THE RILEY WALLACE AWARD

March 12, 2026
 

FINALISTS FOR 2025-26 RILEY WALLACE AWARD
The most impactful transfers in division I college basketball

BOSTON, MA -- CollegeInsider.com has announced the finalists for the 2025-26 Riley Wallace award. The award is presented annually to the most impactful transfer in division I college basketball.

The award is named in honor of the longtime Hawaii coach. During his coaching career at Hawaii, Riley Wallace welcomed many transfers into the program and became the winningest coach in program history. Wallace guided Hawaii to nine postseason appearances, including a school-record streak of four straight from 2001-04.

The Warriors appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times under Wallace and have been invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on six occasions. Prior to his arrival, the program had just one NCAA appearance and two trips to the NIT.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.


RILEY WALLACE AWARD FINALISTS

Miles Barnstable

6-2

Sr.

Tulsa

Ryan Conwell

6-4

Sr.

Louisville

Melvin Council, Jr.

6-4

Sr.

Kansas

Jlynn Counter

6-3

Sr.

Charleston

Josiah Davis

6-3

Sr.

CSUN

Silas Demary, Jr.

6-4

Jr.

UConn

Tre Donaldson

6-3

Sr.

Miami

Themus Fulks

6-2

Sr.

UCF

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

6-1

Jr.

UNLV

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

6-1

Sr.

Tennessee

DeSean Goode

6-8

So.

Robert Morris

Trey Green

6-0

So.

Saint Louis

Chaze Harris

6-6

Sr.

Alabama

Dante Harris

6-0

Sr.

Tennessee State

Dontae Horne

6-4

Sr.

Prairie View

Camren Hunter

6-3

Sr.

Central Arkansas

Isaac Johnson

7-0

Sr.

Hawaii

Yaxel Lendeborg

6-9

Sr.

Michigan

Rob Martin

5-10

Sr.

High Point

Hamad Mousa

6-8

So.

Cal Poly

Collin Parker

6-8

Sr.

Austin Peay

Ethan Potter

6-8

Sr.

Utah Tech

TJ Power

6-9

Jr.

Penn

Brody Robinson

5-11

Sr.

Oakland

Pryce Sandfort

6-7

Jr.

Nebraska

Ernest Shelton

6-5

Jr.

Merrimack

Bennett Stirtz

6-4

Sr.

Iowa

Cedric Taylor III

6-7

Jr.

Howard

Henri Veesaar

7-0

Jr.

North Carolina

Patrick Wesler

7-1

Jr.

UNCW

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
JT Toppin, Texas Tech (2025), Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (2024); Blake Hinson, Pittsburgh (2023); Brady Manek, North Carolina (2022); Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley (2021); Elijah Burns, Siena (2020); Rapolas Ivanauskas, Colgate (2019); Wes Clark, Buffalo (2018); Chima Moneke, UC Davis (2017); Grandy Glaze, Grand Canyon (2016); Mike Myers, UMES (2015).

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The Riley Wallace award is presented annually to the top transfer in division I college basketball. 
 
During his coaching career at Hawaii, Wallace welcomed many transfers into the program and became the winningest coach in Hawaii history. Wallace guided Hawaii to nine postseason appearances, including a school-record streak of four straight from 2001-04. 
 
The Warriors appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times under Wallace and have been invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on six occasions. Prior to his arrival, the program had just one NCAA appearance and two trips to the NIT.
 
The Riley Wallace award voting panel is made up of current division I coaches, athletic administrators, and senior College Insider staff members.  The recipient of the 2025-26 award will be announced in April, Indianapolis, IN site of the men's Division I NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Riley Wallace award is presented annually to the most impactful transfer player in division I college basketball, as voted on by the award committee.  

Eligible players include transfers from other division I programs, the JUCO ranks and all other levels of college basketball. 

The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

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