(De)Committed - Welcome to the Transfer Portal

Copyright Sports Illustrated, 2022

Some of the coolest sports graphics on social media are the announcements of a young athlete's commitment to playing their favorite sport at the collegiate level. It's almost a rite of passage - athletes showing the world where they will showcase their talents for the next FOUR YEARS!

... or three


... or two


... or one.

Copyright Chicago Sun-Times, 2024

Aided by the availability for financial opportunity brought forth by Name, Image, and Likeness legislation, cocollege athletes are teetering on the line of amateurism, since they can be paid to play (though not directly by a school). These NIL deals have led some players to chase the money, especially if they have a good season and feel they can move up in the rankings.

"Committed" is no longer the right word for when an athlete decides a college because so many enter the transfer portal, a relatively new idea for a mass transfer of athletes to different colleges. This may be speculation, but I'm pretty sure they aren't transferring because of a school's academic quality. 

Copyright San Diego Union-Tribune, 2024

In men's basketball alone, over 1,000 NCAA Divison I players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-2024 season. During NC State's run to the final four, ZERO of their five starters began their career at NC State. This kind of change up, in my opinion is bad for schools, fans, coaches, and the game of basketball.

This is bad for schools because they have lots of work to try to entice athletes to not only "commit" to their school but to STAY after a good year. It's bad for fans and coaches because you may always be counting on someone to rely on for the next season, only to see them leave for the rival school across state lines. 

Copyright CBS Sports, 2024

It's perhaps the worst, though, for the game of basketball. The freedom to move up (or down) from school to school may create an entitlement in players who have proven themselves, and that could lead to poor displays of teamwork, sportsmanship, and talent, all of which are vital pieces to a championship basketball team. 

It's normal for people to transfer schools every once in a while. Not getting the academic or athletic attention needed can drive a student away. The transfer portal, however, allows athletes to dip their toe into several pools, never fully jumping in and embracing the opportunity that they have. 

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