PITTSBURGH – Former Louisville guard El Ellis has found a new home while DJ Horne joins the ACC Jack Clark prepares to potentially leave it. Syracuse gained Chance Westry from Auburn and a Notre Dame freshman has entered the transfer portal.
Louisville Transfer Guard El Ellis Commits to Arkansas
Former Louisville guard El Ellis has committed to Arkansas, he told On3 Sports. Ellis spent the previous two seasons at Louisville after previously playing for Tallahassee Community College. The senior started all 32 games this season and averaged a team-high 17.7 points. Ellis also contributed 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 41% from the floor. The 6-foot-3 senior shot 32% from three and 81% at the free-throw line.
Louisville completed its worst season in program history, 4-28, only winning two games in ACC competition. Ellis joined fellow star Cardinal Jae’Lyn Withers in the transfer portal, who committed to North Carolina earlier this month. Arkansas has reloaded in the portal after defeating Illinois and Kansas before being defeated by UConn in the NCAA Tournament.
NC State Guard DJ Horne Transfers to NC State, Jack Clark to Make Decision Tuesday at Noon
DJ Horne is joining the ACC and has committed to NC State, he announced Monday. The former Arizona State Sun Devil spent his sophomore and junior years in the desert before entering the portal. Horne started all but three of the 64 games he appeared in for ASU, where he averaged 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. A 36% shooter who makes nearly 81% at the foul line,
Horne joins a Wolfpack coming off of an NCAA Tournament appearance. He performed well in two opportunities at March Madness, scoring 20 points in a First-Four win against Nevada and 17 facing TCU. NC State transfer Jack Clark is set to make a decision on his next destination. According to CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein, Clark will announce his decision Tuesday at noon. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23 games (17 starts) for the Wolfpack in one season.
Auburn Transfer Chance Westry Commits to Syracuse
Former Auburn freshman guard Chance Westry has committed to Syracuse, according to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports. The No. 26 overall recruit by Rivals and No. 32 by ESPN in the class of 2022, Westry redshirted this season but played in 11 games. He scored 27 total points and grabbed eight rebounds (four offensive boards) early in the season.
The former four-star recruit originally from Harrisburg, Pa, played for AZ Compass Prep School in Phoenix and previously for Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, where Lebron James’ sons play. Syracuse hired Adrian Autry to replace Jim Boeheim after 47 seasons and lost both Joe Girard and Jesse Edwards to the transfer portal. The Orange did not qualify for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame Forward Ven-Allen Lubin Enters Transfer Portal
Freshman Ven-Allen Lubin has entered the transfer portal, he told On3 Sports. Lubin started seven of 28 games he played for Notre Dame last season, where he averaged 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in over 17 minutes per game. He scored a career-best 19 points in 32 minutes against Wake Forest on Feb. 25, making 9-of-13 field goals.
Lubin totaled 10 points and 13 rebounds in a 12-point loss to St. Bonaventure in the early portion of non-conference play on the day after Thanksgiving. Head Coach Mike Brey and the program parted ways after 23 years and the Fighting Irish named former Penn State HC Micah Shrewsberry as the new leader of Notre Dame basketball.
Rhode Island Transfer Guard Ishmael Leggett Commits to Pitt
Pitt has landed Rhode Island transfer guard Ishmael Leggett, he announced Monday. The 6-foot-3 sophomore visited the Panthers over the weekend and committed to Pitt only hours later. He becomes the second transfer to commit to playing for head coach Jeff Capel – High Point’s Zack Austin – and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Leggett averaged 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 32 games during his sophomore campaign. He played over 34 minutes per night and shot just under 39% from the floor. He made 49-of-154 (32%) attempts behind the three-point arc and was an 84% free-throw shooter for the Rams. He started every game this year and all 31 last season as a freshman. He played 25 games during the COVID-effected 2020-21 season.
