2024 Transfer Portal news

[Da Coach]

Tobi Okani of UIC has just entered the transfer portal. He is a senior, but has one more year of eligibility with his Covid year - https://verbalcommits.com/players/toby-okani
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...873/toby-okani

With UIC firing their head coach Luke Yaklich, there may be even more players transfer.

A couple other MVC players who just entered the portal-
Murray State 6'10" junior forward Malek Abdelgowad. He didn't play much and averaged 3.5 ppg.
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...lek-abdelgowad
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/malek-abdelgowad
>> https://goracers.com/sports/mens-bas...bdelgowad/9888

And Murray State 6'9" sophomore forward Sam Murray II. He played in 20 games off the bench as a sophomore and averaged 1.5 ppg.
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/sam-murray-ii
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba.../sam-murray-ii
>> https://goracers.com/sports/mens-bas...murray-ii/9879

These departures from Murray State by seldom used bench players appear to be head coach Steve Prohm opening up scholarships to re-use in the portal. Murray State had a disappointing season finishing tied for 7th, and making a quick exit from the MVC Tournament by getting blasted by Missouri State 60-35.

[Da Coach]

A bunch of SIU players entering the transfer portal-
Scottie Ebube
Jarrett Hensley
Clarence Rupert
A.J. Ferguson
combined with Kennard Davis and Troy D'Amico, who already declared they were transferring, and Trent Brown, Xavier Johnson, and Jovan Stulic, who have all exhausted eligibility, and this list accounts for SIU's top 9 scorers from last season, and nearly all their minutes played.

SIU redshirt sophomore center Cade Hornecker has now also entered the portal- https://verbalcommits.com/players/cade-hornecker
He played very little as a freshman, appeared in 11 games, and averaged 1.5 ppg.

[Da Coach]

SIU now has 4 players left on their roster.

And those 4 remaining players (for now) played in the fewest games, played the fewest minutes, and scored the fewest points of anyone on their roster. They combined to score a total of 49 of SIU's 2,325 points in their 32 games this past season.
It will be a total rebuild for whoever takes over at SIU, similar to Bradley circa 2015, though the transfer portal makes it a little easier to rebuild quicker.

[braves16]

A bunch of SIU players entering the transfer portal-
Scottie Ebube
Jarrett Hensley
Clarence Rupert
A.J. Ferguson

combined with Kennard Davis and Troy D'Amico, who already declared they were transferring, and Trent Brown, Xavier Johnson, and Jovan Stulic, who have all exhausted eligibility, and this list accounts for SIU's top 9 scorers from last season, and nearly all their minutes played.

SIU now has 4 players left on their roster.

[Da Coach]

A bunch of SIU players entering the transfer portal-
Scottie Ebube
Jarrett Hensley
Clarence Rupert
A.J. Ferguson

combined with Kennard Davis and Troy D'Amico, who already declared they were transferring, and Trent Brown, Xavier Johnson, and Jovan Stulic, who have all exhausted eligibility, and this list accounts for SIU's top 9 scorers from last season, and nearly all their minutes played.

[Fetz86]

You would have a pretty good starting group from MVC transfers, Dia, Benson, Gillespie, Davis, and Moore.

[Da Coach]

Another big hit for Belmont. Yesterday, their top scorer, sophomore Ja'Kobi Gillespie entered the transfer portal, and today their big 6'9", 240 pound sophomore center Malik Dia is entering the portal. Dia was a 3rd team All-MVC pick in his only season with Belmont. He averaged 16.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg, and he shot 34.1% from three.
>>https://verbalcommits.com/players/malik-dia
>>https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2862/malik-dia
>>https://belmontbruins.com/sports/men...malik-dia/3698


One other name today in the portal that maybe our coaches will look into-
6'7" forward Elijah Jones is a junior at Wisconsin-Green Bay. He spent a couple years at Southern Indiana, but redshirted his firsr season in 2020-21. Then spent a year at John A. Logan junior college in 2022-23 helping them to a national championship. And this year at Green Bay, he averaged 8.1 ppg and 6.7 rpg in just 25 minutes per game. He shot 59% overall and 57% from three (15-28 ). He is from South Holland, Illinois, and attended Marian Catholic HS.
>> https://greenbayphoenix.com/sports/m...jah-jones/3818
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...1/elijah-jones

[ManMythLegend]

Thats an interesting concept on the collective bargaining and unionizing.

