Duke Fans React to Head-Turning Transfer Portal Move
The Duke Blue Devils and head coach Jon Scheyer were just one win away from making it to the national championship last season. Unfortunately, they came up short to the Houston Cougars.
Heading into the offseason, it was expected that the program would lose both Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. That has become a reality, as both freshman standouts have entered the 2025 NBA draft.
Advertisement
Scheyer needed to add more talent to the roster to keep Duke in contention for the 2025-26 college basketball season. On Wednesday, he was able to add another potential key piece.
As shared by the Blue Devils' official account on X, former Rice big man 24 has decided to commit to Duke after entering the transfer portal.
One of the big needs for next season was more size. The Blue Devils could not have asked for much more than the 6-foot-11, 240-pound frame Ufochukwu brings to the court.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer.Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Fans took to the comments section, reacting to the intriguing transfer portal addition for Duke.
"The last time Duke got a Nigerian big man transfer from Rice, they won a national championship," one fan wrote.
Advertisement
A second comment read, "Really nice pickup. With Ngongba and Brown having injury history, another big felt necessary to have as needed. Not expecting a ton of production, but great to have another large body on the team. Now bring Coward back and go get one more guard."
"Former college teammate of Cam Sheffield & former AAU teammate of Caleb Foster," a third comment said.
Another fan commented, "Wow.. duke finna be right back in the Final Four."
During the 2024-25 college basketball season with Rice, Ufochukwu played in 16 games, averaging 1.8 points and 0.6 rebounds per game in 3.3 minutes per contest.
Related: Major Mike Krzyzewski News Has Duke Fans Buzzing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Alabama basketball jersey numbers for 2025-26 season include first No. 6 since 'Rocket 8' legend
All moved into their new home of Tuscaloosa, locker reveals for Davion Hannah and London Jemison unintentionally unveiled what numbers the incoming Crimson Tide freshmen will wear during their rookie years. Hannah, a guard from Link Academy (Mo.), inherits No. 4 from Elite Eight and Final Four veteran Grant Nelson, while Jemison will be the first and only No. 6 since Rocket 8 legend Leon Marlaire, who died in January. Advertisement While showing off for local varsity squads at high school team camp on Friday, Alabama basketball players donned personalized pinny jerseys. As fans await an official release from UA athletics, the fashion choice filled in the rest of the blanks for newcomers on the Crimson Tide's 2025-26 roster. Here's a look at who got which digits heading into summer training sessions. REQUIRED READING: Which 2026 recruits have offers from Alabama basketball? Who's the tallest? Who's in backyard? LOOKING AHEAD! Alabama basketball adds another neutral site matchup to 2025-26 non-conference schedule What numbers will Alabama basketball newcomers (unofficially) wear in 2025-26 season? No. 1 Jalil Bethea, G, sophomore − Miami transfer, wore No. 3 with Hurricanes No. 4 Davion Hannah, G, freshman − Link Academy, alma mater of Labaron Philon No. 5 Amari Allen, F, freshman − Ashwaubenon High (Wis.) No. 6 London Jemison, F, freshman − St. Thomas More (Conn.) No. 7 Taylor Bol Bowen, F, junior − Florida State transfer, wore No. 10 with Seminoles No. 10 Keitenn Bristow, F, sophomore − Tarleton State transfer, wore No. 10 with Texans No. 15 Noah Williamson, C, senior − Bucknell transfer, wore No. 3 with Bison London Jemison Jersey number refresher for returning Crimson Tide players No. 0 Labaron Philon, G, sophomore No. 2 Aden Holloway, G, junior No. 3 Latrell Wrightsell Jr., G, graduate No. 22 Aiden Sherrell, C, sophomore No. 95 Houston Mallette, G, graduate Advertisement Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: (Unofficial) look at 2025-26 jersey numbers for Alabama basketball team
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Duke agrees to home-and-home with HBCU power
NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb and head women's basketball coach Jermaine Woods have reached an agreement for a home-and-home series with nationally ranked Duke, bringing a major HBCU matchup to life over the next two seasons. The Spartans will travel to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 12, 2025. The following season, the Blue Devils will make their first-ever visit to Echols Hall. Tipoff times for both games will be announced later. 'This is a landmark moment for our women's basketball program and our university,' Webb said. 'Hosting a nationally ranked team like Duke highlights our commitment to raising the profile of Norfolk State Athletics. It also provides our student-athletes and fans with a chance to experience top-tier competition on our campus.' The two programs have met only once before. In 2002, Duke defeated Norfolk State 95-48 in the NCAA Tournament's first round, shortly after NSU won its first MEAC Tournament Championship. The 2026 visit by Duke will be the first time an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent plays at Norfolk State, marking a historic milestone for the HBCU. The Blue Devils finished last season 29-8 and reached the Elite Eight, ending the year ranked No. 7 nationally. 'I appreciate Coach Kara Lawson's willingness to set up this series,' Woods said. 'Collaborations like this help HBCUs gain national visibility. Her return to Norfolk will benefit our program, university, and the community.' Norfolk State enters the 2025-26 season after winning its third consecutive MEAC Tournament title and earning a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament - the program's highest seeding to date. For more information on Norfolk State Athletics, follow @nsuspartans on X, @NSUAthletics on Instagram and YouTube, and visit The post Duke agrees to home-and-home with HBCU power appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Top 25 college athletes with highest NIL valuations
The complicated, frustrating and often murky world of NIL (name, image and likeness) has touched every corner of college sports. From college football and basketball to gymnastics and softball, the landscape of college athletics drastically changed four years ago when the NCAA changed rules to allow student athletes to profit from NIL. Names like Shedeur Sanders, Bronny James and Livvy Dunne topped the charts when it comes to NIL valuations in the past. In fact, we got a sense of how much money Cooper Flagg agreed to in NIL endorsements during his one year at Duke recently, as he's expected to become the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. As the summer approaches, we're one step closer to the 2025-26 academic year, and there's a new crop of athletes topping the NIL charts. Remember, NIL deals are not solely dependent on athletic performance on the field. Sanders, who had a reported $4.7 million valuation last year — the highest among college football players — was not a Heisman Trophy finalist and went on to be a fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. Arch Manning, who had the second-highest reported NIL valuation heading into last year's college football season at $3.8 million, had not started a college game before last season. With that, here is a look at the top 25 college athletes with the highest NIL valuations heading into the 2025-26 academic year. *NIL valuations are from which calculates the optimized NIL opportunity for athletes relative to the overall NIL market and projects outcomes over the next 12 months. 1. Texas QB Arch Manning ($6.8 million) Manning instantly became one of the most-valued athletes in college sports the moment he stepped foot on campus in Austin, Texas in 2023, holding a $3.8 million NIL valuation at the time. Manning has reportedly inked deals or partnered with EA Sports, Red Bull, Uber and Vuori as he prepares for his first full season as Texas' starting quarterback. While Manning is the highest-valued NIL athlete in college sports, he doesn't take any money from Texas' NIL collective, the Houston Chronicle previously reported. 2. Miami (Fla.) QB Carson Beck ($4.3 million) Beck initially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this offseason before surprisingly transferring to Miami. It was rumored that Beck received $3 to $4 million from Miami's NIL collective to make the move to South Florida, moving on from Georgia after he helped the Bulldogs win the SEC title in 2024. According to On3, Beck has inked 11 deals and partnerships over his college career, with Chipotle, Beats By Dre and Powerade headlining the notable brands. 3. Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith ($4.2 million) Following a standout freshman season, Smith shot up the board as one of the most valuable players in college sports. He was recently unveiled as a co-cover star athlete for "College Football 26," adding to the list of notable endorsement deals he has secured. He has reported deals with American Eagle, Lululemon, Red Bull and Nintendo, among others. Smith also agreed to a local car dealership deal — which appeared to gift him a new Mercedes — in May. Before he even steps on the court in Provo, Utah, Dybantsa is already one of the highest-valued players in college sports with reported deals with Nike and Red Bull. It was reported at the time of his commitment that he secured a deal worth around $7 million, giving one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft a significant payday. 5. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier ($3.7 million) Nussmeier opted to forgo early entry into the 2025 NFL Draft, making him one of the top prospects in 2026. Set to enter his second season as LSU's starter, Nussmeier has multiple reported NIL deals and partnerships, including Powerade and EA Sports, among others. 6. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers ($3.7 million) Sellers was one of the SEC's breakout stars in 2024, winning the conference's Offensive Freshman of the Year Award. He has reportedly secured NIL deals with Collegiate Legends and Cheez-It, and another strong year could help him continue to climb this list. 7. Florida QB DJ Lagway ($3.7 million) Similar to Sellers, Lagway was also a breakout star in 2024. He went 6-1 in the seven starts he made as a true freshman, helping Florida turn its season around. He has reportedly earned an NIL deal with Nintendo since the end of the season, while Gatorade has featured him in a commercial, as he agreed to a deal with the iconic brand before his freshman year. Lagway certainly seems to be a candidate to be No. 1 on this list next year if Manning declares for the draft. 8. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik ($3.4 million) Klubnik, who FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt recently named as his top quarterback for the 2025 season, is entering his third year as Clemson's starter. He led the Tigers to an ACC title last season and reportedly has existing NIL deals with Rhoback and ONIT, among others. 9. Penn State QB Drew Allar ($3.1 million) Allar turned down early entry into the 2025 NFL Draft despite speculation he could be an early-round pick. According to On3, Allar hasn't logged any new NIL deals since he helped Penn State reach the CFP last season. However, he reportedly has pre-existing deals with Bose and Frosted Flakes. 10. Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt ($3.1 million) Leavitt only has a pair of reported NIL endorsement deals, agreeing to partnerships with Jones Ford Verde Valley and Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, but he also agreed to a deal with Arizona State's NIL collective in January, shutting down transfer rumors. 11. Michigan QB Bryce Underwood ($3 million) After dealing with struggles at quarterback during the 2024 season, Michigan made Underwood a reported offer through its NIL collective worth $10.5 million over four years to get him to flip his commitment from LSU to the Wolverines. Underwood, ranked as the top quarterback recruit in the Class of 2025, wound up flipping his commitment to remain in his home state of Michigan. 12. Texas Tech F JT Toppin ($2.8 million) Toppin has the highest NIL valuation among returning college basketball players this upcoming year. It was reported that Toppin is expected to earn $4 million in NIL after forgoing entry into the 2025 NBA Draft. Toppin won Big 12 Player of the Year and was named a second-team All-American after scoring 18.2 points per game in the 2024-25 season. 13. Duke QB Darian Mensah ($2.8 million) Duke landed Mensah in the transfer portal after he had a strong first season as Tulane's starting quarterback (2,723 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, six interceptions) in 2024. It was reported that Mensah earned an $8 million deal from Duke's NIL collective to transfer to the school in December 2024. 14. Oklahoma QB John Mateer ($2.7 million) Mateer is also among the list of the most valuable college athletes after transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma this offseason. Klatt recently ranked him as his third-best quarterback for the 2025 season after he threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go with 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. 15. Alabama WR Ryan Williams ($2.7 million) The other co-cover star athlete of "College Football 26" is among the most valuable athletes in college sports for 2025-26. Williams emerged as one of the best receivers as a 17-year-old freshman in 2024, recording 865 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Williams also has a pretty diverse list of NIL endorsement deals as well, reportedly securing partnerships with Uber Eats, Hollister and Sally Hansen. 16. TCU QB Josh Hoover ($2.4 million) Hoover doesn't have any listed NIL brand deals on On3 beyond the one he has with TCU's NIL collective. However, after his strong 2024 season (3,949 yards, 27 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), he could've earned more this offseason. Tennessee offered Hoover roughly $1 million more in NIL money than what he's currently receiving at TCU, which is at least seven figures, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in April . 17. Ohio State S Caleb Downs ($2.4 million) Ohio State has two of the highest-valued non-quarterbacks in college football entering the 2025 season. Downs, who is arguably the best defensive player in the nation (81 total tackles, two interceptions in 2024), has a few reported NIL brand deals, highlighted by partnerships with Panini, Beats by Dre and American Eagle. He also signed an NIL deal with Ohio State's collective, The Foundation, when he transferred from Alabama following Nick Saban's retirement in 2024. 18. North Carolina State QB CJ Bailey ($2.3 million) Bailey doesn't have any known NIL deals with brands, but he signed a new deal with NC State's collective, One Pack, in December 2024 to remain in Raleigh, North Carolina. That deal helped ensure Bailey wouldn't transfer after he scored 22 total touchdowns to go with 2,413 passing yards as a true freshman in 2024. 19. Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola ($2.3 million) Following a wild recruiting process that saw him commit to two schools before landing at Nebraska in 2024, Raiola has earned a few NIL deals with notable brands. He reportedly signed a deal with Panini right after he committed to Nebraska in December 2023, before signing a deal with Campus Ink early in his freshman season. He reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Adidas in April, following in the footsteps of his idol, Patrick Mahomes. He also has a deal with Nebraska's NIL collective, 1890. 20. Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg ($2.3 million) Lendeborg announced he was transferring from UAB to Michigan in April, but he wasn't fully committed to the Wolverines until he removed his name from the 2025 NBA Draft in May. The top-ranked player in the transfer portal this offseason by 247 Sports, Lendeborg received an NIL package believed to be in the neighborhood of $3 million to return to school, CBS Sports previously reported. Lendeborg was viewed as a potential first-round pick prior to his decision to remove his name from the 2025 NBA Draft, as he was named first-team All-AAC the past two seasons. 21. Arkansas QB Taylen Green ($2.1 million) Green earned a few endorsement deals with local companies during his time at Boise State before he transferred to Arkansas ahead of the 2024 season. After transferring, he reportedly signed a deal with the school's NIL collective, Arkansas Edge. It's unclear how much that deal is worth, but the collective helped Green land an endorsement deal with a local car dealership in 2024, which landed him a Ram 1500 truck. 22. Florida G Boogie Fland ($2.1 million) Similar to Lendeborg, Fland was one of the top players in the transfer portal this offseason but also declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. He removed his name from the draft in May, while simultaneously announcing his transfer from Arkansas to Florida. The defending champion's NIL collective reportedly gave Fland a package worth over $2 million, according to CBS Sports. 23. UCLA G Donovan Dent ($2 million) Dent, who won Mountain West Player of the Year at New Mexico this past season, reportedly received a $3 million NIL deal to transfer to UCLA in March, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican. He received $2 million of that deal up front, while he'll earn the other $1 million during the 2025-26 season. 24. UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava ($2 million) Iameleava arguably became the face of the NIL debate this offseason. He transferred out of Tennessee after the program reportedly denied his request for a pay raise from its NIL collective, seeking $4 million annually. He wound up at UCLA, agreeing to an NIL deal rumored to be in the $1.5 million range, according to Front Office Sports. That's actually a pay decrease from what he was getting at Tennessee, as he was set to earn $2.4 million from the Vols' collective in 2025, per ESPN. Iamaleava was also one of 11 college football players to sign a deal with Beats by Dre ahead of the 2024 season. 25. Auburn QB Jackson Arnold ($2 million) Arnold was among the handful of quarterback transfers who reportedly earned a multi-million-dollar payday this offseason. It has been rumored that Arnold received a deal worth at least $2 million to transfer from Oklahoma, which got a laugh out of former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron. Arnold finished the year with 1,421 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 444 rushing yards and three rushing scores. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
