Former Centerville team mates enter portal
Guard Gabe Cupps Indiana
Forward Jonathan Powell WVU... WVU coach just took IU job.
Could Powell follow to IU?
Or does UD have a chance with both guys?
My guess is, Powell follows the money, whatever the source. He switched high schools. He’ll switch colleges.
I’m guessing they saw a need to get more size on the wings…and had the pockets to make that happen.
Do we know why he only played 17 games last season? Was it injury or coach's decision?
At a quick glance, he didn’t see action until mid-December, and then played pretty regularly until mid-February. After the Mizzou game on 2/15, he didn’t see the court again until the Dawgs played Gonzaga in the NCAA First Round. I didn’t try to dig any deeper.
There was an issue with academic credits, so he was held out of action for nine games. From the Athens, Georgia, newspaper:
——
One of Georgia basketball’s transfer additions is ineligible for the first nine games of the season.
De’Shayne Montgomery, a 6-foot-5 guard from Mount St. Mary’s, won’t be able to make his Bulldogs debut until the Dec. 14 game against Grand Canyon in Atlanta. The first nine games runs through the end of the university’s first semester.
Montgomery did not have enough transferrable credits to be eligible to play for the Bulldogs this semester. He’s one of nine newcomers including five transfers.
Ha Ha! I love the charade these schools still perpetuate.
Given the explosion in transfers, students flying all over the country in mega conferences, and NIL $ amounts in the past few years, do these schools really want us to believe they care about these kids progressing towards a degree?
Kids playing for 3 or 4 schools chasing a few extra bucks have already told us what they value.
I'm guessing there aren't many kids going to classes anymore. Time to just make them employees of the school who are there to work not go to school.
Online classes have made it even worse. Some athletes at bigger schools admit they have never even been on campus. Just the gym and stadium
Do we have any info on who the second visit this weekend is?
Yes, it will probably be public soon but it hasn't started yet... I'll just say it's a Power 5 transfer
Too late for Kaleb Glenn. He transfers from Florida Atlantic to Michigan State.
Here's the 2nd Visitor
Not a great three-point shooter, but has a good reputation as a defender and can get to the rim. Had a few starts and a couple of excellent performances last year — 26 points in a loss to Michigan State and 16 in a win over Notre Dame. His second year at Merrimack was stellar.
I believe that’s right — two years at Merrimack and one at Rutgers leaves just one year of eligibility.
Did everyone see that Lynn Greer III is in the portal from Temple?
+1 for me, I don't have anything against anyone who leaves but once you are gone you are gone.
I am certainly not recommending that Grant recruit Mr. Greer. I just brought it to everyone’s attention as I saw people mention that Mongolian Mike was in the portal. I believe that the situations are somewhat the same. Clearly, I don’t know all of the details of both young men’s decision. I prefer to believe that both young men did not leave because of Mr. Grant. I prefer to believe that they left for other extenuating reasons. If anyone knows the details, please share your understanding. However, I do believe that it is water under the bridge, at this point.
I really liked the advertisements and court side banners during the NCAAT that were trying to push the Student Athlete and Students First Athletes Second mantra. Yeah...okay...
Why do you think that the NCAA doesn't care about the student part of "student athlete?" I read all these comments on NIL and profit sharing and it is as if the NCAA made a choice to ruin college basketball. In reality what happened is that the US Supreme Court said "college athletes have the same right to market and profit from their talents and abilities as everyone else in this country has." None of this has happened because the NCAA wanted it to happen.
Now please don't take that comment as an indictment of NIL and profit sharing by me. While I hate what this is doing to the game, it is what it is. People's civil rights aren't subject to my or your approval. I am confident it will find its level. Or, maybe it won't and for profit sports and higher education will be separated from each other, which would also be fine in my opinion.
OK…maybe you have a point about NIL. However, the conference expansion cannot be interpreted as anything but a $ grab. It’s not just the P4 either. The American, Sunbelt, and other mid tier conferences are just as guilty.
Or, maybe it won't and for profit sports and higher education will be separated from each other, which would also be fine in my opinion.No, I don't think that will work at all. College sports IMO is entirely based upon the fans' school pride. If the teams are no longer associated at all with the schools, then I think the whole thing collapses.
I know, that’s not a serious take. All the infrastructure exists at the colleges and I agree that fan bases would evaporate. It is weird to me though these multi billion dollar industries are part of a non-profit education system.
