Gopher basketball’s Jamal Mashburn Jr enters NCAA transfer portal
Jamal Mashburn Jr.[Gopher Athletics]
Gophers basketball freshman Jamal Mashburn Jr has entered the NCAA transfer portal, the first step in potentially departing the University of Minnesota.
A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Mashburn’s name appears in the transfer database Wednesday afternoon.
This comes two days after Gopher basketball coach Richard Pitino’s departure from the program.
Junior Jarvis Omersa entered the portal earlier this week. He opted out of the remainder of the 2020-21 season in December, citing concerns with Covid-19.
Mashburn’s role with the Gophers steadily increased as his freshman season progressed this winter.
He ended up averaging 8.2 points per game, shooting 35-percent.
Mashburn’s father, Jamal Sr., played 11 season sin the NBA.
The NCAA transfer portal was instituted in 2018, allowing players to openly explore options for transferring. Previously, players were required to seek permission from their coaching staff before exploring transfer options.
Entering the portal does not mean a player will transfer, it simply allows other schools to contact them. However, it does remove any obligation a school has to keep a player on scholarship. Players can withdraw from the portal at any time.