Tag: college basketball transfers

The Core Four – four key updates from Oct 8-11

1. AJ Griffin (Duke), a five star freshman forward, suffered a dislocated knee in practice and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which will likely have him missing some early-season games. Griffin was likely slotted as a starter, but Duke has enough players with positional flexibility such as Wendell Moore that they should be able to cover his absence, but it does shorten the rotation/bench.
2. Jamarius Burton (Pitt) had a left knee procedure and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The guard began his career at Wichita State, averaging 10.3 ppg in his final season, then transferred to Texas Tech where he had 4.3 ppg in 19 games last season.
3. Jarren McAllister (VCU) suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will be out this season after missing the 2020-21 season with a torn ACL in his left knee, really tough break for him and VCU which also lost Jamir Watkins for the season to a torn ACL at the end of September, as well as Ace Baldwin to an Achilles injury which will sideline him until January.
4. Gonzaga G Dominick Harris is out indefinitely with a right foot injury and will have surgery on Wednesday. The guard was a regular rotation player that played in 25 games last season, averaging 3.0 ppg, including an appearance in the national championship game.

Announcing transfer destinations were Chauncey Hawkins (St Francis (NY) to Bryant), Virshon Cotton (Long Island to New Mexico State), and Davis Larson (Hillsdale to Duquesne). Hawkins and Cotton were two of the better names still remaining in the portal.

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Oct 8-11:

• Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall – fully cleared for the fall (ankle, knee)
• Allen Betrand, Rhode Island – rehab is ahead of schedule (knee) but is likely to redshirt this season
• Jamarius Burton, Pitt – Texas Tech transfer had a left knee procedure, will miss 4-6 weeks
• LJ Cryer, Baylor – is about a week and a half from returning after foot surgery
• Michael Durr, Indiana – expected to be ready for the start of the season, sat out August exhibition games
• Xavier Foster, Iowa State – has been dismissed from the team, facing legal charges related to assault
• AJ Griffin, Duke – dislocated knee, will not need surgery, out 4-6 weeks
• Dominick Harris, Gonzaga – is out indefinitely with a right foot injury
• Isaac Lindsey, Wisconsin – UNLV transfer is practicing after hip surgery last season
• Jarren McAllister, VCU – will miss the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, missed last season with a torn ACL in his left knee
• Makhei Mitchell, Rhode Island – did not scrimmage Saturday (groin), should be full-go next week

Transfer Updates from Oct 8-11:

• Virshon Cotton, Long Island – transfers to New Mexico State – 9.4 ppg
• Chauncey Hawkins, St Francis (NY) – transfers to Bryant – 16.0 ppg
• Davis Larson, Hillsdale – transfers to Duquesne – 11.0 ppg – he was planning to be a grad assistant for Duquesne, but with a scholarship open he has been added to the active roster

See For Yourself:

In injury updates, top 100 freshman recruit Mike James (Louisville) is out for the season with a torn Achilles and will have surgery on Friday, and for Mississippi State Rocket Watts (Michigan State transfer, 7.7 ppg), is expected back mid-November after a summer hip procedure, and Tolu Smith (12.6 ppg, started all 30 games) is expected back late November after a foot procedure.

Earl Timberlake (Memphis) is 90% back from neck surgery, Xavier Foster (Iowa State) has not been practicing due to an unspecified health-related issue, and Liam Robbins (Vanderbilt, (Minnesota transfer) and Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Alabama) are expected back in a few weeks.

In more minor injuries, Walker Kessler (Auburn, (UNC transfer) has a minor concussion, Aljaz Kunc (Iowa State, (Washington State transfer) is dealing with back soreness

Notable names in the transfer portal included DeAnthony Tipler (Coastal Carolina, 13.4 ppg), Tipler is the biggest name in the transfer portal over the past few weeks.

