As the transfer portal becomes the hotbed for recruiting, let’s take a look back at TCU’s best transfers during coach Dixon’s stint in Fort Worth.
In the present day, the transfer portal rules the collegiate basketball landscape. Although not as prevalent when Jamie Dixon took over for Trent Johnson in 2016, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has led to the transfer portal being arguably a more important recruiting pool than High School or AAU.
When Dixon first began coaching, homegrown products led the way. The Horned Frogs only rostered three transfers on the entire roster in 2016. Fast forward to this past season, and TCU suited up a mind-boggling 11 transfers. While the Horned Frogs have developed several top-notch talents such as Kenrich Williams, Desmond Bane, and Mike Miles Jr., we’ll instead focus on current and former Horned Frogs who began their careers elsewhere.
In these rankings, the focus will be on the following player’s career as a whole—which means longevity bests a singular season. Additionally, individual statistics, team success, and overall impact will determine where the 10 players are ranked.
10. Ernest Udeh Jr.
To kick things off, we have the only current player on the list, Ernest Udeh Jr. The former top-30 recruit began his career with the Kansas Jayhawks. At Kansas, Udeh Jr. saw the floor sparingly. He appeared in 30 games but accumulated just 249 minutes of action. In his lone season in Lawrence, the big man averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. After the top player in the 2023 Transfer Portal, Hunter Dickinson, committed to Kansas, Udeh Jr. himself tested the waters. Nearly three weeks after entering the portal, the former Jayhawk committed to TCU.
As a member of the Horned Frogs, Udeh Jr. played an integral role. He started all 29 games he appeared in and averaged 4.3 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds per game. While Udeh Jr. didn’t receive an abundance of playing time (17.3 minutes per game), he made the most of his limited action.
The athletic big man is far from refined, as he’s best suited as a lob threat and screener on offense. On defense, his athletic traits showed—yet inconsistently. Udeh Jr. averaged just 0.8 blocks per game despite displaying impressive verticality and a high motor. As Udeh Jr.’s career progresses, he may very well rank near the top of these rankings. As of now, his lack of awareness on both ends of the court holds him back from achieving his vast potential.
9. Avery Anderson III
Another player who made his debut season in 2023, Avery Anderson III is a local product who finished his collegiate career with the Horned Frogs. Anderson III played four seasons for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, three of which he averaged upwards of 11 points per game. The shifty point guard decided a change of scenery was best upon a graduate season, and he subsequently returned home to do so.
As a fifth-year senior, Anderson III began the season as a sixth-man, nearly interchangeable with another player further down the list. After coming off the bench for 11 consecutive games, the former Cowboy was thrust into the starting lineup. As a starter, Anderson III’s statistics remained relatively the same.
Although he had plenty of experience, mental lapses plagued the point guard. Anderson III is a skilled playmaker, yet turned the ball over frequently on offense and gambled far too often on defense. While gambling led to poor positioning, his lightning-quick hands forced plenty of turnovers. On offense, the athletic guard excelled when getting to the rim. Anderson III was a jump shot away from an above-average career.
8. Trey Tennyson
The best shooter on the list, last season’s Horned Frogs would’ve struggled without Trey Tennyson on the floor. The fifth-year senior could always shoot, however, the other aspects of his game forced him to play a season at the NJCAA level to progress his collegiate career. The sharpshooting guard began his career at Central Connecticut State before transferring to Ranger College. From there, Tennyson spent two seasons at Texas A&M Corpus Christi before finishing his career in Fort Worth—close to his Mansfield home.
Upon transferring to TCU, Tennyson was hardly a household name. He started the year playing about 20 minutes per game, not once attempting 10 field goals in any contest. Things changed as Coach Dixon realized that Tennyson’s shooting was necessary to win games. From Christmas Eve on, Tennyson started for the Horned Frogs.
His breakout game came against the second-ranked Jayhawks in early January. Tennyson knocked down six 3-pointers, scoring 24 points in the losing effort. After his big game, the sharpshooter remained consistent throughout the season. Although Coach Dixon moved Tennyson back to the bench in late February, his hot shooting continued. Tennyson knocked down 62 triples on the season, shooting 41.9 percent on his attempts from beyond the arc. His ball-handling and defense never stood out, but his shooting kept him on the floor.
7. Jameer Nelson Jr.
Yet another player from the new era of transfers, Jameer Nelson Jr. was one of the most coveted players in the 2023 transfer class. The younger Nelson came to TCU by the way of Delaware. Before his excellent two-season stint for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, he played at George Mason. Nelson Jr. averaged 20.6 points per game in his true senior season, leading to a top 10 transfer portal ranking. Nelson Jr. came to TCU to essentially replace the scoring void of Miles Jr.
