As the college basketball season has closed for most teams, thousands of players have entered the transfer portal, looking to find better opportunities for their future. With all of the roster turnover, a lack of upsets in the NCAA tournament and a rise in NIL funding, the yearly question in collegiate sports has returned -Is the transfer portal good for college basketball? Contributors Steffen White and Cristina Solano give their takes in our latest one-on-one.
Yes
By Steffen White
Going away to college can be a scary transition. It is unfair to say that the significant life decision you made in high school can’t be wrong. Whether your current school isn’t for you, or there are just better opportunities elsewhere, all athletes should have the opportunity to transfer.
We see coaches leave for better opportunities all the time. It would be tough to argue that the players shouldn’t get the same opportunities.
The transfer portal allows colleges and universities a vast player pool to recruit from. You can add veterans who have experience at the college level and contribute immediately. Obviously, some regulations need to be put in place, but overall, the transfer portal makes college sports a better experience for all involved.
No
By Cristina Solano
The transfer portal has been controversial for various reasons, one being the stability of the coach’s team. A player can play for a school for one season before being eligible to transfer to another school. This can pressure coaches to offer media deals, brand deals or talks of a highly paid opportunity to players who may not receive them.
Another adverse effect of the transfer portal is the deprioritization of recruits coming in from high school. Coaches can focus more on developed players in the portal than the high school talent that haven’t played in a collegiate game.
A final drawback caused by the transfer portal is the disruption of team building. For a team to be successful, it’s important to have a group that communicates, works together and trusts one another. If you have a revolving-door team of players who are always coming and going, you will struggle to have the established foundation a team needs to be successful.
