The NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal is officially closed.
Across the past month, over 2,300 players across the country, including 80 Mid-American Conference (MAC) players, have entered the portal.
While players who are already in the portal can still choose to transfer at any time, here is an overview of the current transfer portal state around the MAC:
Akron
Additions (1): Evan Mahaffey (from Ohio State)
Currently in transfer portal (2): W Josiah Harris, G Tavari Johnson
Losses (2): F James Okonkwo (transferred to Utah), G Nate Johnson (transferred to Kansas State)
The Zips have been hit harder by the portal than many had expected, with four players who started double-digit games entering the portal.
The most notable loss in Nate Johnson, the reigning MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year had announced he was entering the NBA Draft while keeping his eligibility to return to Akron before transferring.
Tavari Johnson, a First Team All-MAC selection this past season, also announced he was returning to Akron before entering the portal.
On the bright side, head coach John Groce added Mahaffey, who played in 102 games with Ohio State and Penn State over the past three years and was one of just three Buckeyes to play in every game last season.
Ball State
Additions (1): Kayden Fish (from Iowa State)
Currently in transfer portal (4): F Mickey Pearson Jr., G Juan Sebastián Gorosito, G T.J. Burch, F Payton Sparks
Losses (1): Jermahri Hill (transferred to George Mason)
While the Cardinals have only had five transfer portal entries, they are all nearly major contributors.
Ball State’s top four scorers from last season have all entered the portal.
However, head coach Michael Lewis did land Fish, a Power 5 addition.
Bowling Green
Additions (2): Troy Glover II (from Missouri-St. Louis), Jason Kimbrough Jr. (from Highland Community College)
Currently in transfer portal (6): F Marcus Johnson, G Derrick Butler, G Trey Thomas, G DaJion Humphrey, F Jamai Felt, G Wilguens Jr. Exacte
Losses (1): G Braelon Green (transferred to Eastern Michigan)
The Falcons have been hit hard by the transfer portal, with five players who started double-digit games in the portal. Interestingly, Thomas is in the portal with no eligibility remaining.
In good news for Bowling Green, Javontae Campbell, who led the MAC in steals and earned Third Team All-MAC honors announced he was returning to the Falcons after previously entering his name in the portal.
Head coach Todd Simon is likely looking at an overhaul of their roster for a third straight year, after adding 20 new players over the past two seasons.
Buffalo
Additions (5): Mikhail Pocknett (from King), Ezra McKenna (from Mobile), Angelo Brizzi (from Longwood), Kyle Jones (from St. Thomas Aquinas), Daniel Freitag (from Wisconsin)
Currently in transfer portal (8): G Tyson Dunn, G Anquhttps://cmuchippewas.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/hunter-harding/6106an Boldin Jr., G Kavon Bradford, G Lloyd McVeigh, G Bryson Wilson, F Frederiks Meinarts, G Eric Kenesie, F Sam Akot
Losses (2): G Brayden Jackson (transferred to St. Bonaventure), F Ben Michaels (transferred to Vermont)
Buffalo’s 10 portal entries are tied for the second-most of any MAC team.
While the Bulls are losing four of their top five scorers, Ryan Sabol, the team’s leading scorer (14.4 points per game (PPG)), is returning.
Head coach George Halcovage III’s five portal additions are tied for the most of any MAC team and include a Power Five addition with Freitag.
Central Michigan
Additions (0)
Currently in transfer portal (12): G Damarion Bonds, G/F Jakobi Heady, F Bryan Ndjonga, G Cayden Vasko, F Quentin Heady, C Hunter Harding, G/F Shaedon Simpson, F Mohammad Habhab, G Gus Salem, F Trey Phillips, C Armani Mighty, G Drew Barbee
Losses (2): G Kyler Vanderjagt (transferred to Toledo), F Ugnius Jaruševičius (transferred to Nebraska)
Central Michigan’s situation is a dumpster fire. The Chippewa’s 14 transfer portal entries was likely a major factor in the dismissal of former head coach Tony Barbee just a few weeks ago.