The NCAA could have gotten in front of this without a USSC ruling. We have been talking for years about stipends, etc. If the NCAA just allowed players to earn money on their own, without facilitating it, there wouldn't have been any argument. Want to play for Dayton? Cool. KFC wants to give you a meal deal on he menu and toss 50k your way. Have at it. The NCAA does control transfer rules. Get that right and the money side of it isn't as wild.
The NCAAs failure to get in front of it and predict the future caused it to end up in he courts in the first place. The NCAA could have set rules that players can earn what they want but the one doing the paying can't be affiliated with the university. Bob Ross can choose to give a kid a car or put their name on the court. Not both. Universities and affiliated collectives can't be part of the equation. Players can work their own deals. It would have been no more wild west than what it is now and there wouldn't have been the need for a court ruling. They could have said their payment from the university was an education.
For those who are inclined to consider getting back together, Amzil entered the portal this morning.
What is happening at New Mexico? I see 13 guys in the portal, including Mustapha Amzil, in the portal.
I see that on 04/01/25, not an April fools joke, New Mexico, announced a new head coach by the name of Eric Olen.
Personally, I would be welcome to Mustapha Amzil returning to Dayton.
What is happening at New Mexico? I see 13 guys in the portal, including Mustapha Amzil, in the portal.
I guess that's how things are now, you bring in a new coach and then everybody transfers out.
Will this be his sixth season? How does this work?
I read a couple threads on X, they both said that he is out of eligibility. I guess wait and see if he plays next year. 3 years at UD, 2 at NM. He got an extra year due to covid.
Will this be his sixth season? How does this work?
I only read the headline, but apparently there is talk of adding another year of eligibility for players, so that explains Amzil putting his name in the portal.
https://www.hoopshq.com/transfer-portal/transfer-portal-closed-tuesday-best-late-entries
Too late for Jaron Pierre from Jacksonville State. He transferred to SMU.
Too late for Jamichael Stillwell from Milwaukee. He transferred to UCF.
Amzil certainly isn’t going to be an All American, but we sure could’ve used him this past season.
We need a power forward cut from the Camara cloth. Amzil isn’t that guy. With Frenchie able to extend the D, we need a 4 who can power it up in the paint. Nate was great, but we need someone who is more rugged in the paint.
IINM, we were forced to play Amzil at the 5 a lot in his first year here, because we had no one besides Jordy, and when he was in foul trouble or hurt, Mus was our only option.
He’s no Camara (few are), but even if he’s only a 1-semester “rental”, I’d consider bringing him back to mentor Friery for 1/2 a season. Better than nothing.
Flyers hosting small forward - Gavin Griffiths from Nebraska.
Griffith was a top 50 kid out of high school with mega offers from P4 teams. Started at Rutgers (pre-Derkack) before transferring to Nebraska. Wears goggles ala Robbie Avila at SLU. Listed at 6-7 or 6-8 but on the light side weight-wise. Considered an elite shooter in high school but struggled in the Big 10. A gamble, but would/could be a great get.
Unimpressive stats at Nebraska, but dealt with an ankle injury late in the year. Had better numbers at Rutgers and put up almost 25 ppg in high school.
He might have been an elite shooter in HS but that hasn't followed him to collage. He is under 40% both years.
He might have been an elite shooter in HS but that hasn't followed him to collage. He is under 40% both years.
Well under 40%, 28% and 25%.
25%...0.4 made 3's per game
28%...1 made 3's per game
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4884255/gavin-griffiths
OK, this guy reminds me of these fellows - if he can play with the same physicality on the court as these guys did on the ice I say lets open the vaults!
This kid has Mousa written all over him. Big scorer from a tiny HS goes big time and true talent is revealed...FWIW, tuition at his high school is $53k/year. No thanks.
So just because his family is rich means he’s not a good player? Come on man
kid lit up other top recruits before he got to Rutgers.
HS ain't the issue anymore, it's his meaningful (?) production in big schools against very good talents .... and he just doesn't cut it.
Some of you must be all ready to scrape the bottom of the talent barrel to bring in players and cross every finger and toe in hopes guys like this bring UD to the promised land ...
Well keep on wishin' and a hoping 
What is the relevance of his high school tuition? Parents can invest their money in stocks, bonds, real estate, crypto currency, gold etc. I see no problem with parents investing their money in their child's education.
