The transfer portal has become a game-changer for college athletics, and NSU is experiencing its effects firsthand. The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s one-time transfer exception, introduced in 2021, has led to increased roster turnover and heightened competition for top talent.
“The NCAA has made it easier where if you want to transfer every single year, you can, and that has become a little tricky in Division II,” said John Sung, interim director of athletics.
While NSU provides a high-quality academic and athletic experience, the combination of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal have created a more competitive landscape, making it challenging to remain on top. NSU’s baseball, softball and basketball teams have been actively addressing these challenges and are determined to excel in their upcoming seasons.
Nick Smith, men’s basketball assistant coach, helped guide NSU to the sixth undefeated National Championship season in NCAA Division II history during 2022-2023.
Smith explains how the impact of this previous victory has affected the team.
“With that comes live television on CBS and a chance for different college coaches and people around the world to see how good Division II basketball is, and next thing you know, they’re [players] getting calls from schools that are offering unbelievable amounts of money,” Smith said.
This season, there are two returning athletes to the basketball roster, Dallas Graziani and RJ Sunahara. They both played a major role in leading the Sharks to the national championship title, yet transferred during the 2023-2024 season to Division I universities.
“RJ Sunahara, who was part of our national championship team that year, transferred to Georgia on big NIL money and now he’s coming back as our player development coach, but he came back and said, it’s not about the money,” Smith said. “Dallas Graziani, same thing, he went to Samford and had a great year, but the old saying is the grass isn’t always greener.”
Graziani, returning to NSU after one season at Samford, explained the personal challenges he faced in the transfer portal after his championship season at NSU.
“I entered the portal just to see what was out there,” Graziani said. “I think just the whole process is pretty stressful, so it’s kind of hard to figure out where the right fit is, especially so fast.” During his time at Samford, Graziani started in 33 games, finishing the season shooting 50% from the field, recording 81 assists and 50 steals. Despite an active season, Graziani ultimately found his way back to NSU prior to the start of the 2024-2025 season.
“At Samford we had a good year and everything, but it just wasn’t exactly what I was looking for,” Graziani said. “I have a bigger role at NSU, and I really enjoy being on the court and being able to play and win. That’s what’s most important to me, so having that opportunity at NSU is just a better fit for me.”
Outside of Graziani and Sunahara, NSU’s baseball team has experienced a significant roster turnover, with 22 transfers joining the team.
Head coach Adrian Morales outlines his approach to scouting transfer portal talent.
“It’s about getting the guys who have flaws and then trying to develop them into having no flaws,” Morales said. “That’s how you build, when you have kids who want to work and learn, you have some success.”
Looking back on last season, Morales is optimistic about the potential he sees in his new team.
“Last year, we didn’t know how to win late,” Morales said. “In the sixth or ninth inning, we aren’t good at winning, but this year, we’ll have guys with more experience and we really like this group. This is going to be a special season for us and I’m excited to watch these guys compete.”
As a whole, NSU Athletics aims to distinguish itself in the transfer portal by highlighting its unique culture.
“It’s the culture that we have here, it’s the leadership, we are winners and that’s something people want to be a part of,” Sung said. “Our players here really want to compete to win, they want to compete to be their best, and it takes a special student athlete to be here.”
Smith contends that NSU’s selling points can outweigh the large NIL deals offered in the transfer portal.
“It makes my job easy, being able to sell NSU on how great of an academic school we are, how great of a location it is, and how great coach [Jim] Crutchfield is,” Smith said. “That’s why I think we can still stay competitive in the transfer portal, even if it means we can’t necessarily match these guys when they’re getting big NIL deals.”
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