OSU Basketball: Potential College Basketball Transfer Portal Targets

Finding players in the portal is critical for this Cowboys basketball program.

Miami v Notre Dame / Justin Casterline/GettyImages

While Oklahoma State hasn’t secured it’s next head coach for the basketball program, the team can’t stall out as a crucial period of the offseason is here. Mike Boynton is out as the Cowboys’ head coach, but his assistant coaching staff remains in Stillwater until a new head coach is found.

As things stand now, though there is plenty of time left in the transfer portal opening, the Cowboys have seen three outgoing transfers leave Stillwater. Freshman center Brandon Garrison is arguably the most crucial departing player, with Javon Small and walk-on guard Naz Brown also leaving the program.

While Garrison and Small both leaving the program really hurts, a new era is on the way anyways. With a new coach coming in, one guard signed to join the program, a roster face lift in the transfer portal is much needed.

Four-star guard Jeremiah Johnson is the lone incoming player in the 2024 recruiting class. The assistant coaches in Stillwater, likely looking to be retained on the new coaching staff, can help recruit guys out of the portal to keep things fluid around the program.

Dakota Leffew, Mount St. Mary’s

One issue with the roster Boynton constructed for the 2023-24 season was a lack of age an experience. Four freshman – Eric Dailey, Connor Dow, Brandon Garrison and Jamyron Keller – each were involved in the team’s rotation. Leffew is transferring after playing four seasons at Mount St. Mary’s. With plenty of experience, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 17.6 points per game last season, which marked a career-best.

Leffew shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, and would provide two things the Cowboys desperately need to compete in the Big 12 – veteran experience and solid guard play. 

Bensley Joseph, Miami

As mentioned, guard depth truly matters in the Big 12. Having Jamyron Keller back after gaining a year of valuable experience will be huge, should he stay, but adding more and more impactful guards is incredibly important. Joseph has played four seasons of college basketball and averaged 9.7 points and 3.4 assists per game for Miami last season. The 6-foot-2 junior saw an improved role, and coming to a program like Oklahoma State would offer an even more expanded role.

For Joseph, the idea of expanded opportunity could help him prove his guard skills even more and allow him to play a solid role in the offense.

Amari Williams, Drexel

The Cowboys have reportedly already reached out to Williams, proving the assistant coaching staff is hard at work. Williams is a 6-foot-10 big man who averaged 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game a season ago. 

With Garrison transferring out, Williams would fill the big man void in the starting role while giving him valuable Power Four experience as he tries to make the jump to the NBA. He’s currently entering the draft while also putting his name into the portal, keeping all options open.

Oklahoma State provides a clear path to a starting role combined with the toughest basketball conference to prove his worthiness to play NBA basketball.

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