“Problems Travel With Them”: Coach Prime Is Against Bronny James and Collegiates Entering NCAA Transfer Portal

Bronny James has left multiple doors open to secure his basketball future. While entering his name in the 2024 NBA draft, the USC star also signed up for the NCAA transfer portal, expecting a potential change if the going pro plan does not work out this year. Now, changing colleges might help Bronny get past his forgetful freshman season at USC and start fresh in a new environment. But the availability of the option to jump schools rubs NFL legend Deion Sanders the wrong way.
During his latest appearance on All The Smoke Podcast, Coach Prime revealed his thoughts about college athletes entering the NCAA transfer portal rather than going through the grind. And he was as double minded as many others. Because from a coach’s perspective, the transfer portal seems like a blessing. On the other hand, as a former NFL player, Sanders does not like that players get to leave their baggage when things get hard or coaches put pressure on them. Then, citing an example of an MMA player tapping out, Sanders said, “As a former NFL player, I don’t like it… They forget that their problems travel with them.”
USA Today via Reuters Mar 14, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Kijani Wright (left), guard Boogie Ellis (center) and guard Bronny James (6) react against the Arizona Wildcats in the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Be it spending the entire season on the bench, or getting cursed out by your coach after making a bad play, Sanders believes a young athlete needs to endure all that to rise to the next level. And that is what helped Coach Prime become who he is today. However, running from their problems like Bronny is possibly trying to, does not help an athlete in the long run. Because the shortcomings will continue to follow the player wherever they choose to go until they do something about it.
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Deion Sanders’ coach’s perspective about NCAA transfer portal
On one hand, Sanders made it clear that college athletes entering NCAA transfer portal bothers him as a former NFL player. But on the other hand, he could not help but see the benefits of the option as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. And Sanders claimed, “As a coach, I love it.” By comparing the transfer portal to a room service for collegiate coaches, Sanders added, “I could order what I want.”
While the transfer portal gives students freedom to choose their future, it also gives the coaches a chance to pick an athlete that fits their program best. Now, that might be frowned upon in the early days, but if that is a legitimate option today, coaches have no problem pouncing on the opportunity. And it could be just like NBA teams scouting athletes before acquiring them. In the same way, college coaches can find everything about an athlete in the transfer portal and pursue them to make their roster a title contending team.
And that pleases the Colorado Buffaloes head coach, as he is also looking for more success in his Hall of Fame career. Just like everything else, the transfer portal has two sides to it, and it depends on an individual what side they want to look at.