NASHVILLE---Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and company have opted to go a different route in regard to the way they've approached the transfer portal and who they're opting to prioritize in it. As a result, they'll have a different looking roster in 2025-26 than they did in 2024-25.

Vanderbilt's staff doesn't yet know if its portal class is complete, a source told Vandy on SI, because of Tyler Tanner's stay-or-go decision and AK Okereke's petition to get an extra year of eligibility. If this is it, here's a few superlatives in regard to its class.

Most meaningful addition: Bangot Dak

Bangot Dak was perhaps Vanderbilt's most highly-compensated transfer. | Dak

Vanderbilt had yet to land a truly game-changing big man in the Mark Byington tenure prior to Dak’s commitment, but it no longer has that issue.

Dak is Byington’s first 7-footer at Vanderbilt and is a unicorn of sorts in that he can play on the perimeter, handle the ball and put it on the deck.…