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Indianapolis Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
What Thad Matta said about Butler basketball's additions via transfer portal, recruiting
There's been plenty of player movement since the end of Butler basketball's season in the inaugural Crown tournament. Thad Matta and staff have been active in the transfer portal as rosters continue to turn over year-over-year. Butler has signed five players out of the portal so far, and its five incoming high school recruits represent the Bulldogs' highest-ranked recruiting class. Here's what Matta said about Butler's roster additions: "These past two seasons have showcased Michael's all-around game and potential. Michael led the WCC in scoring during his season at Pepperdine, and contributed to a high level of winning with a physical, defensive presence last season at Gonzaga. His impact on both ends of the court is a major addition to our roster for the upcoming season. Michael is a high-character individual who is going to be a great fit at Butler." "Yame brings both experience and physicality to our program. He has the ability and willingness to guard multiple positions and rebound. Offensively, he is aggressive in getting downhill to both score at the rim and get to the free throw line. Yame will be impactful for us both on the court and in the locker room, and we're excited to get him on campus." Get to know: Sister's death was 'super difficult.' How Butler transfer Yame Butler found 'a lot of joy' "Jalen is a great addition to our program. He cares about winning and has the reputation as a player who works hard to improve his game. Jalen has the ability to score the ball in a variety of ways and also makes the players around him better. He's been incredibly consistent in the Horizon League and has posted big numbers against power conference teams." "Drayton is a great addition to our program; he's a high-character young man who is excited about the opportunities Butler has to offer. Drayton is able to utilize his athleticism to protect the rim at a high level defensively and finish plays in the paint emphatically offensively. His best basketball is ahead of him and we're glad that basketball will be played at Butler.' "Yohan is another significant addition to our roster and he's a great fit for the culture we continue to build here at Butler. He has experience playing in power conferences, and earned All-Big West honors as a sophomore. He attacks the glass, especially on the offensive end, and has the ability to score at the rim, facing up, and from three-point range. He has an imposing frame that will help our team defensively. It will be great to get him on campus soon." 'We're excited to add Bryson to our program. He's a talented player who has a high basketball IQ and a relentless motor on the court. Bryson is embracing the opportunity to develop his game and his body early on within our program. He's going to push us in practice from his first day on campus and he's a solid addition to both our program and our university.' "Jackson is a very athletic wing who takes great pride in his defense. He can get to the rim and score the ball. His athleticism, physicality and defensive grit are going to translate well to college basketball beginning with day one." "Jack knows how to play the game, just as you would expect from a coach's son. He's a big wing and multi-dimensional in how he can pass, shoot and make great decisions with the ball in his hands." 'Efeosa has represented Canada in international competition, won an Overtime Elite championship, and was one of the best players on the Under Armour circuit during the summer of 2023. He's a very mature young man who has great character. Efeosa arrives with a Big East body and a strong work ethic, and we're excited to see his game and skillset develop.'
Los Angeles Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
USC lands highly coveted transfer guard Rodney Rice, bolstering strong transfer haul
One of the most coveted transfer guards in college basketball has committed to USC, giving Eric Musselman the difference-maker he desperately needed in his second portal class. Rodney Rice chose USC over more established basketball powers Villanova, Tennessee and Gonzaga, all of whom were reportedly willing to shell out major money to reel in the 6-foot-4 junior combo guard. Exactly what it cost for the Trojans to win the bidding war for Rice, their top transfer target, was not immediately clear. As name, image and likeness paydays have skyrocketed for basketball transfers ahead of a House settlement set to change athlete compensation rules, multiple reports suggested Tuesday that USC had paid upwards of $3 million for the former Maryland standout's services. A former four-star recruit, Rice started his college career at Virginia Tech, where he only played in eight games due to injury. He sat out the 2023-24 season, before breaking out as a redshirt sophomore at Maryland last season. Rice started 32 games for the Terrapins, averaging 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting 37.3% from 3-point range. At USC, the expectation is Rice will play more point guard than he has in the past, handling the ball and facilitating the offense alongside Desmond Claude, who served as the Trojans primary floor general last season. Claude still hasn't made his plans publicly clear for next season. But while he evaluates his NBA draft options, the belief at USC is that he'll return for one more season, giving the Trojans a potent one-two punch in the backcourt. The arrival of five-star freshman Alijah Arenas should only raise that ceiling even further. USC likely could still use more depth at guard, considering Claude is the team's only returning player at the position. Freshman guard Jerry Easter is the only other ball handler on the roster. Musselman has already managed to remake the Trojans' now-supersized front court with six new transfer wings and forwards, all of whom are 6-foot-6 or taller. He brought in a high-potential, 6-foot-10 sophomore big from Virginia in Jacob Cofie, along with a starting-caliber power forward from Utah in Ezra Ausar. Musselman mined the mid-major ranks for rising stars, reeling in the likes of Amarion Dickerson, the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Year, from Robert Morris; Keonte Jones, an All-Big West first-team selection from Northridge; and Jaden Brownell, a stretch forward from Samford. To solve USC's rim-protection issues, he added the NCAA's leader in blocks last season, 7-foot-3 center Gabe Dynes from Youngstown State. Adding Rice is Musselman's biggest move yet, one that should help soften the blow of losing sophomore star Wesley Yates III, who surprisingly entered the transfer portal earlier this month. He has since committed to Washington, returning to the school he attended prior to USC. As of Tuesday, the final day for college basketball players to enter the transfer portal, the Trojans had the No. 11 transfer class in college basketball according to 247 Sports, while Rice was the 25th-ranked transfer overall, one spot behind Yates. USC still has room to add to its transfer haul. Pending the NCAA's decision on the eligibility of senior forward Saint Thomas, the Trojans will have either two or three available slots on the roster.
