With the NBA Draft deadline now less than a month away, new players are returning to school almost daily while those in the transfer portal continue to help fill out rosters across the college basketball landscape with some commitments and even recommitments. The Portal Report has you covered on all the latest transfer news and highlights from all around college basketball.
Commitments
After briefly committing to New Mexico State, former Conference USA All-Freshman selection Jordan Ivy-Curry announced that he reopened his commitment and subsequently will be transferring to Pacific instead. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 2.3 APG with UTSA in 21 appearances last season with 19 coming as a starter, and was the Roadrunners’ second-leading scorer.
2021-22 All-Sun Belt selection Efe Odigie will be transferring for a second time and has declared his commitment to SMU with his final year of eligibility, marking the Mustangs’ fifth offseason transfer addition. Odigie averaged 11.5 PPG and 6.7 RPG with Troy last season and earned CUSA All-Freshman honors during his time at UTEP but struggled with injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Returnees
Despite the coaching change, Khalil Brantley had announced that he will withdraw his name from the transfer portal and return to La Salle next season to play under first-year head coach Fran Dunphy. The Bronx, New York native averaged 8 PPG and 2.3 RPG as a freshman making just four starts in 29 appearances for the Explorers.
2022 All-MAAC Tournament selection Dwight Murray Jr. will be exiting the NBA Draft just before the deadline and returning to Rider with his additional year of eligibility. The standout guard averaged 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG as the Broncs’ main ball handler from a year ago and alongside Allen Powell could already be the conference’s best backcourt ahead of next season.
Similarly, two-time All-Horizon League Defensive selection Deante Johnson will withdraw his name from the NBA Draft just prior to the deadline and return to Cleveland State with his additional year of eligibility. A 6-foot-9 forward, Johnson averaged 7.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.3 BKPG while starting all 31 games for the Vikings last season.
According to Paul Jones of 247 Sports, Mississippi State wing DJ Jeffries removed his name from the transfer portal on Monday as well, choosing to stay in Starkville for another season. He averaged over 8 points per game for the Bulldogs last season, playing more than 28 minutes per contest.
