Transfer portal breakdown: 8 power conference transfers to watch as March approaches

It’s just 19 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 eight power conference transfers now in low- and mid-major leagues who need to continue to play big roles for their new teams down the stretch and into the conference tournaments.

We looked at key transfers from the Power 5 leagues as well as from the AAC, Big East and Mountain West. We only considered those who transferred this past offseason. And there obviously are more than these eight who need to play well for their new teams. We looked at low- and mid-major transfers who need to continue to come up big for their power conference teams Monday.

The players are listed alphabetically by school.

Cleveland State F Tristan Enaruna

Transfer from: Iowa State
At stake: Horizon League title
The buzz: Tristan Enaruna (6 feet 8, 220 pounds) was a starter on a Sweet 16 team last season, but entered the transfer portal for the second time. Enaruna played his first two seasons at Kansas before moving on to Iowa State before last season. He leads the Vikings – who trail Youngstown State by a game in the Horizon – in scoring (14.9 points per game) and rebounds (6.6 rebounds per game). Enaruna, a native of the Netherlands, has scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games after hitting double-digits just five times in the previous three seasons.

Indiana State G Courvoisier McCauley

Transfer from: DePaul
At stake: Missouri Valley Conference title
The buzz: Courvoisier McCauley (6-5, 211) was a reserve at DePaul the past two seasons after playing his first two years of college ball at Division II Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, Tenn. McCauley leads Indiana State, which trails co-leaders Bradley and Drake by a game in the MVC race, in scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg).  He has had nine 20-point games for the Sycamores, who have won seven in a row to put themselves in title contention.

Oral Roberts C Connor Vanover

Transfer from: Arkansas
At stake: Summit League title
The buzz: Connor Vanover (7-5, 227) has been a big addition for Oral Roberts, which is unbeaten in conference play and owns a four-game lead in the Summit race. Vanover began his college career at California, then spent the past two seasons with the Hogs. High-scoring G Max Abmas is Oral Roberts’ best player, but Vanover (12.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) gives the Eagles an inside presence on both ends. He has 95 blocks, which is second nationally. Vanover has had seven games with at least five blocks, including six against No. 15 Saint Mary’s. He also is third on the team with 119 3-point attempts. (An aside from his Oral Roberts bio: He has older twin brothers, one of whom – Jacob, who is 7-1 – played sax in the Alabama marching band.)

Saint Louis G Javon Pickett

Transfer from: Missouri
At stake: A-10 title
The buzz: Javon Pickett (6-5, 215) started for three seasons at Mizzou and was the Tigers’ second-leading scorer (11.1 ppg) last season. He entered the transfer portal after coach Cuonzo Martin was fired and ended up closer to home (he is from Belleville, Ill., right across the river from St. Louis). Pickett is one of four double-figure scorers for the Billikens (10.0 ppg), and is second on the team in assists and third in rebounds. He’s also shooting 80.6 from the foul line for SLU, which trails VCU by a game in the A-10.

Sam Houston State G Qua Grant

Transfer from: Wichita State
At stake: Western Athletic Conference title
The buzz: Qua Grant (6-1, 195) was a two-time Division II All-American at West Texas A&M before transferring to Wichita State after the 2020-21 season. He was a key reserve in his one season with the Shockers before entering the transfer portal again. Grant is the Bearkats’ leading scorer (13.4 ppg); he also leads in assists and steals and is second in rebounds. Sam Houston State has won 20 games for the sixth time in 10 seasons and is second in the WAC, behind Utah Valley.

Southern Miss G Austin Crowley

Transfer from: Ole Miss
At stake: Sun Belt Conference title
The buzz: Austin Crowley (6-5, 184) played in 89 games in three seasons at Ole Miss, starting 14 times. He led the Rebels in assists last season. Crowley hit the transfer portal after the season and now leads Southern Miss in scoring (16.6 ppg) and steals. He is third in assists and fourth in rebounds. Southern Miss leads the Sun Belt by a game thanks to Crowley, who has had 10 20-point games this season.

UT-Martin G Parker Stewart

Transfer from: Indiana
At stake: Ohio Valley Conference title
The buzz: Parker Stewart (6-5, 205) began his career at Pitt, starting as a true freshman for the Panthers in 20-17-18. He then transferred to UT-Martin to play for his dad, Anthony. After sitting out the 2018-19 as per NCAA rules in those pre-transfer portal days, Stewart averaged 19.6 points for the Skyhawks in the 2019-20 season. But Anthony Grant died suddenly at age 50 in November 2020 and Parker didn’t play that season. He transferred to Indiana after the 2020-21 season and was a starter for the Hoosiers last season, averaging 6.2 ppg and leading the team with 53 3-pointers. He transferred back to UT-Martin for his final season and has the Skyhawks in second place in the OVC, behind Morehead State. Stewart is averaging a team-leading 17.1 points and is shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range. He’s also second in steals and third in rebounds.

VCU F Brandon Johns

Transfer from: Michigan
At stake: Atlantic-10 title
The buzz: Brandon Johns (6-8, 240) started 25 times and played in 177 games in four seasons at Michigan. His season-high scoring average was 6.0 in 2019-20; this season, he’s second on the Rams in scoring at 12.0 ppg. He’s also second in rebounds and blocks, and gives VCU a physical inside presence.