Transfer Portal (2022-2023)

[BobbyJ]

GoS post on twitter, not reported by R---- as of yet, but wow.

This website uses the word "stars" loosely.

 

[GoChips20]

This is exactly what I'm talking about when I say I have concerns about excessive transfers. Edwards won the SEC tournament with that shot, Massengill has already left UT and is transferring again, and I don't think Hunt ever lived up to her hype out of high school.

Maybe Elzy is a bigger problem than I realized. I wondered what was up during that mid season swoon but the Cats looked terrific winning the SEC tournament. Howard is gone so the remaining team would have more opportunities to score and lead, but these upperclassmen are leaving for who knows where.

No player should be forced to stay in a situation that's a bad one and perhaps KY fits that mold, we won't know. I think players just want a change of scenery and, my cynical part, to have that cycle of people lobbying for your services happen again. All three will likely find themselves on a roster next year but I doubt they will receive more time than they would have at UK.

Elzy comes across as kind and passionate in press conferences, so it's tough to imagine it's her, but then again something is clearly amiss here.

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that something changed following the SEC tournament, but it's all the more surprising to me because UK looked to be having fun and certainly played their best ball of the season.

We may never know exactly why but this is a bit of a shocker to me. All three players will be pickups for whoever lands them.

 

[cancontent]

I do wonder how long it’ll be before the NCAA tries to do something to limit this. I think a lot of these transfers could be avoided if players were honest with themselves from the beginning of their recruiting process. Do some coaches and programs lie? Absolutely, but everyone isn’t lying. I also think students and their parents aren’t asking questions and doing their homework. I think social media plays a factor because it seems some players prioritize the popular schools vs the ones that actually need them.

I know for sure I’ve seen Dawn state she meets with families to set expectations and probably to nip the possibility of issues pertaining to playing time arising later down the line.

I was thinking the same thing, however shouldn't some of this also fall on the shoulders of AAU programs and high schools these kids come from? These programs are always out there promoting who they helped get to top tier programs but do they talk about what happens afterwards when it doesn't go well?

For example:

Michigan Crossover - Rickea Jackson, Gabby Elliott, Destiny Pitts, Jasmine Powell, and Alyza Winston all played with that program at some point.

Hamilton Heights/FBC - Jasmine Massengil, Elizabeth Balogun, Treasure Hunt, and Kamila Cardoso.

I agree that parents and students need to do a better job at research, but sometimes parents just don't know where to start. How much responsibility is being put on these programs who have been in this for years, if not decades? They usually have more insight on schools than parents could ever know that they may not be sharing because they only care about getting more kids to play for them to continue building their brand.

 

[BRS24]

 

[CocoHusky]

I do wonder how long it’ll be before the NCAA tries to do something to limit this. I think a lot of these transfers could be avoided if players were honest with themselves from the beginning of their recruiting process. Do some coaches and programs lie? Absolutely, but everyone isn’t lying. I also think students and their parents aren’t asking questions and doing their homework. I think social media plays a factor because it seems some players prioritize the popular schools vs the ones that actually need them.
I know for sure I’ve seen Dawn state she meets with families to set expectations and probably to nip the possibility of issues pertaining to playing time arising later down the line.

I don't think the NCAA will do anything to drastically limit transfers because athlete transfer rates are significant below the transfer rate of non-athletes. Non-Athlete are transferring at about 39% while the highest transfers rate for Athletes by sports is in Mens Basketball which is only at 29%.

Research on Student-Athlete Transfers

Research on Student-Athlete Transfers

www.ncaa.org

The other thing that is working in the NCCA favor is that graduation rates are on the rise and student athletes are graduating at higher rates than non-student athletes.
Granted this data needs a relook from 2019 but as long as those two trends continue I don see the NCAA making any drastic changes.

https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/research/gradrates/2018DIRES_D1FedGSRTrends.pdf.

 

[Big12wbbFan]

I was thinking the same thing, however shouldn't some of this also fall on the shoulders of AAU programs and high schools these kids come from? These programs are always out there promoting who they helped get to top tier programs but do they talk about what happens afterwards when it doesn't go well?

For example:

Michigan Crossover - Rickea Jackson, Gabby Elliott, Destiny Pitts, Jasmine Powell, and Alyza Winston all played with that program at some point.

Hamilton Heights/FBC - Jasmine Massengil, Elizabeth Balogun, Treasure Hunt, and Kamila Cardoso.

