So, grab a comfy chair because we’re diving into some NCAA transfer portal drama today with a dash of eligibility soap opera on the side. We’re talking about Jaeden Zackery and company, collegiate ballplayers who’ve been around the block—and by block, I mean the court—plenty of times but are still playing the transfer game.
Let’s start with Mr. Jaeden Zackery. This dude’s seen a lot of action—136 games over the last four years, splitting time between Boston College and Clemson. By NCAA standards, the guy’s out of eligibility. But here’s a plot twist: he’s still decided to enter the transfer portal. And he’s not alone. We’ve got more familiar faces from the ACC making appearances, like Ian Schieffelin from Clemson, Syracuse’s Jyare Davis, Lucas Taylor, Jaquan Carlos, and a trio of guys from NC State: Ben Middlebrooks, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, and Dontrez Styles.
And don’t forget about Ishmael Leggett from Pitt—he just dropped his name in right before the buzzer. The man’s played 150 games in five seasons, and he’s so experienced, he’s closer to an AARP card than an NCAA jersey at this point.
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Want to Learn More About Transferring?
Checkout our Guide to the Basketball Transfer Portal
So, why the rush back to the portal? It’s all about covering their bases due to some juicy NCAA legal drama. There’s an antitrust case lingering, and players like Schieffelin are hedging their bets. They’re ready to leap back into school if a ruling suddenly gifts them some extra eligibility.
Schieffelin mentioned he’s sizing up the pro scene, but he’s been advised to stay peeping the portal just in case eligibility rules do a backflip. Darren Heitner, a known name in NIL circles, explains it plain and simple—these athletes are playing chess, not checkers. If the judge sides with them and tweaks the eligibility script, not having their names in the portal would leave them in a bind. No transfer, no leverage with their current colleges.
Rumors are flying about the NCAA shifting its rules to give athletes five years of eligibility. It’s currently a five-years-to-play-four setup which allows a redshirt year. Heitner thinks the noise is mostly rumors. Still, players are ready to pop the champagne if things work in their favor.
Now, Eddie Lampkin, former Syracuse center, is throwing his hat in the ring too, but he’s got a different angle. He’s played across three schools over five years—TCU, Colorado, and Syracuse. His ace? The 2020-21 COVID year, which already gifted players an extra year, but Lampkin’s lobbying for more. He wants a medical redshirt for that season, although playing in games late that season probably tanks his chances.
Lampkin could piggyback on any rule changes the NCAA makes, but Heitner sees that as a long shot. Until then, it’s about personal appeals and hustling for more court time.
For these players, and the coaches eyeing them, timing is everything. Coaches are assembling their teams, slots in starting lineups are filling up fast, and while talents like Schieffelin will have doors open, options could be shrinking.
So, there’s little to lose for players without remaining eligibility. Heitner encourages anyone thinking they’ve got a shot at arguing for extra eligibility to get their waiver requests rolling.
Buckle up, folks! This eligibility dance is just heating up. Whether these players end up on a new court next season or revisit old stomping grounds, they’re setting themselves up for every eventuality.
