Nique Clifford is one of three Colorado men’s basketball players to enter the transfer portal over the past few days, along with Quincy Allen and Lawson Lovering.
Although Clifford was versatile for the Buffs this season, the junior from Colorado Springs wasn’t a top offensive option.
And, as he told the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Luke Zahlmann, his aspirations to play in the NBA were part of the reason he opted to enter the portal.
“I felt like I had to do what’s best for me and my goals of reaching the NBA,” Clifford told The Gazette. “I didn’t feel like I could achieve that from CU.”
Additionally, mental struggles took a toll on the former Colorado Springs (The Vanguard School) prep star.
“I just felt like I needed a fresh start and a new opportunity,” Clifford told The Gazette. “I wasn’t able to fully be myself at CU, especially this year. (I) dealt with a lot of things mentally this year, on and off the court, so that played a factor.”
With that said, though, Clifford did take some good away from his time in Boulder.
“It was a tough decision but I appreciated my time at CU,” Clifford told The Gazette. “(I) learned a lot, regardless of the struggles.”
Clifford averaged 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists this past season for Colorado, and he has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Hopefully, he can find a good fit as he enters the next stage of his college career beyond CU.
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