Eric Mahaffey leaves Akron basketball, joins Cincinnati through portal

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Eric Mahaffey leaves Akron basketball, joins Cincinnati through portal

Eric Mahaffey leaves Akron basketball, joins Cincinnati through portal

Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Apr 16, 2026 ·

1 min read

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Eric Mahaffey will remain in his home state of Ohio for the next chapter of his college basketball career, but the promising guard won't return to the University of Akron .

On April 15, Mahaffey told the recruiting website On3 he had committed to play for the University of Cincinnati.

A 2024 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller High School graduate, Mahaffey announced on April 2 he would enter the NCAA transfer portal . At the time, he left the door open for a return to Akron, where he spent the past two seasons.

However, the Big 12 beckoned and presumably a name, image and likeness deal commensurate with the conference.

Zips news: Akron introduces basketball coach Dustin Ford at news conference

From left, University of Akron athletic director Andrew T. Goodrich, Zips men's basketball coach Dustin Ford and UA president R.J. Nemer, pose for a photo during the introduction of Ford as the new Zips coach on April 15, 2026, at House Three Thirty in Akron.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

Zippy claps as the new University of Akron men's basketball coach Dustin Ford is congratulated by UA President R.J. Nemer at House Three Thirty in Akron on April, 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

From left, University of Akron president R.J. Nemer, Zips men's basketball coach Dustin Ford and athletic director Andrew T. Goodrich take a selfie after the introduction of Ford as the new Zips coach on April 15, 2026, at House Three Thirty in Akron.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

New University of Akron men's basketball coach Dustin Ford speaks the event introducing him as the new head coach at House Three Thirty in Akron on April, 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

New University of Akron men's basketball coach Dustin Ford listens to UA’s athletic director Andrew T. Goodrich during an event introducing coach Ford at House Three Thirty in Akron on April, 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

University of Akron men's basketball coach Dustin Ford talks to Bud Wentz before the event to introduce coach Ford at House Three Thirty in Akron on April 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

University of Akron men's basketball coach Dustin Ford applauds as UA President R.J. Nemer is introduced during an event to introduce coach Ford at House Three Thirty in Akron on April, 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

New men's basketball coach Dustin Ford is congratulated by UA president R.J. Nemer at the event to introduce coach Ford at House Three Thirty in Akron on April 15, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

Mahaffey sat out the 2024-25 season with Akron because of a knee injury (medial collateral ligament) he suffered in the preseason. Then, as a redshirt freshman, he played a key role off UA's bench during the 2025-26 season and lived a dream by becoming a teammate of his older brother, Evan Mahaffey, who transferred from Ohio State to Akron.

In a show of support for new Zips coach Dustin Ford, the Mahaffey brothers attended Ford's introductory news conference on the morning of April 15 at House Three Thirty in Akron. Ford spent the past nine seasons a Zips assistant.

Listed by Akron as 6 feet, 6 inches and 200 pounds, Eric Mahaffey started 11 of the 34 games in which he appeared with the Zips, who went 29-6 last season, including 17-1 in the Mid-American Conference.

Akron Zips sports: UA confident Dustin Ford is right coach to lead men's basketball program