After his freshman year with the Miami Hurricanes, numerous schools, including Alabama, Kansas, and Florida, reached out to Guard Jalil Bethea.
Jalil Bethea’s Transfer Heats Up as Top Programs Enter the Race
Bethea finished this season averaging 7.1 PTS, 2.1 REB, and 1.2 AST, shooting 36.8% from the field. He had a career-high of 21 PTS in a win over Syracuse on Feb. 11. Although the Hurricanes did not have the season (7-24) they would’ve liked to have, Bethea still showed how much potential he could bring to the table.
The Hurricanes would love to keep Bethea to help develop him more, as they have been one of the teams to reach out to him, but other schools that seem like a more desirable destination for prospects have shown interest. Here are a few teams that have reached out to him.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide are coming off (well, still in the NCAA tournament) a regular season (27-8) where they were the highest-scoring offense in all of Division I basketball, averaging 90.8 PPG. Coached by Nate Oats, Oats led the team to average 90.1 PPG last season. If Alabama lands Bethea, they can tap him into his potential.
Kansas Jayhawks
Bill Self coaches the Jayhawks (21-13), who have made the NCAA tournament in 21 of the past 22 seasons and won the title twice, in 2008 and 2022. Self has the coaching experience Bethea needs, which is what particularly makes Kansas a good landing spot.
Florida Gators
The Gators (32-4) are coming off one of their best seasons in recent years and are looking to build that momentum. Some of their top scorers, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard, are now finishing their senior years. Adding Bethea to the team could help add more depth after some of their core players leave, especially at the 3-point line.
KEEP READING: Illinois Basketball Transfer Portal — Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
As much as the Canes would love to keep Bethea, other locations will look desirable for development in the college hoops world. According to College Basketball Content, other schools have reached out to him, some being Ohio State, NC State, Memphis, Seton Hall, St. Joseph’s, and VCU. Will he end up staying with the Hurricanes or end up moving elsewhere?
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