RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The 2025 transfer portal for college basketball opened Monday as the NCAA Tournament takes a break between the second round and Sweet 16.
With North Carolina bounced out of the tournament after the first round and NC State missing the postseason entirely, players are expected to start announcing their decisions to transfer over the coming days. Duke players, on the other hand, will likely wait until after the Blue Devils’ tournament run comes to an end. The team is currently preparing for a Sweet 16 matchup against Arizona on Friday night.
Wolfpack big man Ben Middlebrooks was the first Triangle player from an Atlantic Coast Conference school to enter the transfer portal, doing so Monday not long after it opened. Middlebrooks’ decision came one day before Will Wade was officially introduced as NC State’s new head coach.
The transfer portal window is set to close on April 24 after being open for 30 days, which is 15 days shorter than the 45-day period in previous years. Here’s the running list of players from NC State, UNC and Duke in the portal along with the date they declared their intent to leave their current programs.
NC State
Ben Middlebrooks, forward – March 24
The 6’10” forward spent the last two seasons with the Wolfpack after transferring from Clemson, where he played his first two seasons. Middlebrooks served as a backup to DJ Burns during NC State’s run to the ACC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament Final Four last season.
Dennis Parker Jr., guard – March 25
The sophomore from Richmond, Va. spent two seasons with NC State. This past season, the 6’6″ guard averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in limited minutes for the Wolfpack.
Bryce Heard, guard – March 25
The 6’5″ freshman from Chicago averaged just 6.3 minutes in 24 games for the Wolfpack this season.
Marcus Hill, guard – March 26
The 6’4″ senior spent the past season with the Wolfpack after transferring from Bowling Green. Hill started 25 games for NC State, averaging 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Ismael Diouf, forward – March 26
During his one season at NC State, the 6’9″ forward from Canada only played in 18 games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.
UNC
Elliot Cadeau, guard – March 25
The 6’1″ point guard was a heralded high school recruit out of New Jersey two seasons ago and anchored the backcourt with RJ Davis following Caleb Love’s transfer to Arizona. Cadeau ranked second in assists in the ACC this past season with 231, but also turned the ball over 113 times, which was the worst in the league.
Jalen Washington, forward – March 25
In his three seasons with the Tar Heels, the 6’10” junior played in 93 games, starting 16 of them. Washington averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds this past season.