Transfer portal window closes
- The spring transfer window for men's college basketball closed Tuesday night, shifting focus to roster winners. - On3 lists Indiana as holding the No. 1 transfer class as the portal shut for new entrants. - Programs like Duke and Florida were named big winners while late entrants like Thomas Bassong surprised observers. (on3.com) (cbs17.com)
Men’s college basketball’s spring transfer portal closed to new entrants Tuesday night, ending the two-week rush to declare and freezing the pool of available players. (ncaa.org) The National Collegiate Athletic Association changed the men’s basketball calendar in January, setting a 15-day window that opens the day after the national title game. A separate 15-day window still applies after a head coaching change. (ncaa.org) Closing the window does not end recruiting. Players who entered before the deadline can still visit schools and commit later, and On3 reported that only players already in the portal or covered by a coaching-change exception can enter now. (on3.com) Indiana reached the deadline with the No. 1 transfer class in On3’s team rankings after Darian DeVries landed six transfers. On3 said the group is led by Alabama forward Aiden Sherrell, ranked No. 15 in the portal, and Notre Dame guard Markus Burton, ranked No. 21. (on3.com) On3 said Indiana added four commitments in the first week of the window and filled major needs in the frontcourt and backcourt. The class also includes SMU center Samet Yiğitoğlu and Georgia Tech guard Jaeden Mustaf. (on3.com) Programs with coaching turnover were expected to be busy. CBS 17 reported that North Carolina State and North Carolina both had multiple players enter after introducing new head coaches, while Duke also added portal commitments before the deadline. (cbs17.com) In the Triangle, CBS 17 listed Santa Clara guard Christian Hammond, Hofstra guard Preston Edmead and UC Irvine forward Kyle Evans among North Carolina State’s additions. The same report said North Carolina added Greek wing Neoklis Avdalas and Duke added Wisconsin guard John Blackwell. (cbs17.com) National reaction shifted quickly from who entered to who built the strongest rosters. CBS Sports and Google News’ roundup both identified Duke and Florida among the programs drawing the most praise as the window shut. (cbssports.com) (news.google.com) There were still late surprises before the deadline. The Palm Beach Post reported Monday that Florida State forward Thomas Bassong reversed course after previously planning to return and instead entered the portal. (palmbeachpost.com) The next phase is slower and more familiar: roster math, visits and commitments. The portal door is shut for most new names, but the offseason market is still open for the players who got in before Tuesday night. (on3.com)
