Three of the top 20 selections in the 2024 NBA Draft were players who transferred in 2023 to new college basketball programs and thrived. Kel'El Ware, Dalton Knecht and Jaylon Tyson each parlayed the success they found after hitting the portal to solidify themselves as professional prospects and show how an extra year of seasoning in the right system can do wonders for some college players.

Ware went from Oregon to Indiana, earned all-conference honors and wound up with the Miami Heat as the No. 15 pick. Knecht transferred from Northern Colorado to Tennessee, turned in an All-American campaign and was taken No. 17 by the Los Angeles Lakers. Tyson transferred from Texas Tech to Cal, where he shined before the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him No. 20 overall.The trio stand out as prime examples of the potential benefits available to players in the mass-transfer era. Instead of being forced to sit out a season after transferring or to remain in a program where their development may have been stunted, all three found quick success in new systems that benefited their careers.

Aaron Bradshaw, Kel'El Ware, Rylan Griffen, Mark Mitchell, and AJ Storr are just a few of the transfers from the 2024 cycle that are expected to be first-round picks in 2025. Bradshaw, a 7-foot-2 center from Ohio State (formerly from Kentucky), and Griffen, a 6-6 shooter from Kansas (formerly from Alabama), are touted to make significant impacts. Mitchell, a big wing or stretch four from Missouri (formerly from Duke), is primed for a breakout season. Storr, a 6-6 wing from Kansas (formerly from Wisconsin), has already showcased his talent and is poised to soar higher this season.

Whoever ends up being picked in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft from these transfers showcase the potential for growth and success when players find the right fit in new programs.