2026 Transfer portal

[ERWUC65]

I have no intention of being an anti-Somfai guy, but I don't understand the statistical and athletic underpinnings of this comment.

Shooting? I don't recall Somfai being a particularly accurate shooter in high school or a frequent three point shooter, but I don't have her stats. At Stanford this past season, Somfai shot 40.9 FG%, 29.0 3FG%, and 76.9 FT%. Kneepkins, over a five year career at Utah and UCLA, shot 49.5 FG%, a brilliant 43.1 3FG%, and 86.9 FT%. In overall EFG%, Somfai was 46.3% while Kneepkins over her career was 61.0%.

No comparison. Mediocre vs. elite shooting.

As far as comparing Somfai to Heckel, I don't see their non-shooting skills alike at all. Heckel is short, quick, fast, and a lancinating driver. Somfai is none of those. As for career shooting, Heckel is better in all categories except slightly worse in FT%: 50.3 FG%, 33.0 3FG%, 73.6 FT%, and overall 54.7 EFG%.

How about using stats when both Somfai and Kneepkins were freshman and please note the word 'potential' here. And since you are NOT an anti-Somfai guy, please provide a better present portal fit than Lara.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

This entire thread is making my head spin. The portal drives me insane because I truly don't think this many kids made a bad decision initially and are trying to find a better fit. This is nothing but free agency/cash grab/get to be recruited all over again.

It's easier to be told by a new coaching staff and team that you are wanted than to have your existing staff and teammates tell you what you need to work on to improve. Some of these kids are are looking for something that doesn't exist.

Vic isn't perfect but when a starter on a FF team who contributed wants to leave it likely says more about them than the program. Now to keep shaking my fist at the cloud.

 

[BRS24]

This entire thread is making my head spin. The portal drives me insane because I truly don't think this many kids made a bad decision initially and are trying to find a better fit. This is nothing but free agency/cash grab/get to be recruited all over again.

It's easier to be told by a new coaching staff and team that you are wanted than to have your existing staff and teammates tell you what you need to work on to improve. Some of these kids are are looking for something that doesn't exist.

Vic isn't perfect but when a starter on a FF team who contributed wants to leave it likely says more about them than the program. Now to keep shaking my fist at the cloud.

Oooh. I've been trying to put into words what I've seen, and I think you nailed a significant part of it. Instant gratification is driving a lot of things these days. There are very few programs that can convince a player to wait a turn, learn from the elders, and reap the rewards afterwards. If a goal is to play in the W, then all of these things give the optics of patience, consistency, and work ethic. If a player is bouncing from team to team 2-3x, then what does this say?

After the portal dust settles, I'll post some transfer data from the class of 2019 to present date, and we can debate some issues.

 

[Bone Dog]

Gen says the first question he asks transfers is “What’s wrong with you?” He wants to hear if they can recognize anything lacking in their own game. Or do they just complain about their existing school?

 

[BRS24]

 

[cancontent]

Michigan State now with 4 players in the portal. Starter Rashunda Jones has now entered.

 

[Iluvacc2]

The lack of rebounds at her size is a little concerning.

 

[GoCardinal]

A lot of these freshmen are transferring because they weren’t taking things seriously the first time, imo. Several choose based on money and “likes”, without considering academics, the campus environment, playing styles, or coaching types.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[IndyMark]

That is crazy and it is really sad. It is impossible, in this day and age, to keep a team together.

 

[ec33]

And what % graduated? That is a ton of players no longer on rosters.

 

[johnhelvete]

I would be very interested in the percentage of players that have transferred multiple times. A common sense adjustment to the transfer portal would be to only allow players to transfer twice without penalty for their career. With exceptions for coaching changes, grad students and medical conditions involving a family member where a player would want to move "close to home". If a player wants to transfer more than twice than they would be required to sit out an entire season.

 

[bayern7]

I would be very interested in the percentage of players that have transferred multiple times. A common sense adjustment to the transfer portal would be to only allow players to transfer twice without penalty for their career. With exceptions for coaching changes, grad students and medical conditions involving a family member where a player would want to move "close to home". If a player wants to transfer more than twice than they would be required to sit out an entire season.

So basically don’t change anything lol, can transfer twice. So they can play for three different schools? That wouldn’t change this meaningfully at all. They should have one transfer and that’s it. Circumstances don’t matter, use the one if that’s what it takes.

It’s funny how every other college athlete before these very recent changes was able to survive with the old rules, and now we’ve swung so far in the other direction as to have comments like this.

Due diligence should be done by the student athlete before signing on to a program. That’s why we have visits, relationships with coaches/ADs, and the AAU circuits to connect with the programs.

We’ve completely taken any responsibility off the athlete and placed the fallout from that decision at the feet of these schools and staff, who have expect for a few programs at the top, reaped nothing but struggle from this change. Inspite of the work they put into their craft, we’re talking about sports here…and a college athlete with a free ride, now the money and deals, media exposure/influence, along with the academic resources they’re often afforded over regular tuition paying students is a privilege, seems that we’ve lost sight of that. Sorry but this comment is so emblematic of the issue here, and this will destroy college sports if nothing is done about it.

