By Tristan Freeman
Whether you like it or not, the transfer portal is here to stay in college basketball. But depending on which conference you root for that same portal could be more of a negative than a positive. That’s especially true for the Horizon League, who lost its top nine scorers from this past season to either the portal or simply running out of eligibility.
Stars such as BJ Freeman (Arizona State), Noah Reynolds (TCU), Marques Warrick (Missouri), and reigning POY forward Trey Townsend (Arizona) are off to the power conference, leaving their respective former teams having to rebuild. Still, despite the massive player and now-coaching turnover throughout the conference, the Horizon League has still been landing talent, through a variety of pipelines.
This piece focuses on the best incoming transfers (non-freshman) for the 11 teams next season. Between the JUCO, D1I, NAIA, and even Canadian routes, here are the top 25 newcomers to watch in the Horizon League.
Honorable Mentions include Jarvis Walker (IU-Indy), Legend Geeter (Detroit Mercy), De’Vion Lavergne (Purdue-Fort Wayne), and Alex Millender (IU-Indy), Jack Doumbia (Wright State), and Ebenezer Ogoh (IU-Indy)
25. Deng Majak – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Indian River State College): 13.4 ppg and 9.0 rpg
The 6-11 forward shot 55% from the field last season and showed some spacing ability from the three-point line. Majak had 10 games of at least 18 points, including 24 versus Southwestern State. He’s certainly not the kind of potent offensive player that Trey Townsend was at Oakland but Majak has the chance to be a key contributor inside as his replacement.
24. Cris Carroll – Youngstown State Penguins
2023-24 season stats (at Coffeyville): 18.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg
Carroll is a 6-6 versatile guard/forward who shot 36% from deep and is a solid facilitator (2.2 apg) as well. He had 12 games of at least 20 points, including a 33-point effort against Dodge City. The Penguins are rebuilding its entire roster and are hoping for a few new double-digit contributors. Carroll could be the natural replacement for Ziggy Reid, a 6-6 guard/forward who led them in scoring this past season.
23. Isaiah Miranda – Green Bay Phoenix
2023-24 stats (at Oklahoma State): 2.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg (3 games)
Miranda is a former top-40 prospect in the 2022 class who originally committed to NC State. But he’s played just three games total in the last two seasons. Still, he has the measurables and natural talent to be a possible star in the Horizon League and joins a rebuilt Green Bay roster that has lacked any size in the past few years. He’s the kind of lottery ticket Coach Doug Gottlieb should take on, with little risk and high reward.
22. Malcolm Christie – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Dalhousie): 22.1 ppg and 3.0 rpg
The 6-5 guard was one of the top Canadian players last season, earning the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) MVP. Christie shot 36% from deep and made a league-record 79 three-pointers, as well as a program-record 51 points. Christie has one year left of eligibility and Oakland, who won’t have Jack Gohlke and Blake Lampman around, is looking for him to be a key double-digit scorer who can light it up from deep.
21. Allen David Mukeba – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at UMKC): 7.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg
The 6-7 forward saw his minutes and production dip compared to the year prior, where he averaged 9.4 ppg and 7.5 rpg in 28 mpg as a starter. Mukeba is a physical frontcourt player who can rebound at a high level. He’ll be part of Oakland’s brand-new frontcourt and very well could lead the team in rebounding.
20. Jason Nelson – Youngstown State Penguins
2023-24 season stats (at VCU): 4.9 ppg and 1.7 apg
As a freshman at Richmond, Nelson averaged 8.0 ppg and 2.0 apg on 36% shooting from the field in 26 starts. He transferred to fellow A-10 team VCU, where he had limited production in a more crowded backcourt. With Brett Thompson and Bryson Langdon gone, Nelson will be the projected new PG for the Penguins and its completely revamped roster.
19. John Lovelace, Jr. – Milwaukee Panthers
2023-24 season stats (at Youngstown State): 6.6 ppg and 2.8 rpg
The 6-7 guard/wing is a former all-freshman player in the Horizon League, having spent two years at Youngstown State. Lovelace shot 46% from the field as a sophomore this past season, including a few big scoring outings. One was a 23-point and 8-rebound effort in a win over Cleveland State. The hope for Milwaukee is that Lovelace could be a breakout star in the HL this season with a larger role.
