By Aidan Joly
Now that the NBA Draft deadline has came and went, there’s still some moving around within the transfer portal. Let’s get into the news and notes within the portal from the last week or so.
Paul Mulcahy becomes available
Mulcahy entering the portal as a grad transfer on Friday is a big blow for Rutgers. He was a major part of the program’s resurrection in recent years and was set to be a big part of the Scarlet Knights’ plans for 2023-24. No doubt that this will hurt Steve Pikiell’s squad this season.
Reportedly, several schools have already reached out to Mulcahy, but Michigan and Kentucky both make a lot of sense as landing spots. According to reports, both of them have reached out. Michigan could use another guard to pair up Jaelin Llewellyn and Dug McDaniel with. As for Kentucky, the Wildcats still just need bodies, and ones that have a plethora of experience. A lot of Kentucky’s interest might hinge on whether Antonio Reeves stays or goes, but Mulcahy being a Wildcat would be a good addition. Illinois would make sense too. All three should be able to provide significant NIL packages too.
Jordan Brown is a huge addition up front
Brown, a former McDonald’s All-American who began his career at Nevada all the way back in 2018, also entered the portal on Friday. He’s had some bad luck with coaching changes through his career after Eric Musselman left Nevada after his freshman season, only to play one season at Arizona after sitting out the 2019-20 season before Sean Miller was fired.
Brown has resurrected his career at Louisiana the past two seasons, averaging 19.3 points per game this past season for the Ragin Cajuns, leading the program to the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade.
The 6-foot-11 forward will have a season of eligibility and is set to be a huge addition up front for somebody. He’s experienced too, with 119 collegiate games under his belt.
Where will Arthur Kaluma land?
Kaluma, the transfer from Creighton, is one of the top names still on the board. He has two years of eligibility remaining after withdrawing from the NBA Draft and has reportedly been on visits at both Kentucky and Kansas State in recent days, and has another at Alabama coming up.
Like mentioned before, Kentucky needs bodies so Kaluma would make sense for the Wildcats, but he would be a good add up front for both Kansas State and Alabama as well. Kentucky has always been creative with their power forwards, it would be interesting to see what a role would be for him in Lexington.
Cam Spencer picks UConn
Another loss for Rutgers is a gain for the defending national champions. Dan Hurley picks up one of the best shooters in the country here after Spencer averaged 13.2 points per game and shot 43% from three this past season for the Scarlet Knights.
Losing Jordan Hawkins to the NBA is undoubtedly a tough loss, but gaining Spencer makes up for it quite a bit. He’ll immediately slot into the starting lineup.
Olivier Nkamhoua to Michigan
Michigan seemed to be out on picking up this impact forward and it seemed to be down to Baylor, West Virginia and Kansas State, but the Tennessee transfer will head to Ann Arbor. Whatever Juwan Howard did, it worked and this is a heck of a get for the Wolverines.
Nkamhoua is a former top-200 player who has four years of SEC experience under his belt. He will help fill a significant hole that Michigan had at the power forward position. He is sure to be a focal point for a team that lost a pair of players to the NBA Draft, saw its best player in Hunter Dickinson leave for Kansas, and whiffed on acquiring Caleb Love due to an issue with academic credits.
Grant Nelson down to two
Nelson, the North Dakota State transfer, is one of the best players in the portal remaining and arguably the best mid-major player. He averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds this past season.
Reportedly, he is down to Alabama and Arkansas, with a decision expected on Sunday or Monday. It can’t be understated how massive of an addition this would be for either program. He’s an impact forward on both sides of the ball and will be an immediate star in the SEC.
AJ Hoops 