Though it sounds more suitable for a “Star Trek” episode than anything linked to college athletics, the NCAA transfer portal is quickly becoming popular with the student-athletes and appreciated by the coaches.
Introduced this past October, the transfer portal allows athletes to have their names submitted by the compliance offices at their existing schools so that other universities can initiate contact with them. In the last several weeks, former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields and former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts entered the transfer portal before winding up at different locations, with Bryant transferring to Missouri, Fields to Ohio State and Hurts to Oklahoma.
Tennessee had offensive tackle Drew Richmond enter the transfer portal earlier this month after obtaining former Michigan defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon in December, and it won’t be long before college basketball is dealing with an even larger portal.
“We’re always thinking about how we can get better as a team with our current student-athletes, but at the same time guys do transfer and move on,” Alabama men’s basketball coach Avery Johnson said. “It’s a great resource to know who’s in the portal, and it’s a lot more organized compared to when I first came here four years ago.”
The NCAA transfer portal was initiated as a means to help student-athletes pursue new schools without being blocked by their coaches or by officials within the administration.
With Southeastern Conference basketball coaches nearing the midway mark of their league seasons, their focus has been on the games, and their awareness of the portal varies.
“I think it’s a good thing, because it makes things easier for all parties concerned,” Vanderbilt’s Bryce Drew said. “For us, it’s something we check pretty much daily to see if any new names are coming up. Transfers are such a big market now. It’s sad, but it’s a reality, and that makes the process easier.”
Said LSU’s Will Wade: “I haven’t given much thought to it at all. I know one of my assistants has to log in to look into it, but that’s about the extent of it. I guess I haven’t studied it enough.”
The NCAA reported last month that a staggering 40 percent of men’s basketball players who enter a Division I program out of high school leave their initial school by the end of their sophomore year.
Which will now translate to a packed portal.
“We’re just not spending any time on transfers right now,” Florida’s Mike White said. “We’ve got a roster that we’re working with daily, and we’re trying to be the best team that we can currently be. From the little that I do know about the transfer portal, I think it’s a positive for student-athletes to have options.
“Obviously, the more transfers there are, the more confusing it can be for maintenance and continuity of your own program, but it does benefit the welfare of the student-athlete. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more about it in the spring when the season concludes.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.