 

[Bjbod]

I would be very interested in the percentage of players that have transferred multiple times. A common sense adjustment to the transfer portal would be to only allow players to transfer twice without penalty for their career. With exceptions for coaching changes, grad students and medical conditions involving a family member where a player would want to move "close to home". If a player wants to transfer more than twice than they would be required to sit out an entire season.

I like your idea but I'd up the ante: 1 "free" transfer; if you want to re-enter the portal a 2nd time you need to sit a year. I think this would weed out some of the snakey agents as well.

 

[cancontent]

So basically don’t change anything lol, can transfer twice. So they can play for three different schools? That wouldn’t change this meaningfully at all. They should have one transfer and that’s it. Circumstances don’t matter, use the one if that’s what it takes.

It’s funny how every other college athlete before these very recent changes was able to survive with the old rules, and now we’ve swung so far in the other direction as to have comments like this.

Due diligence should be done by the student athlete before signing on to a program. That’s why we have visits, relationships with coaches/ADs, and the AAU circuits to connect with the programs.

We’ve completely taken any responsibility off the athlete and placed the fallout from that decision at the feet of these schools and staff, who have expect for a few programs at the top, reaped nothing but struggle from this change. Inspite of the work they put into their craft, we’re talking about sports here…and a college athlete with a free ride, now the money and deals, media exposure/influence, along with the academic resources they’re often afforded over regular tuition paying students is a privilege, seems that we’ve lost sight of that. Sorry but this comment is so emblematic of the issue here, and this will destroy college sports if nothing is done about it.

1). Did they and which old rules are you referring to? This is a broad statement.

2). Athletes and families can do all of their due diligence and still get it wrong. Unfortunately this happens and it's more common than what some may think.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[jdote33]

Yeah. I was excited initially about portal season but then got bummed a bit. These whole sale roster overhauls are something else. I do think they should do something. 2 year commitments, I like the idea of limiting to only 2 transfers, or else a penalty.
It's tough, Geno provided an alternative perspective awhile back. Someone like Skylar Forbes who Ive always thought highly of in the big east. I used to think, someone like her is the perfect idea of a transfer. She's been a really good player for 3 years, probably doesn't get a lot of recognition. May want to play for a big time school. Experience going far in the tournament as well as test herself in a power 4 conference. But the flip side of that is a program and coaches invested a lot into her. Now potentially when she is peaking and ur giving her the keys to the program she leaves, which leaves ur program in shock particularly from a recruiting standpoint.

 

[triaddukefan]

Not sure if this was posted



I wish her well. I'd like to see her drop down a level or 2 and carve out a nice colligate career somewhere.

 

[cancontent]

Yeah. I was excited initially about portal season but then got bummed a bit. These whole sale roster overhauls are something else. I do think they should do something. 2 year commitments, I like the idea of limiting to only 2 transfers, or else a penalty.
It's tough, Geno provided an alternative perspective awhile back. Someone like Skylar Forbes who Ive always thought highly of in the big east. I used to think, someone like her is the perfect idea of a transfer. She's been a really good player for 3 years, probably doesn't get a lot of recognition. May want to play for a big time school. Experience going far in the tournament as well as test herself in a power 4 conference. But the flip side of that is a program and coaches invested a lot into her. Now potentially when she is peaking and ur giving her the keys to the program she leaves, which leaves ur program in shock particularly from a recruiting standpoint.

True, but per posts in another thread, the dynamics at Marquette weren't the greatest which would indicate something was off with the coaching staff and the team. A good relationship with the coaching staff is important for development in my opinion.

 

[BRS24]

LSU --> Houston --> ??

 

[ucmiami2]

So ...
1. I do think there is a lot of BS flying around the college game - coaches have always thrown a lot in the recruiting, 'advisers' including the 'family adviser' and AAU coaches also. With NIL$ there is some serious money now available and the sharks smell blood - no kind of accreditation needed to become an 'agent' and a lot of inexperienced young people getting lots of random calls. the universities have people to help advice on nil for their stars, but they are involved with the 'transfer portal' decisions to transfer for 'big money', and they are probably throwing the same BS they do in the high school recruiting with the portal.

2. People in general are greedy and want immediate gratification and lots of positive feedback. Why expect 18-21 year olds athletes to be any different? In fact, patience is a learned virtue that tends to increase with age. College is already a huge transition and not an easy one - and now people are throwing money around and what teenager isn't going to be tempted. It has hit at the HS level and is now flooding the college level as well.

3. Coaches are also greedy - they want to win and it is easier to find a ready made star in the portal, than actually coaching up a prized recruit to become that same star. They made commitments to HS recruits, but are happy to take transfers that will stunt those recruits chances to develop. Unhappy recruit = sophomore transfer.

4. Some of it definitely a stampede mentality as well. Everyone else is doing it, why not me. And on a single team, even without a specific problem between coach and players, it can become a disaster.

