Category: SEC

Auburn continues to add to wide receiver room with Lambert-Smith commitment

Auburn continued their stellar offseason at the wide receiver position Wednesday by landing a commitment from KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

On Wednesday night, the Auburn Tigers picked up a big commitment in the transfer portal, as wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith announced that he would be committing to the SEC program.

Coming from Penn State, Lambert-Smith has seen action each of the last four seasons with the Nittany Lions, amassing a combined 1,721 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 126 receptions. Lambert-Smith, who ranks as the No. 13 wide receiver in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, also led Penn State in receiving a year ago by posting 673 yards and four touchdowns on 53 receptions.

Simply put, Auburn’s addition of Lambert-Smith continues what has been an impactful offseason for the Tigers wide receiver room, which has continued to add across the last couple of months.

In Auburn’s 2024 class, the Tigers have four true freshman wide receivers set to take the field this fall in Cam Coleman, Bryce Cain, Perry Thompson, and Malcolm Simmons, the first of which is rated as a five-star.

Auburn has also been active in the transfer portal as well, landing the likes of Georgia State wideout Robert Lewis, as well as California’s Sam Jackson V, alongside the aforementioned Lambert-Smith. This combines with some of their pass catchers from last season such as Rivaldo Fairweather and Caleb Burton III.

So, Auburn has not had a 500-yard receiver since the 2021 season. Will that change in 2024 with this talented group of wide receivers?

Second former Kentucky commit follows John Calipari to Arkansas

Another former Kentucky basketball commit has now followed John Calipari to Arkansas.

After five-star prospect Karter Knox opted to follow former Kentucky head coach John Calipari to Arkansas earlier this week, a second former Wildcat commit has now done the same, as Boogie Fland has officially committed to the Razorbacks.

Fland was one of the numerous prospects who decommitted from Kentucky following the departure of Calipari, and now becomes the second player to follow the head coach to Fayetteville. Another player with Kentucky ties, Zvonimir Ivisic, also followed Calipari to Arkansas via the transfer portal.

A talented prospect, Fland is considered as a five-star combo guard in the 2024 class out of Archbishop Stepinac in New York, ranking as the No. 2 player at the position nationally according to the 247Sports Composite. The five-star also ranks as the nation’s No. 19 overall prospect and is now the second member of Arkansas’ 2024 class.

Will any other former Kentucky commitments join Knox and Fland in following Calipari to Arkansas?

Georgia lands Arizona State transfer quarterback Jaden Rashada

One of the top transfer portal’s quarterbacks is coming to the SEC.

The Georgia Bulldogs officially picked up a commitment from one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal Thursday morning, as Arizona State’s Jaden Rashada committed to the SEC program.

A former four-star prospect who originally signed with Florida out of high school before being released from his NLI, Rashada spent his 2023 season at Arizona State, where he saw action in three games as a true freshman. There, Rashada held a 53.7 CMP% with 485 yards and a 4-3 TD-INT ratio, while also rushing for 23 yards on 14 attempts.

Looking ahead, Rashada now joins a loaded 2024 Georgia quarterback room that also features returning starter Carson Beck, Gunner Stockton, and Ryan Puglisi.

While not starting for the Bulldogs this fall, Rashada is the most experienced backup option for Georgia in 2024, and will likely compete with Stockton for the QB2 job immediately behind Beck.

Rashada should also be a candidate to start for the Bulldogs in 2025 after the previously mentioned Beck moves on the NFL.

Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. announces return for 2024-25 season

The Alabama guard will be back for the Crimson Tide in 2024-25.

The Alabama Crimson Tide received some big roster news Tuesday morning, as guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. officially announced his return for the 2024-25 season.

After transferring from Cal State Fullerton last offseason, Wrightsell was one of Alabama’s most productive guards in 2023-24, averaging 8.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG for the Crimson Tide. Wrightsell, who started 12-of-31 games, also ranked among the top three-point shooters in the SEC at a combined 44.7%, while also posting a 44.6 FG%, as well as going a perfect 27-for-27 at the free throw line this past season.

Wrightsell is the first of four Alabama seniors to opt to return to the Crimson Tide officially to use their extra year of eligibility for the 2024-25 season.

A pair of others have also made decisions as well, as Mark Sears declared for the 2024 NBA draft, while also maintaining his collegiate eligibility, while Nick Pringle has also entered the transfer portal. Grant Nelson is the lone member of that group who has yet to make a decision.

Johni Broome return a massive win for 2024-25 Auburn Tigers

Auburn star forward Johni Broome to return for 2024-25 basketball season.

On Wednesday night, the Auburn Tigers got some massive news surrounding their 2024-25 roster, as star forward Johni Broome announced that he would return next season to use his final year of collegiate eligibility.

A big win for the Tigers, Broome was one of the SEC’s top frontcourt players this past season, averaging 16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 2.2 BPG across 35 games, 34 of which he started. Broome also shot 54.8% FG, 35.4% 3pter, and 61.5% free throws for the year, receiving honors including First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defense.

Over the last two seasons, Broome has also averaged a combined 15.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 2.3 BPG for the Tigers, as well as having led Auburn in scoring each year, as well as rebounding and blocked shots. During that stretch, Broome has also shot a combined 53.8% from the field while starting in 67-of-68 games.

A mainstay of Auburn’s frontcourt the last two seasons, Broome will likely now enter the 2024-25 season as a legit SEC Player of the Year candidate, and could very easily be in the mix for a few awards on the national level.

Simply put, this is a significant win for the 2024-25 Auburn Tigers, as they will be led by one of the top frontcourt players in all of college basketball.

Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor to officially return to Alabama

Alabama transfer left tackle Kadyn Proctor to officially rejoin the Crimson Tide.

