Sports

Michigan Wolverines Lose Justin Pippen To Tranfer Portal Despite Still Playing In NCAA Tournament

#College Basketball
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Michigan Wolverines freshman Justin Pippen, the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday. That alone wouldn’t be big news had it not been for the fact that the Wolverines just advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Pippen, a former four-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles, did not play for Dusty May’s Wolverines in their 91-79 victory over Texas A&M on Sunday. But he has seen plenty of action for Michigan throughout the season. The 6-foot-3 combo guard has appeared in 28 games this season as a true freshman and averages 1.8 point, 0.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

May, in his first season at the helm of the Wolverines, played 10 players in his team’s 91-79 victory over the Aggies and eight in a 68-65 victory over UC-San Diego in the opening round. Though Pippen did not see the court in either game. It’s still quite bizarre to see him leave the team four wins away from a potential national title.

Travis Branham of 247Sports described Pippen as a “a dynamic combo-guard that has bloomed late in his high school career, much like his brother and father,” prior to entering college. “He’s grown nearly two inches in the last eight months while also continuing to improve and expand his skillset as both a scorer and playmaker.”

Justin Pippen Leaving Michigan Mid-NCAA Tournament Raises Questions

Fans and media members alike were surprised to see Pippen enter his name into the transfer portal while his teammates were still playing.

“I don’t blame Justin Pippen for making the decision to enter the portal, although I do not like it. Players on teams still playing, who are looking to transfer, are put in a tough spot with the portal being open so early. Something needs to change,” one fan wrote.

College football coaches raised similar concerns when the transfer portal opened prior to the start of the College Football Playoff. Former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula, who is now at Missouri, entered his name into the portal just days before the Nittany Lions’ playoff opener against SMU.

“We’ve got problems in college football. Beau did not want to leave our program until the end of the season… He felt like he was in a no-win situation, and I agree with him,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of the move.

May will meet with media members ahead of Friday’s Sweet 16 showdown with top-seeded Auburn. While he might not address the move, it’ll be interesting to hear if he has any thoughts on the NCAA calendar.