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Like I stated, some players that depart early for pro or NIL deals will be revered as a essential parts of our sports legacy for their contributions. They have earned their accolades.
Others that come and go may only be regarded as productive journeymen. Unfortunately this has been the fate at other schools for many of our star players that have entered the transfer portal.
In mid-April, New Mexico coach Richard Pitino joked on Twitter (or X, whatever) that he only had to wait 15 more days until he could be mean to his players again.
Two young studs, JT Toppin and Donovan Dent, were the top pieces New Mexico was trying to keep out of the transfer portal.
The Lobos went 1-for-2.
Pitino getting Dent back for Year 3 is tremendous. The dazzling point guard was one of the top pick-and-roll maestros in the sport last year. With Jamal Mashburn Jr. charting off to Temple and Jaelen House exhausting his eligibility, the table is set for Dent to have a monster year.
His frontcourt running mate will not be joining him. Dent was an elite play-creator, and Toppin became one of his favorite play-finishers. The Mountain West Freshman of the Year averaged 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He was fabulous. But Toppin entered the transfer portal in the final hour, and he's quickly become one of the top small-ball big men in the transfer portal. Toppin has boatloads of Big 12 interest.
Getting a potential Mountain West Player of the Year candidate back will keep New Mexico's floor high, but the ceiling changes without Toppin. Oh, what could have been...
read more: https://247sports.com/longformarticle/oregon-unc-iowa-headline-college-basketball-transfer-portal-deadline-retention-winners-losers-231218138/amp/
A coaching change always kickstarts tons of roster movement, but new Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington was less than 24 hours away from emerging from the transfer portal fracas with Ven-Allen Lubin still in the fold.
It was not meant to be.
The emerging, 6-foot-8 forward entered the portal on Wednesday, just hours before the deadline. Vanderbilt hoops had a frustrating season, but Lubin was the major bright spot. He elevated his game to new heights after transferring to Vanderbilt from Notre Dame. Lubin went toe-to-toe with some elite frontcourts and dominated. He had 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against Auburn. He ripped Florida's intimidating frontline for 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Lubin shot over 66% at the rim as an undersized center in the uber-athletic SEC. He's a beast. Lubin joins Great Osobor, Norchad Omier and Toppin as one of the premier small-ball centers on the market. He had to play the 5 at Vanderbilt, but Lubin could easily downshift to a matchup-hunting 4 at his next spot.
Byington has built up depth in Vanderbilt's frontcourt with transfer additions like Jaylen Carey, Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton, but Lubin was primed to be near the top of the scouting report for the 'Dores in 2024-25, and now he's gone at the very last second. Cruel.
read more: https://news.google.com/articles/CBMijwFodHRwczovLzI0N3Nwb3J0cy5jb20vbG9uZ2Zvcm1hcnRpY2xlL29yZWdvbi1ub3J0aC1jYXJvbGluYS1pb3dhLWhlYWRsaW5lLWNvbGxlZ2UtYmFza2V0YmFsbC10cmFuc2Zlci1wb3J0YWwtZGVhZGxpbmUtd2lubmVycy1sb3NlcnMtMjMxMjE4MTM4L9IBkwFodHRwczovLzI0N3Nwb3J0cy5jb20vbG9uZ2Zvcm1hcnRpY2xlL29yZWdvbi1ub3J0aC1jYXJvbGluYS1pb3dhLWhlYWRsaW5lLWNvbGxlZ2UtYmFza2V0YmFsbC10cmFuc2Zlci1wb3J0YWwtZGVhZGxpbmUtd2lubmVycy1sb3NlcnMtMjMxMjE4MTM4L2FtcC8?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen
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