Former five-star will be a hot commodity as an early entrant into the transfer portal

One of the top prospects in the 2025 College Basketball recruiting class was Jalil Bethea, a 6’5 guard out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The consensus 5-star recruit was an early projected first-round NBA Draft pick, and both he and the Miami Hurricanes had plenty of potential before the season started.

However, things didn’t work out for either side. Miami finished last in the ACC standings and was one of the most disappointing teams in the nation. And Bethea got off to a very slow start, with his minutes and production limited in the first half of the year and failing to showcase the elite potential he had on paper.

Bethea finished the year scoring 7.1 ppg, shooting 37% from the field and 33% from deep in under 20 mpg. Some of the freshman’s highlights include a 17-point outing against Mount St. Mary’s in OT, along with a season-high 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a win over Syracuse. 

In the middle of the season, Coach Jim Larranaga opted to retire. The transfer portal window had already opened for Miami players, but on Monday, it’s open for everyone to enter. With the new coaching staff coming in, led by former Duke assistant Jai Lucas, it makes sense for players to look for other options, including Bethea.

What’s interesting about Bethea’s situation is that he was reportedly down to Miami and Villanova, which are hometown options. But with the Wildcats firing Coach Kyle Neptune a couple of weeks ago, it’s also going to be a completely new spot for Bethea. Of course, depending on who they decide to hire, maybe it’s a more appealing option for him this time around. Plus, he could also just stay at Miami.

Although Bethea didn’t turn into a “one and done” NBA Draft pick, he still has three more years of eligibility and has plenty of potential. The next destination could get a hidden gem for next season. Stay tuned to how his recruitment develops.