After a subpar season at Alabama as a freshman, former five-star Derrion Reid entered the transfer portal. As a freshman, he will be among the highest-value portal targets for whoever signs him. However, with a ‘Do Not Contact” tag upon entering the portal, he had a clear vision of where he wanted to go to school. After averaging only 14 minutes per game, it is a safe assumption that he wants playing time. Two schools have emerged as clear favorites to land Reid: Oklahoma and NC State, both of whom hosted him for a visit. Others have reached out, but none have been able to land a visit from Reid. So, what will factor into Derrion Reid’s transfer decision? What is working in favor of each school? Let’s dive in.
Alabama transfer forward Derrion Reid, a former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American, will visit NC State and Oklahoma next week, a source tells ZAGSBLOG.
Averaged 6.0 pts and 2.8 rebounds for Alabama his freshman season. pic.twitter.com/fQUsQ1pLwi
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) April 16, 2025
Derrion Reid Likely Deciding Between 2 Schools
NC State
Reid reportedly scheduled a visit with Will Wade’s squad in the first step of his transfer decision for Monday, April 21st. NC State has had a solid portal but lacks the star power. They’ve been rumored to land a few transfers, but Tre Holloman is the one big name they’ve been able to land. The problem with their current recruiting class is their lack of size. They have five total recruits, four of whom are guards. That’s where Reid comes in. He is a forward who can provide some size. Reid isn’t a bruiser, but he is a solid wing.
NC State is completely rebuilding its roster. Reid will be able to step in and prove his stardom in Raleigh. A five-star recruit at 6-foot-8 is a player that NBA teams are waiting to prove his worth. If there are any signs that he can be an NBA player, he will be drafted. He has the size and athleticism to compete in the SEC, so he can make the jump to the NBA. All he needs is to prove he has the talent. NC State’s rebuilding roster can let him shine.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is another major player in Derrion Reid’s transfer decision. This option is more based on team success than personal playing time. Reid should receive more playing time with Oklahoma than at Alabama. Oklahoma made the NCAA Tournament last season and resides in the best conference in the country. While he won’t have the same opportunities to shine with the current commits for Oklahoma, like Tae Davis from Notre Dame, he will have the chance to prove it in a better conference.
The Sooners aren’t a basketball powerhouse, but they have proven that they can compete with good teams. They finished the non-conference slate undefeated, beating Arizona, Louisville, and Michigan in the process. If Reid is looking for slightly more playing time while also having a good chance to compete, Oklahoma is a great option. The only question will be how much more playing time he gets.
Predicting Derrion Reid’s Transfer Decision
Other schools could come out of the blue and take Reid. Georgetown, SMU, Florida, Ole Miss, and Miami have all reportedly been in contact with Reid. However, there hasn’t been the same mutual interest that Reid has shown with Oklahoma and NC State. Anything can happen, but usually, more rumors are circulating if another school is truly in play.
The transfer decision will come down to what he wants more. It seems like playing time is the top priority based on his visits, which heavily favors NC State. Oklahoma is not guaranteed to be more successful, they just have a better chance of making the NCAA Tournament. It won’t be an easy pick, but it feels like Wade will finally pull through and grab one of his transfer targets. NC State lands Reid here, but a lot can still happen in the coming weeks. This may be one of the closest races in the transfer portal this year.
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