Too late for Alex Steen from Florida Southern. He transfers to Florida State.
Too late for Tyshawn Comer from Evansville. He transfers to Nevada.
We have 7 scholarships left, I would take a chance on this kid in a heartbeat. Sometimes kids just need a fresh start.
Nate Santos shot 31% fg in two years at Pitt, and only 20% from 3. Carmara shot roughly 25% from 3 in two years at Georgia. They both worked out pretty good at UD. It’s not like we are deciding on who to give our last scholarship.
Too late for Kam Craft from Miami (Ohio). He transfers to Georgia Tech.
Too late for Austin Reed from Ohio State. He transfers to Toledo.
Too late for Colby Garland from Longwood. He transfers to San Jose State.
On the other hand, he also reminds me of this guy - and if that's the case his shooting percentage is likely not to improve!
The end of this story touches on why he wears goggles. And no, Marty Feldman is not a doppelgänger.
https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/article/rutgers-gavin-griffiths-steve-pikiell-17859967.php
The player from the Cincinnati Bearcats, that was mentioned on here, transferred to Baylor.
Dan Skillings Junior
https://twitter.com/DushawnLondon1/status/1913610751815659598
6'8" 220 pound forward who played at DeMatha Catholic... Huge Athlete
https://twitter.com/DushawnLondon1/status/1913610751815659598
6'8" 220 pound forward who played at DeMatha Catholic... Huge Athlete
He doesn't look like he's 6'8" 220 in that photo.
Mongo Mike to South Carolina. If anyone cares
Dayton hosting center from the portal today.
Yes haha but it's not public yet, just premium info... he didn't commit though, he's headed on another visit to a bigger school, so pray lol
I think they’re looking at both Reese Potter and 6-8 power forward Malcolm Thomas from Villanova (info from Facebook posters). Thomas would be a huge get. Excellent athlete who chose ‘Nova over California, Florida State, Vanderbilt and Xavier. Both would fill needs — relief for Frenchie and an athletic replacement for Santos. Facebook posters said Thomas visited today, but I have no way of knowing if that’s correct.
Potter would be an Isaac Jack replacement, but he has more upside in that he can shoot the ball from more than Jack's five foot limit, but may offer less bulk.
Jablo in The DDN wrote this piece on Malcom Thomas and a post that his dad Etan (a former NBA player) posted on their experience with AG and UD:
Etan Thomas, the father of the newest Dayton Flyers recruit Malcolm Thomas, explained his son’s decision to commit to UD in an Instagram post Thursday.
“So last year at Villanova didn’t go as planned for many reasons,” said Etan, a first-round draft pick in 2000 out of Syracuse.
Everything changed for Malcolm, Etan wrote, when Villanova’s Eric Dixon, a 6-foot-8 forward like Malcolm, withdrew his name from the NBA Draft in May 2024 and announced he would return for a sixth season at Villanova.
“Nobody really thought Eric was gonna come back,” Etan wrote, “but he did and there was no way on earth Malcolm was gonna get much opportunity to play so we all thought it would be best for him to redshirt and take the year to learn, improve, etc., etc.”
Dixon led Villanova with 23.3 points per game.
“Eric really took Malcolm under his wing,” Etan wrote. “They worked out outside of practice a few times every week. So no it wasn’t what we planned, but he made the most of it.”
Then Villanova fired Kyle Neptune, the coach who recruited Malcolm, on March 15, two days after a loss in the Big East tournament. Villanova hired Maryland’s Kevin Willard on March 30.
“Coach Kevin Willard (has) a reputation of let’s just say not being truthful and honest and trustworthy,” Etan wrote, “but we wanted to give him a chance and not go by what everyone else says, and ... let’s just say he has that reputation for a reason.”
Villanova played three games in the College Basketball Crown tournament in the first week of April. Thomas announced April 16 he would enter the transfer portal.
“So we go into the portal and our first zoom is with Dayton,” Etan wrote. “And from the jump Coach Anthony Grant was literally everything me and my wife Nichole have prayed for in a coach for Malcolm, but we didn’t want to jump to conclusions. We had a lot of schools who were interested and were planning on taking our time and going through the whole process. But then we took a visit to Dayton and they knocked it out of the park. The entire coaching staff just felt genuine, not like you were being sold snake oil or being hustled by a used-car salesman. There was an immediate connection.
