The University of Maine men’s basketball team could lose two of its top performers to the transfer portal this offseason.
Black Bears leading scorer AJ Lopez and versatile guard Jaden Clayton both entered the portal this week, according to Verbal Commits, an online platform that tracks college athlete recruitment and transfers, and a social media post from Clayton.
The NCAA transfer portal allows college athletes to signal their intent to transfer to a different school, and begin the process of communicating with other schools.
Clayton posted a statement Monday on Instagram and X announcing his decision, and thanking UMaine head coach Chris Markwood and “my entire UMaine family” for welcoming him three years ago.
“My time in Maine has greatly contributed to my development as both a person and a player, for which I will always be thankful,” Clayton said in the social media post. “After careful reflection, I have made the decision to enter my name into the transfer portal.”
It is still possible for players who enter the transfer portal to later decide to stay at their current school, depending on the team’s willingness and roster space.
Markwood said Tuesday night that his staff haven’t had “any of those major discussions” about what would happen if Lopez or Clayton decided to leave the portal and would instead like to stay at UMaine.
“In the meantime, we have to continue to recruit for our program to make sure we take care of our program,” Markwood said.
As for his thoughts about Lopez and Clayton?
“I love those guys, and they know that,” Markwood said.
Clayton was fifth on the team in scoring this year and second in assists. He averaged more than seven points and more than four assists per game, and played a prominent role for the guard-heavy Black Bears in their first run to the America East Conference final in 21 years.
The Canadian junior from Whitby, Ontario, has been at UMaine all three of his college seasons, and Markwood has repeatedly emphasized Clayton’s role, along with other players like graduate student guard Kellen Tynes, in helping to move the program forward.
Lopez led the team in scoring during what Markwood previously described as a “tremendous year” for the senior guard. Markwood also called Lopez a “pivotal piece” for the Black Bears in an interview last week.
The 6-foot-5 Queens, New York, native previously transferred to UMaine from the University of New Hampshire. He scored nearly 15 points per game this season after dealing with a shoulder injury the previous campaign.
Under this season’s transfer rules, college basketball players have a 30-day window between March 24 and April 22 to enter the transfer portal.
UMaine men’s basketball is no stranger to the ebb and flow of the portal, losing its most productive player a year ago but also re-tooling with key additions like 3-point specialist Christopher Mantis and 6-foot-10 forward Killian Gribben this year.
“It’s just a new world in terms of what’s available to student athletes now,” Markwood explained. “And that’s why on day one on Monday, close to 1,000 kids go in.”
As of Tuesday night, more than 1,000 players had entered the transfer portal nationally, according to CBS Sports.
“This is the reality that everybody is facing right now, to be honest,” Markwood continued. “This is the new world that — as coaches, as programs — we all are going to have to figure out. And you’ve got to either adapt and get with those times and understand that, or it’s going to go in the other direction. All you can do is embrace it.”