Akron basketball NCAA transfer portal news | Arkansas State transfer Cody Head joins Zips

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Akron basketball NCAA transfer portal news | Arkansas State transfer Cody Head joins Zips

Michael Beaven and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Mon, Mar 24, 2025 ·

12 min read

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Three trips to the NCAA Tournament in the past four years makes this the Akron Zips men's basketball team's most successful stretch of the program's Division I era.

Akron's roster , which initially looked to be in good shape heading into next season to keep things rolling, has begun to change as the portal nears its closing on April 22. Akron , which began competing in Division I in the 1980-81 season, looked like it would return three starters and seven of the nine players from its regular rotation.

Those numbers could be down to one starter back by the time the transfer portal , closes.

We'll track any portal news involving the Zips here during the next month.

Akron Zips add guard Cody Head, a transfer from Arkansas State

Arkansas State transfer Cody Head will join the Akron Zips , UA announced April 28.

A junior guard, Head started one of the 19 games in which he played for Arkansas State last season. He averaged 2.5 points and 6.2 minutes.

As a freshman, Head played 31 games and averaged 8.3 points at Lipscomb. He was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference's All-Freshman team.

A Cleveland native, Head played at Lutheran High School East.

Akron Zips add forward Chabi Barre, a transfer from Duquesne

Forward Chabi Barre will join the Zips, Akron basketball announced on April 25.

Barre transferred from Duquesne, where he played the past three seasons. As a junior in 2024-25, Barre started 11 of the 18 games in which he appeared and averaged 4.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots in 11.5 minutes.

Listed as 6 feet, 9 inches and 225 pounds, Barre is expected to give the Zips a new contributor in their frontcourt after starting forward James Okonkwo transferred to Utah.

"We are excited to add Chabi to our program," Zips coach John Groce said in a news release. "With his size and athleticism, Chabi will impact both ends of the floor for us next season."

Tavari Johnson reportedly returning to Akron Zips men's basketball after one day in transfer portal

Akron Zips star Tavari Johnson is reportedly returning after one day in the transfer portal , according to writer Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68.

Goodman reported Johnson entered the transfer portal on Monday, April 21, and then decided to return to Akron on Tuesday, April 22.

Akron Zips basketball star Tavari Johnson reportedly enters transfer portal

Akron Zips star Tavari Johnson is reportedly entering the transfer portal , according to multiple writers Monday, April 21, on Twitter, including Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 and Sam Kayser of 247HSHoops.

Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining after helping lead Akron to Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships and to the NCAA Tournament in 2025. He was a All-MAC first-team selection and a All-MAC Tournament team selection.

Johnson, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, averaged 13.0 points, 3.8 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes last season. He shot 45.9% from the field, including 39.0% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 91.2% from the free-throw line.

A 2022 Lyons High School graduate in La Grange Park, Illinois , Johnson also contributed as a reserve to Akron's 2024 and team that won a MAC Tournament title and played in the NCAA Tournament.

In three seasons with the Zips, Johnson has played in 94 games (50 starts) with 706 points (7.5 average), 221 assists (2.4), 151 rebounds (1.6) and 61 steals

Former Akron Zips star Nate Johnson announces commitment to Kansas State basketball

Former Akron Zips star guard Nate Johnson announced Sunday, April 20, on social media he is leaving UA and transferring to Kansas State.

Akron Zips news: Former UA basketball star Nate Johnson announces transfer to Kansas State

Akron Zips basketball star Nate Johnson reportedly enters transfer portal

Akron Zips star Nate Johnson is reportedly entering the transfer portal , according to multiple college basketball writers on Twitter, including Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 and John Fanta of Fox and NBC Sports.

Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining after leading Akron to Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships, and to the NCAA Tournament in 2025. He was named MAC Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a All-MAC first-team selection.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, averaged 14.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30.1 minutes last season. He shot 43.9% from the field, including 30.1% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

A 2021 Lakota East High School graduate, Johnson was a redshirt who did not play during Akron's run to a MAC Tournament title and an NCAA appearance in 2022. Johnson was a starter on Akron's 2024 and 2025 teams that also won MAC Tournament titles and played in the NCAA Tournament.

In three seasons with the Zips, Johnson has played in 92 games (60 starts) with 812 points (8.8 average), 345 rebounds (3.8), 187 assists (2.0) and 123 steals.

James Okonkwo changes mind, enters transfer portal and announces commitment to Utah after one season with Akron Zips basketball

Former Zips forward James Okonkwo announced Sunday on Instagram he has committed to play next season for the University of Utah.

Okonkwo reversed course and announced Friday night he would enter the transfer portal after previously stating he would return to Akron. Okonkwo spent one season at UA and served as the Zips' starting big man.

"After further consideration I have decided to enter the transfer portal with one remaining year of eligibility," Okonkwo's Instagram announcement read on Friday.

Okonkwo averaged 6.9 points on 59.3% shooting from the field, 7.2 rebounds and 1 blocked shot in 18.1 minutes last season with Akron. He previously played for North Carolina and West Virginia .

Okonkwo departing would give Amani Lyles, a junior last season, an opportunity to become Akron's starting big man. It would also give the Zips a vacant roster spot.

Akron Zips star Nate Johnson announces he will declare for the 2025 NBA Draft

Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson announced Friday night he will declare for the NBA Draft.

Given Johnson's accomplishments, this is not an unusual approach. Last season with Akron, he was voted Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

However, recent history suggests Zips fans should not panic about potentially losing Johnson this offseason to the NBA. Akron great Enrique Freeman declared for the draft in 2023 before withdrawing and returning to the Zips. It worked out well, too, because Freeman strengthened his stock with a tremendous senior season and eventually became a second-round selection of the Indiana Pacers in 2024.

