Texas basketball has to be incredibly aggressive throughout this year's transfer portal, as it's losing quite a few crucial players this offseason at guard. Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope, and Chendall Weaver all ran out of eligibility at the conclusion of their 2026 NCAA Tournament run.
Luckily for Sean Miller and Co., the transfer portal is chock-full of starting-quality guards this year, and one specific player, Wisconsin's John Blackwell, should be (and likely is) at the top of their wish list.
The 6'4", 205-pound guard was the Badgers' best player in 2025, and he helped carry them to a 2026 NCAA Tournament birth before being shocked in round one by High Point.
NEW: Wisconsin guard John Blackwell plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process, @jeffborzello reports.
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) April 6, 2026
Blackwell averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this past season.https://t.co/EAFiKSDhAc pic.twitter.com/y42ZXPuJav
Blackwell averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43% from the floor as a junior in 2025/2026. He also improved as a three-point shooter last season, increasing his overall volume to 7.3 attempts per game from 4.9 as a sophomore, while also increasing his make percentage to 39% from 32%.
Blackwell would be able to immediately come in and take some of the scoring pressure off of Dailyn Swain in 2026, while at the same time replacing most of Jordan Pope's production from the three-point line.
He's also an incredibly gritty and physical player when it comes to rebounding and attacking the basket. He's built incredibly well and plays like he weighs more than just his listed weight of 205 lbs. When it comes to driving to the rim, he looks like more of a wing in terms of his ability to rise up and fight his way through opposing frontcourts.
Blackwell, alongside other transfer portal guards such as Colorado's Isaiah Johnson, USF's Wes Ennis, and Toledo's Leroy Blyden Jr. all have the ability to take the SEC by storm if this coaching staff can persuade them to Austin.