Restructured transfer rules introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the college basketball landscape. Programs can build contenders in a single offseason with the right combination of experienced newcomers joining returning talent and promising freshmen.

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In the 2024-25 season, the Coastal Athletic Association championship chase promises to be wide open with two-time reigning champion Charleston undergoing a facelift. Other programs have built up in anticipation of the title hunt, but the Cougars won’t go down easily thanks to new head coach Chris Mack’s own influx of playmakers.

Get to know some of the transfers who could make an impact on the CAA in the season to come.

Campbell Basketball Transfers

Cam Gregory

Guard – 6-5, 165 – Junior

One of the most well-established players coming into the CAA via the transfer portal, Campbell guard Cam Gregory was a standout scoring wing for Saint Francis (Pa.) last year before a season-ending injury. He averaged 13.4 points per game, including pacing the Red Flash to a win over Campbell with 18 points.

Eric Van Der Heijden

Forward – 6-9, 225 – Senior

No stranger to the CAA, Eric Van Der Heijden spent the previous two seasons as a reserve for UNC Wilmington. He contributed quality minutes in the Seahawks’ upset of Kentucky and snared 11 rebounds at Arkansas.

Israel Yaw

Forward – 6-9, 205 – Junior

Israel Yaw spent the 2023-24 season at Maryland Eastern Shore where, in his first two games, he scored four poins and made two steals vs. Temple then posted 10 points against Carin. His campaign also included an eight-point performance against Coppin State and a seven-point, five-rebound showing vs. Howard.

Caleb Zurliene

Forward – 6-8, 205 – Senior

A standout performer at the Div. II level, Caleb Zurliene will be a player to watch for Campbell in 2024-25. He’s a capable scorer, having averaged in double-figures each of the previous two seasons at McKendree, but his status as GLVC Defensive Player of the Year is particularly noteworthy.

Charleston Basketball Transfers

Derrin Boyd

Guard – 6-3, 215 – Senior

An All-ASUN honoree last season at Lipscomb, Derrin Boyd adds the 3-point efficiency Charleston needed to replace with Reyne Smith’s exit. Boyd 44 percent from beyond the arc on 4.1 attempts per game for the Bison.

Lazar Djokovic

Forward – 6-11, 235 – Sophomore

Perhaps the most high-profile transfer into the CAA this season is Lazar Djokovic. Djokovic made a promising debut for Xavier last season with seven points and four rebounds against Washington, then broke into the starting lineup a few weeks later.

His role fluctuated through the season, though he was firmly entrenched in the lineup over the Musketeers’ final four games. That includes an eight-point, eight-rebound showing in the NIT vs. Georgia. Djokovic could be a high-impact addition as Charleston seeks its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Elijah Jones

Forward – 6-7, 210 – Senior

Green Bay engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college basketball a season ago, and Elijah Jones was a big reason why. Jones is a reliable offensive option on the interior and a tenacious rebounder who hauled in nearly seven boards per game for the Phoenix. His play in the paint should nicely complement the face-up style of new front-court mate Ante Brzovic.

AJ Smith

Guard – 6-5, 210 – Junior

Coming to Charleston by way of in-state counterpart The Citadel, AJ Smith adds scoring pop on the perimeter for the restructured Cougars. Smith averaged north of 16 points per game in 2023-24, including a 31-point performance on 12-of-16 shooting against the CAA’s North Carolina A&T Aggies.

Delaware Basketball Transfers

Tahron Allen

Shooting Guard – 6-4, 205 – Senior

Former Monmouth guard Tahron Allen returns to the CAA after a one-year stint with Wagner. Allen made quite an impression at Wagner, winning Northeast Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after a pair of 22-point games in the Seahawks run.

He helped Wagner to the Round of 64, too, scoring 10 points in a First Four win over Howard. Allen was a starter for Monmouth’s 2022-23 team, the first to play in the CAA.

Trent Middleton Jr.

Guard – 6-3, 180 – Sophomore

Trent Middleton Jr. played significant minutes and broke into the starting lineup his freshman season at Ball State. The Philadelphia native is closer to home in 2024-25 as a likely key figure in Delaware’s revamped backcourt.

Erik Timko

Guard – 6-4, 180 – Senior

Div. II transfer Erik Timko was electric last season for Jefferson University, averaging a shade less than 20 points per game. Timko shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range, knocking down 90 for the season, and was good for 54 percent shooting from the floor overall.