The Freeman path would be a logical one for Johnson to follow. Johnson was a redshirt junior last season, so he'll have an opportunity to receive feedback from NBA teams this offseason and return to the Zips.

"I have decided to ... declare for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility to return to Akron," Johnson's statement on Instagram read.

Johnson averaged 14 points on 43.9% shooting from the field, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.1 minutes last season.

Ohio State 's Evan Mahaffey announces transfer to Akron for senior year

Evan Mahaffey, who spent the past two seasons at Ohio State, has confirmed to The Columbus Dispatch on Friday, March 28 that he's transferring to Akron . It's the second straight year the Zips have landed a transfer from Ohio State. Guard Bowen Hardman transferred to Akron after last season following his first two years at Ohio State.

Mahaffey, who is 6-foot-6, averaged 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game this past season as a junior and had been a regular starter as a sophomore. He began his career at Penn State before transferring to Ohio State when Nittany Lions coach Micah Shrewsberry left to become Notre Dame's coach.

The Dispatch reported, Mahaffey transferred to Ohio State in part to be closer to home as his father, Jamie, dealt with a serious health condition. His father, who played basketball at Miami (Ohio), had a heart transplant during the 2023-24 season.

In 102 career games at Ohio State and Penn State, he averaged 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

His younger brother, Eric, was on Akron's roster this past season, listed as a 6-foot-4 freshman guard. Eric is returning to the Zips next season. Evan and Eric both played high school basketball at Cincinnati Moeller.

Conner Groce announces he is returning to Akron men's basketball team

Conner Groce announced on Twitter on Thursday, March 27 that he is returning to the Akron men's basketball team . Groce, a 2024 Revere High School graduate, will be a redshirt freshman guard next season after sitting out this past season as a walk-on player.

Conner Groce is the oldest child of Akron coach John Groce and his wife, Allison .

Former Akron Zips basketball player Josiah Harris announces he's entering the transfer portal

Former Akron Zips player Josiah Harris announced Tuesday, March 25, 2025, via Instagram he has decided to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

Former University of Akron basketball player Josiah Harris announced on March 25, 2025, he is entering the transfer portal.

As a junior wing this past season, Harris started all six games in which he appeared with the Zips before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Harris averaged 8.7 points on 27.7% shooting from the field, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 23.5 minutes.

Harris played high school basketball at GlenOak as a freshman and at Richmond Heights as a sophomore, junior and senior before spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career at West Virginia, where he earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.

All-MAC first-team selections Nate Johnson, Tavari Johnson headline list of 11 players who announce they intend to return to the Akron Zips

Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) drives to the basket for a layup against Miami during the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.

After 13th-seeded Akron's season ended Friday, March 21, with a 93-65 loss to No. 4 Arizona in the first round of March Madness in Seattle , several key Zips players told the Beacon Journal they plan to return to UA next season.

Those players are redshirt junior guard Nate Johnson , junior guard Tavari Johnson , senior guard Shammah Scott , senior forward James Okonkwo ( see update above on Okonkwo) and junior forward Amani Lyles .

Zips news: 'It speaks volumes about our culture': John Groce on Akron basketball players returning

Then after the Zips held meetings Sunday, March 23, the aforementioned five players and six of their teammates posted "Back To Work" graphics on social media to indicate they'll return to Akron for the 2025-26 season.

Nate Johnson is the reigning MAC Player of the Year, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. He and Tavari Johnson were All-MAC first-team selections this past season. Scott is the reigning MAC Sixth Man of the Year. The Johnsons, who are not related, and Okonkwo were starters in 2024-25.

Guard Nate Johnson and 10 other Akron Zips players posted graphics on social media Sunday announcing they plan to return to the UA men's basketball team next season. Johnson is the reigning MAC Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP.

Here is the complete list of Akron players who announced Sunday, March 23, they expect to return to the Zips:

Redshirt junior guard Nate Johnson
Junior guard Tavari Johnson
Senior forward James Okonkwo (he later reversed course and entered the transfer portal)
Senior guard Shammah Scott
Junior forward Amani Lyles
Junior guard Bowen Hardman
Freshman guard Sharron Young
Sophomore wing Zach Halligan
Redshirt freshman wing Marvin Musiime-Kamali
Freshman forward Rich Brisco
Freshman guard Eric Mahaffey

The only Zips players who have yet to announce they expect to return are junior wing Josiah Harris and freshman guard Conner Groce. Harris started all six games in which he appeared this past season until an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. (See update above for more on Harris and Groce.)A Revere High School graduate, Groce redshirted as a freshman walk-on, and he is the oldest son of longtime Zips coach John Groce.

When does transfer portal open?

The NCAA transfer portal officially opens Monday, March 24. The NCAA has shortened the transfer portal window for the second consecutive year. The new window for the portal is just 30 days (reduced from 45).

When does the transfer portal close?

The portal will close April 22 for college basketball transfers.

Who did Akron add in the transfer portal last year?

The Zips added four players through the portal who helped them quite a bit last season: senior guards Isaiah Gray and Seth Wilson, senior forward James Okonkwo and junior guard Bowen Hardman. Okonkwo and Hardman each have eligibility for next season. Junior wing Josiah Harris also came to Akron through the portal a year ago, missed most of the season and is eligible to return next season.

Gray, Wilson and senior guard Evan Wilson are out of eligibility.

Looking back at Akron basketball's 2024-25 season

The Zips entered the offseason after winning a program-record 28 games this past season. Akron won a second consecutive MAC Tournament title , earning a second trip in as many years to the NCAA Tournament.

Akron's season ended Friday, March 21, with a 93-65 loss to Arizona in a first-round March Madness game in the East Region in Seattle. Arizona has advanced to the Sweet 16.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Arkansas State transfer Cody Head joins Akron Zips men's basketball

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