With CMU being one of just four MAC teams without a portal entry, they have just two players on the active roster.
In addition, Bonds is suing the university, alleging the school violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Eastern Michigan
Additions (1): G Braelon Green (from Bowling Green)
Currently in transfer portal (6): G Christian Henry, G Arne Osojnik, G Trey Pettigrew, G Dillon Tingler, F Mario Brunetto, G Julian Lewis
Losses (0)
The Eagles are one of just two MAC teams who have yet to officially lose a player to the transfer portal. On top of that, only two of their entries started double-digit games during the 2024-25 season.
They picked up an intra-conference addition in Green, who grew up a stone’s throw away from the university.
Kent State
Additions (0)
Currently in transfer portal (1): F Donovan Hunter
Losses (0)
The Golden Flashes have been extremely quiet when it comes to the transfer portal, which is good news.
KSU is one of just two MAC teams to not lose a players and have just one portal entry, the fewest in the conference.
While they have not added a transfer, the recent extension of head coach Rob Senderoff, the lack of portal entries and the announcement of seven key players returning for next season have reenergized the program’s fanbase.
Miami (OH)
Additions (0)
Currently in transfer portal (2): C Reece Potter, G Mekhi Cooper
Losses (1): G Kam Craft (transferred to Georgia Tech)
Miami has also been relatively quiet when it comes to the transfer portal and are one of just four MAC teams without a portal addition.
While two of the RedHawk’s entries are starters, they are returning Peter Suder, their leading scorer (13.7 PPG) from the 2024-25 season.
Northern Illinois
Additions (1): G Daemar Kelly (from Saint Francis)
Currently in transfer portal (8): C Jordan Gorecki, G Quaran McPherson, F Ethan Butler, G Kailon Nicholls, F Tsvet Sotirov, G Dominic Gooden, G Mo Sall, G Peyton Ackerman
Losses (2): G Quentin Jones (transferred to Saint Louis), G Nasir Muhammad (transferred to Albany)
The Huskies have been ravaged by the transfer portal.
The 10 portal additions are tied for the second most in the conference and three of their top-four leading scorers from the 2024-25 season have entered the portal.
Ohio
Additions (2): F Javan Simmons (from Toledo), F Jalen Breath (from UNC Greensboro)
Currently in transfer portal (3): G AJ Brown, G Ben Estis, G Elmore James
Losses (1): F Ben Nicol (transferred to Charleston)
The Bobcats are one of the few MAC teams who have added more transfers than they have lost.
While multiple key contributors from the past few seasons have entered the portal, head coach Jeff Boals landed a notable intra-conference addition in Simmons from Toledo.
Toledo
Additions (4): F Rodney Johnson Jr. (from Tennessee Tech), G Kyler Vanderjagt (from Central Michigan), C Austin Parks (from Ohio State), G Mynor Strong (Dodge City Community College)
Currently in transfer portal (5): G Jaylen Murphy, G Seth Hubbard, F Grgur Brčić, C Ka’Leel Stillman, F Xavier Thomas
Losses (3): G Sam Lewis (transferred to Virginia), F Javan Simmons (transferred to Ohio), G Bryce Ford (transferred to Arizona State)
The Rockets are one of the only MAC teams who have both lost and added a lot of talent with the transfer portal.
On the bad side, four of the Rocket’s top-six scorers from the 2024-25 season have entered the portal.
Head coach Tod Kowalczyk’s four portal additions are the second most in the MAC. Additionally, Sonny Wilson, a Third Team All-MAC selection, is returning next season.
Western Michigan
Additions (0)
Currently in transfer portal (6): F Josh Thomas, G JaVaughn Hannah, G Markhi Strickland, G Brandon Muntu, G Marquese Josephs, F Seryee Lewis
Losses (1): G Chansey Willis Jr. (transferred to Minnesota)
Western Michigan is another example of a program that has been hurt by the transfer portal.
The Bronco’s top three scorers from last season have all entered the portal. Willis is another player who had announced he was returning to WMU before changing his mind and transferring to a Power Five school.