Announcing transfer destinations were Alejandro Vasquez (St Bonaventure to Tarleton State).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Oct 5-7:

• Keon Ambrose-Hylton, Alabama – dislocated kneecap, out 2-3 weeks, should not miss any games
• Xavier Foster, Iowa State – has not been practicing due to a health-related issue, had previously been said to be cleared in August after foot surgery last season
• Mike James, Louisville – freshman will miss the season with a torn Achilles, will have surgery
• Walker Kessler, Auburn – has a minor concussion after getting hit in jaw
• Aljaz Kunc, Iowa State – dealing with some back soreness which has held him out of some
• KeShawn Murphy, Miss State – no timeline for return after offseason surgery
• Liam Robbins, Vanderbilt – being cautious with a foot injury that is keeping him out of practice, expected back in the next few weeks
• Adrian Rodriguez, UTSA – announces his retirement from basketball for medical reasons – 2.8 ppg
• Kristian Sjolund, Portland – UTEP transfer is eligible to play this season – 4.9 ppg
• Tolu Smith, Miss State – expected back in late-November (foot)
• Earl Timberlake, Memphis – described as 90% back from neck surgery, almost back
• UNLV – Mike Nuga, Donovan Williams, Reece Brown and David Muoka did not practice Wednesday, was said they were held out due to precaution since the team has five days in a row of practice, which is rare
• Rocket Watts, Miss State – is expected back in mid-November (hip)

Transfer Updates from Oct 5-7:

• DeAnthony Tipler, Coastal Carolina – enters the portal – 13.4 ppg
• Alejandro Vasquez, St Bonaventure – transfers to Tarleton State, had previously committed to Samford – 4.4 ppg

See For Yourself:

In injury updates, Darryl Morsell (Marquette) is expected to be fully cleared after a shoulder injury he suffered while playing at Maryland before transferring. Morsell started 108 games of the 126 he played in for the Terrapins, averaging 8.7 ppg. Bryan Antoine (Villanova) will be out around six weeks due to a patella tendon knee injury. Antoine only played in ten games last season as he was limited by a shoulder injury.

New Mexico’s Valdir Manuel has been suspended indefinitely, including from participating in team activities. Manuel only started six games last season but was the team’s third leading scorer with 7.9 ppg in 20.2 mpg and was primed to likely increase both of those numbers. In more positive news, DePaul’s Yor Anei was confirmed to be eligible this season after a transfer from SMU, he began his career at Oklahoma State and has averaged 7.7 ppg over three seasons.

Announcing transfer destinations were Collin Smith (UCF to NC A&T), Mo Arnold (Jacksonville to Southern Miss), and Tyree Corbett (Alcorn State to Coppin State). You’ll also see below in the transfer section I did some internet sleuthing trying to track down some other players who entered the portal, revealing that Elijah Childs (Bradley) and Ahmed Ali (Portland, previously Washington State) signed to play pro ball overseas.

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Oct 1-4:

• Rati Andronikashvili, Creighton – fully cleared for season (ACL)
• Yor Anei, DePaul – SMU transfer receives a waiver to be eligible this season – 6.6 ppg
• Bryan Antoine, Villanova – will be out around 6 weeks with a patella tendon injury in his knee
• Modestas Kancleris, Creighton – fully cleared for season (ACL)
• Valdir Manuel, New Mexico – has been suspended indefinitely and cannot participate in team activities – 7.9 ppg
• Darryl Morsell, Marquette – Maryland transfer will be fully cleared next (now this) week (shoulder)
• Liam Robbins, Vanderbilt – was not participating in pro day Monday, no obvious sign of injury

Transfer Updates from Oct 1-4:

• Ahmed Ali, Portland – entered the transfer portal in March (18.2 ppg), signed with a professional team in Croatia
• Mo Arnold, Jacksonville – transfers to Southern Miss and has been cleared to play – 7.1 ppg
• Yame Butler, Fordham – transfers to State Fair CC – 1.3 ppg
• Elijah Childs, Bradley – he entered the transfer portal in May (14.2 ppg) but signed with a professional team in Italy in late July
• Tyree Corbett, Alcorn State – transfers to Coppin State (late Aug) – 7.8 ppg
• Brandon Davis, Sacramento State – entered transfer portal in March, signed with a pro team in Puerto Rico
• Takiula Fahrenson, Portland – entered transfer portal in March, signed with a pro team in New Zealand
• Collin Smith, UCF – transfers to North Carolina A&T – 12.6 ppg in ’19-20, Smith began his career at George Washington in ’16-17, sat out a year, spent two years at UCF, then opted out of ’20-21.

See For Yourself:

In injury updates, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Villanova) was ruled out for the season and likely ended his career as he could not return from multiple leg injuries and surgeries. He started 16 games in 2019-20 and averaged 3.3 ppg over a 105 game career. Jamir Watkins (VCU) is out for the season after an ACL tear, Watkins averaged 7.2 ppg playing just 18.4 mpg last season.

