Notable players that new Stanford Cardinal coach Kyle Smith could target in the transfer portal

Kevin Borba | Apr 1, 2024

Mar 14, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Brandon Angel (23) enters the court / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Smith is fresh off his best season at Washington State, but has a major rebuild ahead of him as the new head coach of Stanford's basketball program.

As it stands right now, Stanford has lost their entire starting five to the transfer portal or graduation, and has lost three of their role players off the bench as well. Among the more notable names that are leaving as of right now is leading scorer Maxime Raynaud who ranks as the best available player in the portal. Andrej Stojakovic and Kanaan Carlyle are also in the portal, which means a return for the three of them is possible but remains to be seen.

Regardless of whether they return or not, Smith will still have his hands full building his first roster in Palo Alto, which will likely have to come from the portal unless he can get into the mix in unfinished recruitments. Here are some notable transfer portal players that Stanford has or could reach out to.

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Feb 24, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears forward Grant Newell (14) rebounds / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Grant Newell, Forward, Cal

Right across the Bay is former Cal forward Grant Newell who spent the past two seasons with the Golden Bears. He is someone that Smith has already targeted in the portal, and offers some size at 6-foot-9. He saw his numbers take a step back this season, but is averaging 6.8 points and nearly four rebounds over the course of his career. He doesn't have the best shooting numbers with a career40/28/60 split, but Smith may be able to use him in other ways.

Belmont guard Cade Tyson (10) shoots over Lipscomb guard Derrin Boyd (4) during the second half at / Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA

Cade Tyson, Forward, Belmont

The Belmont transfer is one of the hottest names in the portal right now and has reportedly received interest from programs such as Kansas, Villanova, Texas, and Oregon among many others. Stanford was among those programs to reach out, and it's no surprise why. He lit it up this season for the Bruins, averaging 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 49% from the field and 46% from three. On3 ranks him as the No. 39 transfer, and if Stanford were in fact to land him he'd likely emerge as the top scoring option right away.

NEWS: Belmont sophomore Cade Tyson has entered the transfer portal, a source tells @247SportsPortal.

One of the best shooters in the country, drilling 46.5% of his 5.5 attempts from three per game. Averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/p23Rdx5Vxk

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) March 25, 2024

Dec 20, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; UC San Diego Tritons guard Bryce Pope (4) reacts ahead of / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Pope, Guard, UC San Diego

Bryce Pope is one of the first players that Smith reportedly reached out to, and they are not the only program interested in the dynamic scorer from San Diego. He has reportedly also been contacted by Texas, Creighton, Florida State, UCLA, and NC State among others. This past season he put up over 18 points per game on 41% shooting from the field and 33% from three. He played a ton of minutes for the Tritons, logging over 35 per game, and clearly has the ability to be the primary scoring option. Unlike the other two players on this list, he is a senior which means getting into Stanford as a grad transfer could be the one thing that prevents this.

UC San Diego guard Bryce Pope (@bpopesd1) announced earlier today his intention to enter the transfer portal.

The grad transfer averaged 18.3 points per game last season was named to the All-Big West First Team.

Pope will likely get some P6 looks. pic.twitter.com/JtRthYwcr4

— Luke Chaney (@lukechaney247) March 25, 2024

Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Conor Enright (4) shoots against Washington State / Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Conor Enright, Guard, Drake

Shooting is a premium these days in basketball and Drake transfer Conor Enright shot an impressive 43% from deep this season for the Bulldogs. He averaged nearly seven points per game, and was actually on the team that Washington State sent packing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Clearly, there was a facet of Enright's game that stuck out to Smith as they have been in contact. He would provide shooting, hustle and grit, and most importantly some experience for a Stanford squad that will need all the help they can get.

The SWAT. The LOB.

Conor Enright is everywhere for @DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/2jjGiS5TAF

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 19, 2023

Mar 24, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; Yale Bulldogs forward Danny Wolf (1) shoots the ball in the first / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Danny Wolf, Forward, Yale

Academically, Danny Wolf should check all of the boxes for Stanford's admissions department especially since he isn't a grad transfer. On the court, he is one of the top available portal players. On3 ranks him as the No. 6 player in the country, and it's no secret why. He offers size as a 7-footer, but can also stretch the floor. He helped the Bulldogs win the Ivy League with his 14 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, while also shooting 34% from three. He reportedly entered the portal with a do not contact tag, which means he has an idea of where he wants to go, but if Stanford was a program he'd consider, that'd be a tremendous get.

🇮🇱 Danny Wolf has entered the portal with 2 to play

14.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 BPG in a breakout sophomore campaign with Yale

7-footer with guard-like ball handling skills and inside-out scoring prowess

Gigantic addition to the portalpic.twitter.com/rmhdVqilkM

— CBB Europe (@CBB_Europe) March 29, 2024

Indiana Hoosiers guard Gabe Cupps (2) defends Harvard Crimson guard Malik Mack (2) during the game / Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times / USA TODAY

Malik Mack, Guard, Harvard

Another young Ivy transfer, Malik Mack, was the Ivy Rookie of the Year this past season for Harvard and is now one of the most sought-after players in the portal. On3 has him as the No. 11 player in the portal which means that programs from all over are likely after him, and if you are Stanford, you absolutely need to take a shot here. He put up over 17 points per game and also dished out nearly five assists per game. Stanford has three-star Elijah Crawford coming in, but having a veteran who can run the offense would take a lot of pressure off of Crawford. It also gives Stanford someone that can create for himself and those around him.

Harvard freshman Malik Mack has entered the transfer portal.

Mack averaged 17.2 PPG and 4.8 APG

pic.twitter.com/cJxFOeetZt

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 26, 2024