HBCUs taking what they can get in transfer portal

The hottest name in all of college basketball this summer has been “transfer portal.”

The NCAA’s new system allowing players to make their intentions to transfer public and known has been a topic of discussion since the season ended.

The portal has seen one of the best recruits signed by an HBCU out of high school in years, RJ Cole, move from Howard to Connecticut.

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However, HBCUs have picked up some new talent in the transfer portal as well.

Howard has landed Will Ellis, a 6’2 guard from Central Connecticut State. His teammate Kashaun Hicks has transferred to rival Norfolk State. The 6’6 forward will be eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer.

Savannah State will be leaving the MEAC behind, but not Zach Sellars. The 6’1 guard will join South Carolina State after a solid start to his career.

Jock Hughes II will join SWAC champion Prairie View A&M. The 6’3 guard left Stephen F. Austin after his freshman season. Southern has picked up some height in the transfer portal with Amel Kuljuhovic. The former Cal State Fullerton big man goes at 6’10. Cainan McClelland pulled a SWAC switcharoo, going from Texas Southern to Jackson State. The 6’5 guard will join JSU as a grad transfer.

Texas Southern benefited in the portal as well, grabbing South Alabama’s Jordan Andrews. The 6’5 guard averaged 4.1 points per game while shooting 35 percent from the 3-point line last season.

Alabama A&M scored a solid forward in TJ Parham from Green Bay, a grad transfer who will be eligible to play for AAMU this winter.

Division I HBCUs aren’t the only ones getting in on the transfer portal fun. Winston-Salem State picked up two Division I transfers in Dontae Caldwell and Jaylen Alston. Caldwell will be transitioning from the MEAC to the CIAA as the 6’5 guard heads from Maryland-Eastern Shore to WSSU. Alston, who also goes at 6’5, will be transferring from Gardner-Webb.

Talladega of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference picked up R.J. Kelly from South Alabama. The 6’7 forward started his career at Savannah State, averaging 9.7 points and six rebounds per game as a freshman. He averaged 4.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game at South Alabama.

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