After playing four years at Dartmouth, guard Ryan Cornish will officially enter the transfer portal. Kevin Sweeney reported that the NCAA approved his eligibility waiver and that he can play one more year at the college level. The Potomac, MD native averaged 17.1 points in 27 games for the Big Green last season, adding 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Ivy League first team.
Five Schools That Could Use Cornish’s Services
Akron
The Zips are coming off a very successful season in 2025, having won the MAC championship and punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. But they lost to the 4-seed Arizona in the first round, and their top scorer, redshirt junior Nate Johnson, transferred to Kansas State in the offseason.
Dartmouth guard Ryan Cornish had his waiver for an additional year of eligibility approved by the NCAA and is available in the transfer portal, per source.
First team all-Ivy selection averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game this season. pic.twitter.com/vObKOd5tWK
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) May 28, 2025
It’s hard to think that an Ivy Leaguer could replace the MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, but it’s possible that Johnson’s replacement is not currently on the roster.
Cornish did outscore Johnson in PPG, and their defensive numbers are similar. Additionally, as a collegiate veteran, Cornish could help the plethora of young guards on Akron’s roster. If head coach John Groce wants to fill that gap with experienced talent and find someone who can mentor his younger guards, he should give Cornish a call.
Mount St. Mary’s (MD)
Another conference winner, MAAC champion Mount St. Mary’s, defeated American University in the First Four before succumbing to Duke in the round of 64. According to 24/7 Sports, the Mountaineers lost two shooting guards to the portal, including sophomore Carmelo Pacheco, who committed to UCF last April. Pacheco started 30 games and averaged 9.5 points while shooting at a 47% clip.
Cornish can slide into Pacheco’s spot in head coach Donny Lind’s lineup. Not only could he improve the Mount’s top-5 offense and defense, but he’d do it in his home state. Emmitsburg is about an hour from Cornish’s hometown of Potomac, and with Lind’s team losing its starting 2-guard, what better way to fill it than with a local kid?
Towson
Sticking in Cornish’s home state of Maryland and going up I-95 to the Baltimore area, Towson has been quiet in the transfer portal this offseason. Its main loss, however, was junior guard/forward Christian May, who left for CAA champions UNC Wilmington. Head coach Pat Skerry will look to replace May’s production, and the Dartmouth transfer could be just the piece.
Cornish surpasses May in points, assists, and rebounds per game, and can help the Tigers break through for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991. Towson only came two wins shy of doing that last season, imagine what they could do with an extra 17 points per game.
Robert Morris
After winning their first-ever Horizon League title and making the Big Dance for the first time in ten seasons, the Colonials of Robert Morris are as good as they’ve ever been. But after they gave Alabama a run for its money in the round of 64, several players hit the portal, leaving head coach Andrew Toole to try to refill his roster.
Experience is the name of the game for Cornish in this scenario. Robert Morris has a bevy of players with little experience at the D1 level, so Cornish would need to lean more into a mentor role. But his scoring prowess would not go unnoticed, as his 17.1 ppg was higher than anyone on the Colonials’ roster last season.
George Washington
Despite several Maryland-based schools appearing on this list, George Washington University is the closest to Cornish’s home city and needs a shooting guard. The Revolutionaries were eliminated in the second round of the A-10 tournament and then lost sophomore Jacoi Hutchinson to Longwood University in the portal.
However, like with Towson and Mt. St. Mary’s, Cornish has Hutchinson’s number in most statistical categories.
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The Revs were already in the top half of offenses in the A-10, but with a little uptick in offensive production, they could easily be top-5 to match their defense. Head Coach Chris Caputo would be wise to look into the former Ivy League first-teamer.
In any event, Cornish must adjust to playing outside the Ivy League. But if these schools, or others, need a reliable shooting guard, Cornish will receive offers in short order.
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