Elon Basketball Transfers

Matthew Van Komen

Center – 7-4, 260 – Senior

Originally a recruit of former Pac-12 Conference program Utah, Matthew Van Komen landed at Saint Mary’s for a stretch following the COVID-19 pandemic. He transferred to Div. II Hawaii Pacific and saw more playing, developing into a reliable rebounder and shot-blocker.

As the tallest player in the nation in the coming season, Van Komen will be a big part of Elon’s defensive plans in the most literal sense.

Jameel Rideout

Guard – 6-2, 165 – Junior

Jameel Rideout excelled as a playmaking combo guard last season for USC Aiken, averaging 10 points and 2.3 assists per game for the Pacers. Rideout should have an immediate opportunity to establish himself as Elon’s point guard.

Hampton Basketball Transfers

George Beal Jr.

Guard — 6-4, 200 — Junior 

Picking up a commit from an area rival, Hampton adds guard George Beal Jr. by way of Norfolk State. Beal earned MEAC All-Freshman honors in 2022-23, primarily coming off the bench as a spark plug for the Spartans. He was again a reserve in 2023-24 before injury cut his sophomore campaign short.

Elijah Kennedy

Guard – 6-3, 200 – Senior

Virginia Beach native Elijah Kennedy originally signed with Florida coming out of the Tidewater’s Green Run High School. He appeared in 23 games for the Gators before transferring to Texas State, where he didn’t see action.

The talented Kennedy’s return home should see him get to play a central role for a Hampton team taking on a new identity under coach Ivan Thomas.

Daniel Nixon

Guard-Forward – 6-7, 225 – Junior

Former George Washington wing Daniel Nixon spent the 2023-24 season at junior college Western Texas, and the Bronx native thrived as a volume scorer. He went for 20-plus points in three of the final six games of the season.

Tyler Rice

Guard – 6-1, 190 – Senior

Tyler Rice is back in the commonwealth and returning to the CAA, where as a rookie at William & Mary in 2021-22, he earned All-Freshman distinction. Rice started throughout his debut season with the Tribe, but landed at East Tennessee in 2023 for a new start. If Rice can regain his form from his freshman campaign, when he was a sensational combo guard and pestering on-ball defender, he’ll be a catalyst for Hampton making a surprise push in the CAA.

Hofstra Basketball Transfers

Jean Aranguren

Guard – 6-3, 190 – Sophomore

A strong freshman season at Iona saw Jean Aranguren average 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game coming off the Gaels bench. He will have the chance to blossom into a star, stepping into the Hofstra backcourt at a time of wholesale turnover for the Pride.

TJ Gadsden

Guard – 6-7, 205 – Senior

TJ Gadsden’s length and versatility should make him an immediate fit in Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton’s system. Gadsden is a potentially explosive scorer, most evident in a 31-point outpouring during the 2022-23 season. He’s also able to mix it up on the glass and rebound effectively against bigs.

Carlos Lopez Jr.

Guard – 6-1, 180 – Sophomore

A Northeast Conference All-Freshman selection in 2023-24, Carlos Lopez Jr. brings a similar style of combo-guard play to Hofstra that the Pride had Jaquan Carlos a season ago.

Jaquan Sanders

Guard – 6-4, 215 – Junior

Seton Hall transfer Jaquan Sanders played significant rotational minutes in the Big East the previous two seasons. After functioning as a role player for the Pirates, Sanders should have the opportunity to find a bigger role with the Pride in 2024-25.

Monmouth Basketball Transfers

Aric Demings

Guard – 6-0, 175 – Sophomore

Aric Demings earned Western Athletic Conference All-Freshman honors a season ago at Utah Tech. He broke into the Trailblazers starting lineup and was an effective two-way playmaker at 7.5 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Madison Durr

Guard – 6-5, 200 – Junior

After landing on the SoCon All-Freshman team in 2022-23, The Citadel transfer Madison Durr upped his point production from 7.7 to 11.9 points per game. Durr brings versatility to the Monmouth backcourt, having also shown off an ability to set the table to the tune of 3.3 assists per game in 2023-24 and hit the glass with 4.2 rebounds per game.

Chris Morgan

Forward – 6-8, 240 – Junior

Injuries limited Chris Morgan during his time at North Texas, but he’s a promising prospect who could add some explosiveness to the Hawks frontcourt if he stays healthy in 2024-25.

