Notre Dame guard Cole Certa plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Notre Dame is losing one of its most important breakout players. Sophomore guard Cole Certa plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Joe Tipton, marking another significant departure for a Fighting Irish program already navigating heavy roster turnover.

According to Jamie Shaw, Certa will enter with a “Do Not Contact” tag, signaling that his next destination may already be taking shape. The timing aligns with the opening of the NCAA Transfer Portal window, which runs from April 7 through April 21. While players must declare within that 15-day stretch, they are not required to commit to a new program by the deadline.

Still, Certa’s decision carries weight beyond timing. Over the course of his sophomore season, he emerged as one of the ACC’s most improved players and a legitimate offensive weapon. What began as a limited role quickly evolved into a featured presence, as Certa transformed into a dynamic scorer capable of taking over games.

From late January through February, he recorded three 30-point performances and averaged 15.8 points per game in conference play. By season’s end, he was no longer just a shooter, he was a three-level scorer and a centerpiece of Notre Dame’s offense.

He finished the year averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc and an ACC-best 89.2% from the free throw line. His 2.6 made three-pointers per game ranked eighth in the conference, while he closed the season on a nine-game streak of double-digit scoring performances.

That production stood in stark contrast to his freshman year, when he averaged just 2.5 points in limited minutes. Now, that growth will benefit another program.

Moreover, Certa becomes the sixth Notre Dame player to enter the portal this offseason, joining Sir Mohammed , Garrett Sundra , Ryder Frost , Jalen Haralson and Markus Burton . The exodus underscores the ongoing challenges facing head coach Micah Shrewsberry, whose team finished 13-18 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

In three seasons under Shrewsberry, Notre Dame is 41-56 overall, a far cry from the program’s consistency in the early 2000s and mid-2010s. Despite that, there is no indication of an imminent coaching change.

Instead, the reality appears to be a familiar one in modern college basketball, where you develop talent, and risk losing it. Certa acknowledged that journey in a statement announcing his decision: “After a lot of prayer and conversation with my family, I have decided to enter the transfer portal,” he wrote. “It has been an honor to wear the Irish uniform.”

For Notre Dame, it’s another rebuilding challenge. But for Certa, it’s an opportunity to take the next step as one of the ACC’s rising scorers. We’ll see where he ends up next.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire . The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X (formerly Twitter) account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.