One of the top transfer portal storylines of the offseason has reportedly come to a close as offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is officially returning to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Proctor, a former five-star offensive tackle and Top 10 overall prospect in the 2023 class out of Southeast Polk High School in Iowa, started every game for the Crimson Tide a year ago at left tackle, but entered the transfer portal back in January after the retirement of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

Shortly after, Proctor would opt-to return home to commit to Iowa, which is where he had been since prior to reports emerging back in mid-March that he would re-enter the portal, with Alabama as the likely destination.

As mentioned previously as well, a report emerged Tuesday that Proctor was indeed re-entering the portal, and would be enrolling at Alabama to return to the Crimson Tide.

A big win for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the re-addition of Proctor likely locks up the left tackle position for the Crimson Tide, with the five-star the early favorite to start at the same spot he did in 2023.

After Proctor, could any other names make their way to Tuscaloosa during the spring transfer portal window?

Zvonimir Ivisic first transfer portal addition for John Calipari at Arkansas

Former Kentucky sophomore big man Zvonimir Ivisic is transferring to Arkansas to follow coach John Calipari.

The first big domino of the Kentucky coaching change fell on Monday afternoon when Croatian big man Zvonimir Ivisic announced he is transferring to Arkansas to follow coach John Calipari.

Ivisic entered the transfer portal over the weekend and has now become the first player to leave the Wildcats following the hiring of Mark Pope as head coach, and the first Kentucky player to officially follow Calipari to Fayetteville.

“I made the lifetime decision to come to college for [a] few reasons,” Ivisic wrote on social media. “Main ones to win a national championship and go to the NBA. Monumental part of that decision was coach Cal, and no one does both of those at the same time than him. That’s why I am excited to announce that I am committing to coach Cal and Arkansas Razorbacks.”

‘Big Z’ didn’t suit up for Kentucky until January 20 due to NCAA issues, but in his first five minutes of college basketball action the 7’2 big man dropped 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while going 3/3 from the three point line against Georgia.

He never quite found that level of dominance again, finishing his freshman campaign averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.

It’s no surprise to see Ivisic follow Calipari, who recruited him overseas and tirelessly worked to get him eligible last year. He becomes Cal’s first addition at Arkansas and should play a big role for the Hogs in his second season.

Meanwhile, Kentucky continues to see defections following Calipari’s departure and the hiring of Pope, although the new coach has been active in trying to rebuild a roster that earned a three seed last year before once again losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas quarterback Jacolby Criswell enters transfer portal

Arkansas quarterback Jacolby Criswell to enter NCAA transfer portal after one season in Fayetteville.

One of the SEC’s first big names to enter the transfer portal during the newly opened spring window is Jacolby Criswell, as the Arkansas quarterback officially announced he would be doing so Tuesday morning.

Criswell, who was competing for the Razorbacks starting job this spring, was the backup quarterback for Arkansas last season where he saw limited action behind starter K.J. Jefferson. In that limited action, Criswell posted a 63 CMP% with 143 passing yards and a 3-0 TD-INT ratio, while also rushing for 44 yards on 23 attempts.

Prior to Arkansas, Criswell spent three seasons at North Carolina from 2020-22 where he also saw limited action in a backup role. With the Tar Heels, he posted a combined 58.1 CMP% with 204 passing yards and a 1-1 TD-INT ratio, while also rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts.

Criswell is now the second quarterback from Arkansas to transfer during the 2023-24 offseason, joining the aforementioned Jefferson who went to UCF.

Missouri lands commitment from Iowa transfer Tony Perkins

The Missouri Tigers landed a commitment from Iowa point guard Tony Perkins in the NCAA transfer portal.

The Missouri Tigers and head coach Dennis Gates picked up a commitment via the transfer portal Monday, as four-year Iowa guard Tony Perkins officially committed to the SEC program. Perkins picked Missouri over Indiana and Oregon, among others.

Perkins spent each of the past four seasons at Iowa, starting in a combined 81-of-126 games since the 2020-21 campaign. Across that span, Perkins is a career 9.3 PPG scorer, while also averaging a combined 3.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.1 SPG on 43.9%/31.7%/76.8% shooting.

This past season, Perkins started all 34 games for the Hawkeyes, averaging 14 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, and 1.6 SPG on 43.2% shooting from the field in a career-year for the guard. Perkins also shot 29.9% from three, as well as 78.8% at the free throw line.

The experienced Iowa guard is now the second transfer commitment picked up by Missouri so far this offseason, joining UT Martin forward Jacob Crews. Both players are expected to play significant roles for the Tigers during the 2024-25 season.

Kentucky guard, former top recruit D.J. Wagner to enter transfer portal

Former top recruit D.J. Wagner to reportedly enter the NCAA transfer portal, becoming the fourth Kentucky Wildcat to do so after John Calipari left.

The roster dominoes continue to fall for the Kentucky Wildcats, as another player has reportedly entered the transfer portal in guard D.J. Wagner.

Wagner was an impact player as a freshman for the Wildcats this past season, starting in 28-of-29 games. The freshman guard averaged 9.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 3.3 APG, while also shooting 40.5% from the field, as well as 76.6% from the free throw line.

A former top recruit out of high school, Wagner was one of the top prospects from Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class, rated as a five-star point guard out of Camden, New Jersey. There, Wagner was considered the No. 6 player in the nation according to the 247Sports composite rankings, as well as the nation’s top point guard.

Wagner is now the fourth Kentucky player to enter the transfer portal since former head coach John Calipari left for the same position at Arkansas, as he joins Aaron Bradshaw, Joey Hart, and Zvonimir Ivisic.