The college basketball season just ended on Monday which means all eyes will shift to the transfer portal. The portal has already been in full swing for a few weeks, so it is time to be updated on which Big Ten players have already entered the transfer portal and where they may end up.
Big Ten Transfer Portal Update
AJ Storr
The biggest name in the transfer portal from the Big Ten is AJ Storr, who played at Wisconsin this past season. Early rumors indicated that Storr was Illinois-bound. He is an Illinois native and would fit the Illini’s need for a guard. However, as he spends more time in the portal rumors continue to swirl, particularly with some blue bloods like Kansas and Kentucky. Last week it was speculated that Storr was looking for a million-dollar NIL payment to play at Kansas. At the moment, it looks like the Jayhawks aren’t budging but it is well-known that Kansas has one of if not the best NIL funds in the country.
Cliff Omoruyi
Another big name to enter the transfer portal is Cliff Omoruyi. During his time at Rutgers, Omoruyi dominated the paint on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Many teams have been rumored to be after Omoruyi, but the team most heavily linked to him is St. John’s. Omoruyi was scheduled to visit St. John’s, but plans fell through due to his academic schedule. He is still in talks with Rick Pitino and will likely take a visit this spring. Other big-name programs are also after him, like UConn, Kentucky, and Alabama. NIL is not as much of a factor in Omoruyi’s recruitment because he is from Nigeria and it is more difficult for international students to make money from NIL.
Tarris Reed Jr.
After the firing of Juwan Howard, many Michigan players entered the transfer portal. This included budding star big man Tarris Reed. One school heavily linked to Reed is Kansas State. According to the On3 transfer portal predictor, Reed will likely commit to K-State. His teammate, Dug McDaniel, just committed to the Wildcats and Reed could follow. This would also be a homecoming of sorts for Reed, who is a native of St Louis, Missouri. There are not many other teams rumored to be in the running for Reed, so this one may be finished sooner rather than later.
Tony Perkins
Tony Perkins has been a solid player at Iowa for the past four seasons. After averaging 14 points per game this season, he has decided to enter the transfer portal for his final season. Perkins has had many big-name suitors and recently named a top six which included programs like Indiana and Oregon. Perkins is an Indiana native, so the Hoosiers could be a name to watch here. However, Missouri appears to be the leader according to On3.
Roddy Gayle Jr.
After a productive sophomore season at Ohio State, Roddy Gayle Jr. has decided to enter the transfer portal. A few programs have reached out to Gayle including Alabama, Georgetown, Michigan, and Syracuse. One school to watch in this scenario would be Syracuse. Gayle is from Niagara Falls, New York and Syracuse was one of the finalists in his high school recruitment.
Pharrel Payne
The Minnesota big man Pharrel Payne has also decided to enter the transfer portal. While he showed some promise, Payne was never able to fully cement himself as a starter for the Golden Gophers. He had good numbers during his two seasons, but a change of scenery may allow him to reach his full potential. One name to watch in this recruitment is Indiana. Payne is expected to visit Bloomington later this week. However many other big time programs such as Oregon, Louisville, and Texas are recruiting Payne as well. This will be a transfer portal saga that you will want to follow closely.
