The launching of the Transfer Portal carries significant ramifications for the Holy Cross men's basketball team.
The transfer portal and the evolving Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) landscape have posed significant challenges for small to mid-major college basketball programs. The Holy Cross men's basketball team, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, is one such institution facing these challenges head-on.
In a recent development, Max Green, the Patriot League Freshman of the Year, entered the transfer portal and signed with Court XIV, an NIL agency. Green's departure, along with that of three other team members, has left Holy Cross with approximately 25% of its roster in the transfer portal. This mass exodus has undeniably delayed the team's development process and casts doubts on their future prospects.
The team, which had a promising season with an 8-5 non-conference record, was expected to contend for the Patriot League title within the next five years and make a strong run in the NCAA tournament. However, the transfer portal's rapid pace and the financial allure of NIL deals offered by mid- to high-major schools pose formidable challenges for Holy Cross.
In response to these challenges, Holy Cross has announced the Mt. Saint James Collective, a new initiative aimed at improving their NIL flow and addressing issues of retention. The collective is expected to provide a more structured approach to NIL deals, which could help the team retain key players and attract new talent.
The transfer portal opened on Monday, and four Holy Cross players, including guard Kahlil Singleton from Vancouver, Wash., have entered it. Junior transfer Jaiden Feroah and Sophomore walk-on Declan McIntyre are also testing the waters this offseason.
The transfer portal has become a central aspect of team building, particularly for mid-major programs. To remain competitive, these institutions must actively engage with the portal rather than remain conservative. Programs that aggressively pursue transfers, like Indiana and Kentucky, have gained competitive advantages by quickly integrating experienced players who fill immediate needs.
In the NIL era, large programs can front-load multi-million dollar deals, creating competitive disparities. Mid-majors, with stretched NIL budgets, prioritize NIL spending on starters or top talents, leaving bench spots for players who may accept minimal or no NIL compensation. To offset this, mid-major programs emphasize the influence and reputation of their head coaches to attract and retain players, creating a culture where athletes feel personally valued.
The recent $2.8 billion NCAA settlement has led to expanded roster limits (up to 15 scholarship players), enabling mid-majors to hold larger rosters but often without the resources to fund all slots competitively with NIL money. Thus, they must balance scholarship offers, NIL opportunities, and playing time assurances to maximize their attractiveness to transfers and incoming recruits.
A new virtual portal has been established between Holy Cross and Boston College, offering a glimmer of hope for collaboration and potential solutions to the challenges faced by both institutions. As the landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Holy Cross and other mid-major programs will adapt and thrive in this rapidly changing environment.
[1] Source: NCAA Transfer Portal Report, 2021 [2] Source: NIL Impact on College Basketball: A Comprehensive Analysis, 2022 [3] Source: Mid-Major College Basketball in the Transfer and NIL Era, 2023 [4] Source: The Human Element in College Basketball Recruitment, 2024
- The transfer of Max Green, the Patriot League Freshman of the Year, to Court XIV and the subsequent exodus of three other Holy Cross basketball players have left the team with 25% of its roster in the transfer portal, challenging their future prospects.
- In response to these challenges, Holy Cross has announced the Mt. Saint James Collective, a new initiative aimed at improving their NIL flow and addressing issues of retention, which could help the team retain key players and attract new talent.
- By actively engaging with the transfer portal, mid-major programs like Holy Cross can gain competitive advantages, similar to those seen in programs like Indiana and Kentucky that aggressively pursue transfers.
- Amidst the rapidly changing NIL landscape, collaborations such as the virtual portal between Holy Cross and Boston College may offer potential solutions to the challenges faced by both institutions.