5. An athletic scholarship used to be an honor with a significant monetary value and a lot of responsibility. Now it is seen as a right, and is useless unless there is a lot more money guaranteed and no corresponding responsibility. Modern times and huge TV money. But as someone above mentioned, not sure the money equation is actually balanced by the athlete/sport. And yes coaches are getting paid big money, but the ones being paid the big money are also providing their players with a huge amount of training/instruction that is adding significantly to their athletes' future earnings, as is the university by providing a built in huge multi-generational fan base - Clark performing in college would barely have been noticed if she had been at Delaware for 4 years like EDD and not in the later rounds of the NCAA.

6. And finally, I agree with others - the whole concept of a college experience is disappearing for athletes. It happened with men's basketball years ago when one and done became a thing. with free unlimited transfers it has just spread to all sports and all levels of every sport.

Final final thought: Baseball has always had a farm system because it was the American professional game since 1900 give or take and most baseball players at that time didn't consider college. Football as a professional sport grew out of the college game 50 years later as did basketball, and neither ever bothered to create a farm system (too much money, and college was already providing a farm system for free.) Women's professional team sports (outside semi-pro softball and wartime baseball) is a very recent construct and again college is the farm system for it all. The men's pro sports have discovered how hard and expensive it is to actually create an fan base for lower levels of competition and therefore any revenue stream, and now the women's sports are finding out how it is to do the same at the highest level or pro sports. Any WNBA team would love to have the following SC or Uconn WBB have - they don't need Aja Wilson's name or Paige's - they just need good athletes and a good coach and a winning record - the athletes change every year, the attendance is constant.

 

[darrell]

LSU --> Houston --> ??

Was at tOSU prior to transferring to LSU. This would make stop #4.

 

[johnhelvete]

So basically don’t change anything lol, can transfer twice. So they can play for three different schools? That wouldn’t change this meaningfully at all. They should have one transfer and that’s it. Circumstances don’t matter, use the one if that’s what it takes.

It’s funny how every other college athlete before these very recent changes was able to survive with the old rules, and now we’ve swung so far in the other direction as to have comments like this.

Due diligence should be done by the student athlete before signing on to a program. That’s why we have visits, relationships with coaches/ADs, and the AAU circuits to connect with the programs.

We’ve completely taken any responsibility off the athlete and placed the fallout from that decision at the feet of these schools and staff, who have expect for a few programs at the top, reaped nothing but struggle from this change. Inspite of the work they put into their craft, we’re talking about sports here…and a college athlete with a free ride, now the money and deals, media exposure/influence, along with the academic resources they’re often afforded over regular tuition paying students is a privilege, seems that we’ve lost sight of that. Sorry but this comment is so emblematic of the issue here, and this will destroy college sports if nothing is done about it.

One transfer only without penalty, that should have been the rule when the transfer rules changed. I would 100% agree with you on that. Unfortunately I dont think it would have much of a chance at passing now, which is why I went with twice as a more realistic option.

 

[triaddukefan]

This thread reminds me of one of my favorite songs





Lord, I was born a ramblin' (wo)man
Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can
And when it's time for leavin', I hope you'll understand
That I was born a ramblin' (wo)man

 

[bayern7]

1). Did they and which old rules are you referring to? This is a broad statement.

2). Athletes and families can do all of their due diligence and still get it wrong. Unfortunately this happens and it's more common than what some may think.

Yup pretty sure college sports functioned before the new transfer rules went into effect. And you know which ones I’m talking about, the way it was before they were sued in 2024 to allow unlimited transfers. The broader landscape we had before these new transfer rules swept in.

If you’re going to feign ignorance so you can avoid addressing the point, just dont respond. It’s disingenuous and bad faith.

And i said one transfer, if you get it wrong twice that’s on you.

 

[cancontent]

One transfer only without penalty, that should have been the rule when the transfer rules changed. I would 100% agree with you on that. Unfortunately I dont think it would have much of a chance at passing now, which is why I went with twice as a more realistic option.

It was a rule for a brief moment. Believe lawsuits forced the NCAA's hand on this.

 

[Huskee11]

LSU --> Houston --> ??

Poole played for OSU in 2020-2021, the Covid season that did not count for eligibility purposes.

So there is someone still kicking around from that era after all. I can't imagine there are many others.

 

[cancontent]

Yup pretty sure college sports functioned before the new transfer rules went into effect. And you know which ones I’m talking about, the way it was before they were sued in 2024 to allow unlimited transfers. The broader landscape we had before these new transfer rules swept in.

If you’re going to feign ignorance so you can avoid addressing the point, just dont respond. It’s disingenuous and bad faith.

And i said one transfer, if you get it wrong twice that’s on you.

There have been posters frustrated with NIL as it's also influenced the changes we're seeing. If making sure I'm not conflating the two is feigning ignorance and disingenuous instead of a genuine effort to make sure I understand your point then 🤷🏾‍♀️