Something overlooked here is that for years, many players excel in HS ball and yet struggle when the competition is as beg/strong/quick or even more so than they are. The way this was often handled was D1 Coaches would develop a list of lower division schools and when a kid wasn't working out, would help them transfer. It was not so public, but it went on.

Now, a kid who struggles may still get some help finding a new home; but, the process is far more public. A strong majority of the kids from the BW likely fit this model.

But, the new portal is not just for kids moving down. We have a limited number of impact players who want to move up (or who are already at a high level and want to just be elsewhere).

Toni Rocak from UCSD averaged 15ppg and was all BW, Ezra Manjon went to Vandy and was probably the best BW player to transfer. Caleb Fuller is a solid starter at this level and will find a home. Fullerton lost a couple good players in Dante and Tray Maddox and McRae was a big loss for UCR. But note that none moved to a P5 conference.

Despite the lost players, the BW regularly picks up gems in the transfer game. Often, talented players go to P5 schools and get lost on the depth chart. Sometimes they decide they would rather be the big fish in the smaller pond. Nick Faust At LB a couple years ago was that kind of player. Anosike was that kind of player this year. Interestingly, Anosike ended up being both. He started at Sacred Heart, did really well, transferred to Tenn, played 8 minutes a game, left, and then ended up at CSUF.