Nakos predicts Arizona, Alabama portal landings
Source: on3.com
TL;DR
- Pete Nakos predicts which players Arizona, Alabama, and other teams will land from the college basketball transfer portal.
- Key intel highlights Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, and Louisville as early frontrunners for top available prospects.[[1]](https://www.on3.com/news/transfer-portal-intel-indiana-alabama-arizona-louisville-among-the-early-schools-to-watch-for-top-targets)[[2]](https://www.on3.com/news/college-basketball-transfer-portal-predictions-arizona-alabama-more-trending)
- These "calling my shot" predictions guide roster rebuilding ahead of the portal's April 7 opening.
The story at a glance
On3 reporter Pete Nakos makes bold predictions on transfer portal commitments for Arizona, Alabama, and more teams in a "Calling My Shot" piece. The article comes as the NCAA transfer portal opens April 7, with recent entries like Alabama's Taylor Bol Bowen and Aiden Sherrell fueling activity.[[3]](https://www.on3.com/college/alabama-crimson-tide/news/alabama-forward-aiden-sherrell-plans-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal)[[4]](https://heavy.com/sports/mens-college-basketball/alabama-crimson-tide-mens-college-basketball/taylor-bol-bowen-basketball-transfer-portal) A companion On3 report names Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, and Louisville among schools targeting top prospects.[[1]](https://www.on3.com/news/transfer-portal-intel-indiana-alabama-arizona-louisville-among-the-early-schools-to-watch-for-top-targets)
Key points
- Article is paywalled, but title signals predictions for Arizona and Alabama to secure portal commitments, part of Nakos's "Calling My Shot" series on trending intel.
- Related On3 intel positions Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, Louisville, and Miami as early leaders for top transfer targets, based on sources close to recruits.[[1]](https://www.on3.com/news/transfer-portal-intel-indiana-alabama-arizona-louisville-among-the-early-schools-to-watch-for-top-targets)
- Recent Alabama departures: Forward Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10 junior from Florida State, averaged 6.3 points) and starter Aiden Sherrell (6-10 sophomore, 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) plan to enter portal.[[5]](https://www.on3.com/college/alabama-crimson-tide/news/alabama-forward-taylor-bol-bowen-plans-to-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal)[[3]](https://www.on3.com/college/alabama-crimson-tide/news/alabama-forward-aiden-sherrell-plans-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal)
- UNC PF James Brown plans portal entry; other early movers include Arizona-linked players like KJ Lewis seeking new homes.[[6]](https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/news)[[7]](https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/news/ncaa-transfer-portal-top-10-college-basketball-players-currently-expected-to-enter)
- Predictions draw from Nakos's reporting track record, emphasizing where players are "trending" rather than rumors.
Details and context
The college basketball transfer portal opens amid roster overhauls post-season, with power programs like Alabama (Nate Oats) and Arizona (Tommy Lloyd) needing frontcourt help after departures. Alabama loses key bigs like Sherrell, who started all 34 games, pushing them to target replacements via NIL-heavy pursuits.[[8]](https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/news/alabama-forward-aiden-sherrell-plans-to-enter-transfer-portal)
Nakos's predictions focus on "land transfer portal commitments," likely naming specific players for each team based on visits and buzz, similar to his football intel pieces. A related Joe Tipton report flags these schools watching top available talent before official entries spike.[[1]](https://www.on3.com/news/transfer-portal-intel-indiana-alabama-arizona-louisville-among-the-early-schools-to-watch-for-top-targets)
This fits the NIL era, where teams like Alabama (prior $8-10M spenders) compete aggressively; Arizona eyes returnees like ex-Wildcat KJ Lewis.[[9]](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/on3-predicts-texas-m-basketballs-000215952.html)
Key quotes
None reliably sourced from the article due to paywall.
Why it matters
Roster turnover defines next season's contenders, with predictions shaping recruiting battles among blue-bloods. Fans and coaches gain intel on likely landings, helping gauge team trajectories before commitments roll in. Watch portal entries and visits starting April 7, as top targets could flip predictions quickly.