I agree that parents and students need to do a better job at research, but sometimes parents just don't know where to start. How much responsibility is being put on these programs who have been in this for years, if not decades? They usually have more insight on schools than parents could ever know that they may not be sharing because they only care about getting more kids to play for them to continue building their brand.

I also wonder if the majority of the players in the portal this year will be picked up by another team. Certainly the top players will have multiple choices but I do wonder about the “average “ players…….

 

[eyeroll]

Thinking about this from the lens that these are adults. I'm not sure how it's so different from people switching jobs. You make a decision based on what you know that you think is best and the information available. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but hopefully you learn something each time. I don't think anyone needs to be held to blame or accountable for this - it's letting people make their own decisions (obviously within some parameters). It definitely changes the game but I think the game needs that. It creates more storylines, can dramatically change a team's performance, and similar to what's happening in business right now - forces coaches to address things like culture. You'd hate to see coaches taking heat if it's truly the player as the reason for the transfer, but seeing three people transfer out at once, as in this case, there's got to be some coaching blame there. You don't leave if you're happy and this is an SEC program, so you're not going anywhere else (other than a few schools) that'll have as much visibility.

 

[cancontent]

I also wonder if the majority of the players in the portal this year will be picked up by another team. Certainly the top players will have multiple choices but I do wonder about the “average “ players…….

I'm with you there on that. The portal is nearing 700 and the season hasn't even finished yet.

I always try to look at it from a Canadian perspective as more athletes want to play NCAA than stay at home. It's a double-edged sword as they see more Canadians having success like Amihere, Edwards, Pellington and Day-Wilson to name a few.

What they don't see is what's happened to other players who end up transferring multiple times and end up coming back to play in Canada. Nor are they aware that they may not be able to transfer all their credits back to a Canadian program either.

 

[GoCardinal]

I was thinking the same thing, however shouldn't some of this also fall on the shoulders of AAU programs and high schools these kids come from? These programs are always out there promoting who they helped get to top tier programs but do they talk about what happens afterwards when it doesn't go well?

For example:

Michigan Crossover - Rickea Jackson, Gabby Elliott, Destiny Pitts, Jasmine Powell, and Alyza Winston all played with that program at some point.

Hamilton Heights/FBC - Jasmine Massengil, Elizabeth Balogun, Treasure Hunt, and Kamila Cardoso.

I agree that parents and students need to do a better job at research, but sometimes parents just don't know where to start. How much responsibility is being put on these programs who have been in this for years, if not decades? They usually have more insight on schools than parents could ever know that they may not be sharing because they only care about getting more kids to play for them to continue building their brand.

These are also very good points. I think a lot of AAU programs push and encourage programs to particular places for whatever reasons they may have. I think AAU programs are more focused on their brands because if they have all these players going to major schools, it makes the program look better.

I also wonder if families are actually considering other factors that have absolutely nothing to do with basketball. Sure, the school might have on court success but academically is it a good fit? Does the school have exactly it is what you want to study? What are classes like? What resources are in place to support you? How accessible are airports if you are moving from 4 states over? I think AAU teams, players, and parents sometimes get too caught up in what looks good and don’t always dig a little deeper.

 

[SECbbfan24]

 

[TC22]

I do wonder how long it’ll be before the NCAA tries to do something to limit this. I think a lot of these transfers could be avoided if players were honest with themselves from the beginning of their recruiting process. Do some coaches and programs lie? Absolutely, but everyone isn’t lying. I also think students and their parents aren’t asking questions and doing their homework. I think social media plays a factor because it seems some players prioritize the popular schools vs the ones that actually need them.

I know for sure I’ve seen Dawn state she meets with families to set expectations and probably to nip the possibility of issues pertaining to playing time arising later down the line.

I’m certainly not trying to make excuses but for 2 years athletes were not allowed to take in person visits. Throw in everything had to be done on zoom, there have been coaching changes and NIL and you are exacerbating a problem.

NIL is really going to be A bigger deal with WBB players than anybody thought and I’m happy for them. Some companies are Investing in women and Seeing their investments grow.

 

[Dillon77]

I

Looking at this through a basketball prism only: she started four games as a frosh her first (and last) year at Duke and transferred in the middle of the season to Va. Tech, attaining a waiver. At Va. Tech her junior year, she started 20 of 31 games. Now, she was coming off the bench in the latter part of the season but still playing. However, Aisha Sheppard is gone next year so she could step back in the lineup. And who knows if Kayana Traylor moves on? Plus, you get to play with Kitley her senior year, so you know you're grounded up the middle. Kenny Brooks always strikes me as one focused but reasonable dude, so ????

