Lawrence, Kansas – KJ Adams Jr. finds himself seated in a corner of Hadl Auditorium, located a short distance from Allen Fieldhouse, the renowned home for the number one ranked Kansas basketball program, which he has proudly represented for four years.
In an age where player transfers have become commonplace—often driven by the allure of lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) deals—Adams stands out as an anomaly. He committed to the Jayhawks straight out of high school, played key roles in securing a national championship during his freshman year, and has remained steadfast in his dedication to the program ever since.
“I think it would be great if more players stuck around for four years,” Adams reflected, as he surveyed the eight newcomers, including six transfers, who comprise the current team’s roster. “You really miss the players who have come and gone.”
Throughout his journey at Kansas, Adams has shared the court with a staggering 32 scholarship teammates.
Roster turnover has become a prevalent aspect of major college basketball—more so than in football or any other sports. Teams can experience a complete makeover in a single off-season, and players who once donned one uniform may find themselves opposing those very teammates in subsequent seasons.
For instance, around 700 student-athletes chose to transfer from Division I programs five years ago. This figure ballooned to nearly 2,000 in the latest off-season, a significant spike further compounded by upperclassmen who received an additional year of eligibility due to the pandemic’s disruptive effects on their college careers.
The situation reached a notable benchmark at Arkansas, where John Calipari is making his move after a lengthy tenure at Kentucky.
Upon arriving in Fayetteville in April, Calipari faced an alarming reality: 13 players had either transferred, graduated, or left the program shortly after Eric Musselman departed for Southern California. Fortunately for Calipari, Trevon Brazile decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Razorbacks; otherwise, he would have been left to assemble a completely new team.
“I talked with the team,” Calipari remarked following his appointment. “And I found there was no team in place.”
Fast forward, and Calipari has successfully created a new roster. Like many of his peers, he turned to the transfer portal to recruit players. Three new arrivals were relatively easy recruits as they accompanied him from Kentucky, while he also welcomed three other transfers, including notable guard Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic University and forward Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.
This revamped team managed to secure a victory against the top-ranked Jayhawks in a charity exhibition game this past Friday night.
“It’s straightforward to assemble a roster. Constructing a program, however, is an entirely different challenge,” stated Colorado coach Tad Boyle, succinctly encapsulating the sentiments felt by college basketball coaches nationwide, spanning power conferences to lower divisions.
The process has become increasingly stressful, with some coaches feeling overwhelmed by the shifting landscape. Virginia coach Tony Bennett made the decision to retire two weeks prior to the season’s start, sharing that he was more inclined toward the old model where he could develop programs around dedicated players who would finish their careers at one institution.
The enduring relationships traditionally formed between coaches, high school recruits, and their families have taken a back seat to the rapid pace encouraged by the transfer portal—what Iowa State women’s coach Bill Fennelly dubbed “speed-dating.”
“You must act quickly,” he noted. “When players enter the portal, you need to be prepared and have a strategy in place.”
Support offered by NIL deals is also crucial. Since the NCAA permitted athletes to capitalize on their own brands in 2021, the dynamics closely resemble free agency, tempting student-athletes with alluring financial incentives from school benefactors.
“You might not always attract everyone who fits your program perfectly due to budget constraints,” commented Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz. “It’s akin to managing a budget and determining who takes precedence.”
Conversely, NIL opportunities have also encouraged some star players to remain at their current institutions. All-American guard Mark Sears, for example, admitted that if not for his NIL arrangement at Alabama, he would have pursued an NBA career instead of returning to play for his final season.
While some universities like Cincinnati and Iowa State managed to keep a significant portion of their roster intact and used the transfer portal to enhance their core, they are increasingly becoming the minority in a landscape that has dramatically shifted. This evolution results in a college basketball season filled with teams drastically different from the previous year.
Given the lack of stringent regulations, this trend could persist into future seasons.