18. Kam Woods – Robert Morris Colonials
2023-24 season stats (at NC State): 1.2 ppg and 0.8 rpg
Due to transfer eligibility issues, Woods didn’t get a fair shake at NC State last season. But in the year prior at North Carolina A&T, the 6-2 guard averaged 17.3 ppg and 3.3 apg on 34% shooting from deep on seven attempts a game. The former All-CAA guard gives RMU it’s likely starting point guard to run the offense, paired with Justice Williams in the new-look backcourt.
17. Ebrima Dibba – Cleveland State Vikings
Season stats (at South Carolina in 2021-22): 8.1 ppg and 5.4 apg
Injuries have limited the all-around guard to just six games in two years at South Carolina. Still, in the three previous seasons at Coastal Carolina, the 6-6 playmaker averaged around 10 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 5.2 apg. He’s been close to multiple triple-doubles before and if healthy, should be able to be a lead guard for the Vikings.
16. Ty Harper – Youngstown State Penguins
2023-24 season stats (at The Master’s University): 21.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg
Harper was a second-team All-American at the NAIA level, including a 43-point effort this past season. The 6-3 guard previously played at Louisiana and Eastern Washington (3.4 ppg career average at the D1 level) and at one point was a four-star prospect out of high school. The hopeful comparison for Youngstown State is that Harper is a natural replacement for Brandon Rush, a double-digit starter for them in the past two seasons.
15. Josh Omojafo – Robert Morris Colonials
2023-24 season stats (at Gannon University): 20.0 ppg and 2.8 rpg
The 6-5 guard was part of an incredible turnaround for the D2 program, going from three wins the year prior to a 32-3 record and an Elite 8 run in the postseason. Omojafo led the team in scoring and shot 48% from the field and had four games of 30+ points. RMU lost a ton of production in the backcourt outside of Justice Williams, including Josh Corbin. He might not be the same kind of shooter, but Omojafo should give the Colonials a needed scorer who can create his own offense.
14. Jaylen Jones – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Tennessee State): 9.2 ppg and 2.7 apg
The 6-1 guard had a strong freshman campaign coming off the bench for Tennessee State, shooting 41% from the field and 37% from deep. Some of Jones’ top games include 18 points against Mercer and 10 versus Oregon. Depending on how some of the non-DI transfers work out for Oakland, Jones could either remain as a good 6th Man option of start for them, having three years to develop for coach Greg Kampe.
13. Jack Hoth – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Western Oklahoma State College): 18.0 ppg and 3.3 apg
Compared to his brother (who we’ll see later), Jack Hoth is more of a facilitator, though he too can be a prolific scorer. Hoth shot over 37% from three-point range and had 13 games of at least 20 points this past season, including a season-high of 29. Look for him to be part of the backcourt rotation, playing some on the ball as another point guard.
12. Dan Gherezgher – Northern Kentucky Norse
2023-24 season stats (at Michigan Tech): 15.0 ppg and 4.6 rpg
The 6-4 combo guard was one of the top D1 players this past season, leading the team in scoring and shooting 34% from deep. Gherezgher had a strong finish in the final weeks, with five games of 20+ points, including 26 against Grand Valley State on 8/10 from deep. He’s not to the level that Marques Warrick was for the Norse but he’s another capable scorer and ball-handler to pair with returning guard Sam Vinson in the backcourt.
11. Timaris Brown – IU-Indy Jaguars
2023-24 season stats (at Rockhurst): 15.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg
The 6-5 forward is the most productive among the newcomers to IU-Indy, ranking in the top 10 in his conference in both scoring and rebounding. Brown can score inside and out, shooting 30% from deep and going for as many as 30 in one game. In this rebuilt Jags roster, Brown has the best chance at being the go-to option for the team.
10. Jayson Woodrich – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Cleveland State): 8.0 ppg and 2.9 rpg
The 6-7 forward spent four seasons at fellow Horizon program Cleveland State, coming off a career-high campaign in 20 starts. Although he only shot 38% from the field, Woodrich did make 36% from deep on five attempts a game. He’ll provide both D1 experience and needed spacing to the Oakland lineup and should work well with Majak and Mukeba in various frontcourt lineups.
