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The transfer track

With ongoing shifts in the high school and college sports landscape, athletes at every level feel the impact of new rules and regulations with transferring schools.
The transfer track

Within the past few years, the dynamic of collegiate and high school athletics has changed significantly. The introduction of the transfer portal in the NCAA affects high school athletics as well, with coaches shifting their focus to the portal instead of prep recruits. To get to the next level, high school athletes need to maximize their opportunities at the high school level, which, in some cases, means transferring schools.

KingSton Swayzer ’27 transferred from City High during his freshman year last year. At City, he accomplished the rare feat of playing varsity basketball as a freshman, appearing in 20 games and starting for two. After the season, he transferred to West to follow in his father’s footsteps, who is an assistant coach for West’s basketball team. 

“The main reason for transferring to West High was my father’s influence. I enjoyed having him as a coach my freshman year, and I wanted that to carry out throughout my entire high school basketball career,” Swayzer said, “So when I heard he was no longer the coach at City, I knew it was where I needed to be.”

Some students find themselves with new opportunities at other schools even if they may not have initially planned to transfer. However, choosing to transfer schools can weigh heavily on an athlete’s mind, as leaving a place where countless connections and friendships have been made is a huge decision. 

“I had an establishment at that school, and leaving an atmosphere where everybody knows you [to] go somewhere else — where you’re just unknown — made me think about this big decision,” Swayzer said. 

Yet, Swayzer sees this new beginning as an opportunity to prepare for the future. In terms of collegiate and high school athletics, Swayzer notes the importance of adaptability. 

“Starting over at a different school is preparing you for what’s to come. In the future, you’re going to go to college, and it’s gonna be different than what you’re used to in high school,” Swayzer said. “Already having to switch in high school [is preparing] me for that.” 

The NCAA transfer portal was introduced in 2018 as an online system that allowed college-level student-athletes to leave their current schools and compete for a different school. Consequently, college sports have become a market of sorts. Student-athletes can easily enter the portal and leave the school they initially committed to. This new dynamic, along with the introduction of name, image and likeness laws, has shaken the landscape of collegiate athletics. By allowing transfers with virtually no restrictions, athletes are now able to receive money for things like signed memorabilia, resulting in drastic changes for athletes.

Before the new regulations were added to the transfer portal in January, athletes who transferred had to sit out for one year before being eligible to play for their new schools. However, now athletes are allowed to transfer multiple times within their careers without penalties.

In recent years, there has been an increased influx of athletes transferring to other schools. In 2021, 9,806 Division I student-athletes entered the portal. In 2023, this grew to 13,025 athletes, marking a 33% increase. 

Nick Jackson, a linebacker on the University of Iowa football team, transferred from the University of Virginia before the 2023-24 season as a graduate student. He had a prolific career at Virginia, recording 354 tackles over four years, and has continued to shine at Iowa, boasting 193 tackles in two years. During his senior year at Virginia, the team’s season was canceled after the tragic passing of three teammates on campus. As he graduated, he decided he needed a fresh start and entered his name in the portal.

As Jackson ended his college football career, he reflected on what the portal had provided for him, crediting it for strengthening his love for football. He still appreciates his days at Virginia, and during the transfer portal process, he sought the same kind of culture as he had there. At Iowa, he found his home in the coaching staff.

“I love Coach [Seth] Wallace. He pushes me every single day, but it’s out of love,” Jackson said. “When you have that ultimate respect for someone, he can say whatever he needs to say however he wants to say it, but it’s out of love, out of respect — just having him around has been special.”

While Jackson found success in entering his name in the transfer portal, many athletes haven’t. In 2023, only 57% of Division I athletes who entered the portal were able to find another destination. 35% of entrees weren’t as lucky and either had to find a lower level school or return to their initial schools. 

Jackson acknowledges the complexity of the transfer portal in college sports today, citing various advantages and disadvantages that come with it. 

“There’s a lot to [the transfer portal]. There’s a lot of rules [and] a lot of reasons for people leaving. Who knows the right reason; who knows the wrong reason? For me and my situation, it’s been great,” Jackson said.

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