“Everyone is essentially trying to approach things on a year-to-year basis,” Baylor coach Scott Drew commented, noting that since last season, he has seen three players transfer out and four join. “No one seems to have a long-term strategy until clearer rules are established.”
In an age where player transfers have become commonplace—often driven by the allure of lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) deals—Adams stands out as an anomaly. He committed to the Jayhawks straight out of high school, played key roles in securing a national championship during his freshman year, and has remained steadfast in his dedication to the program ever since.
“I think it would be great if more players stuck around for four years,” Adams reflected, as he surveyed the eight newcomers, including six transfers, who comprise the current team’s roster. “You really miss the players who have come and gone.”
Throughout his journey at Kansas, Adams has shared the court with a staggering 32 scholarship teammates.
Roster turnover has become a prevalent aspect of major college basketball—more so than in football or any other sports. Teams can experience a complete makeover in a single off-season, and players who once donned one uniform may find themselves opposing those very teammates in subsequent seasons.
For instance, around 700 student-athletes chose to transfer from Division I programs five years ago. This figure ballooned to nearly 2,000 in the latest off-season, a significant spike further compounded by upperclassmen who received an additional year of eligibility due to the pandemic’s disruptive effects on their college careers.
The situation reached a notable benchmark at Arkansas, where John Calipari is making his move after a lengthy tenure at Kentucky.
Upon arriving in Fayetteville in April, Calipari faced an alarming reality: 13 players had either transferred, graduated, or left the program shortly after Eric Musselman departed for Southern California. Fortunately for Calipari, Trevon Brazile decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Razorbacks; otherwise, he would have been left to assemble a completely new team.
“I talked with the team,” Calipari remarked following his appointment. “And I found there was no team in place.”
Fast forward, and Calipari has successfully created a new roster. Like many of his peers, he turned to the transfer portal to recruit players. Three new arrivals were relatively easy recruits as they accompanied him from Kentucky, while he also welcomed three other transfers, including notable guard Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic University and forward Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.
This revamped team managed to secure a victory against the top-ranked Jayhawks in a charity exhibition game this past Friday night.
“It’s straightforward to assemble a roster. Constructing a program, however, is an entirely different challenge,” stated Colorado coach Tad Boyle, succinctly encapsulating the sentiments felt by college basketball coaches nationwide, spanning power conferences to lower divisions.
The process has become increasingly stressful, with some coaches feeling overwhelmed by the shifting landscape. Virginia coach Tony Bennett made the decision to retire two weeks prior to the season’s start, sharing that he was more inclined toward the old model where he could develop programs around dedicated players who would finish their careers at one institution.
The enduring relationships traditionally formed between coaches, high school recruits, and their families have taken a back seat to the rapid pace encouraged by the transfer portal—what Iowa State women’s coach Bill Fennelly dubbed “speed-dating.”
“You must act quickly,” he noted. “When players enter the portal, you need to be prepared and have a strategy in place.”
Support offered by NIL deals is also crucial. Since the NCAA permitted athletes to capitalize on their own brands in 2021, the dynamics closely resemble free agency, tempting student-athletes with alluring financial incentives from school benefactors.
“You might not always attract everyone who fits your program perfectly due to budget constraints,” commented Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz. “It’s akin to managing a budget and determining who takes precedence.”
Conversely, NIL opportunities have also encouraged some star players to remain at their current institutions. All-American guard Mark Sears, for example, admitted that if not for his NIL arrangement at Alabama, he would have pursued an NBA career instead of returning to play for his final season.
While some universities like Cincinnati and Iowa State managed to keep a significant portion of their roster intact and used the transfer portal to enhance their core, they are increasingly becoming the minority in a landscape that has dramatically shifted. This evolution results in a college basketball season filled with teams drastically different from the previous year.
Given the lack of stringent regulations, this trend could persist into future seasons.
“Everyone is essentially trying to approach things on a year-to-year basis,” Baylor coach Scott Drew commented, noting that since last season, he has seen three players transfer out and four join. “No one seems to have a long-term strategy until clearer rules are established.”