Imagine you are an overlooked and under recruited high school athlete, but still you get the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
There, you excel and get the opportunity to move on to a higher profile, better program.
With the transfer portal, athletes get this exact opportunity.
While the transfer portal has been around since October of 2018, its impact has really made a difference in these past two or three seasons.
The portal is one of those things that you either love or hate, and I can see the argument made from both sides.
As for the people who hate it, I can get it. It’d be much more preferred if things were the way that they used to be. With athletes staying 3-4 years with the same team, it allows fans to grow to real love for these kids as players and as people alike.
However, I think that the transfer portal is the best thing to happen to college sports.
The portal gives people new life. During the past 2-3 seasons in all college sports, some of the best players have been transfers, often times coming from smaller schools, or due to other reasons such as lack of playing time, new recruits coming in, etc.
Take this past college football and basketball season for example. Transfers led all of the football and basketball championship-contending schools.
For Ohio State, it was quarterback Will Howard, previously at Kansas State. For Notre Dame it was quarterback Riley Leonard, who played at Duke prior to transferring to Notre Dame. In basketball, both Florida and Auburn were led by transfers too. Florida was led by MOP transfer guard Walter Clayton Jr, previously at Iona.
At the end of the day these are still young men who are attempting to find a more suitable program, for the betterment of themselves and their families.
What’s not to love?
Athletes seeking new opportunities hit the portal, find a new home, and excel.
Kentucky was no different. Aside from freshmen Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, and Travis Perry, Mark Pope got formed a team of straight transfers.
Needless to say, Pope did not have the preferred amount of time to recruit any highly touted high school kids; however, this season was nothing short of electric.
The Cats had chemistry like no other, regardless of only playing together for one season and led Kentucky all the way to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
Additionally, the portal has come to help a GRC legend in whom many fans thought was one of those guys that needed a change of scenery — Jerone Morton.
Jerone’s legacy at GRC was second to none, helping bring home both a state title and state championship runner-up, all the while dominating game in and game out for the five years he was here.
Jerone enrolled at Morehead State to continue his basketball career. Playing anywhere at the D1 level is impressive; however, many fans here, including myself, thought Jerone was capable of competing at a higher level.
After Jerone’s stellar sophomore season, averaging 10, 3, and 3, this past season, Jerone entered the portal.
The Winchester native ultimately chose Washington State University, a part of the WCC, which also includes high level teams such as Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, and two-time national champion San Francisco.
Courtesy of the portal, hometown legend will now have an opportunity to prove his worth at one of the highest levels.
The transfer portal has provided new opportunities for countless athletes, and college sports have taken a step forward.
