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The Transfer Portal’s Staggering Impact On The Class Of 2020

If it hadn’t already, the High School Class of 2020 certainly cemented itself as one of the best in a long time after the National Championship game matchup between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Unfortunately, injuries have robbed us of a Clark / Bueckers rivalry that could have transcended the sport, but there still could be TWO years left to accomplish that!

The recent news this weekend of Hailey Van Lith leaving Louisville had us looking back at the 2020 player Rankings and realizing that not too many of those players are still at the schools they committed to. Just how many? Well, we thought the numbers were staggering.

To rewind a bit to these rankings, ESPN had Clark ranked #4, behind Paige, Angel, and Cameron Brink. Rounding out the top 5 was Kamilla Cordoso – another player who had a great Final Four game. As you know, two of those players have transferred – Cordoso and Reese.

It gets even more interest from there.  A staggering NINE out of the top 15 ranked players in the 2020 class are no longer attending their original school (or are in the portal now).

It doesn’t stop there… take a look at the top 50, and an even more staggering 30 out of the top 50 players have, or are currently transferring.  Let’s also remember that these players still have 1 more transfer cycle left prior to their careers ending, so who knows where that number will ultimately end up.

The transfer portal sure has changed things, and the 2020 class proves that, with 60% of the players in the top 50 using the portal to find a new home.

Below is the data behind this article:

RankNameOriginal SchoolNew School
1Paige BueckersUConn
2Angel ReeseMarylandLSU
3Cameron BrinkStanford
4Caitlin ClarkIowa
5Kamilla CardosoSyracuseSouth Carolina
6Diamond JohnsonRutgersNC State
7Hailey Van LithLouisvilleTBD
8Sydney ParrishOregonIndiana
9Priscilla WilliamsSyracuseSouth Florida
10Deja KellyNorth Carolina
11Te-Hina PaopaoOregonTBD
12Sarah AndrewsBaylor
13Dalayah DanielsCaliforniaWashington
14Lexi DonarskiIowa StateTBD
15Madison ScottOle Miss
16Hannah GustersBaylorOklahoma State
17Kylee WatsonOregonNotre Dame
18Olivia CochranLouisville
19Maddie ScherrOregonKentucky
20Madeline WestbeldNotre Dame
21Sasha GoforthOregon StateArkansas
22Angela DugalicOregon
23Aaliyah EdwardsUConn
24Kateri PooleOhio StateLSU
25Mir McLeanUConnVirginia
26Lauren WareArizonaTBD
27Allison CampbellNotre DamePenn State
28Madison HayesMississippi StateNC State
29Treasure HuntKentuckyArizona State
30Cameron WilliamsMichigan
31Jordyn MerrittFloridaTBD
32Leilani KapinusPenn State
33Anaya BoydGeorgia Tech
34Natalija MarshallNotre Dame
35Ugonne OnyiahCalifornia
36Ra’Shaya KylePurdueFlorida
37Vanessa DeJesusDuke
38Elauna EatonArkansasOle Miss
39Jana Van GytenbeekStanfordBaylor
40Gabrielle ElliottClemsonMichigan State
41Jordyn JenkinsUSCUTSA
42Harmoni TurnerHarvard
43Eniya RussellSouth CarolinaKentucky
44Alasia HayesNotre DameTBD
45Jerkaila JordanTulaneMississippi State
46Anna MorrisNorthwesternTBD
47Jacorriah BraceyOle Miss
48Kayla GreenTexas A&M
49Anya PooleNorth Carolina
50Darrione RogersDePaulTBD
*Rank per ESPN

What do you think?

Written by Staff Contributor

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