As players navigate their collegiate futures following the conclusion of the season, several high-profile prospects have entered the portal while simultaneously testing draft waters to maximize their professional stock.
The strategic convergence of the transfer portal and NBA draft declarations allows collegiate athletes to explore professional evaluations while securing immediate high-major destinations. According to reporting from Sports Illustrated, standout performers across multiple conferences have leveraged this dual-path approach to reposition their draft profiles ahead of upcoming selection cycles.
Matt Able and Neoklis Avdalas Lead ACC Inflow
Following one season at NC State, guard Matt Able entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Sports Illustrated. The former five-star recruit averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game as a freshman while shooting 41.6% from the field. Able officially committed to North Carolina on April 21, maintaining his collegiate eligibility while retaining the option to withdraw from the draft class by May 27, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
Neoklis Avdalas joined North Carolina on April 13, according to Sports Illustrated. The 20-year-old guard from Greece tested the NBA Draft waters in 2025 before playing at Virginia Tech, where he averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season, per Sports Illustrated.
Flory Bidunga and John Blackwell Secure Major Program Moves
Flory Bidunga entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2026 NBA Draft after two seasons at Kansas, according to Sports Illustrated. The former five-star sophomore averaged 13.3 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 64% from the field. Bidunga committed to Louisville on April 12, per Sports Illustrated.
John Blackwell executed a similar transition after a standout junior campaign at Wisconsin, where he averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range, according to Sports Illustrated. Blackwell entered the portal and committed to Duke on April 21, per Sports Illustrated.
Miles Byrd and Zoom Diallo Shift Conferences
Miles Byrd wrapped up a four-year career with San Diego State as the 2025-26 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, according to Sports Illustrated. Byrd previously tested the 2025 NBA Draft waters before returning to the Aztecs, and has now committed to Providence, per Sports Illustrated.
Zoom Diallo entered the portal after two seasons at Washington, where the former four-star guard averaged 15.7 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.9% from the field, according to Sports Illustrated. Diallo committed to Kentucky on April 15, per Sports Illustrated.
Emerging Prospects Across Mid-Majors and Power Conferences
Massamba Diop emerged as a premier interior presence during his freshman campaign at Arizona State, averaging 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field, according to Sports Illustrated. Eian Elmer transitioned to Wisconsin after helping Miami (OH) achieve an unbeaten regular season, averaging 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior, per Sports Illustrated.
Allen Graves entered the portal and declared for the 2026 NBA Draft after averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds as a redshirt freshman at Santa Clara, according to Sports Illustrated. Juke Harris also entered the portal alongside a draft declaration following a breakout sophomore season at an unspecified program where he averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, per Sports Illustrated.
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