North Carolina A&T Basketball Transfers

Ryan Forrest

Guard – 6-4, 190 – Sophomore

Northwestern State transfer Ryan Forrest should provide some instant offense for North Carolina A&T. As a freshman, Forrest put up 11.8 points per game despite shooting the 3-pointer at a shaky 22.9 percent clip. If Forrest can find his touch from outside, he’ll be one of the CAA’s most dangerous scorers.

Jahnathan Lamothe

Guard – 6-4, 192 – Sophomore

Although Jahnathan Lamohte saw limited playing time in his freshman season at Maryland, the sophomore wing is unquestionably a high-potential addition to the Aggies lineup. Lamothe signed with Maryland as a high-3-star prospect coming out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, and should see significantly more opportunity with A&T.

Northeastern Basketball Transfers

Youri Fritz

Forward – 6-9, 190 – Junior

Dutch import Youri Fritz became a starter in his second season at Canisius. He played some of his best basketball down the stretch for the Golden Griffins, averaging more than eight points and almost five rebounds per game in the month of March (five games).

L.A. Pratt

Guard – 6-5, 185 – Junior

In-conference transfer L.A. Pratt made seven starts last season at Elon, all in CAA play. Pratt averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Phoenix with his standout individual performance coming, coincidentally, against Northeastern.

Sam Thomson

Forward – 6-9, 230 – Senior

A fixture coming off the bench for a Colgate program that became a perennial NCAA Tournament qualifier in recent years was big man Sam Thomson. Thomson shined in March Madness last season, too, scoring 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes in the Raiders’ 1st Round matchup with Baylor.

Stony Brook Basketball Transfers

Joe Octave

Guard – 6-4, 200 – Senior

Geno Ford landed one of the most established mid-major transfers in the portal this offseason with the signing of Joe Octave. Octave as an All-Patriot League honoree last season at Holy Cross, averaging 14.6 points and six rebounds per game for the Crusaders. Look for Octave to be one of the top performers in the CAA in 2024-25 as Stony Brook builds to a championship pursuit.

Ben Wight

Forward – 6-9, 220 – Senior

Ben Wight was a standout for William & Mary in 2021-22 and 2022-23, averaging 11.6 and 10.9 points per game. He posted better than five rebounds per game each season, as well. But after three years as a starter at William & Mary, he played sparingly last season at Toledo.

Wight returns to the CAA and figures to return to his past form as a pillar for the Stony Brook frontcourt.

Towson Basketball Transfers

Abdou Samb

Forward – 6-8, 220 – Junior

Former IUPUI forward Abdou Samb plays the kind of physical basketball that makes Pat Skerry-coached Towson teams perennial CAA contenders. Samb averaged 6.4 points per game as a sophomore, shooting almost 62 percent from the floor, and grabbed 3.3 rebounds per game for the Jaguars.

UNC Wilmington Basketball Transfers

Elijah Jamison

Guard – 6-3, 200 – Junior

A Horizon League All-Freshman selection, Elijah Jamison joins UNC Wilmington by way of UW-Milwaukee. Jamison was among the Horizon’s top newcomers in 2022-23 with his averages of 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

His production jumped to 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in 2023-24.

Bo Montgomery

Guard – 6-5, 205 – Senior

Bo Montgomery was a three-year starter for Holy Cross, during which time his production jumped from 8.5 points per game as a sophomore to 11.3 as a junior. In his 2023-24 senior campaign, he averaged 10.8 points per game but improved his 3-point percentage to around 40 on three attempts per game; grabbed almost five rebounds per game; and dished almost three steals per game.

Montgomery’s all-around playmaking should make him an instant x-factor for the Seahawks.

Harlan Obioha

Forward/Center – 7-0, 280 – Junior

Takayo Siddle adds one of the biggest additions in the CAA, literally, with the interior presence of Harlan Obioha. Obioha comes from Niagara where after playing a limited role as a freshman in 2022-23, he became a standout in his sophomore campaign. He averaged 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Purple Eagles, and has the potential to be one of the most dominant big men in the CAA the moment he debuts for UNCW.

William & Mary Basketball Transfers

Kyle Frazier

Guard – 6-3, 190 – Junior

At Div. II Belmont Abbey, Kyle Frazier averaged more than 10 points per game as a sophomore with a streaky 3-point shot. He knocked down three or more triples in 13 games last season, including Belmont Abbey’s first five. He had an 8-of-13 game shooting from long range against Erskine, resulting in a career-high 24 points.

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