Now there could be some academic/personal reasons not forthcoming, but little perplexed from a hoops perspective.

 

[cancontent]

I’m certainly not trying to make excuses but for 2 years athletes were not allowed to take in person visits. Throw in everything had to be done on zoom, there have been coaching changes and NIL and you are exacerbating a problem. NIL is really going to be A bigger deal with WBB players than anybody thought and I’m happy for them.

It's definitely a factor for 2021 freshman and some sophomores, but it doesn't help to explain it all. Another factor, as other posters have noted is the extra year provided due to COVID has allowed many to leverage the grad transfer to finish their masters degree. Kudos to them for taking advantage.

Where this doesn't apply is with upper classmen who entered university between 2018-2020. Their recruitment process wasn't affected by COVID and official visits were not an issue.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I thought her number was 420

 

[Bayareahusky]

Best of luck to her. However I don’t think Tennessee’s coach provides the best situation for her. In my opinion she needed someone like Coach Mulkey, Coach Staley or Coach Schaefer. She is a great kid but has a dominant personality.

I agree with you on these thoughts..... Of course LV fans believe she is the Holy Grail.... but why hasn't the program been able to advance in the tournament in the last dozen years? UT has attracted some primo players.... including #1 recruits in entire country (Mercedes Russell, Diamond DeShields e.g.) She needs coach who can light fire under her.... Too many times I see the LVs play passive basketball.

 

[cancontent]

Gabby Elliott is heading home to the Michigan area.

 

[stwainfan]

Four players in the portal in a week. That's not good for Missouri.

 

[GoCardinal]

I’m certainly not trying to make excuses but for 2 years athletes were not allowed to take in person visits. Throw in everything had to be done on zoom, there have been coaching changes and NIL and you are exacerbating a problem.

NIL is really going to be A bigger deal with WBB players than anybody thought and I’m happy for them. Some companies are Investing in women and Seeing their investments grow.

Which means that much more homework should/could have been done. Sure being able to visit allows you to feel and see things physically, but some of the questions i mentioned that should be asked could be answered by just doing your homework. I’m not sure if some players are really paying attention to these things.

I’ve seen so many players mention the style of play wasn’t a fit and that’s why they transferred. But something like that can be figured out by just watching games. The academic side can be answered by just browsing school websites and looking at required coursework. It obviously isn’t a one size fits all, but I just don’t think the “student” aspect of the recruiting process is as big as it should be. And that was before NIL came into the picture.

Obviously seniors this year have been able to visit in person so it’s different. But, Raoul made a really great point on his feed about one of Mississippi State’s 2022 commits. She mentioned that despite all the changes in the program, she’s sticking with MSU because academically it makes sense for her desired field of study. Raoul’s point was that it was extremely rare to see academics being the first thing an athlete mentions for sticking with a commitment. To me, that shows a young lady that did her homework on the institution and its basketball program.

Yes, the coach you play for is important. But, your life outside and after basketball is important too. You can have a major injury as soon as you step foot on campus, and then what? I just wonder what goes into these recruiting talks and how decisions are made on both ends.

 

[Bayareahusky]

wow something in the water out there.... good luck to her she has game

 

[TC22]

It's definitely a factor for 2021 freshman and some sophomores, but it doesn't help to explain it all. Another factor, as other posters have noted is the extra year provided due to COVID has allowed many to leverage the grad transfer to finish their masters degree. Kudos to them for taking advantage.

Where this doesn't apply is with upper classmen who entered university between 2018-2020. Their recruitment process wasn't affected by COVID and official visits were not an issue.

And those grads that are staying at their same school may also be a factor in the transfers for under classmen.

 

[BRS24]

 

[Coler]

I'll order Blackwell, and Williams to LSU, please.

 

[SECbbfan24]

wow something in the water out there.... good luck to her she has game

I'm sure Missouri being a subpar SEC team along with having a former Missouri player attacking her on social media relating to her suspension didn't help...

Between Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri, not sure who is circling the drain more given the massive losses from each team.

 

[Zanzman]

I'll order Blackwell, and Williams to LSU, please.

Have you given up on Rutgers

 

[southie]

Four players in the portal in a week. That's not good for Missouri.

I'm more surprised they didn't enter the portal a week or 2 ago.