The NCAA Basketball transfer portal continues to grow, with the number already over 400 after officially opening on Monday. There are a few high-profile names now in the mix, with the latest being John Hugley from the Pittsburgh Panthers.
The story for Hugley is filled with ups and downs. The former top-100 prospect out of high school played just seven games as a freshman, before being suspended for the rest of the season after an off-the-court arrest. He was reinstated in the offseason and become a breakout star for the Panthers, leading them with 14.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg.
That included a number of big performances from Hugley. He went for a career-high 32 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Boston College, as well as 11 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Syracuse. The big man even outplayed Armando Bacot in an upset win over North Carolina.
There were expectations coming into this past season with a revamped roster surrounding Hugley. However, a preseason knee injury took the big man out of the rotation, as he never fully recovered. After being limited to eight games and leaving the team midway to focus on personal issues, Hugley opted to enter the transfer portal officially.
With how much centers are prioritized in the portal, look for Hugley to have plenty of attention in the coming weeks. The native of Cleveland, Ohio will have his fair share of suitors but which of them makes the most sense? Here’s a look at eight NCAA Basketball programs that come to mind.