Upon arrival, Nelson Jr. stepped into an alpha-scoring role. Playing alongside another player further down on the list, the TCU guard was expected to elevate the Horned Frogs’ offense. While he performed with consistency on the offensive end, he wasn’t nearly as lethal of a scorer as he was at Delaware. Nelson Jr. finished his fifth year averaging 11.2 points while canning 43.4 percent of his field goals. The Delaware product excelled in the open court and getting to the rim—however, his three-ball left much to be desired. Nelson Jr. knocked down only 30.6 percent of his looks from beyond the arc.
Aside from his scoring, Nelson Jr. was a solid playmaker. He averaged 3.3 assists per game, tying Anderson III for the top mark on last season’s squad. Although not the most well-rounded offensive player, Nelson Jr.’s defense was sound. He averaged 2.1 steals per game, the fourth most in the Big 12 a season ago. While Nelson Jr. was expected to make a larger contribution, he was still a valuable addition via the transfer portal.
6. Chuck O’Bannon Jr.
2017 top 30 recruit Chuck O’Bannon Jr. didn’t have one individual season as good as Nelson Jr., but his longevity reigns supreme. O’Bannon Jr. originally began his collegiate career at USC, seven years ago. Unfortunately, O’Bannon Jr.’s Trojan career was derailed due to injuries. He only appeared in 18 contests and hit the hardwood for 101 minutes. After the myriad of injuries, the lanky forward decided a move to Fort Worth was in his best interest.
In O’Bannon Jr.’s first season playing for the Horned Frogs, he played in nearly every game and averaged 6.8 points per game. From then on, O’Bannon Jr. proved to be a reliable contributor. He shot the ball well, hustled on both ends of the floor, and occasionally demonstrated his once highly-touted recruiting status by throwing down a monster jam or knocking down a tough outside shot. Over O’Bannon Jr.’s four seasons in Fort Worth, he was typically one of the best shooters on the team.
O’Bannon Jr.’s best season came in 2021-22. That year, he started a career-high 25 games and averaged 9.5 points and 4.2 boards per game. In the Horned Frogs’ narrow loss to Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, O’Bannon dropped a team-high 23 points and knocked down five 3-pointers. In his final season, the seventh-year forward’s role was inconsistent. He played a TCU career-low 14.5 minutes per game and played sparingly during a stretch in Big 12 play. Despite the erratic minutes, O’Bannon Jr. always played hard and helped the TCU offense by stretching the floor.
5. JaKobe Coles
JaKobe Coles and O’Bannon Jr.’s spots in the rankings are almost interchangeable. While O’Bannon played in purple for one more season than the former, Coles’ transformation into a valuable role player elevated his status. As is the theme with a majority of TCU’s transfers, Coles played his high school ball about 45 minutes away from Fort Worth. The crafty forward began his career at Butler before deciding to take his talents back down south.
In his first season at TCU, coming off a meniscus injury, Coles averaged just 2.7 points per game. However, the 2022-23 season saw a much-improved version of Coles. In 16.7 minutes per game, the forward averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Coles’ game improved mightily. He developed a consistent outside shot and refined his inside game. The former Bulldog also hit one of the biggest shots in TCU history. Coles hit the game-winner in TCU’s bout against Arizona State to advance to the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Entering his third year in Fort Worth, Coles began the season as the starting power forward. He began the season on a hot streak, scoring double-digits in six of TCU’s first seven games. However, an injury during the Hawaiian Airlines tournament sidelined Coles and sent him to the bench. After a slow start to begin conference play, Coles showed once again that he belonged. Although not a good athlete, Coles is an extremely crafty scorer. He has a fantastic pump fake and a soft touch around the rim. While Coles had an extra year of eligibility, he decided to use it elsewhere in 2024-25, committing to the University of Grand Canyon in April.
4. Damion Baugh
Finally, the first player on the list who didn’t play for the Horned Frogs last season. Damion Baugh spent last year suiting up for the South Bay Lakers after two impressive seasons in Fort Worth. Baugh, a four-star guard, committed to the University of Memphis out of high school. The point guard appeared in 57 games for the Tigers but averaged a mere 3.8 points per game. After Baugh’s sophomore season, he decided to team up with Miles Jr. in Fort Worth.
Baugh wasn’t an immediate starter, but he made his mark quickly under coach Dixon. Less than 10 games into his TCU career Baugh recorded a 13-point, 11-assist double-double. After his impressive performance, Baugh earned a heavy minutes role. In his first season donning purple, the slithery guard averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. The former Tiger failed to display any sort of consistency from beyond the arc, he shot just 27.0 percent as a junior. Furthermore, Baugh only connected on 41.9 percent of his goals.
As the lead guard, Baugh did a fantastic job of orchestrating the offense. He brought spectacular passing instincts to the table. He averaged 4.5 assists as a junior and 5.8 as a senior. Baugh’s senior season saw improvements across the board. He upped his scoring to 12.6 points, rebounding to 4.7, assists, and steals to 1.8 per game. Baugh never established himself as an efficient scorer, but he played in more of a pass-first role. On defense, the former TCU guard used his long wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and cause havoc on the perimeter.
