As the sun sets on the 2025-26 NCAA basketball season, Murray State gears up for next year, as multiple players from both the men’s and women’s teams are prepared to leave and join the team over the offseason. 

An inevitable part of every season, the transfer portal has brought many hopeful young players the opportunity to show their talent on a greater stage than before. Let’s take a look at some of these young hopefuls, and analyze the team’s additions and subtractions ahead of the 2026-27 NCAA season.

Men’s Basketball

OUTGOING – KJ Tenner; G-Soph.

Tenner saw greater opportunity in his second year, playing all 33 games for the Racers while starting in seven for the first time in his career. Tenner’s numbers increased across the board following this rise in playing time; the young guard saw his offensive output double, increasing his points-per-game average to six. Tenner also showed off his range, shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc throughout the year. Tenner announced in a tweet on April 18 that he intends to join UTSA for the upcoming season. (averaged six points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game)

OUTGOING – Tristan Ford; G-Fre.

While he did not see any playing time in his 2025-26 freshman year with the Racers, Ford still shows plenty of offensive potential. Ford built his hype through playing at the Chicago Prep Academy, including a junior year that saw him average 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds a game. Ford now looks to take his talents to the Atlantic 10 conference, looking to find more playing time with his new school, the University of Dayton. (no stats recorded in 2025-26)

OUTGOING – Brock Vice; F-Soph.

While not an everyday starter for the Racers in 2025-26, Vice improved his numbers across the board with an expanded role in his second year. After appearing in only five games in his freshman year, Vice played in 30 this season, shooting over 60% from the field in his time on the court. Standing at 6 ’10”, 238 lbs., the reserve forward has the physical gifts to make an impact on most NCAA rosters, but hopes to find an expanded role on both sides of the ball with a change of scenery. Vice announced his intentions to transfer to Kansas State on Wednesday, April 8. (averaged two points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game)

OUTGOING – Layne Taylor; G-Soph.

While he wasn’t able to maintain the level of point production seen during his freshman year at Central Arkansas, Taylor still played a pivotal role in leading the Racers to a fourth-place conference finish in 2025-26. Taylor put up eight points per game for the team while shooting 40.8% from the field in 31 games throughout the year. He also started in 26 of these games. While Taylor has yet to replicate his 2024-25 freshman year that put him on the map nationally, he still has a lot left in the tank to give a team that’s willing to take a chance on the young guard. (averaged eight points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game)

INCOMING – Brigham Rogers; F-Jun. (previous school: Belmont)

Rogers showed a propensity for consistent inside-the-paint play, seeing a statistical increase in each of his three seasons with the Bruins. He brought his point-per-game average to above seven in his junior year with the team. Scoring efficiency also proves one of Rogers’ greatest strengths, as he comes off of a 2025-26 season that saw him shoot over 70% from the field, almost 20% higher than the Racers’ most efficient scorer. Starting 51 of his last 99 games with Belmont, Rogers also brings consistency to a Racer team which has seen multiple key departures. (averaged 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists)

INCOMING – Shon Tupuola; C-Jun. (previous school: Valparaiso)

Tupuola saw a major role increase in his junior season with Valparaiso. He was a steady presence in the paint for the Beacons, averaging over six points per game and almost six rebounds a game. Tupuola also brings rim protection to a team with a high turnover at the center position, putting up 1.3 blocks per game in the previous year. While the loss of graduating center and major team presence Fred King leaves a glaring hole in the five spot for the upcoming season, Tupuola is ready to take on the load as the team’s anchor in the paint. (averaged 6.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game)

Women’s Basketball

OUTGOING – Gabby Spink; G-Fre. 

While Spink did not see the court much for the Racers in her rookie season, with only four appearances throughout the year, she still holds lots of potential as an offensive facilitator. Spink holds the single-season points record for Gibson Southern High School, as well as both the career and single-season assists records. Spink has yet to show her offensive potential on a consistent basis at the collegiate level, however, her scoring and playmaking abilities are sure to have an impact for St. Louis University, her next team, going forward. (averaged one point, 0.2 rebounds and no assists per game)

OUTGOING – Jada Cook; G-Soph.

Cook’s sophomore year saw a considerable increase in minutes played, giving her the opportunity to show her versatility on both sides of the ball. Cook averaged 2.6 points in 16.6  minutes played per game this season, along with 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals. Most unusually for a guard, Cook also averaged 2.2 rebounds per game, showing an ability to play both sides of the court. Cook fits the profile of any team looking for a two-way guard. (averaged 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game)

OUTGOING – Braxcynn Baker; G-Soph.

While Baker saw an increase in minutes played in 2026-27, her scoring output did not. Baker put up 4.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 2025-26, however, she saw both her field goal and three-point percentages decline. Despite these offensive struggles, Baker still holds offensive potential as a scoring threat for a school looking to take a chance on an all-around guard. (averaged 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game)

INCOMING –  Claire Johnson; G-Soph. (previous school: Nebraska)

Johnson joins Murray State for her upcoming junior season, hoping to see an increased role with her new team. Despite a freshman season that saw Johnson score over 12 points per game, she saw her minutes played per game decrease from 26 to 10.5 minutes per game. The Paducah, Kentucky, native looks to display her scoring ability with an increased role in her third year. (averaged 3.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game)

INCOMING – Sydney Huber; G-Fre. (previous school: Evansville)

Huber had a successful freshman year with the Purple Aces, showing off multiple aspects of her game. Huber put up 8.5 points per game in 28.3 minutes played for the team, shooting 37.7% from the field and 34.8% from three. Huber also put up 2.4 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game and 0.6 steals per game. Huber looks to improve her game on all fronts with further opportunities on the Racers. (averaged 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists)

While the Racers are set to see almost half of their previous year’s team move on, there is renewed hope in their young core, built around a mix of new and returning faces. Possibly the most surprising of all, freshman guard Roman Domon decided to stay in Murray following a breakout freshman year in 2025-26. Despite these changes, there is a lot to look forward to for the Racers in 2026-27, as this squad looks to reign over the MVC once again in head coach Ryan Miller’s second season with the team.