After Dusty May’s move from Florida Atlantic to lead Michigan’s basketball program, several key players from the Owls’ Final Four team also made their exit. However, not every player chose to accompany May to Ann Arbor; many opted for different institutions instead.
The top four scorers from Florida Atlantic’s previous season, all of whom played crucial roles in the team’s remarkable tournament run, are now competing with other programs. They stand out among the numerous athletes transferring across college basketball teams nationwide.
In an age dominated by the transfer portal, Florida Atlantic’s ability to maintain the core group of its Final Four roster for an additional season was quite impressive. Following their first-round overtime defeat to Northwestern in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the eventual disbandment of the team felt almost predetermined.
As part of May’s inaugural team at Michigan, Vladislav Goldin, a towering 7-foot-1 center, joins after making a significant impact at Florida Atlantic with 106 starts and consistent double-digit scoring over the past two years. Having participated in the NCAA Tournament for the last two seasons, Goldin is optimistic about returning with Michigan.
“This team is probably the most talented I have ever played on, so many talented guys,” Goldin remarked during the offseason. “It’s insane talent. I’ve never seen it before.”
Some of Goldin’s former teammates at Florida Atlantic chose more independent paths. Johnell Davis, who was the leading scorer for the Owls for the past two seasons, is set to play under renowned coach John Calipari at No. 16 Arkansas. He expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating, “He’s a Hall of Fame coach and he wins everywhere he goes. I’m excited to play for him.”
Nick Boyd will join San Diego State – the team that ended Florida Atlantic’s 2023 national championship aspirations with a buzzer-beater from Lamont Butler in the NCAA semifinals. Alijah Martin, known for his 26-point performance in that semifinal, has transferred to Florida.
Here is a glimpse of some of the most notable transfers in college basketball for this season, along with their previous schools:
Oumar Ballou, Center, Indiana (Arizona)
The 7-foot player has transitioned to No. 17 Indiana after a four-year stint at Arizona. Ballou earned first-team all-Pac-12 recognition in the last two seasons, averaging 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds last season, building on previous averages of 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 2022-23. He also averaged 1.3 blocks per game over the same duration.
Tucker DeVries, Guard/Forward, West Virginia (Drake)
Following his father’s appointment as coach at West Virginia, DeVries, a 6-foot-7 player, made the move to Morgantown. He was recognized as the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference player of the year and the tournament’s most outstanding player for the last two seasons. Last season, he ranked 10th in Division I scoring with an average of 21.6 points, becoming the only player to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Coleman Hawkins, Forward, Kansas State (Illinois)
Hawkins, selected to the Associated Press all-Big Ten second team in his fourth year at Illinois, averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He has been recognized as the Big 12 preseason co-newcomer of the year. He initially declared for the draft last spring and took part in the NBA Draft Combine before opting for another collegiate season.
Great Osobor, Forward, Washington (Utah State)
Osobor is joining Washington after playing two seasons at Montana State followed by one at Utah State. He received honorable mention on the AP All-America team last season and was named both the player of the year and newcomer of the year in the Mountain West Conference. He averaged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 57.7% at Utah State.
Kadary Richmond, Guard, St. John’s (Seton Hall)
Richmond made the choice to stay within the Big East conference after earning first-team all-Big East accolades from coaches and second-team recognition from the AP while at Seton Hall last year. The 6-6 guard previously spent one season at Syracuse and three at Seton Hall, averaging 15.7 points, 7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.2 steals last season.
Jeremy Roach, Guard, Baylor (Duke)
This 6-2 fifth-year senior was named Big 12 preseason co-newcomer of the year alongside Hawkins. Roach joins No. 8 Baylor after accumulating 108 career starts at Duke, where he served as team captain for two seasons. Last season, he averaged 14 points, building on averages of 13.6, 8.6, and 8.7 in his previous seasons.