"Yeah, it was not the typical mood for a senior day. I mean, it was nice, them walking out, and I like these guys, I'm grateful that they came here. But the crowd wasn't large, or loud. It was subdued. I was wondering how they felt about [the ceremony]. Like, 'Hey, I'm being honored! But, I've only been here one year.'"
"The transfer portal opened up for D1 basketball in the fall of 2018. And, like when Ireland banned smoking in pubs, change came quickly and utterly. CBS Sports college basketball writer Isaac Trotter reported last week that there were only 22 scholarship players in so-called high-major NCAA programs this season who had played all [four years]."
The University of Maryland held a senior day ceremony for four departing basketball players—Diggy Coit, Collin Metcalf, Elijah Saunders, and Solomon Washington—all of whom were first-year players. The ceremony, featuring framed jerseys and drawings, felt unusual because these seniors had only spent one year in College Park rather than the traditional four-year college career. Long-time Maryland booster Jack Cullen noted the subdued atmosphere and questioned how meaningful the honor felt for players who had just arrived. This situation reflects the broader transformation of college basketball since the transfer portal opened in fall 2018, which has dramatically altered player retention and roster stability in high-major programs.
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