ASU Basketball Adds Transfers, Loses Key Players

Randy Bennett's first offseason at Arizona State sees roster overhaul through the transfer portal

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented scenes of a college basketball game or practice, with sharp planes of navy blue, maroon, and gold overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.Arizona State's roster overhaul through the transfer portal signals a new era under coach Randy Bennett.Baton Rouge Today

Arizona State men's basketball has been active in the transfer portal this offseason, adding several new players while also seeing key contributors from last season depart the program. New head coach Randy Bennett has brought in transfers like Marcus Vaughns from LSU and Nate Garcia from Cal Baptist, while the Sun Devils have lost players like Pig Johnson, Trevor Best, and Santiago Trouet.

Why it matters

The transfer portal has become a crucial part of roster building in college basketball, and Arizona State's activity reflects the significant changes underway as Bennett takes over the program. The additions of experienced players like Vaughns and Garcia could help offset the losses of key contributors from last season, as Bennett looks to quickly rebuild the Sun Devils into a contender in the Pac-12.

The details

Arizona State has added several transfers, including wing Marcus Vaughns from LSU, 7-foot center Nate Garcia from Cal Baptist, and JRob Croy, the No. 124 recruit in the 2026 class, who flipped his commitment from Saint Mary's to ASU. The Sun Devils have also hosted other potential transfer targets like Boise State's Andrew Meadow and Saint Mary's Dillan Shaw. Meanwhile, ASU has seen several key players from last season enter the portal, including sixth man Pig Johnson, Trevor Best, Santiago Trouet, Massamba Diop, Noah Meeusen, Kash Polk, Adante' Holiman, and Marcus Adams Jr.

  • On April 10, ASU added LSU transfer Marcus Vaughns.
  • On April 11, ASU added Cal Baptist transfer Nate Garcia.
  • On April 13, ASU added Gonzaga transfer Emmanuel Innocenti.

The players

Marcus Vaughns

A wing transfer from LSU who followed his associate head coach David Patrick to ASU.

Nate Garcia

A 7-foot transfer from Cal Baptist who followed his head coach Rick Croy to ASU.

JRob Croy

The No. 124 recruit in the 2026 class who flipped his commitment from Saint Mary's to ASU.

Pig Johnson

ASU's sixth man last season who was the team's third-leading scorer at 13.2 points per game.

Trevor Best

A guard who appeared in 29 games over the past season and a half after joining ASU between semesters in 2024-25.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build a roster that can compete at the highest level in the Pac-12 and nationally.”

— Randy Bennett, Head Coach, Arizona State Men's Basketball

What’s next

ASU will continue to monitor the transfer portal and look to add more pieces to the roster as Bennett works to quickly rebuild the program.

The takeaway

Arizona State's active offseason in the transfer portal reflects the significant changes underway as Randy Bennett takes over the program. The additions of experienced players like Vaughns and Garcia could help offset the losses of key contributors, but Bennett faces a major challenge in quickly rebuilding the Sun Devils into a Pac-12 contender.