The college basketball season begins Monday. And with the transfer portal in overdrive the the past few years no one will blame you for not knowing who is playing where these days.
Big Ten teams were certainly busy in the portal. To get you ready for the season we asked beat reporters from across the USA TODAY Network which transfers will have biggest impact in 2025-26. Here are there answers:
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Illinois: Andrej Stojakovic
The Cal transfer is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. The 6-7 wing and former McDonald’s All American is expected to be the offensive centerpiece for a rebuilt Illini team with newcomers in key spots. He suffered a knee injury this offseason, but appears he will be ready for the opener. — Wes Huett, Peoria Journal Star
Indiana: Lamar Wilkerson
Baylor Bears guard Tounde Yessoufou (24) defends Indiana Hoosiers guard Lamar Wilkerson (3) as he shoots the ball during an exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana defeated Baylor 76-74.
It’s a dead heat between Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries, the head coach’s son. We’ll give Wilkerson the nod here largely because of Tucker DeVries’ recent injury history. If the younger DeVries stays healthy across the course of the season, he’ll compete for this place. For now, we’ll go with Wilkerson, who might wind up the best pure shooter-scorer Indiana has had in years. His three-level ability matches the lethal range he developed at Sam Houston State. Darian DeVries’ ball screen-heavy, motion-based offense should free Wilkerson for a healthy shots number this winter. Expect him to feature prominently for Indiana this season. — Zach Osterman, IndyStar
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Iowa: Bennett Stirtz
Bennett Stirtz stands for a photo during Iowa Men’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye arena in Iowa City, Oct. 15, 2025.
Stirtz was last season’s Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and followed head coach Ben McCollum in the move to Iowa City. He enters the season considered among the best guards in the nation and is expected to be the centerpiece of the Hawkeyes. The lingering question is whether Stirtz’s prolific production at the mid-major level can translate to the Big Ten. — Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register
Maryland: Pharrel Payne
Take your pick. The Terrapins have an entirely new roster under first-year coach Buzz Williams. Of the 16 players, 15 are new. Former Indiana and Washington State point guard Myles Rice will likely steer the ship, but we’ll go with the anchor in the post. Payne comes to College Park with Peterson from College Station and averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Aggies last season. He’s also familiar with the Big Ten, having started his college career at Minnesota.
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Michigan: Morez Johnson Jr.
Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) dunks in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
There are a ton of potential stars on the Wolverines to pick from, but the dynamic big man who transferred in from Illinois could be the best of the bunch. A next-level athlete with above-the-rim skills, Johnson has spent the offseason expanding his game from rim-runner to difference maker. He is a defensive force, possibly the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounder in the league and don’t be surprised if and when he starts making shots from long range. He’s said to be one of the hardest workers in Ann Arbor and that will show sooner than later. — Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press
Michigan State: Trey Fort
Michigan State’s Trey Fort, right, moves the ball as Bowling Green’s Javon Ruffin defends during the second half on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
The well-traveled shooting guard is on his sixth different school in six years, with stops along the way at Tennessee-Martin, two different junior colleges, Mississippi State and last year Samford. Fort averaged 14.6 points for the Bulldogs in 2024-25 and shot 37.9% from 3-point range, a critical addition for a Spartans team that struggled to hit from deep last season and lost nearly 82% of its made 3s and nearly 83% of its attempts from behind the arc. The question is, though Fort possesses grown-man strength and size (along with age), can the 6-4, 200-pounder defend enough to log major minutes for the demanding Izzo? — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press
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Minnesota: Cade Tyson
A North Carolina native, Tyson’s lone season as a Tar Heel didn’t go as he had hoped. The 6-7 forward returned home after two standout seasons at Belmont (15 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 45% from 3 in 59 starts). At UNC last season, Tyson averaged under 8 minutes a game and 2.6 ppg and 1.1 rpg. He arrives at Minnesota as a key piece for Niko Medved to build on. So far so good. Tyson scored 29 points and six 3-pointers in an Oct. 16 exhibition vs. North Dakota State and scored 26 points in an exhibition against North Dakota, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc.
