Transfers are not part of APR as long as they leave in good standing (i.e. finish spring classes). Same as kids going to the pros.
The root cause is that UConn did not set up enough 1 week intersession and summer courses in August and December so that bball players could maintain eligibility through the spring semester. Now UConn has done that. Correspondingly, the APR scores have skyrocketed, even though in the last 3 years the following kids have left the program without graduating:
1. Jamal Coombs McDaniel
2. Alex Oriakhi
3. Darius Smith
4. Jamal Trice
5. Scottie Haralson
6. Ater Majok
7. Michael Bradley
8. Jeremy Lamb
9. Roscoe Smith
This is since 2009. (Andre Drummond doesn't count because he wasn't on scholarship).
Retentions: Napier, Olander, Kemba (finished 1 year early), Boatright, Deandre Daniels.
5 count as positive retentions for UConn in APR. The majority of the 9 who left are considered exemptions because they left in good standing. In prior years, when they were forced to take a full load of real classes in the spring, the ones who left departed without being in good standing.
And there lies the difference.
It's the same old UConn with 9 players leaving prior to graduation, and 5 staying on. The main difference is in how the administration is playing the APR/GSR game.
So,