Months of turmoil have come to an end.
In a sense.
The college basketball transfer portal opened in March during the NCAA Tournament, leaving coaches to field recruiting calls while preparing for postseason games.
The portal is currently closed and all players wishing to transfer have until the end of May 1 to enter.
However, that doesn't mean the transfer news is over. Players only need to access the portal by that date and do not need to commit/sign to a new program by then. Transfer recruitment is also ongoing across the country.
There will be more additions to the Colorado State men's basketball team, but focus is starting to shift to the 2024-25 roster.
Here's a look at the players who will leave after the 2024 NCAA Tournament and join the CSU men's basketball team this offseason. This will be updated as more players commit to the Rams.
Transfer to Colorado State men's basketball team
ethan morton
position: guard
Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-7 Morton has committed to transfer from Purdue and started 29 games in 2022-23, appearing in 132 career games. He thought his role would be diminished in Purdue's national runner-up campaign in 2023-24. He averaged 2 points and 1.5 assists per game during his career. His highest scoring season as a senior was 3.8 points per game. He is a career 34% 3-point shooter. He shot 44% from deep as a sophomore, but has been below 30% in each of his past two seasons. Morton is expected to bring a strong defense and veteran presence to CSU, and the Rams expect their system to elicit more offensive output. He has one season of eligibility.
Keshawn Williams
position: guard
Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-4 Williams spent one season at Tulsa, the last three seasons at Northern Illinois, and is now committed to CSU. Williams averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2022-23 before suffering his ACL tear. He is now expected to be healthy for the Rams. He played in 64 career games in Division I, starting 39 of them. He averaged 12.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game during his career. CSU scouted Williams out of high school before choosing Tulsa. He has two more seasons of eligibility remaining.
Colorado State Men's Basketball Scholarship Number
Division I men's basketball teams can have up to 13 scholarship players. CSU's current count for 2024-25 is:
Scholarship student players (10 people): Neek Clifford*, Kaiann Evans, Jalen Lake, Rashaan Mbemba, Keshawn Williams, Ethan Morton, Kyle Jorgensen, Jonathan Mekonnen, Darness Slater, Jaden Stepp.
Scholarships available: If Clifford returns, it will be three, and if he turns pro, it will be four.
*Currently counting Clifford as he is on hold until CSU decides whether to remain in the NBA Draft.
Players leaving Colorado State basketball program
Here are players who left the CSU men's basketball program by transferring or graduating.
transfer
Tavi Jackson
- position: guard
- Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-2 Jackson played in 22 of 36 games last season, averaging eight minutes and two points per game. He played in 50 games over two seasons, both of which were missed for periods of time due to illness or injury. Jackson is Signed with Southern Utah State.
jack payne
- position: wing
- Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-6 Payne played in eight games at the end of last season, redshirting the season before. he signed with idaho.
Javontae Johnson
- position: wing
- Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-6 Johnson came to CSU from New Mexico State ahead of the 2023-24 season. He started 65 career games in three seasons at New Mexico State. He averaged 5.1 points and 3 rebounds per game over three seasons as a Lobo. He didn't consistently crack CSU's rotation this season, appearing in 19 games and averaging 6.3 minutes per game, but didn't play in any of the final 10 games of the season. Johnson averaged 1.9 points and shot 38 percent from 3-point range in his appearances at CSU. Johnson has not yet joined his new team.
Kyle Evans
- position: forward
- Noteworthy points: The 6-foot-10 forward played a total of nine games and 52 minutes in the 2023-24 season as a sophomore. He played in 11 years and had grown into his role the previous season as a freshman before fracturing his hand. Evans appeared in 20 games in two seasons at CSU, averaging 2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He is committed to the University of California, Irvine.
Come Lowe
Not eligible: Joel Scott, Josiah Strong, Isaiah Stevens, Patrick Cartier and Joe Palmer all ended their college eligibility after the 2023-24 season.
Will Neek Clifford enter the NBA draft?
The lingering question for CSU is Neek Clifford's status.
The 6-foot-6 wing made his first appearance as a Ram player last season after transferring from rival Colorado. Although he has one year of eligibility left, he played well enough to enter NBA Draft discussions in the 2023-24 season.
Clifford declared for the draft while retaining the option of returning to college (he has not yet entered the transfer portal, so if he does return to college it will be as a Ram).
CSU coach Niko Medved told the Coloradoan that his staff has a scholarship available for Clifford until a decision is made. The last day for him to withdraw from the NBA Draft is June 16th.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.