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Oregon Ducks to keep an eye on as potential transfer portal departures
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- Oregon Ducks to keep an eye on as potential transfer portal departures
The 2026 transfer portal period for the Oregon Ducks men's basketball program was a busy one, as the Ducks lost stars Jackson Shelstad (Louisville) and Kwame Evans Jr. (Villanova) to other programs in addition to the graduation of star Nate Bittle. Six other players from the 2025-26 roster that won just 12 games and finished 15th in the Big Ten departed via the portal
As a result, Dana Altman went to work in the portal himself, welcoming in nine players from the portal and rebuilding the entirety of his roster with Sean Stewart and Drew Carter as the lone holdovers.
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But with an exhibition match with Seattle University just a week away, Altman's surprise retirement announcement has a chance to shake up the roster once more. Per NCAA rules, when a head coach is fired, moves onto another job or retires, players are given a two-week window to enter the transfer portal. The portal will soon open for members of the Ducks' 2026-27 roster to depart from the program and join another program, though it would be clouded with uncertainty for both sides as the season tips off in less than a month.
Uncertainty has become a normal thing in college sports, however, with the possibility of multiple Ducks leaving the program squarely on the table. For Oregon's sake of fielding a competitive roster this year, they'll have to keep an eye on the following players who could potentially depart amid Altman's retiremement.
F Tajh Arizona
July 17, 2024; North Augusta, S.C., USA; Team Takeover's Derek Dixon (3) moves down the court as WhyNot's Tajh Ariza (2) defends during the Team Takeover and WhyNot game at the Nike Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activities Center. Team Takeover won 64-62. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network
A four-star recruit in the 2026 class, it's very unlikely that Tajh Ariza envisioned Altman retiring just weeks before his true freshman campaign was set to begin. The son of former NBA veteran Trevor Ariza and the No. 39 player in the 2026 class, combined with his elite athleticism and raw talent, programs around the country would happily scoop up Ariza as a late addition to their roster
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F Tyrone Riley IV
March 8, 2026; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco Dons guard Tyrone Riley IV (5) dribbles the basketball against Oregon State Beavers center Noah Amenhauser (40) during the first half at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
A transfer from San Francisco, Tyrone Riley IV came on with the Dons late last season, ultimately averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Though he's slated to be a starter with the Ducks based on what he showed last season, it's not completely uncommon for a player to attempt a return to his former program if instability envelopes his new program.
C Malique Ewin
Mar 21, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Malique Ewin (12) reacts after a play in the second half against the High Point Panthers during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
Already uncertain if he'll be eligible to play during the 2026-27 season, as it will come down to a pending court ruling, Malique Ewin could elect to join a program elsewhere as a late addition instead of entering more uncertainty in Eugene with an interim head coach. Having spent time at three colleges in the past three seasons, Ewin has shown to be a portal veteran — he now has another chance to add another program to his resume.
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F Dwayne Aristode
Feb 7, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Dwayne Aristode (2) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Dwayne Aristode rode the bench at Arizona during his true freshman season last year, though he has the profile and talent to be a coveted transfer across the country as a former five-star and the No. 24 player in the 2025 class. With elite size (6-foot-8, 215 pounds), athleticism and solid shooting ability, Aristode would be one of the Ducks' biggest losses if he departed.
G Fred Payne
Feb 17, 2026; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Boston College Eagles guard Fred Payne (5) reacts to a foul call during the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Spending the first three seasons of his career at Boston College, Fred Payne burst onto the scene in 2025-26, averaging 15.8 points and 2.7 assists per game. A stranger to instability, Payne leaving Boston College was likely a difficult decision for him. Now in an unstable situation, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Payne to bolt elsewhere, or attempt to return to Boston College.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks to keep an eye on as potential transfer portal departures
