As the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft has come and gone, the transfer portal action shifts towards commitments and late portal entrants. Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year Malachi Smith found a new home and Southern Miss added an All-SoCon Performer. The Portal Report has you covered with news and analysis from Thursday’s transfer portal movement.
Portal Entrants
Following a four-year stint at Charleston Southern, center Sadarius Bowser has entered the transfer portal. The Gaffney, SC native averaged 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds this past season. Bowers appeared in 107 games with 52 starts for the Buccaneers, shooting 58.1 percent for his career.
Maine guard Sam Ihekwoaba will search for a new home after one season with the Black Bears. The Orlando, FL native tallied 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds, connecting on 51.6 percent of his shots. Ihekwoaba recorded a career-high 22 points and nine rebounds in a conference matchup against Stony Brook this past season.
Commitments
Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year Malachi Smith is headed west to play for Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Smith, who began his career at Wright State, has spent the past two seasons at Chattanooga, dominating the SoCon. The Lou Henson Award winner started all 60 games of his Mocs tenure, pouring in 19.9 points and 6.7 rebounds, while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.
One of the best remaining shooters in the portal, Felipe Haase, is transferring to Southern Miss. The Mercer transfer spent two seasons with the Bears after beginning his career at South Carolina. The Second Team All-SoCon selection started 61 of his 62 games at Mercer, averaging 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. The Osorno, Chile native shot 48.2 percent from the field and connected on 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. Haase will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Mississippi State gained the commitment of Albany transfer Jamel Horton. The 6-foot-4 guard spent two seasons with the Great Danes, tallying 12.8 points and 3.9 assists as a sophomore. Horton, the reigning America East Defensive Player of the Year, ranked second in the conference in assists and was a Second Team All-Conference selection. Horton becomes the fourth portal pledge for the Bulldogs this offseason.
