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2026 MBB Transfer Portal Tracker
- Thread starter Bryoming
- Start date
Bryoming
Well-known member
Sounds like negotiations with the current roster are going well!
Bryoming
Well-known member
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
I’m puzzled that we are celebrating securing a commitment from a player from a different college before the portal even opens and before the date coaches are technically supposed to be able to talk to players from other schools. Isn’t this the exact same thing that Burman and UW coaches were complaining about?!?!?
Bryoming
Well-known member
D2 schools have a 3 day dead period for recruiting. Last year it was November 10-12. Any other time coaches are allowed to contact players. D1 rules and D2 rules are VERY different. There's also no transfer portal window for D2. They can enter at any time.
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
Thanks for the explanation. Must be even more difficult for a D2 school to manage their roster.
Bryoming
Well-known member
I had the same questions when I read about the signing. Glad to share what I found!
I like this pick up. Watching his highlights from every level, the kid can shoot and has a D1 body already. Good pickup.
Potentially but from what I can see there is far less roster turnover at D2 as a whole, more guys who are just getting their degrees and playing ball especially with the lack of NIL. Feels similar to how the portal did in 2021/22 before the schools started paying players directly.
This year for example, Lander retained all of their 24/25 scorers of over 5 PPG that didn't graduate/run out of eligibility, and Gannon lost 4 guys over 5 PPG out of 10 who managed it, two went D1 (Merrimack and Siena respectively). One guy transferred to Frostburg which is closer to his home (Alexandria, VA), and the last one just went to Chaminade, if Hawaii is on the table I guess. These are the national finalists despite Lander being .500 last year and Gannon didn't escape their regional. Hopefully we can get mid major college sports back to a point like this sooner than later where roster turnover is under 80% or whatever the hell it is now
Why not him???
7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux transferring out of Florida | Fox News https://share.google/giFreWytUPC9ht0aV
7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux transferring out of Florida | Fox News https://share.google/giFreWytUPC9ht0aV
bladerunnr
Well-known member
Yeah. He actually moves really well for a guy that size. I'm afraid he's way out of our price range. You know it's going to be pricey when the statement is "Rioux is entering the portal, according to his agent".
There's a small chance, mostly due to big schools maybe not wanting to take a chance on him considering he can kinda move, is big, and can't really do any other basketball things. I see him landing in a conference like the A10, MW, Pac, WCC, or MVC. Would he stay if he performs? Likely not but that seems to me his best option to play and develop
Douglaspoke
Well-known member
Stymeman--I am with you. I lived for the Pokes, but not so much now. Turned in my 50 yd line tixs and cancelled any more $$$ to CJC--If I go to a game, I will just walk up an purchase tixs or go sit in the student section.
Wyolie Coyote
Well-known member
Guessing that he ends up at Purdue playing for Painter who loves these freakishly tall players.
Bryoming
Well-known member
Yup. Zach Edey was unstoppable at Purdue because he was so damn big. He's good in the NBA, but he's not dominant.
Bryoming
Well-known member
As an experiment, I asked Gemini who Wyoming should be targeting in the transfer portal. Here is what it said:
| Position | Priority | Ideal Profile |
| Point Guard | High | A veteran who can manage the game and replace Leland Walker's 30+ minutes. |
| Wing/Forward | Medium | A "3-and-D" player to complement Chris Pohl and allow Naz Meyer to develop. |
| Center/Post | Medium | A physical rebounder to help redshirt freshman Neil Summers in the paint. |
Top Transfer Portal Targets for Wyoming
Wyoming should be targeting players who provide immediate veteran experience to balance their "young nucleus" (Gavin Gores, Naz Meyer, and Simm-Marten Saadi).1. The "Big Guard" Replacement: Miles Byrd (San Diego State)
- Status: Intends to enter the portal as a redshirt senior.
- Why he fits: At 6'7", Byrd is a Mountain West veteran who understands the league's physicality. He averaged 11.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and over 2 steals/1 block per game last season. He would immediately fill the leadership void left by Leland Walker and provide elite defensive versatility.
2. The Dynamic Playmaker: Malik Mack (Georgetown)
- Status: Planning to enter the portal.
- Why he fits: After averaging 13.6 PPG and 4.1 APG in the Big East, Mack is a high-level floor general. Since Leland Walker was the engine of the offense, Wyoming needs a proven distributor who can also score. Mack has a history of high production (17.2 PPG at Harvard) and would thrive in Wicks' "uptempo" system.
3. The Frontcourt Anchor: Baye Ndongo (Georgia Tech)
- Status: Intends to enter the portal.
- Why he fits: Wyoming’s frontcourt is young (Gores and Saadi). Ndongo is a 6'9" force who averaged nearly a double-double (12.6 PTS, 8.5 REB) in the ACC. He would provide the interior rebounding and rim protection that the Pokes occasionally lacked in the 2025-26 season.
4. The "Mid-Major Breakout": Brant Byers (Miami OH)
- Status: Entering the portal after an All-MAC season.