Butler’s Bo Hodges has a tibial plateau fracture in his knee that will cause him to miss the beginning of the season. Hodges began his career playing three seasons at East Tennessee State before transferring to Butler where last season he scored 8.2 ppg but was only able to play in 9 games. Seryee Lewis (Kansas State) is out for the season with an ACL injury, and James Okonkwo (West Virginia) will miss around a month with a broken bone in his foot.

Notable names in the transfer portal included Samaad Hector (Sacramento State), while in transfer destinations Paddy Casey is walking on to Syracuse after playing for University of the Sciences (was announced a while ago).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 29-30:

• Enoch Boakye, Arizona State – will be fully cleared to participate next week, lower leg
• Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, Villanova – the school announced he has been removed from the roster and his career is over due to multiple leg injuries and surgeries. He will remain on scholarship.
• Jay Heath, Arizona State – working through a minor lower leg issue, about two weeks out
• Bo Hodges, Butler – out indefinitely with a fracture in his knee that happened in late August, will miss the beginning of the season – 8.2 ppg last season
• Jaden Ivey, Purdue – practiced Thursday after rolling ankle on Tuesday
• Seryee Lewis, Kansas State – had surgery and will miss the season (ACL) – 2.0 ppg last season
• Brandon Newman, Purdue – small ankle issue, likely held out the rest of the week
• James Okonkwo, West Virginia – has a broken bone in his foot, will miss a month or so
• Shareef O’Neal, LSU – Will Wade said he is working to get healthy (foot)
• Jamir Watkins, VCU – suffered a torn ACL, is expected to miss the season – 7.2 ppg last season

Transfer Updates from Sept 29-30:

• Paddy Casey, University of the Sciences – transfers to Syracuse as a walk-on (August)
• Samaad Hector, Sacramento State – enters portal – 4.1 ppg

See For Yourself:

In notable injury updates, Bryan Antoine (Villanova, 2.3 ppg in 10 games last season) is dealing with a knee issue that does not need surgery but does sound like may cause him to miss time, and Earl Timberlake (Memphis) has not yet been cleared for contact (shoulder injury when at Miami, 9.3 ppg) but is doing drills as practice starts.

Keyontae Johnson (Florida) has not been cleared for activities but is attending practice in more of a coaching type role after his scary on-court collapse last season, Jemarl Baker (Fresno State) is cleared after a wrist injury while with Arizona last season, and Artur Konontsuk (Southern Miss, 4.6 ppg) will miss the season with a knee injury.

A reminder – with the NCAA transfer rule changes, most players who transferred should be immediately eligible, and most two-time transfers are also having their waivers approved with seemingly few issues. Thus I am not sharing transfer waiver approvals as “breaking” news, rather I will be more likely to tweet/share when a player’s waiver is delayed or denied for some reason. That said, I am still listing them below, as the assurance of eligibility can’t hurt, and among those being shared as eligible were Rasir Bolton (Gonzaga) and Marco Anthony (Utah).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 28:

• Marco Anthony, Utah – Utah State transfer is eligible to play this season – 10.0 ppg
• Bryan Antoine, Villanova – has a patella knee injury, surgery not needed but is an issue
• Jemarl Baker, Fresno State – Arizona transfer cleared for the season (wrist) – 12.0 ppg
• Joey Baker, Duke – minor injury, should be back by next week, “had a great summer”
• Daniel Batcho, Texas Tech – Arizona transfer is cleared for the season (knee)
• Rasir Bolton, Gonzaga – Iowa State transfer is eligible to play this season – 15.5 ppg
• Marvin Coleman, UNLV – fully cleared for the season (stress fracture in leg)
• Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, Villanova – not looking good, but haven’t given up hope for this season (shin)
• Both Gach, Utah – Minnesota transfer is waiting on waiver for eligibility
• Jaden Ivey, Purdue – tweaked his ankle in practice, was in and out
• Keyontae Johnson, Florida – has still not been cleared to practice
• Artur Konontsuk, Southern Miss – out for season, knee – 4.6 ppg
• Shereef Mitchell, Creighton – is almost back (foot)
• Brandon Newman, Purdue – missed practice Tuesday with a foot/ankle issue and got an X-ray, team should know more in the next couple days
• Nnanna Njoku, Villanova – almost cleared from concussion protocol
• Javon Ruffin, Colorado – is working his way back from a knee injury
• Earl Timberlake, Memphis – not fully cleared for contact yet, had a neck surgery to help with his shoulder pain, is participating in most drills

Transfer Updates from Sept 28:

• N/A

See For Yourself:

Javan Johnson, one of the most high-profile players still in the transfer portal, announced he will transfer to DePaul. Johnson began his career playing two seasons at Troy, then transferred to Iowa State where he sat out a season then averaged 9.7 ppg in ’20-21, playing 29.6 minutes per game.