9. Tahj Staveskie – Cleveland State Vikings
2022-23 season stats (at Canisius): 12.4 ppg and 2.8 apg
Injuries limited the 6-0 guard to just two games this past season but was a standout freshman starter in the MAAC the year prior. Staveskie had 19 points against Youngstown State and 14 versus Cleveland State two years ago. With Chase Robinson and Drew Louder gone from the backcourt, look for the sophomore playmaker to have a large role for the Vikings.
8. Themus Fulks – Milwaukee Panthers
2023-24 season stats (at Louisiana): 10.6 ppg and 4.4 apg
The 6-1 ball-handler started out at South Carolina State (All-MEAC freshman), before averaging around 10 ppg and 5.0 apg in the last two years at Louisiana in 63 starts. He had a 10-assist game versus Texas State and went for 20 points and seven assists against Youngstown State this past season. Star guard BJ Freeman did it all for Milwaukee, including leading them in passing. The hope is that Fulks can come in and be the starting ball-handler for them.
7. Ismael Plet – Robert Morris Colonials
2023-24 season stats (at Arkansas-Pine Bluff): 7.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg
The 6-7 forward spent two years each at Oral Roberts and APB, starting 50 games for the SWAC program. Plet was one of the top rebounders and produced five double-doubles, including 15 points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi Valley State. RMU is looking for Plet to be the replacement for Markeese Hastings, a standout transfer forward who led them in rebounding last season.
6. Michael Imariagbe – Wright State Raiders
2023-24 season stats (at Houston Christian): 11.4 ppg and 8.5 rpg
In his lone year at Houston Christian and the D1 level, the 6-7 forward led the team in rebounding, along with producing 11 double-doubles. Imariagbe went for 17 points and 11 rebounds against UTSA, along with 19 points versus New Orleans. He and returning forward Brandon Noel should give Wright State one of the best-rebounding frontcourts in the league, replacing AJ Braun in the lineup.
5. Josh Dilling – Northern Kentucky Norse
2023-24 season stats (at Northern State): 18.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg
The 6-4 guard was one of the more efficient players in the JUCO circuit, shooting 52% from the field and 46% from deep. Dilling had 12 games of at least 20 points, including a season-high 37-point effort versus Minnesota State on 14/18 shooting. He’s more of a pure scorer compared to Gherezgher and has the best chance of being the new focal point of the offense next season.
4. Siem Uijtendaal – Youngstown State Penguins
2023-24 season stats (at Canisius): 13.3 ppg and 2.1 apg
After three years of limited minutes, Uijtendaal broke out as a senior starter, second on the team in scoring. The 6-6 guard shot 41% from the field and 38% from three-point range, scoring in double figures in 18 of 23 games. That includes 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven steals against Wofford. He’s part of the new Youngstown backcourt and his D1 experience likely will have him in the starting lineup on Day 1.
3. Chang Hoth – Oakland Golden Grizzlies
2023-24 season stats (at Western Oklahoma State): 22.0 ppg and 2.9 apg
The 6-4 guard and brother of Jack Hoth had an elite freshman campaign, leading the team in scoring on elite shooting splits (53-44-87). He had eight games of at least 30 points, including 44 against NOC on 14/22 shooting. How well his game translates to the D1 level will be a big question but if Chang can produce out the gate, Oakland’s offense will remain one of the best in the Horizon League.
2. Nico Galette – Youngstown State Penguins
2023-24 season stats (at Sacred Heart): 13.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg
The 6-6 forward is a three-year starter from Sacred Heart and a two-time all-league performer, while also having nearly two steals a game. Galette had eight games of 20+ points, including 27 points and 11 rebounds against New Hampshire. He has the same size as former leading scorer Ziggy Reid and rebounds at the level of D.J. Burns and if Galette can somehow be a combo of both, the Penguins, frontcourt will be in good shape.
1. AJ McKee – Milwaukee Panthers
2023-24 season stats (at Queens): 18.8 ppg and 4.0 rpg
McKee has spent the last five years at Queens, with the last two being at the D1 level. He led the team in scoring on 45% shooting, along with 2.4 apg and 1.7 spg. He had back-to-back 30+ point games and finished the season with four straight of 20+ points, including 21 against Stetson in the regular-season finale. He’s proven to be a high-level scorer who should be able to come in and be the lead guard for Milwaukee. McKee might not be as good as BJ Freeman in terms of being a pure scorer but if he’s close, that could be good enough to have the Panthers in contention next season.
