College Basketball Transfer Portal: (4/1/20)

College Basketball Transfer Portal: (4/1/20)

There are few things that are percolating in the world of sports right now. One is the college basketball transfer portal. As of the last day of March, there are over 600 college basketball players who have entered the transfer portal. About half of them have signed or at least agreed to move on with another program.

Many of these transfers have to sit out a year and some are grad transfers. The grad transfers don't have to sit out because they graduated at their current school and have a year (or two years) left of eligibility. Some of that could be due to injuries, while other players are on their second or even third program. There is a shot

We'll take a look at the key players that entered the portal on Wednesday, April 1. Some of these players have signed already. Some programs, like Maryland, have lost or about to lose their entire frontcourt. The Terps lost the Mitchell twins (both around 6-9) to Rhode Island and Ricky Lindo just announced he was transferring on Monday. Add a probable loss as Jason "Stix" Smith to the NBA and Maryland is going to be very active in the transfer portal. On Wednesday, they did add to that frontcourt, but they will need a waive have their player become eligible in 2020-21. However, there is still a shot that the NCAA decides to allow every transfer to become immediately eligible, so stay tuned for that potential bombshell. Some players can get a waiver from the NCAA to play right away.

Here are the key players who have left their program according to media reports, Verbal Commits.com, Rotowire.com, Twitter and other social media. Stay tuned as we will update this list every day and eventually compile the entire list of key players with their stats. Key players are listed in alphabetical order.

April 1 (before 5pmET)

G Tyrik Dixon (6-1, 173). Former school: Missouri State (7.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.6apg). New school: ?

Comment: Dixon along with Ford Copper Jr. is leaving Missouri State. Dixon has one season left and even though his shooting numbers are down, he can help a team as backup point guard.

G Jack Forrest (6-5, 200). Former school: Columbia (8.9ppg, 3.3rpg). New school: St. Joseph's

Comment: Was a freshman at Columbia, so he'l have to sit out for a year and has three years left. Show some potential by making 35.2% of his three-pointers.

G Terrell Gomez (5-8, 160). Former school: CSU Northridge (19.8ppg, 43.9% FG). New school: ?

Comment: This diminutive guard can score. He'll find someplace to play in his final season.

F John Hall (6-7, 215). Former school: Evansville. (6ppg, 3.2rpg). New school: ?

Comment: Hall started most of the season but was benched later in the year. The Philly native could want to play closer to his home.

F Jairus Hamilton (6-8, 234). Former school: Boston College (9.5ppg, 4.3rpg). New school: Maryland

Comment: Hamilton will likely have to sit out and has two years of eligibility to a desperate team that needs frontcourt help.

G Elijah Hardy (6-2, 170). Former school: Washington (1.9ppg, 1.1apg). New school:?

Comment: This sophomore was unable to make much of a contribution as a freshman in Seattle, but may need to move down to a mid-major to get more playing time.

G Luke House (6-4, 210). Former school: California (PA) (13.1ppg, 42% 3pt). New school: Drexel.

Comment: Nothing wrong with taking a chance on a Division 2 shooting guard who can make 42% of his three-point shots. He'll have to sit out a year.

G Quan Jackson (6-4, 180). Former school: Georgia Southern (13.6ppg, 4.5rpg). New school: ?

Comment: Jackson shot just 29.4% from the field and his numbers went down some after a better sophomore season. But he does have one year left and he's immediately eligible.

F Vance Jackson (6-9, 230). Former school: New Mexico (11.1ppg, 5.2rpg). New school: Arkansas.

Comment: Jackson began his career at UConn and moved on to New Mexico, where he produced well for two seasons. Arkansas is desperate and he will be able to help right away.

G Josh Pierre-Louis (6-3, 185). Former school: Temple (3.8ppg). New school: ?

Comment: Pierre-Louis played just one season and joined his brother. But he apparently wants more playing time and like many transfers, either needs to transfer down or doesn't have the patience to wait.

F Ben Pyle (6-7, 185). Former school: Western Illinois (12.3ppg, 5.3rpg). New school: ?

Comment: The hits keep coming for Western Illinois after they fired coach Billy Wright. They also lost Zion Young and Kobe Webster, three of their top scorers.

G Cameron Satterwhite (6-4, 172). Former school: Northern Arizona (9ppg, 42.7% FG). New school: Montana.

Comment: Satterwhite will be eligible right away and shot 38% from beyond the arc so he could help the Grizzlies next season.

G Kevin "KJ" Simon (6-3, 190). Former school: Troy (4.2ppg). New school: Bethune-Cookman.

Comment: Guard who has two years left and will have to sit out. Must be looking for more playing time.

G Zion Young (6-4, 190). Former school: Western Illinois (13.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 41.3% 3pt). New school: ?

Comment: Another quality player leaves Western Illinois. He'll have to sit out, though he might get a waiver since his coach Billy Wright was fired.