3. Micah Peavy
Similar to O’Bannon and Coles, Micah Peavy’s placement is nearly interchangeable with Baugh’s. Perhaps it’s recency bias, but Peavy’s three-season stint in Fort Worth also propelled him over Baugh. After beginning his career playing for the rival, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Peavy moved east after a lone season in Lubbock. The athletic swingman didn’t display much of an improvement from his freshman to sophomore seasons. He played hard defense but didn’t offer much on the offensive end of the floor. Peavy’s biggest improvement came in between his junior and senior seasons.
After averaging 7.0 points and shooting 37.7 percent as a junior, Peavy’s averages jumped to 10.9 points and 45.8 percent, respectively. Besides his increase in scoring and efficiency, Peavy proved to be a willing playmaker. Earlier this season, the former Red Raider recorded the third triple-double in TCU history. Against Arizona State, Peavy put up 13 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists—putting his versatility on full display. The TCU wing was a reliable shot away from being a top-tier player.
Peavy’s defense was one of the biggest reasons he played more than 20 minutes per game every season under coach Dixon. For his size, he slid his feet extraordinarily well. Standing 6-foot-8, Peavy could defend up to four positions. He has the lateral quickness to defend point guards and the strength to defend power forwards. The former Horned Frog is a fantastic athlete who fit in well under Dixon’s system. Peavy played best in transition as he appeared comfortable both with and without the ball. Like Coles, Peavy had the opportunity to come back for Forth Worth for a fifth season. Instead of running it back, the defensive-minded guard decided to spend his final season playing for the Georgetown Hoyas.
2. Alex Robinson
The oldest player on the list, Alex Robinson suited up for the Horned Frogs from 2016 to 2019. TCU’s all-time assist leader transferred by way of Texas A&M after spending only one season in College Station. What made his decision to transfer so significant was by NCAA rules, Robinson was forced to sit out an entire season—which he did in 2015-16. Like many of the players on the list, Robinson played his high school ball locally, in Mansfield, about 30 minutes from TCU’s campus.
After sitting out an entire season, Robinson waltzed into a sizable role. From the get-go, he played nearly 30 minutes per game, despite coming off the bench. However, his reserve role didn’t last long as coach Dixon shifted the former Horned Frog into the starting lineup in December of his inaugural season in Fort Worth. As a redshirt sophomore, Robinson held averages of 11.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. Robinson helped revitalize the Horned Frogs basketball program. TCU won more than 20 games for the first time since the 2004-05 season. That same season, Robinson led TCU to an NIT Title, where he recorded a double-double in the championship game against Georgia Tech.
After a successful first season in Fort Worth, Robinson once again racked up the assists on a successful Horned Frogs squad. TCU won 21 games and earned an NCAA Tournament birth for the first time since 1998. That season, Robinson averaged 9.7 points and 6.1 assists per game. The pass-first point guard’s best season came as a senior. Once again, he led the Horned Frogs to an NIT Tournament birth. This time, TCU came up short, losing in the finals to the Texas Longhorns. Although the season ended in relative heartbreak, Robinson etched his name into the TCU record books. He’s the Horned Frogs’ leader in assists in a game, season, and career. Robinson finished his TCU collegiate career appearing in 107 games and averaging 11.2 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
1. Emanuel Miller
Perhaps the most endearing player in recent memory, Emanuel Miller was the heart and soul of the Horned Frogs ever since he stepped foot in the Schollmaier in 2021. The Toronto-born forward began his career lacing ‘em up for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2019. After two successful seasons in College Station, Miller announced his decision to transfer to TCU. His impact was immediately felt on coach Dixon’s squad. Miller’s hustle, attitude, and determination sparked one of the most successful runs in TCU history. In every season Miller played for TCU he made the NCAA Tournament.
As a junior, Miller averaged 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. His game was predicated on offensive rebounds and cuts. On defense, he held his own and consistently matched up with the opposing team’s best forward. A season later, Miller upped his point production to 12.3 points per game and canned a career-high 39.2 percent of his looks from downtown—albeit on low volume. The athletic forward’s best season came in 2023-24, as he was thrust into the alpha role for the Horned Frogs. This past season, Miller averaged 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. The former Aggie cashed in on 48.6 percent of his field goals and 38.3 percent of his triples.
While his statistical progression was somewhat minimal, the advancements in his game were not. Miller turned into a well-versed scorer. In his inaugural season in Fort Worth, the former TCU forward was an uncomfortable shooter and only scored using an opportunistic approach. As a fifth-year senior, Miller was the go-to guy on offense. He hit numerous big-time shots and provided an unmatched level of consistency. Of Miller’s accomplishments, he ranks 16th all-time in scoring, fifth in offensive rebounds, sixth in player efficiency rating, and fifth in win shares.