Nebraska: Ugnius Jarusevicius
A 6-10 forward from Lithuania, Jarusevicius was first-team All-MAC last season in his lone year at Central Michigan, averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds. He led the MAC in double-doubles (eight) and had two 30-10 games last season for the Chippewas after arriving from Cal State Bakersfield. “Ugnius’ skill set fits well with our five-out system, and we are pleased to add someone of his size and ability to space the floor,” Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg said after adding Jarusevicius from the portal.
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Northwestern: Jayden Reid
Northwestern went in search of backcourt help now that Brooks Barnhizer is in the NBA and Ty Berry and Jalen Leach are gone, too. Chris Collins pulled Reid out of the portal from South Florida, where Reid led the Bulls in points (12.6), assists (3.6) and steals (1.8). “Jayden is a talented veteran lead guard that can impact the game on both ends of the floor,” Wildcats coach Chris Collins said when Reid signed with Northwestern. “He plays with great toughness, competitiveness and a spirit which will fit in perfectly with the culture of our team.”
Ohio State: Christoph Tilly
Ohio State Buckeyes center Christoph Tilly (13) dribbles past Ohio Bobcats forward Javan Simmons (1) during the NCAA preseason exhibition game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Oct. 26, 2025. Ohio State won 103-74.
The addition of Tilly didn’t get the national buzz that some of the more heralded big man transfers generated, but the senior from Santa Clara is positioned to help remake an Ohio State offense that too often got stuck in the mud a season ago. Tilly can stretch the floor and is viewed as a linchpin to how the Buckeyes want to attack. There’s no one else on this roster like him. — Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch
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Oregon: Takai Simpkins
On a roster without much backcourt depth, senior guard Simpkins will have every opportunity to put up shots for the Ducks. Simpkins averaged 16.4 points and had eight 20-point games for Elon last season. — Chris Hansen, The Register Guard
Purdue: Oscar Cluff
Purdue Boilermakers center Oscar Cluff (45) practices Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.
Matt Painter somehow earned a reputation for shunning the transfer portal, in part because he chose not to add anyone prior to last season. However, he’s always been open to filling glaring needs via transfer. The Boilermakers absolutely needed more rebounding and depth at center, so they brought in Cluff, a double-double machine at South Dakota State last season. He and 7-4 Daniel Jacobsen allow returning leading scorer Trey Kaufman-Renn to slide back to his natural spot at the 4. — Nathan Baird, IndyStar
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Rutgers: Tariq Francis
Francis arrives via nearby NJIT. He led the America East in scoring last season (19.2 ppg) and had 14 games of 20+ points. He shot 84% from the free-throw line and has made a 3-pointer in 45 straight games. Rutgers lost two lottery picks (Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey) and will have plenty of shots available. Francis should man one of the guard sports, alongside Jamichael Davis.
UCLA: Donovan Dent
The 2025 Mountain West Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American at New Mexico, Dent led the MWC in scoring (20.4) and was second in assists (6.4). He was first player since Ja Morant in 2018-19 with at least 600 points and 200 assists in the regular season. He’ll get to the free-throw line plenty (his 227 attempts last season were No. 19 in the nation).
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USC: Chad Baker-Mazara
The Trojans have turned over most of their roster and landed some Final Four experience with the addition of Baker-Mazara from Auburn. The 26-year-old Baker-Mazara averaged 12.3 points and a team-high 1.2 steals per game last season while starting in 34 of Auburn’s 38 games. He was second on the team in scoring and earned third-team All-SEC honors.
Washington: Desmond Claude
Another take your pick. The Huskies only bring back two players from last season. A transfer from USC, Claude is already familiar with the Big Ten, finishing last season 12th in scoring in the conference (15.8 ppg). He led the Trojans in scoring and assists (4.2) assists and added 3.6 rebounds per game. Claude began his college career at Xavier, where he won Big East Most Improved Player as a sophomore.
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Wisconsin: Nick Boyd
Boyd arrived in Madison after one NCAA tournament appearance with San Diego State and two appearances with Florida Atlantic, which includes the Owls’ improbable 2023 Final Four run. Boyd has quickly impressed coaches and teammates with his speed and other traits. He joins John Blackwell and Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde in what could be a dangerous backcourt trio in 2025-26. — John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big 10 basketball 2025-26 impact transfers for each Big Ten team
