Allen Graves has entered the transfer portal after a breakout freshman season with the Santa Clara Broncos. The forward will have no shortage of options in the coming weeks as he has also declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
Graves was one of the standout players for the Broncos, who nearly pulled off a stunning upset against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He scored 17 points and 7 rebounds in the overtime loss, and averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 assists per game this season.
The NBA could also come calling for Graves, whose camp is likely waiting to see his draft stock before making a final decision on his future. But if he stays in college basketball next season, here are three possible landing spots for the 19-year-old.
LSU Could Give Allen Graves a Homecoming
Graves hails from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and the opportunity to play in his home state may prove to be too good to pass up. LSU is in the midst of an upheaval, and head coach Will Wade is looking to build a roster capable of competing at the highest level as he returns for a second stint with the Tigers.
LSU’s pitch will likely be that Graves could lead the Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in front of his friends and family. He would be the face of the program.
But the question remains whether a team that finished at the bottom of the SEC standings this season and failed to make the NCAA Tournament this year can turn things around and be competitive from the get-go. One thing is for sure: Graves would be the star player if he decides to move to LSU.
Kentucky Could Give Graves a Platform To Shine
An SEC team with rich NCAA Tournament history, Kentucky knows all about Graves as he nearly knocked the Wildcats out in the first round this year.
The Wildcats are desperate to bolster their frontcourt after losing Andrija Jelavić and Mouhamed Dioubate to the transfer portal. Graves, who shot 41.3% from beyond the 3-point arc, would give the team a versatile forward who is also a capable shooter.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
Graves could be a leader for a Kentucky team that is set for a big overhaul this offseason after losing top scorers Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen. Playing in the SEC for a team with such a rich history could be hard to turn down for Graves if he decides to stay in college basketball for another year to further build his NBA draft stock.
Could Graves Replace Cameron Boozer at Duke?
This may be a long shot, but Duke would make a lot of sense for Graves, with the Blue Devils likely losing Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II to the NBA this summer.
Duke has also produced college basketball superstars in back-to-back years with Boozer and Cooper Flagg, and could offer Graves the opportunity to become the program’s next big name.
The question remains: does Duke feel the need to bolster its roster via the transfer portal after already recruiting two five-star prospects in Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard?
But if Duke decides it needs a big name to lead the team next season, Graves would make a lot of sense. And a move to Duke would also give the forward the opportunity to further build his NBA stock and overall brand.