I would guess that much like other collective bargaining units, each local gets to bargain for their contact terms. So while it might level the playing field among conference members, there would still be a massive advantage for the P6. And I don't think it would do much to slow transfers. I think the contract employee unfortunately is the way to go. We are well on our way to having a split of P6 schools who will be semi pro league and the rest of division 1 who probably can't afford this shit show remaining somewhat of an amateur sport.

[bradleyfan124]

The easiest answer to me is to just pay the players directly. Then you can sign them to contracts. Like pro sports. Maybe some players would only sign one year deals, but many probably could be signed to two or four year deals to have more guarantee/injury and performance protection up front. I can imagine several of our players might have signed those kind of deals initially, maybe even ones that left. It’d make it better at least. There would be some stability in teams. Maybe a guy signs a one year deal thinking he can build higher value (ala Cody Bellinger), but then at least you know that going in he might leave. I know some are reluctant to go to direct pay, but what’s the difference at this point? This has all the evils of it with none of the benefits. It’d be nice to know you have a few players back for sure and know for sure who might be gone or unable to be resigned. Kind of like pro sports each year, there is always turnover, but enough stability usually to keep people following. I’m even for a college basketball union (seems like those are coming too) and collective bargaining agreement. Then everyone has the same rules.

Thats an interesting concept on the collective bargaining and unionizing.

[BUfan14]

Not possible, and even if they thought they could, the courts wouldn't let them.

The easiest answer to me is to just pay the players directly. Then you can sign them to contracts. Like pro sports. Maybe some players would only sign one year deals, but many probably could be signed to two or four year deals to have more guarantee/injury and performance protection up front. I can imagine several of our players might have signed those kind of deals initially, maybe even ones that left. It’d make it better at least. There would be some stability in teams. Maybe a guy signs a one year deal thinking he can build higher value (ala Cody Bellinger), but then at least you know that going in he might leave. I know some are reluctant to go to direct pay, but what’s the difference at this point? This has all the evils of it with none of the benefits. It’d be nice to know you have a few players back for sure and know for sure who might be gone or unable to be resigned. Kind of like pro sports each year, there is always turnover, but enough stability usually to keep people following. I’m even for a college basketball union (seems like those are coming too) and collective bargaining agreement. Then everyone has the same rules.

[BengalFan]

Shoot! I was hoping I was the only one thinking that. First thing that popped in my head. Oh no, he’s getting highlight film to send out.

Nah, not the way it goes. Any coach can pull up clips on any player through a service. Any kid can send highlights - the coaches review clips looking for traits/skills.

[egib52]

The NCAA needs to find a way to put the genie back in the bottle before everyone loses interest.

Not possible, and even if they thought they could, the courts wouldn't let them.

[Dub]

Here is one from the MVC that I wasn't expecting- Belmont's Ja'Kobi Gillespie has entered the transfer portal. He is a sophomore who really came on strong this season. He was Belmont's leading scorer with 17.2 ppg, shot 38.7% from three, and lead them in assists with 4.2 apg, and steals with 2.2 spg. He was a 2nd team All-MVC selection.
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/jakobi-gillespie
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...kobi-gillespie
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...kobi-gillespie

This has got to hurt Belmont, and suggests they may have problems raising enough NIL money to keep their guys happy.
Sadly, this NIL and easy transfer process is killing mid-major college basketball.

Yep… the money game and new team every year is definitely making this hobby way less fun.

The NCAA needs to find a way to put the genie back in the bottle before everyone loses interest.

[Da Coach]

Here is one from the MVC that I wasn't expecting- Belmont's Ja'Kobi Gillespie has entered the transfer portal. He is a sophomore who really came on strong this season. He was Belmont's leading scorer with 17.2 ppg, shot 38.7% from three, and lead them in assists with 4.2 apg, and steals with 2.2 spg. He was a 2nd team All-MVC selection.
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/jakobi-gillespie
>> https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...kobi-gillespie
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...kobi-gillespie

This has got to hurt Belmont, and suggests they may have problems raising enough NIL money to keep their guys happy.
Sadly, this NIL and easy transfer process is killing mid-major college basketball.

[Da Coach]

https://twitter.com/KennardDavis30/s...36010144256200

Bradley recruited and offered Kennard Davis, and he had Bradley as one of his finalists up until he committed to SIU - https://verbalcommits.com/players/kennard-davis-jr

I know Coach Wardle and our other coaches liked him. It will would not be surprising to see if they get back in touch with him.