Transfer Portal Intel: UNC hosts key visitor; South Carolina, Louisville has momentum, and more

The 2023-24 college basketball season has come to an end. This means the college basketball transfer portal is going full steam ahead. The transfer portal opened on March 18 for any player in college basketball to enter without penalty. That started the 45-day window that the portal would remain open. As of this writing, over 1,600 players have already submitted their paperwork to the NCAA.

Here is the latest intel on the recruitment of some of the top players who have entered the college basketball transfer portal.

F Cade Tyson, Belmont

INTEL: Cade Tyson went into the Transfer Portal and immediately his 36.5 percent shooting from three caught eyes. The 6-foot-7 forward from the Charlotte, North Carolina area took his first visit last weekend to Tennessee. His second visit is this weekend, to North Carolina. Heading into the visit to Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels carried momentum. While at Tennessee, there was talk of the success Dalton Knecht – another 6-foot-6/6-foot-7 transfer wing – had and by all accounts, the visit to Knoxville went well. In recently talking with one source close to the recruitment, heading into the weekend, they think Tyson ends up a Tar Heel. Based on the totality of the intel I have gathered, I have placed an RPM for Tyson to choose UNC. Continue to pay attention to the timing of a commitment and if he sets any more visits.

F Jordan Butler, Missouri

INTEL: Jordan Butler went into the transfer portal late Friday night. The 7-foot-0 freshman started 13 games for the Tigers this season, playing in 30 total games. Butler originally chose Missouri over Auburn and South Carolina. After he decommitted, one source reminded me that Butler’s mom played at South Carolina and that both parents graduated from the school. Based on the intel I have gotten, I have placed an RPM for Butler to ultimately choose South Carolina. He is the younger brother of former Florida State forward John Butler.

G Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin

INTEL: Earlier this week, once Chucky Hepburn entered the transfer portal, I wrote there was buzz surrounding Louisville. Hepburn is originally from Bellevue, Nebraska. While he fielded a lot of calls since joining the transfer portal, the momentum continues to build for Louisville. Hepburn will visit the Cardinals this coming week. A source close to the recruitment suggested that I watch this visit closely. With the intel I have gathered, I have placed an RPM for Hepburn to eventually choose Louisville.

Other Transfer Portal Recruiting Notes and Intel

G Dion Brown (UMBC) – Dion Brown is visiting Boston College this weekend. The 6-foot-3 guard earned first-team All-AEC honors this year after averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 rebounds. Brown is scheduled to visit Butler after his Boston College visit. A source close to the recruitment told me there was Boston College momentum heading into the visit. Brown is a Massachusetts native. Continue to watch that Butler visit and a timeline for a commitment.

G Deivon Smith (Utah) – Deivon Smith led the Pac-12 in assists last season at 7.1 When he entered the transfer portal on Friday, he instantly became one of the most coveted point guards listed. While things are still early, some of the programs I have been told are in contact with Smith include NC State (who he visited out of high school), Villanova, Kentucky, and Xavier. A source also told me that Danny Sprinkle will be hiring Utah assistant Demarlo Slocum. Smith is originally from Georgia. He started his college career at Mississippi State and played two seasons at Georgia Tech before joining Utah last season.

G Freddie Dilione (Tennessee) – A lot of the buzz around Freddie Dilione once he entered the Transfer portal was with Louisville. However, as time has passed, other programs have jumped into the picture. He was scheduled to take a visit to NC State last week, which did not end up happening. I am told that Dilione has a visit set for Penn State this week and that he is working to set a visit date with Louisville. Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades recruited Dilione out of high school and got a visit from him while at VCU. Dilione’s former high school coach and Athletics Director, Thomas Carr, is currently an assistant at Louisville. Both schools have long-standing relationships.

G Dakota Leffew (Mount St. Mary’s) – Dakota Leffew took visits to Syracuse and Villanova earlier in the week. He is on campus at South Carolina this weekend and he tells me he is schedule to visit Georgia early next week, who just gained a commitment from his Mount St. Mary’s backcourt mate De’Shayne Montgomery. Leffew had a final six schools that also included Pittsburgh and Xavier. Continue to pay attention to the visits and a commitment timeline. He is originally from Georgia.

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