College basketball transfer portal roundtable: The biggest concern for top programs after spring closure

The college basketball transfer portal closed May 1, and we tapped team insiders across the 247Sports network for the biggest remaining concern for 15 of the nation’s top teams for the 2024-25 season. For some teams, like North Carolina and Kansas, pointing out a “concern” felt like nitpicking due to a lack of glaring weakness. Others, including Kentucky and Arkansas, were a bit easier after whirlwind offseasons

It’s too early to sound alarm bells for any of these teams. There are still players left in the portal to fill out areas of need, potential NBA Draft withdrawals and an entire offseason of training and practice ahead.

More than 1,900 players entered the transfer portal for the 2024 cycle, including the final round of super COVID seniors; because of this, the record number of transfer portal entries set in 2024 is unlikely to be topped. Our final portal rankings, a top 150 full of impact starters and future college basketball stars, were released earlier this week

Here’s the biggest concern for 15 of the nation’s biggest programs following the spring transfer portal closure

Star forward Alex Karaban is testing NBA Draft waters. Should he return to school, UConn will boast one of the nation’s best rosters — again. Should he remain in the NBA Draft, Dan Hurley is expected to hit the portal in search of a replacement.

“If they get Alex Karaban back, we’re talking about one of the best teams in the Big East,” national basketball analyst Isaac Trotter said. “If not, UConn could look to add another four. There are some really good ones in the portal. I would keep an eye on Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins

Wisconsin addressed its needs at point guard and power forward early in the portal this offseason. The Badgers may look to add some depth to their roster, but it’s already been a strong offseason for Greg Gard and Co

Point guard and four-man are two positions Wisconsin needed to address after portal departures and Tyler Wahl finishing his eligibility,” Badger247’s Nick Osen told us. “Greg Gard and the staff worked proactively and landed two really impressive impact players, in Central Arkansas guard transfer Cam Hunter and NIU transfer Xavier Amos as the four. Now, there may be a late depth type of piece addition, but other than that; the Badgers finished off a really good week and a half with their additions of late.