It’s been a busy week in the transfer portal. A slew of intrastate moves, seismic waves in the NIL landscape and the impact of a number of key players opting to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to college has consumed the attention of hoops fans over the past few days.
Perhaps the biggest news is guard Pop Isaacs flipping to Texas A&M from Houston. Isaacs, a Creighton transfer who played only 8 games last season, had committed to Houston in April, but when the Cougars’ Milos Uzan withdrew from the NBA Draft and returned to Kelvin Sampson’s team, Isaacs made the decision to head to A&M.
Thanks to a partnership between The Portal Report and Hoops HQ, here are the top headlines of the past week.
Big Man Commits to In-State Rival
An Orlando native who started his career with a season at Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, 6-foot-8 junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin suited up for North Carolina this season. Sunday, Lubin committed to coach Will Wade and North Carolina State, heading to the red side of the Carolina State rivalry.
Lubin recorded his best statistical season as a sophomore at Vanderbilt, pouring in 12.3 points and adding 6.3 rebounds per contest. This year as a Tar Heel, he averaged 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
The former four-star recruit will join a loaded transfer portal class that includes; 6-foot-6 junior forward and Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams; Terrance Arceneaux, a 6-foot–6 sophomore guard out of Houston; and Tre Holloman, a 6-foot-2 junior guard from Michigan State.
Highly Touted Floor General Flips in the Lone Star State
The return of Milos Uzan, a 6-foot-4 junior guard who started each of Houston’s 40 games on their run to the national championship game, certainly threw a wrench in the plans of Pop Isaacs.
A junior guard who started his career at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-2 Isaacs donned a Creighton uniform this season. Although a December hip surgery limited him to just eight games, Isaacs’ ability and reputation earned him a variety of high-major interest in the portal.
On April 8, Isaacs committed to coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston. But following the return of Uzan, who will undoubtedly retain his spot in the Cougars rotation, Isaacs made the switch. to Texas A&M. Tuesday’s commitment adds to an Aggies’ portal class that ranks No. 11 in The Portal Report’s team rankings.
Tide Drop out of Race for Top Available Wing
Following Labaron Philon’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Alabama, reports surfaced that coach Nate Oats and his staff will no longer pursue 6-foot-6 guard Desmond Claude in the transfer portal.
Claude, a USC transfer who averaged a team-high 15.8 points a night for the Trojans this season, has given fans plenty to track as his recruitment continues. A Connecticut native who began his career with two seasons at Xavier, Claude reportedly narrowed his list down to a final three of Alabama, Gonzaga and Washington on May 23.
Yet, the saga continues. Saturday, it was reported that Oregon and Tennessee had contacted Claude, while Gonzaga and SMU remain in the mix.
First Team All-Big South Guard Decommits from USC
After helping lead High Point to the NCAA Tournament, 6-foot-2 senior guard Kezza Giffa announced his intention to enter the portal on March 24. Thursday, Giffa committed to the USC Trojans. However, Monday, Giffa decommitted, effectively reopening his recruitment.
A native of Paris, France, Giffa played at UTEP as a freshman before transferring to JUCO Daytona College. During the 2023 offseason, Giffa decided to join coach Alan Huss and High Point, a decision that led to back-to-back First Team All-Big South selections.
As a junior who started in just nine games, Giffa poured in 16.2 points per contest. In what was a crushing one-point defeat in the semifinals of the 2023-24 Big South Tournament, Giffa uncorked for 32 points. The senior averaged 14.6 points per game this season, playing a key role on a Panthers team that advanced to the Big Dance.
Keep an eye on Seton Hall and Iowa as potential landing spots for Giffa; the guard took official visits to each.
First-Year Minnesota Head Man Adds to Portal Class
It has been a successful first offseason at the helm for Niko Medved, who took over as head coach of the Gophers after seven seasons under the same title at Colorado State. Sunday, he continued his roster overhaul through the portal, adding 6-foot-7 junior forward Cade Tyson.
Although Tyson appeared in under eight minutes per game this season for North Carolina, he scored 16.2 points a game the previous season at Belmont. highlighted by a 31-point outburst against Samford.
Alongside Tyson, Medved has landed portal commitments from; BJ Omot, a 6-foot-8 junior forward and Cal transfer; 6-foot-4 junior guard Langston Reynolds out of Northern Colorado; and 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Bobby Durkin who transferred from Davidson.
THE MAN BEHIND THE LANDMARK CASE
For Grant House, Being the Face of Radical Change Has Not Been Easy
As the named plaintiff in the landmark House v. NCAA case, the former Arizona State swimmer has faced criticism, anger and even death threats. “I feel like I’ve been shunned by the swimming community.”
Former Ivy League Star Making Waves in NIL Deals
With the signing of a signature shoe deal with Serious Player Only, 6-foot-4 junior guard and Florida commit Xaivian Lee became the first NIL athlete to sign a shoe deal with an international brand.
Lee, who garnered national attention for his sharpshooting during his time at Princeton, averaged 17 points per game over the last two seasons. However, it is not just Lee’s talent, but his swagger and apparent “it” factor on the hardwood that has helped to earn him upwards of $6 million between the Gators’ NIL collective and his international shoe deal.
Florida landed Lee’s commitment on April 16. In an ever-changing NIL landscape, expect Lee’s deal to be far from the last of its kind.
Journeyman Lands at Fourth School
The WAC Player of the Year in 2023-24, 6-foot-7 senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster committed to Gonzaga Wednesday. A Kansas City, Kan., native that began his career with a season each at Kansas and DePaul, Grant-Foster shined when given the chance with Grand Canyon.
Grant-Foster averaged 20.1 points per night as a junior at GCU. His Lopes took down No. 5 seed St. Mary’s in the opening round of the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament with Grant-Foster dropping 22 points. In the team’s second round matchup with No. 4 Alabama, Grant-Foster’s 29 kept the Lopes close for a majority of the contest.
Bulldogs Pick Up Montana State’s Leading Scorer
Despite strong pushes from Georgia, Oklahoma, and SMU, among others, 6-foot-7 junior forward Brandon Walker committed to Mississippi State Friday.
Walker, who led his Montana State squad with 14.7 points per contest, began his career with a season at UT-Arlington. The junior exploded for a career-high 31 points at UC Riverside on Dec. 18. He will join a Bulldog squad that reached the NCAA Tournament this past season.
