This Daskalaskis Athletic Center will be a home to a different looking Drexel men’s basketball team next winter. The stars that shined on West Philadelphia’s hardwood the last two seasons are now long gone, due to an ever-expanding transfer portal that can offer life-changing money.
On Tuesday, Jason “Deuce” Drake announced he would enter his name into the transfer portal, via an Instagram post. The guard’s transfer marks another offseason where the Dragons top four scorers have left University City. Last winter, three-time CAA defensive player of the year Amari Williams left for Kentucky, while junior guard Justin Moore headed to the windy city, joining Loyola Chicago.
This offseason has been more of the same for the Dragons, with Drake’s transfer announcement coming as the fourth for Drexel. First, it was Yame Butler, a true veteran, who transferred to the Big East program with the same name, Butler. Days later, sharp-shooting guard Kobe MaGee, took his talents to Florida State, joining the Seminoles with an NIL package north of six figures. Finally, All-CAA defensive team member and beloved Drexel big man Cole Hargrove followed suit, transferring to a rival big east school in Providence.
The transfer portal has shaken up a majority of CAA schools the past few winters, but the portal has hit Drexel especially hard. Entering last season, just 26% of the Dragons scoring from 2023-24 returned to the roster. This spring, the Dragons lineup has taken a hit once again, already losing 69% of their scoring, produced by MaGee, Butler, Hargrove, and Drake.
What’s left is a similar group to what was left after a large number of graduations and transfers last season. A group of inexperienced or unpolished players that Coach Zach Spiker will have the large task again of developing into a winning basketball team. Garfield Turner’s return to the lineup will be a nice addition, and the expectation of another Shane Blakeney step forward should generate some excitement, but it’s hard to ignore who won’t be back at the DAC.
In a college basketball landscape where power-five programs can offer just about anybody a six figure NIL package, how can Drexel possibly compete?