Sports
Rutgers Basketball current state as transfer portal closes – On the Banks
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The Scarlet Knights can continue to add players in the portal.
The 45-day transfer portal window is officially closed.
The college basketball regular season ended on March 17. This means that players had until Wednesday at 11:59pm to enter their names into the transfer portal. There has been plenty of action around the country and Rutgers has been heavily involved.
Of course, this new window does not impact when players can find new homes. Teams can still add talent but the pool is official as of Wednesday night. This also does not include graduate student, who can enter the portal at anytime.
For Rutgers, there has been six departures and three additions. The Scarlet Knights still have two scholarships left and this can be used on shooters or a big man down low.
Jordan Derkack, Merrimack
Derkack, a product of Colonia High School, was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year last season. He started all 32 games for Merrimack, averaging 17 points, six rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Derkack shot 46.6% from the field. He was also one of the best defenders in the conference, averaging 2.1 steals.
Zach Martini, Princeton
Martini took a major step forward for Princeton. He started all 29 games for the Tigers, averaging 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Martini excelled from three-point range, shooting 38.5%. Martini also shot 44.5% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line.
Tyson Acuff, Eastern Michigan
Acuff led the MAC and was eighth in the nation, averaging 21.7 points per game. He scored in double-figures in every game last season, including eight games over 25 points and five over 30. Acuff shot 43.3% from the field and 29.2% from three-point range.
Rutgers saw a total of six players enter the transfer portal. This does not include Oskar Palmquist, who will pursue a professional career.
There were many that were expected, such as Antwone Woolfolk and Antonio Chol. The Scarlet Knights also saw some major contributors leave.
Cliff Omoruyi has the same option as he did last year at this time. The 6-foot-11 center can decide to test the waters of the 2024 NBA Draft. If this is the case, he will have until May 31st to rescind his name and return to school. This is how the process played out last year as he decided to return to Rutgers for his senior year.
Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points and 8.3 rebounds this season while shooting 51.2% from the field. He emerged as one of the nation’s best defenders, blocking 2.9 shots per game. Omoruyi led the Big Ten and was third nationally in block percentage at 12.7.
Derek Simpson played in 35 games, making 25 starts, and averaged 8.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Defensively, he added 1.4 steals and turned the ball over 1.5 times per game. Simpson shot 30.5% from the field and 28.2% from three-point range. He was one of the best free throw shooters for the Scarlet Knights, finishing 86.4%.
Mawot Mag averaged 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in his fourth season on the banks. Mag only played in 17 of the team’s 32 games this season. Down the stretch this season, Mag missed the final four games of the regular season and an opening-round loss to Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament. According to a well-trusted source, the coaches became increasingly frustrated with Mawot, who was able but unwilling to play and caused poor vibes in the locker room. Mag’s decision appears to be in the best interests of both parties.
Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights have a chance to continue to be aggressive with some holes to fill this summer.
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