Local College Basketball Players In Transfer Portal
Apr 7, 2020, 12:04 PM | Updated: 5:18 pm
Courtesy of Utah Valley Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A number of players from local college basketball teams in the state of Utah announced they were exploring the option of leaving for a new school this offseason.
Some of those players have already found new homes, including a local player transferring locally. Others have reportedly moved on to out-of-state schools, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
From BYU to Utah to Utah State and more, here are the local college basketball players in the NCAA transfer portal.
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BYU
Colby Leifson – Transferred to Utah Valley
Leifson is a sophomore guard out of Suwanee, Georgia. He first appeared on the Cougars’ roster in the 2016-17 season. He played in 26 games and averaged 1.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per contest.
“I am grateful for the time I’ve spent here at BYU,” Leifson tweeted about his decision to transfer in October 2019. “I’ve decided it is best to continue my college basketball career elsewhere. Excited for the next chapter!”
I am grateful for the time I've spent here at BYU, but I've decided it is best to continue my college basketball career elsewhere. Excited for the next chapter!
— Colby Leifson (@Colb_as_ice) October 14, 2019
Leifson officially transferred to Utah Valley University and joined the Wolverines at the end of March 2020.
Blaze Nield (according to reports)
Nield is a sophomore guard from Lehi, Utah. He joined the BYU basketball program for the 2019-20 season after playing at Utah State Eastern. He appeared in 17 games for the Cougars last season. He averaged 0.7 points, 0.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
Brigham Young G Blaze Nield (SO) has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/H00U5sjemT
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) March 18, 2020
Southern Utah
Josh Cornish (according to reports)
Cornish is a redshirt freshman guard from Cockeysville, Maryland. He appeared in three games for the Thunderbirds last season including one start. His season was cut short due to injury. He averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
J O S H pic.twitter.com/vF1ymJROOk
— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) November 29, 2019
Utah
Matt Van Komen
The Utah big man recently completed his freshman campaign with the Runnin’ Utes. Van Komen saw action in nine games this season. He played a total of 43 minutes and was on the court during four Pac-12 Conference games. The center averaged 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and just under a block per contest.
Matt Van Komen's most memorable play as a Ute came against Arizona State. Dunked, then sat on a dude's head! Throw THAT on a poster! It led to Larry Krystkowiak's ejection with 1:23 left in the game.
Van Komen is now reportedly in the transfer portal.#GoUtes // @kslsports pic.twitter.com/9lwWqCWpJm
— Zak Hicken (@zakhicken) March 22, 2020
Utah State
Roche Grootfaam (according to reports)
Grootfaam is a senior forward that calls Paramaribo, Suriname home. Prior to joining the Utah State program, the big man played for the College of Southern Idaho. Last season, Grootfaam played in 11 games and averaged 3.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.
.@USUBasketball senior Roche Grootfaam threw down a monster dunk on senior night and the Spectrum crowd went nuts. Utah State moves to 23-7, 12-5 with a 94-56 win over San Jose State #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PhdmeYSCiH
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 26, 2020
Abel Porter (according to reports)
Porter recently completed his redshirt junior season as a guard with the Aggies. The Farmington, Utah native spent four seasons with USU.
Originally a walk-on, Porter was awarded a scholarship during the regular season in 2018-19.
During his time with Utah State, Porter averaged 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He appeared in 95 contests including 54 starts.
Utah State junior guard Abel Porter is transferring, source told @Stadium.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2020
Utah Valley
Cavit Havsa (according to reports)
Havsa is a redshirt junior guard from Istanbul, Turkey. After redshirting in 2018-19, he played in 25 games for UVU last season. The guard posted averages of 3.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Jacob Heese (according to reports)
Heese is a sophomore forward out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He played three minutes in one game for the Wolverines last season.
Casdon Jardine (according to reports)
Jardine is a redshirt junior guard/forward from Twin Falls, Idaho. He sat out of the 2018-19 season after transferring to UVU from Boise State. Last season, Jardine averaged 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per contest in 29 games.
A little preview from this season 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/Apsun8ysUg
— Casdon Jardine (@chefboyjardine) March 26, 2020
Isaiah White (Transferred to USC, according to reports)
White is a junior guard from Rancho Cucamonga, California. Last season, he averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 21 contests.
The guard plans to play his final year of eligibility at the University of Southern California as a grad transfer, according to reports.
.@UVUmbb guard Isaiah White with the steal and the slam in the Wolverines 85-79 win over Sam Houston State. #WAChoops #UVU pic.twitter.com/ZJ19OHhoq5
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) December 23, 2018
Weber State
Israel Barnes (according to reports)
Barnes is a sophomore guard out of Wichita, Kansas. He played in 28 games for the Wildcats in 2019-20. During his time on the court, Barnes averaged 3.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.
— Israel Barnes (@Ilb_12) March 27, 2020
Boubacar Diakite (according to reports)
Diakite is a sophomore forward from Bamako, Mali. Last season, he averaged 1.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in three games played.
Don’t judge if Udk the inside story. It’s been real y’all, #Survivor #warbaby #makethemregret #foreverwildcat #mystoryaintover pic.twitter.com/ovtx137jJ7
— B_wavvyyy (@boukilion12) March 16, 2020
Austin Galuppo (according to reports)
Galuppo is a freshman guard that calls Santa Clarita, California home. He played in 12 games during his only year at Weber State. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per contest.
Austin Galuppo knocks down the 3!#WeAreWeber #BigSkyMBB #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/gfifOe8piZ
— WeberStateMBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) December 31, 2019
Caleb Nero
Nero is a sophomore guard out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He played in 33 games for the Wildcats last season. He posted averages of 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
First I would like to thank the coaching staff and my teammates at Weber State for the great memories. I will be transferring to find a new home and further my education. I appreciate everyone who has helped me along the way. This Testimony is going to be beautiful!! #Godsplan pic.twitter.com/4pYV7PsRNl
— Caleb Nero (@Calebdn10) November 7, 2019
Dima Zdor (according to reports)
Zdor is a sophomore forward from Yalta, Ukraine. He appeared in 28 games for Weber State during the 2019-20 season. Zdor averaged 3.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per contest.
Dima Zdor Throws it Down! #PurpleReign #WeAreWeber #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/L2856AeojH
— WeberStateMBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 7, 2020
Incoming Transfers
Trevon Allfrey, 6-7, 240, Forward, Freshman, Seattle – Dixie State
MBB: Welcome Trevon Allfrey to the Dixie State Trailblazers Family! @DIXIESTATEBBALL #DixieBlazers #FirstDISigningClass pic.twitter.com/uaigPYpH6A
— Dixie St. Athletics (@DixieAthletics) November 21, 2019
Yuat Alok, 6-11, 225, Forward, Junior, UCF – Southern Utah
Thunderbirds Add Top-Tier Transfer Yuat Alok
📰 >> https://t.co/Dm4Y4GX52j#TBirdNation#BigSkyMBB#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/cOOWt0KpgT
— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) January 13, 2020
Dontay Bassett, 6-9, 236, Forward, Junior, Floriday – Weber State
Isiah Brown, 6-2, 185, Guard, Junior, Grand Canyon – Weber State (according to reports)
Colby Leifson, 6-4, 190, Guard, Sophomore, BYU – Utah Valley
Welcome to The Den @colb_as_ice!
If you think he looks good in green, give him a wave 👋 to welcome Colby aboard.#UVU #GoUVU #UVUHoops pic.twitter.com/cIR58mGg6v
— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 30, 2020
Marvin Price, 6-5, 230, Forward, Freshman, Ohio – Salt Lake Community College (according to reports)
