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Dick Vitale urges NCAA to address transfer portal issue

Dick Vitale. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Dick Vitale urges NCAA to address staggering amount of basketball players in transfer portal

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/14/23

The NCAA transfer portal has drawn mixed reviews since its launch in 2018, but it's rapidly becoming an essential resource for college sports, particularly basketball.

With a staggering number of players already having entered the portal this offseason, broadcasting legend Dick Vitale believes it's ruining the sport.

According to Matt Zenitz of On3.com, over 20% of Division I men's college basketball scholarship players have entered the portal this offseason. This figure will inevitably rise before the transfer window closes on May 11.

On Thursday, Vitale, an outspoken critic of the evolving state of college sports, voiced his opposition to the portal once again and urged the NCAA to take action.

"There's an epidemic going on, and I think the NCAA needs to act quickly," the 83-year-old said in a video shared on Twitter. "It's insanity. It's wacky what's going on."

"The transfer portal, I keep harping on this because it's absolutely destroying so many teams, especially the mid-majors…." Vitale continued. "...[mid-major stars] leave immediately, and I don't blame them. They want to go play for the elite schools, and the elite schools aren't doing anything illegal. But the transfer portal has really caused a nightmare. It's an absolute mess."

The @NCAA must do something about the system they created with “THE TRANSFER PORTAL”! Mid Major schools losing STARS they develop . It is like they r a minor league to the Elite programs .Over 1100 in portal is totally wacky . pic.twitter.com/BW0iK7fw1h
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 13, 2023

While Vitale's opinion has merit as numerous mid-major standouts have switched programs throughout the years, countless players from "elite schools" have transferred to smaller schools for a more significant role. Despite the transfer portal's drawbacks, the new system has leveled the playing field.

During the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the portal's impact and benefits were evident. The Sweet 16 consisted of 14 teams with transfers on their rosters, with UCLA and Princeton being the exceptions, per Fox Sports' John Fanta. Additionally, mid-majors Florida Atlantic and San Diego State, both Final Four teams, rostered five transfers each.

In the women's tournament, the transfer portal was the decisive factor in determining this year's national champion. Four of LSU's starting five came via the portal, none more impactful than Maryland transfer Angel Reese, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Traditionalists, much like Vitale, might not agree with the current landscape of college sports, which is entirely fair. Nevertheless, the basketball portal draws higher quality talent than other sports, allowing smaller schools to land players they typically wouldn't bother recruiting, leading to successful results.

If the transfer portal makes competition tighter and improves the overall product, does it genuinely hurt the sport as much as some claim?

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