Fall practice starts this week along with many teams having opening of camp media sessions, so I’d anticipate getting more updates on the status of previous injuries, transfer waiver updates, players unexpectedly not returning to teams, as well as news of injuries that occurred over the summer. Along those lines, Will McClendon (UCLA) was announced to be out for the season with a torn ACL, and Seneca Knight is eligible at BYU, after previous stops at San Jose State and LSU. Knight never played for LSU after a midyear transfer from SJSU, but his best season at San Jose was ’19-20 when he averaged 17.1 ppg.

Announcing transfer destinations were Javan Johnson (Iowa State to DePaul), Luke Brown (Stetson to Ball State) and Ivan Raut (Fordham to Palm Beach Atlantic).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 24-27:

• Kyle Cuffe, Kansas – had arthroscopic knee surgery, will be out a few weeks
• Logan Duncomb, Indiana – had a strained shoulder earlier in preseason but is practicing full now
• Seneca Knight, BYU – San Jose State/LSU transfer is eligible to play this season – 9.3 ppg
• Jarren McAllister, VCU – back full-go this season, torn ACL
• Will McClendon, UCLA – out for the season, torn ACL
• Darius McNeill, UTSA – SMU transfer is eligible to play this season – 7.3 ppg
• Jose Perez, Manhattan – Marquette transfer is eligible to play this season – 3.1 ppg

Transfer Updates from Sept 24-27:

• Luke Brown, Stetson – transfers to Ball State
• Javan Johnson, Iowa State – transfers to DePaul – 9.7 ppg
• Ivan Raut, Fordham – transfers to Palm Beach Atlantic – 0.8 ppg

See For Yourself:

As we get close to fall practices resuming the updates on players with injuries from last season began to pickup over the last few days. The most impactful likely being that Texas’ Dylan Disu, a Vanderbilt transfer, is almost fully cleared as he recovers from a knee injury. Disu started all 17 games he played in last season before the injury, averaging 15.0 ppg and 9.2 rebounds. In addition Richmond’s Nick Sherod is fully cleared after missing all of last season with an ACL injury, Sherod has averaged 11.5 ppg over four seasons with the Spiders.

I also did some digging on players who had entered the portal but I had not seen updates on, producing some of the additional transfer news, most of which came from players personal twitter accounts as well as 2021-22 team rosters posted online (so these transfer updates may not have just happened in the last couple days).

Announcing transfer destinations were KC Ndefo (withdrew from portal, will return to Saint Peter’s), Braelee Albert (Vanderbilt to Tulane), Daniss Jenkins (Pacific to Odessa JC), and Randy Miller (Indiana State to NC Central).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 22-23:

• Quincy Allen, Colorado – hip surgery to sideline freshman for the season
• Dedric Boyd, Tennessee State – Illinois State transfer is eligible this season – 7.0 ppg
• Jordan Brown, Louisiana – Arizona transfer is eligible this season – 9.4 ppg
• Kenny Cooper, Tennessee State – Western Kentucky transfer is eligible this season – 2.6 ppg
• LJ Cryer, Baylor – expected back the latter part of October (foot surgery)
• Dylan Disu, Texas – is “almost” fully cleared for all basketball activities (knee)
• Antwann Jones, Louisiana – Creighton transfer is eligible this season – 3.4 ppg
• Nick Sherod, Richmond – fully cleared for season (ACL)
• Bourama Sidibe, Syracuse – fully cleared for the fall (knee)
• Aaron Thompson, Butler – close to being fully cleared (shoulder)

Transfer Updates from Sept 22-23:

• Braelee Albert, Vanderbilt – transfers to Tulane (late August) – 1.0 ppg
• Daniss Jenkins, Pacific – transfers to Odessa JC – 12.2 ppg
• Randy Miller, Indiana State – transfers to NC Central – 6.4 ppg
• KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s – withdraws from transfer portal and returns – 13.0 ppg
• Alpha Okoli, St Bonaventure – transfers to Cal State East Bay (early Sept) – 1.7 ppg
• Tavian Percy, Weber State – transfers to Lincoln Memorial – 5.0 ppg

In Other News:

Not much transfer news the last few days, but still some significant updates. San Jose State’s Richard Washington has been suspended for the season by the NCAA. Washington declared for the NBA Draft but then withdrew, but he had signed with an agent who was not certified, as well as accepted money for playing in a 3×3 event. Washington averaged 19.5 ppg last season for San Jose, and while he is still enrolled as a student he is not listed on the team roster.