“They made no promises but their offense is geared to someone like Malcolm succeeding. They broke down to us how they see him in the (Obi Toppin) mold and how much they would value him. You know when you have that feeling that something is right for you from the beginning and everything that transpires after keeps re-confirming that? Well, that’s how this was.
“We met the President of Dayton, Eric Spina, who was the Vice Chancellor at Syracuse while we were there and the excitement was literally reflecting off of him. Dayton may not have been on our radar before, but now, we are excited to join the Dayton family.”
Jablo in The DDN wrote this piece on Malcom Thomas and a post that his dad Etan (a former NBA player) posted on their experience with AG and UD:
Etan Thomas, the father of the newest Dayton Flyers recruit Malcolm Thomas, explained his son’s decision to commit to UD in an Instagram post Thursday.
“So last year at Villanova didn’t go as planned for many reasons,” said Etan, a first-round draft pick in 2000 out of Syracuse.
Everything changed for Malcolm, Etan wrote, when Villanova’s Eric Dixon, a 6-foot-8 forward like Malcolm, withdrew his name from the NBA Draft in May 2024 and announced he would return for a sixth season at Villanova.
“Nobody really thought Eric was gonna come back,” Etan wrote, “but he did and there was no way on earth Malcolm was gonna get much opportunity to play so we all thought it would be best for him to redshirt and take the year to learn, improve, etc., etc.”
Dixon led Villanova with 23.3 points per game.
“Eric really took Malcolm under his wing,” Etan wrote. “They worked out outside of practice a few times every week. So no it wasn’t what we planned, but he made the most of it.”
Then Villanova fired Kyle Neptune, the coach who recruited Malcolm, on March 15, two days after a loss in the Big East tournament. Villanova hired Maryland’s Kevin Willard on March 30.
“Coach Kevin Willard (has) a reputation of let’s just say not being truthful and honest and trustworthy,” Etan wrote, “but we wanted to give him a chance and not go by what everyone else says, and ... let’s just say he has that reputation for a reason.”
Villanova played three games in the College Basketball Crown tournament in the first week of April. Thomas announced April 16 he would enter the transfer portal.
“So we go into the portal and our first zoom is with Dayton,” Etan wrote. “And from the jump Coach Anthony Grant was literally everything me and my wife Nichole have prayed for in a coach for Malcolm, but we didn’t want to jump to conclusions. We had a lot of schools who were interested and were planning on taking our time and going through the whole process. But then we took a visit to Dayton and they knocked it out of the park. The entire coaching staff just felt genuine, not like you were being sold snake oil or being hustled by a used-car salesman. There was an immediate connection.
“They made no promises but their offense is geared to someone like Malcolm succeeding. They broke down to us how they see him in the (Obi Toppin) mold and how much they would value him. You know when you have that feeling that something is right for you from the beginning and everything that transpires after keeps re-confirming that? Well, that’s how this was.
“We met the President of Dayton, Eric Spina, who was the Vice Chancellor at Syracuse while we were there and the excitement was literally reflecting off of him. Dayton may not have been on our radar before, but now, we are excited to join the Dayton family.”
Despite what everyone says, there are still players that consider more than just money. It’s reassuring to see one of those players act in it!
That’s my point. I said that there are players “that consider more than just money.” There seems to be an assumption that money is the sole motivating factor in choosing a school. This counters that.
I'd like to hear how much he is getting paid. I'm guessing it was still a huge motivating factor.
It is a little easier to be about more than money when dad is a 10 year NBA vet worth millions. That being said, the write up was great and has been republished by multiple sites including Sports Illustrated and Sportskeeda which probably have decent reach. It can't hurt and could actually help.
It's still hard to know what the opportunity level is.
I've said this before, if you are from a family with a certain level of financial comfort, if you are an undervalued forward/center and have ANY ambition of an NBA career, there should be no question about playing for AG. He now has three and apparently Santos is raising eyebrows and LeTang is 20 lbs of muscle away from being a solid option.
I've said this before, if you are from a family with a certain level of financial comfort, if you are an undervalued forward/center and have ANY ambition of an NBA career, there should be no question about playing for AG. He now has three and apparently Santos is raising eyebrows and LeTang is 20 lbs of muscle away from being a solid option.
I was wondering about Santos and if he had a shot…so thanks for this post. Glad to hear he is being noticed.