- Why he fits: Byers is a 6'8" forward who shot nearly 40% from three. With Belic and Saxon leaving, Wyoming needs a forward who can space the floor for their slashers. He fits the "skilled and scrappy" mold perfectly and has the efficiency (60.5% effective FG%) Sundance Wicks loves.
5. The Scoring Spark: Daniel Freitag (Buffalo/Wisconsin)
- Status: Entering the portal after averaging 19.8 PPG.
- Why he fits: If Wicks wants a pure bucket-getter to replace Walker’s scoring punch, Freitag is the top choice. He is a high-usage player who can create his own shot and dishes out nearly 4 assists per game.
Bryoming
Well-known member
When I asked it to factor in that Wyoming only has about $1M for NIL, it gave the following names:
Realistic 2026 Transfer Targets
1. The Leland Walker Replacement: Xzayvier Brown (St. Joseph’s)
- Why he’s realistic: While he’s an elite talent, staying in the "mid-major plus" tier (like the Mountain West) is often more attractive for guards who want to be "the man" rather than a backup at a blue-blood school.
- The Fit: He provides the same twitchy scoring and playmaking as Walker but with better perimeter shooting. He fits the "Cowboy Culture" energy and would likely command the largest portion of the budget.
2. The Veteran Mountain West Guard: Drake Powell (UNLV/Arizona)
- Why he’s realistic: Powell (originally a high-profile recruit) may look for a "re-launch" in a system that prioritizes freedom. Wyoming can offer him 30+ minutes a night and a featured offensive role that a $1M budget can comfortably secure for a player looking to prove his NBA draft stock.
- The Fit: At 6'6", he adds the size in the backcourt that Wyoming loses with Dennis and provides a defensive edge.
3. The "Stretch 4" Up-Transfer: Tanner Cuff (Evansville)
- Why he’s realistic: Players coming from the Missouri Valley or OVC are often looking for the platform of the Mountain West. A mid-six-figure NIL deal is a massive raise for these athletes.
- The Fit: Cuff is a versatile 6'6" forward who can pass, rebound, and shoot. He replaces the "do-it-all" nature of Matija Belic and fits the "skilled and scrappy" identity Coach Wicks emphasized when signing Chris Pohl.
4. The Rim Protector: Churchill Abass (Wake Forest)
- Why he’s realistic: As a high-major bench piece, Abass may prioritize a starting role in a high-level conference like the MWC.
- The Fit: He is a physical specimen (6'9", 250 lbs) who would solve Wyoming's interior toughness issues. He doesn't need to be a 20-point scorer; he just needs to anchor the defense, making him a "value" signing for the budget.
Strategic Adjustments for 2026-27
Since the 2026 signees Madden Smiley and Chris Pohl are both highly skilled but will be true freshmen, your transfer targets should focus on Physicality and Experience.
Bryoming
Well-known member
And here's what it had to say when I asked about connections to the coaching staff
As of April 1, 2026, the transfer portal is just beginning to heat up, with the official window set to open on April 7. However, there is already one confirmed addition and several specific names to watch based on their ties to Sundance Wicks and his assistants.
As of April 1, 2026, the transfer portal is just beginning to heat up, with the official window set to open on April 7. However, there is already one confirmed addition and several specific names to watch based on their ties to Sundance Wicks and his assistants.
1. Michael Mora (Forward, Cal State Monterey Bay) –
The first specific player to move toward Laramie this cycle is Michael Mora.- The Specific Connection: Mora played high school basketball at the Asheville School in North Carolina under head coach Nick Whitmore.
- The Link: Whitmore is currently an assistant at Wyoming. Mora visited the campus in late March and officially announced his commitment on March 30, 2026. He is a 6'6" forward with three years of eligibility left.
2. Anthony Robinson II (Guard, Missouri) –
While not a former player of Wicks, there is a coaching tree link here.- The Connection: Robinson announced his intent to enter the portal on March 30.
- The Link: Wyoming assistant coach Will Martin has deep ties to the Missouri basketball landscape, having spent years at Missouri Western. Robinson is an SEC All-Defensive Team caliber guard looking for a new home for his senior year, and Wyoming's staff often targets high-level defenders from the Missouri area.
3. Names to Watch (The Green Bay "Juice" Pipeline)
Since Sundance Wicks, Pat Monaghan, and Nic Reynolds all came from Green Bay, the Phoenix roster is the most likely source for "connection" transfers. As the portal opens next week, keep an eye on these specific individuals who were either recruited by or played for this staff:- Marcus Hall (Forward): A versatile 6'7" player who fits the "high motor" profile Wicks prefers.
- Preston Ruedinger (Guard): A key piece of Wicks' turnaround at Green Bay who has high-level experience.
- Mac Wrecke (Guard): A younger talent who would have multiple years of eligibility to grow within the Wyoming system.
If we could actually get all these players on this list, I would have to think we would immediately be the favorite to win the conference. One can dream.
