The transfer portal remains as active as ever even after its closing. Commitments have remained steady as coaches continue to fill their rosters. But premier talent remains available and big-time programs still are making splashes.
Here are headlines from an action-packed weekend, thanks to the partnership between The Portal Report and Hoops HQ.
Top Available Scorer Nearing Decision
Although entering the NBA Draft remains a possibility, it appears coach Will Wade and North Carolina State will land the services of 6-foot-3 sophomore guard PJ Haggerty if he chooses to remain in college. Haggerty, the nation’s third-leading scorer this season for Memphis at 21.7 points per game, started his career with a season each at TCU (redshirt) and Tulsa before becoming a second-team All-American this past season with the Tigers.
Reports of interest from Ole Miss and Texas initially surfaced. But per recent reports, the Longhorns never reached out, and reports Friday confirmed Ole Miss no longer was recruiting Haggerty.
Haggerty’s camp reportedly is asking for $4 million and for him to spend a majority of his time on the floor at point guard.
Georgia Tech Lands All-WCC Performer
After two seasons at Texas Tech and one at Pacific, 6-foot-4 guard Lamar Washington now is headed to Georgia Tech. Washington was the Oregon state player of the year as a junior at Portland’s Jefferson High, then played as a high school senior at Arizona Compass Prep before signing with Texas Tech.
But Washington started just three games in his two seasons in Lubbock, averaging under three points per game combined. This past season at Pacific, Washington averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He showed the ability to go nuclear, scoring 40 and 31 points in wins over Washington State and Loyola Marymount, respectively.
Former Four-Star Transferring Intraconference
As a 6-foot-1 guard out of Lyon County High in Eddyville, Ky., four-star recruit Travis Perry – the leading scorer in Kentucky high school history with 5,481 points – received offers from, among others, Florida, Purdue and Ole Miss before signing with Kentucky.
But following an underwhelming freshman season in Lexington in which he averaged fewer than 10 minutes per game, Perry entered the portal. He has decided on Ole Miss.
Trojans Earn Commitment from Big South’s No. 2 Scorer
Jordan Marsh, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard who played this past season at UNC Asheville, has committed to USC out of the portal.
He had 15 games with at least 20 points and averaged a team-leading 18.8 points; he also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Marsh will join a pair of high-profile transfers in Los Angeles: 6-foot-7 senior guard Chad Baker-Mazara from Auburn and Rodney Rice, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard who played at Maryland.
Marsh, who is from Charlotte, played his freshman season at Appalachian State before moving on to UNCA.
Highly Touted Big’s Recruitment Ramping Up
Three coaches with experience dominating the portal are leading the charge for 6-foot-11 sophomore forward James Scott, who is leaving Louisville. Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, Ole Miss’ Beard and NC State’s Wade are pursuing Scott, who followed Cardinals coach Pat Keley from College of Charleston. Scott averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds for Louisville.
NC State presents a clear option closer to home for Scott, who is from Fayetteville, N.C., though Scott visited Auburn and Ole Miss over the weekend.
Defending Champs out on USC Wing
In a surprising turn of events, Florida no longer is pursuing 6-foot-6 junior guard Desmond Claude. The Gators, once thought to be the favorite to land Claude, have ended their recruitment efforts. Claude, who began his career with two seasons at Xavier, led USC with 15.8 points and 4.2 assists per game this past season. He scored a season-high 31 points in a Jan. 11 road victory over then-No. 13 Illinois.
Per reports, Claude is hearing from Gonzaga, Duke, Virginia, Ole Miss and Kentucky. He is said to be seeking an experienced backcourt pairing and a team built for a March run.
Texas Native Commits to Aggies
Kansas transfer Rylan Griffen, a 6-foot-6 junior guard from the Dallas area, has announced his intention to return to the Lone Star State. Griffen, who began his career with two seasons at Alabama before playing for the Jayhawks this past season, has chosen Texas A&M and new coach Bucky McMillan.
Griffen, a former four-star recruit, played the best ball of his career as a sophomore in Tuscaloosa, averaging 11.9 points per game.
ACC Transfer Fielding Interest from a Trio of Premier Programs
Texas Tech, Michigan State and USC are in pursuit of 6-foot-3 freshman guard Divine Ugochukwu, per reports. Ugochukwu started 16 games for Miami this past season and averaged 5.3 points per contest.
Ugochukwu met with Michigan State via Zoom on Sunday night, then conducted a Zoom meeting Monday with USC. Keep an eye on Texas Tech, a destination closer to home for the Houston-area native.
Adam Miller Set for Fourth School in Five Seasons
Adam Miller was the second-ranked recruit in Illinois when he signed with the Fighting Illini as part of the 2021 recruiting class. Now, Miller, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, has announced his intention to sign with Gonzaga after also playing at LSU and Arizona State.
Miller, who has started 113 games in his four-year career, averaged 9.8 points per game for the Sun Devils this past season. He showed the ability to produce against high-level defenses with 18 and 22 points against Florida and Texas Tech, respectively.
Missouri Sustains Portal Success with Recent Signing
Despite an injury that forced him to miss the 2024-25 season at West Virginia, 6-foot-4 senior guard Jayden Stone received a plethora of high-major interest in the portal before choosing Missouri.
Stone started his career at Grand Canyon, then transferred to Detroit Mercy after his sophomore season with the Lopes. Stone emerged as a scorer with the Titans, averaging 20.8 points per game in 2023-24, which led to his transfer to WVU.
The addition of Stone adds to a portal class for the Tigers that includes 7-foot junior center Shawn Phillips Jr. from Arizona State and Sebastian Mack, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard who transferred from UCLA.
For more information on the transfer portal, check out The Portal Report’s Transfer Portal Fan Tracker here
