point range. While his lack of quickness has hampered him in terms of getting his shot off in the Big East, he still leads Creighton in steals and rebounds (8.1 per game) and is second in assists.

Iowa State G Jaren Holmes

Transfer from: St. Bonaventure
At stake: Big 12 title
The buzz: Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger has used the transfer portal as well as any coach in the nation in the past two years, and Jaren Holmes (6-4, 210) is one example. Holmes (known as Jaren English until the 2020-21 season) was a three-year starter at St. Bonaventure after transferring in from junior college. His highest scoring average for the Bonnies was 13.8 in 2020-21, and he basically has equaled that this season (13.6) despite the step up in competition. Holmes leads the Cyclones in scoring and is second in assists. He’s also a solid defender and has been good from 3-point range (37.4 percent).

Maryland G Jahmir Young

Transfer from: Charlotte
At stake: Top-three finish in Big Ten
The buzz: Jahmir Young (6-1, 185) was a three-year starter at Charlotte who was a two-time first-team All-Conference USA selection. He averaged more than 18 points per game in each of his final two seasons with the 49ers. Young quickly adjusted to the Big Ten, becoming the Terps’ best player for new coach Kevin Williams. Young, who played at powerhouse DeMatha Catholic in the Baltimore suburbs, leads Maryland in scoring (16.3 ppg), assists and steals, and is third in rebounds. He has had eight 20-point games for the Terps.

Miami F Norchad Omier

Transfer from: Arkansas State
At stake: ACC title
The buzz: Norchad Omier (6-7, 248) certainly was not the most-hyped UM player out of the transfer portal; that would be G Nijel Pack, who transferred from Kansas State. But Omier has been vital for UM as its main big man. Omier was the Sun Belt freshman of the year in 2020-21, then averaged 17.9 points and 12.2 rebounds in earning overall conference player of the year honors in 2021-22. Despite the jump in competition, Omier has more than held his own . He is almost averaging a double-double (13.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and is shooting 60.6 percent from the field. Omier, the first Nicaraguan to earn a Division I basketball scholarship, has 11 double-doubles this season.

Missouri G D’Moi Hodge

Transfer from: Cleveland State
At stake: Top-four finish in SEC
The buzz: D’Moi Hodge (6-4, 188) started for two seasons at Cleveland State after transferring in from junior college. He was the Horizon League defensive player of the year last season, when he also led the Vikings in scoring. Hodge moved to Mizzou from Cleveland State along with coach Dennis Gates. Hodge quickly has become a vital player for the Tigers, as he leads the team (and the SEC) in steals, is second in scoring and third in rebounds.

NC State C D.J. Burns

Transfer from: Winthrop
At stake: Top-four finish in ACC
The buzz: NC State has been a surprise this season, and D.J. Burns (6-9, 275) has been a big reason. Burns, who began his career at Tennessee, was the Big South player of the year last season, when he averaged 15.0 points on 62.6 percent shooting. It took him a while to find his way in the Wolfpack offense, but once ACC play started, he developed consistency. He has scored in double figures in all but two of NCSU’s 17 conference games. Burns is one of four double-figure scorers for the Wolfpack and averages 12.5 points on 56.8 percent shooting. His rebounding has been better than expected (he’s averaging more per game in the ACC this season than he did in the Big South last season), and he’s been an especially good offensive rebounder.

Oklahoma State G John-Michael Wright

Transfer from: High Point
At stake: Top-four finish in Big 12
The buzz: John-Michael Wright (6-1, 190) was a three-year starter at High Point and a two-time All-Big South selection. He was a big scorer in each of his final two seasons with the Panthers. His scoring average has dropped more than 8 points per game this season, to 10.0, but he has started every game and is the Cowboys’ best 3-point shooter (38.3 percent). That’s notable because Oklahoma State struggles offensively. Wright also is a solid defender on a team known for its defense.

Pitt G Nelly Cummings

Transfer from: Colgate
At stake: ACC title
The buzz: Nelly Cummings (6-0, 185) began his career at Bowling Green in 2017-18, then moved on to Colgate. He was a three-year starter for the Red Raiders and was their leading scorer last season, when they reached the NCAA tournament (he had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in a narrow first-round loss to Wisconsin). Cummings was a first-team All-Patriot selection last season after being a second-team selection in 2020-21. He’s not a prolific scorer but still is one of four double-figure scorers for the Panthers. Cummings’ value comes in his ballhandling, passing and general overall steadiness. He also is hitting 91.7 percent of his free throws.

Rutgers G Cam Spencer

Transfer from: Loyola (Md.)
At stake: Top-three finish in Big Ten
The buzz: Cam Spencer (6-4, 207) was a first-team All-Patriot League pick last season for the Greyhounds and moved seamlessly into the starting lineup for the Scarlet Knights. He is second on the team in scoring and assists, and leads defense-minded Rutgers with 60 steals. He’s also shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range and 92.3 percent from the line.

San Diego State G Darrion Trammell

Transfer from: Seattle
At stake: Winning the Mountain West
The buzz: Darrion Trammell (5-10, 175) played for two seasons at Seattle after starting his career in junior college. He was a two-time first-team All-WAC selection and left Seattle 10^th in school history in scoring average (18.7). Trammell isn’t nearly the scorer he was at Seattle for the defense-minded Aztecs, but he has started every game and leads SDSU in assists and is second in steals. And while he averages just 9.8 points per game, he still is SDSU’s second-leading scorer. Trammell also leads the Aztecs in minutes played for a team that goes a legit nine-deep.

Texas G Sir’Jabari Rice

Transfer from: New Mexico State
At stake: Potential No. 1 seed
The buzz: Sir’Jabari Rice (6-4, 180) was one of the better players in the WAC in each of the past three seasons, and he has become Texas’ No. 2 scorer despite not starting a game. Price has turned it up the past month, with four 20-point outings (his first of the season) in the past seven games. He’s money from the line (86.0 percent) and a solid 3-point shooter.

Xavier G Souley Boum

Transfer from: UTEP
At stake: Big East title
The buzz: Souley Boum began his career at San Francisco, then became a three-year starter at UTEP. Boum (6-3, 175) averaged 19.9 ppg for the Miners last season, and the move up in competition hasn’t bothered his scoring ability. He has had 11 20-point outings and leads the Musketeers in scoring at 16.4 ppg. Boum also leads the team in assists and minutes, and is shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 41.6 percent from 3-point range and 88.1 percent from the line.