5 Big 12 transfers to watch out for in 2024 college basketball season
Some of the best Big 12 players entered the portal this offseason, where they either joined another program in their conference or switched conferences altogether. Nevertheless, as a Big 12 extension is set to occur for the 2024-25 season, the vacant spots opened doors for conference schools to land several top transfer players that could bolster their lineup.
With that, let's look at the best incoming Big 12 transfer portal players for the upcoming college basketball season.
Big 12 transfers to watch for in the 2024 college basketball season
5. Javon Small with West Virginia Mountaineers
Javon Small began his collegiate journey with a two-year stint with the East Carolina Pirates, where he broke out in his second year and averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Small maintained similar numbers last year when he joined the Oklahoma State Cowboys, although he had a 4% increase overall and in terms of his three-point efficiency. He will join Tucker DeVries, who is No. 4 in this list, as they shake things up with the West Virginia Mountaineers.
4. Tucker DeVries with West Virginia Mountaineers
Tucker DeVries comes to the Big 12 after spending three years in the Missouri Valley Conference with the Drake Bulldogs. He averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals in his last season with the team.
The 6-foot-7 combo guard will be an active scoring threat on the floor as he moves to West Virginia. Moreover, he is expected to maintain his high volume efficiency of 44.4% from the field when he transitions to the Power Five conference.
3. AJ Storr with Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12’s Sunflower Showdown will witness AJ Storr in his third program in three years of college basketball. The 6-foot-7 versatile guard is coming out of a breakout season with the Wisconsin Badgers, where he doubled his production and averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 43.4% from the field.
Even though Storr made only 32.0% of his threes, his rookie season efficiency of over 40% from distance showed that his game is still growing.
2. Coleman Hawkins with Kansas State Wildcats
After claiming that he had outgrown college basketball in the NBA combine, Coleman Hawkins withdrew early from the draft and entered the portal to join the Kansas State Wildcats. The Illinois favorite averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks on 44.2% shooting with the Illinois Fighting Illini last season.
Given his workout stints in the combine with the Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, Hawkins is expected to improve his game to increase his draft stock next year.
1. Norchad Omier with Baylor Bears
Norchad Omier transitioned to the Big 12 under Scott Drew’s guidance and opted out of the 2024 NBA Draft to attend Baylor. He was among the top available transfers in the nation after spending his first two years of college basketball with the Arkansas State Red Wolves, followed by two more with the Miami Hurricanes.
Even though he averaged 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds on 55.2% shooting last season, it was a few steps behind his 2021-22 performance where he averaged 17.9 points and 12.2 rebounds on 63.2% while attempting over 10 shots per game.