The numbers behind transfering “up” in men’s college basketball | Sports
One of the most significant side effects caused by the removal of any restrictions upon transfers is the increasing number of athletes that choose to leave their current school for one with more prestige, i.e. move from a university in a non-power conference to one inside one of said power conferences. Or perhaps a lower mid-major to a higher mid-major. It’s a simple and logical process. A once-overlooked athlete proves their value at a smaller school which finally grabs the attention from the bigger schools that didn’t offer them a scholarship out of high school. The introduction of NIL to this equation has only inflated the number of transfers. Along with being able to play at bigger schools in front of bigger crowds and on bigger TV stations, there’s quite a big paycheck coming the athlete’s way as well. Some athletes that previously wouldn’t have considered transferring even with the potential jump in exposure and being on a national stage, are now easily coaxed away by the prospect of adding an extra comma or two to their bank account. But what’s happening to these athletes that make the move up? Are the greener pastures actually green? An attractive narrative that