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The siren song of the transfer portal
Memphis, Auburn both lose players who seemed to be returning for 2025-26. Such is life in the portal era. But two elite program did secure commitments for next season, while Texas A&M snagged a high-profile commit. And what's with all the portal entrants who don't have eligibility? We break it all down.
Tristan Freeman
April 18, 2025
Good morning! If Thursday was any indication, we’re headed for a busy close to the transfer portal window. It closes on Tuesday — and can’t get here fast enough for some teams.
Let's get to the news.
1. Memphis, Auburn lose stars to transfer portal
Memphis got the news Thursday that no program wants to hear: Its leading scorer and reigning conference POY will hit the portal.
Statement from Memphis on PJ Haggerty: “PJ has notified the athletic department that he wishes to test the NBA Draft process and enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal. We are grateful for everything PJ has done for the department and the University of Memphis. We respect his
— Jason Munz (@munzly)
9:45 PM • Apr 17, 2025
Haggerty led the Tigers with 21.7 ppg and 3.7 apg, and shot 48% from the field. He’s perhaps the top player available in the portal. And worse for Memphis? It doesn’t have any replacement options.
It’s a tough blow for Memphis, which saw Haggerty blossom from a high-volume scorer on a bad team (Tulsa) to a high-volume scorer who led an NCAA Tournament team.
Chad Baker-Mazara didn’t have Haggerty’s production, but his decision Thursday to enter the portal hit Auburn just as hard.
Baker-Mazara started 34 of 38 games this season and averaged 12.3 ppg on 38% shooting from deep. The 6-7 forward will turn 26 next season (he’ll benefit from a JUCO eligibility ruling) and will be a sought-after player because of his ability to space the floor and defend.
He was an All-SEC player who was expected to be a core player next season. And he still could.
Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara is hitting the transfer portal, he announced.
This will be interesting to see how things play out because my sources told me he signed a contract with Auburn recently that has some protection for the school.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops)
3:06 PM • Apr 17, 2025
There were reports that Baker-Mazara will simply end up back at Auburn after he negotiates more NIL. (Haggerty could do the same.)
Whether teams elect to dole out more money to players when deals were thought to be in place is a sticky part of the portal. It’s hard to fault the players for pushing the NIL to get every dollar they can. It’d just be nice for all parties if guidelines could be in place to create some sense of order.
Thursday’s notable portal entrants:
Akron guard and MAC POY Nate Johnson (14 ppg and 3.4 apg)
Cal wing Andrej Stojakovic (17.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg)
Arizona State wing BJ Freeman (13.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
Lipscomb forward Dylan Faulkner (10.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg)
San Jose State forward Sadraque Nganga (6.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg)
Stony Brook forward Andre Snoody (9.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg)
2. Final Four teams return key pieces for next season
Not every team lost players to the portal yesterday.
