UCF’s basketball season ended two months ago and five members departed for the NCAA transfer portal.
All five — forward Lahat Thioune, swingman Brandon Suggs and guards Jayhlon Young, Tyem Freeman and PJ Edwards — have committed to new schools.
Coach Johnny Dawkins will have to recruit new players to the Orlando team, it may be easier as UCF is entering the big 12 and leads the country in percentage of member’s who reached the NCAA tournament last season (7 out of 10). Looking good on paper has not translated to practical success for UCF yet, this time last year, UCF had announced 4 incoming transfers and currently have only landed one incoming transfer.
The five former Knights who have transferred are now settling into their new schools.
Jayhlon Young is settling in with the Memphis Tigers, likely keeping his role as a backup point guard which he kept at UCF playing in 33 of 34 games averaging 4.5 points and two assists.
Brandon Suggs had 8 starts and played 32 total games as a Knight where he averaged 6.6 points and 41% beyond the arc as a point guard. Suggs transfers to New Mexico State with one year of eligibility.
Tyler Freeman will be at Kent state after averaging 3.4 points coming off of the bench and a significant 22 points made in his sole game as a starter.
PJ Edwards played 19 games as a reserve and is going to Bowling Green with three seasons of eligibility left.
Lahat Thioune averaged 47% from the floor, playing in every game with the Knights and starting in 10 games although he had low numbers offensively and defensively, only averaging 2.6 points. Thioune will be joining South Dakota for his final season.
This story was first reported on by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel
