Head coach Mark Byington’s first season with Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball went extremely well, finishing the year with a record of 20-13 that included five ranked wins and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2017. When he first took the job, Byington went to work in the transfer portal and rebuilt his entire roster through it.

Last year, seven of Byington’s nine-man rotation were acquired via the transfer portal, including returning stars Devin McGlockton and Tyler Nickel. The team, however, lost many key players, either to the portal, graduation or the NBA ranks. To fill out the roster, Byington again looked to the transfer portal in 2025.

After weeks of intense recruiting, Byington landed eight transfer commits, giving the Commodores the No. 49 transfer class in the nation. With this massive class, Vanderbilt’s rotation will be completely different and potentially play a different style of basketball — featuring size and athleticism that the team lacked last year. Byington and Co. have an opportunity to be true SEC contenders this season.

Filling the shoes

Last year, Vanderbilt’s offense was centered around two ball-dominant guards — Jason Edwards and AJ Hoggard. Edwards was one of the most prolific scorers in the SEC, with elite shot-creating ability and a creative touch around the rim. Hoggard was Byington’s primary ballhandler and offensive pacesetter. To offset the loss of these two, Byington brought in Frankie Collins and Duke Miles.

Coming over from TCU, Collins is a seasoned college basketball veteran who has played for four years at three different schools. He most notably played two years as the point guard for Arizona State before transferring to TCU last year, where he appeared in only nine games before being sidelined by a broken foot. In 75 career starts, he averaged 11.6 points per game, primarily scoring around the rim, where his floater serves as an efficient and reliable weapon.

Like Hoggard, Collins can control the pace of the game with his dribble and thrives moving around screens in the pick-and-roll game. Despite standing just 6’1, he is also a stout on-ball defender and is very physical against players attacking the paint — something Vanderbilt lacked at point guard last season. Collins is also extremely efficient at running fast breaks and finding open teammates in motion, and his experience and fundamentals will make him instantly impactful in Byington’s locker room and rotation.

Miles is a lengthy combo-guard who is transferring from Oklahoma. He is a lights-out shooter who hit 51.4 percent of his field goals and 43 percent of his 3-point attempts last year. Playing alongside lottery pick Jeremiah Fears in the Sooner backcourt, he was mostly positioned off the ball; however, when given opportunities, he showcased an aggressive driving ability and elite passing touch. His knockdown shooting will enhance the Commodores’ perimeter game, as they made only 32 percent of their 3-pointers in 2024-25. Defensively, Miles frequently picks up opposing ball carriers and thrives in pressing situations, where his long wingspan helps him poke the ball loose and trap his matchups.

Size matters

Last season, one of the Commodores’ biggest weaknesses was their lack of size. Their centers were McGlockton (6’7) and Jaylen Carey (6’8), who were often towered over in SEC play. As a result, Vanderbilt struggled to get rebounds and finished the season in the bottom quarter of Division I schools on the defensive glass. To prevent this from happening again, Byington made it a priority to bring in a lot of height this off-season.

Leading the charge in this effort is Jalen Washington, a transfer from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Washington struggled to get consistent minutes in his three years as a Tar Heel but was incredibly impactful when playing. He’s a big, physical presence on the court who thrives in pick-and-roll offensive sets. He is an excellent screener who can create space and driving lanes for his guards by drawing in defenders from the perimeter with his cuts inside. The senior from Gary, Indiana, is very good at positioning himself inside the paint for layups and offensive rebounds.

Standing at 6’9, Mason Nicholson is a classic post-up center. His 307-pound frame makes him difficult to box out, and he averaged 7.4 rebounds per game last year for Jacksonville State. He is also a stout rim protector who has high vertical elevation for his size. Nicholson can give Byington key minutes when additional size is needed, though his lack of speed may limit him in fast-paced SEC play.

Winging it

Byington loves to run a spread-out, pass-first offense. In the portal, he signed several talented wings to provide versatility for a variety of matchups. Each of the three wings brought in has a unique skillset and complements Nickel’s game.

Coming over from Cornell, AK Okereke is a muscular, physical athlete who can play both in the paint and around the perimeter. Last year for the Big Red, he averaged 13.8 points per game on 59.5 percent shooting. Most of his scoring came from attacking the paint, where his pump-fake and rip-through moves allowed him to create space in isolation. He is an elite finisher at the hoop, especially with his right hand, and often dunks with authority.

While Okereke’s dribble was effective against Ivy League competition, expect him to be utilized more off the ball while donning the black and gold. His backdoor cutting ability will allow Vanderbilt’s guards to find him for easy looks around the rim, and his 244-pound frame also makes him a force when he gets the ball in the post.

Last season, Tyler Harris of Washington was one of the nation’s best 3-point marksmen, knocking down 49.5 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Now in Nashville, Harris will play a key role as a catch-and-shoot specialist who will give opposing coaches headaches. His 6’7 frame allows him to shoot over defenders, and his wingspan further elevates his release. Look for Harris to deliver clutch shooting all season long for the Commodores.

Rounding out the transfer class, Mike James is a fierce perimeter defender who can also score. He did not play last year as a member of North Carolina State but was productive the season before at Louisville, averaging 12.8 points in 32 starts. Offensively, he thrives at creating the space for himself off-the-dribble, giving Byington flexibility in slower-paced sets. Defensively, James is aggressive in close-outs, which will be beneficial to the Commodores, who were the worst team in the SEC at defending the 3-point shot last year. Though only 6’4, he is a great rebounder who works his way to crash the glass from the perimeter, putting up five boards per game in his sophomore season as a Cardinal.

This transfer class is immensely talented and will make up most of Vanderbilt’s rotation this year. It will allow Byington to play versatile basketball, each bringing a different look to the floor.

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball opens its season against Lipscomb on Monday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. CST in Memorial Gymnasium.