Change is the only constant in life, and college basketball is no exception. Years ago, a player's main decision was which college to play for. Once that is decided and the athlete signs, they will play there for three or four years. The idea of transferring schools would put the student-athlete at too great a disadvantage for it to be worth it.
Leaving it alone for a year so it could be restarted elsewhere in a potentially better scenario wasn't something worth worrying about before.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with the NCAA that permanently ends restrictions on athletes' transfer eligibility. This means students can play immediately after transferring, rather than redshirting for a year. Transfer rules changing with the boom in name, image, and likeness (NIL) transactions have lifted the veil of amateurism in college sports, giving student-athletes the freedom and ability to go where they can grow educationally and athletically. For achievement and for economic gain.
College programs now have to recruit players from their schools and make sure they are happy so they don't transfer and enter the portal on their own.
Decision Day is no longer the day that determines the future of a program. The portal opens every year. Your decisions there will be as important, if not more important, than the others.
this year, Over 1,000 women's basketball players have accessed the portalAnd that number is expected to increase further in the future.
These are no longer isolated incidents that can be ignored. The number of students transferring and where they go to college will change the shape of the sport and the ability of a particular college to be a contender.
Here are five transfers that have the biggest impact on new schools.
haley van lith
Most athletes are known for their greatest accomplishments. HVL is known for its worst moment in last year's Elite Eight, when it was wiped out by Caitlin Clark.
Clarke was hotter than Fishgrease in this game, scoring goal after goal in the HVL. She relentlessly targeted HVL in one-on-one matches, which felt like bullying. Midway through the contest, she happened to make a deep 3-pointer, and HVL, as if to say, “What do you want me to do?”, converted a reverse MJ shrug.
HVL was similarly bad offensively, going 2-10 from the field. LSU lost the match, with fans and media alike pointing to HVL's performance as the main factor in the team's loss. This loss ended her national title defense, and she decided to transfer to the Tigers, never playing for them again. TCU.
This move was one that raised eyebrows as it would have placed her in a weaker program and seemed to have been done to get her out of a place where she had her worst moments. But redemption comes in many forms, and a few weeks into the college basketball season, HVL is playing the best basketball of his career.
She is averaging 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Horned Frogs, who started the season 11-1. Her best match so far was against No. 13. north carolina. She achieved her first double-double with an assist, finishing the game with 18 points and 10 dimes.
After the game, coach Mark Campbell spoke to her about the accomplishment. She was crying tears of emotion in his arms as he said this: She was set free. Well done. It's just the beginning, kid. ” It’s hard not to root for Van Lith. TCU is quickly becoming a team that every basketball fan should keep an eye on.
kiki iliafen
With the arrival of genius JuJu Watkins, the University of Southern California Trojans are going all out. That means they're looking for ways to add help, and they accomplished that by transferring Iriafen from Stanford to the University of Southern California this fall.
With the addition of Iliafen to the team, the Trojans add a versatile forward who can score goals and create his own shot. They were severely lacking in this ability last season, with the exception of Watkins, of course. Iriafen had to adjust to Watkins' high volume of shots, but averaged 18.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
The Trojans are currently a top-five team in the country, and with Iriafen getting more comfortable with each game, USC is expected to be the favorite to reach the Final Four this season. The last time they got that far was in 1986.
lucy olsen
What will happen to Caitlin Clark? You don't. Well, you have to, but with the understanding that she is a generational talent and the next person will have similar responsibilities without the same expectations.
As Iowa enters a new era, they bring in the former Olsen. villanovain the crease. She averaged 19 points and 5.3 assists per game, leading the team in both categories.
The Hawkeyes are currently 9-1 and still a top-25 team, and despite a downturn from last season, they have adjusted well and proven to be a competitive team.
Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA TODAY NETWORK (via Imagn Images)
Riatu King
Not everyone can be the center of attention. Others must be stars in their roles. King definitely fits this description. Last year, she averaged 18.7 points per game with Pittsburgh. notre dame cathedral As a player, she will have to stay indoors and do more menial tasks, such as cleaning the glass. While teammates Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo shine in the backcourt, she is averaging a double-double in the frontcourt this season, averaging 12.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
Her addition raises the ceiling for this Fighting Irish team, which has now beaten three teams in the top five. Conference play has yet to begin, but with the addition of King, Notre Dame is poised to dominate ACC play this winter.
Aaronette Vonleh
Vonleh is having his best college season as a Baylor Bear. Vonleh, a transfer from Colorado, is averaging 14.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while providing much-needed size to a guard-heavy team. Her efficiency was exceptional, making 63.3% of her shots.
Her addition revitalized the program, and she was named preseason Newcomer of the Year along with Van Lith. Baylor is currently one of the favorites to win the Big 12 and has a reliable stable of bigs to compete against the nation's best teams come March Madness.