Dealing with legal issues are Mason Gillis (Purdue) who will be suspended for the first four regular season games as well as exhibition games after being given probation for an Operating While Intoxicated charge. Gillis started 23 of 28 games last season while averaging 5.2 ppg. Just this past week Washington State’s Noah Williams had an altercation with bouncers at a bar and faces possible misdemeanor charges. Williams averaged 14.1 ppg while starting all 27 games last season.

Announcing transfer destinations were Austin Sacks (Santa Clara to Baylor), Hugo Clarkin (San Jose State to Sacramento State), and John Hall (Portland State to UMass Lowell).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 17-21:

• Mason Gillis, Purdue – will be suspended for the first four regular season games after being sentenced to probation for an OWI
• Ian Martinez, Maryland – Utah transfer has been fully cleared for the fall (meniscus)
• Richard Washington, San Jose State – has been suspended for the season by the NCAA, he withdrew from the NBA Draft but signed with a non-certified agent and received money for a 3×3 event, he is enrolled at SJSU as a student
• Noah Williams, Washington State – facing possible misdemeanor charges for an altercation with bouncers at a bar

Transfer Updates from Sept 17-21:

• Hugo Clarkin, San Jose State – transfers to Sacramento State – 1.4 ppg
• John Hall, Portland State – transfers to UMass Lowell – 3.9 ppg
• Austin Sacks, Santa Clara – transfers to Baylor – DNP last season, unclear exactly when he transferred but he is listed on the Baylor roster

In Other News:

Starting off not with a transfer but a commitment – Jaykwon Walton began his career at Georgia where in 9 games over 1+ seasons he averaged 1.9 ppg. He entered the transfer portal last December and in April committed to transfer to Shelton State Community College. Then this past week he committed to Mississippi State as a 2022 recruit, where he’ll return to the SEC with a new team after this season.

Announcing transfer destinations were Miles Latimer (Bucknell to Bryant), Noah Morgan (Eastern Michigan to Morehouse), Andrew Platek (North Carolina to Siena), and Emanuel Littles (North Alabama to Nicholls State).

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 13-16:

• N/A

Transfer Updates from Sept 13-16:

• Kyonze Chavis, Norfolk State – transfers to Life University (NAIA) – 7.5 ppg
• Khristion Courseault, Nevada – transfers to Houston Baptist (August) – 1.0 ppg
• Miles Latimer, Bucknell – will transfer to Bryant and enroll mid-year – 6.1 ppg
• Emanuel Littles, North Alabama – transfers to Nicholls State – 9.4 ppg, previously decommitted from transferring to South Alabama
• Noah Morgan, Eastern Michigan – transfers to Morehouse (D2) – 8.6 ppg
• Andrew Platek, North Carolina – transfers to Siena – 3.7 ppg – has enrolled, attempting to play this season
• Jaykwon Walton, Shelton State CC – has committed to Miss State for 2022 – began career at Georgia

Notable names in the transfer portal included Chauncey Hawkins (St Francis, NY, 16.0 ppg).

Announcing transfer destinations were Eddie Davis (Portland to Cal State San Bernadino), and Brandon Knapper (Eastern Kentucky to Cal State San Bernadino). What is unusual here is these are two guys who averaged double-digit points a game last season who decommitted from transferring to other D1 schools, in one case a Mountain West school, to transfer to a Division 2 school with a twitter account with 232 followers. No judgment, just interesting, I’ve never been to San Bernadino, may be amazing.

(Injuries & Updates in the first section, Transfers down below.)

Injuries and Updates from Sept 9-12:

• Maceo Austin, Duquesne – reports came out that he has left the team but is still enrolled at the school – 2.9 ppg

Transfer Updates from Sept 9-12:

• Sita Conteh, Austin Peay – transfers to Coppin State – 3.1 ppg
• Eddie Davis, Portland – transfers to Cal State San Bernadino – 11.8 ppg, had previously committed to Tarleton State
• Chauncey Hawkins, St Francis, NY – enters portal (GT)- 16.0 ppg
• Brandon Knapper, Eastern Kentucky – transfers to Cal State San Bernadino (late August) – 18.3 ppg – had previously committed to San Jose State, began career at West Virginia