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Colorado State men's basketball offseason transfer tracker

kevin lytle, fort collins coloradoan
·4 min read

After a disappointing season that saw the Rams miss postseason play, change was bound to come this offseason.

Several Colorado State men's basketball players have already entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The Rams will likely add via the transfer portal as well.

The fifth-year option for players who played in the 2020-21 COVID season continues to add to unique roster juggling, as does the fast-evolving world of the transfer portal and NIL (name, image likeness) income opportunities for players.

Changes to the CSU men's basketball roster will be updated here throughout the offseason. Last updated April 23, 2023.

Transfers in to CSU

Nique Clifford — The 6-foot-6, 190-pound guard announced April 23 that he will transfer to the Rams from rival Colorado. Clifford started 50 games over the last two seasons for the Buffs. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in three seasons at CU. He’ll have two seasons of eligibility remaining due to having the extra COVID season available. Clifford is from Colorado Springs and starred at The Vanguard School.

Javonte Johnson — The 6-foot-6 guard announced April 23 that he will transfer to the Rams from conference rival New Mexico. Johnson started 65 games in three seasons at New Mexico. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Johnson and Clifford committed together and are both from Colorado Springs with Scott from nearby Monument.

Joel Scott — The 6-foot-7 forward announced April 17 he will transfer to CSU from Black Hills State. He was the 2022-23 Division II Player of the Year, shooting 60% from the field, 40% from 3-point land and averaging 23 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

Cameron Lowe — The 6-foot-5 guard joins CSU as a walk-on. He previously attended Lewis-Palmer High School, where he was the 4A Player of the Year on a state championship winner in 2021-22.

Transfers out of CSU

Isaiah Rivera — The 6-foot-5 guard just completed his junior season. The former 3-star recruit played 92 games (32 starts) as a Ram and averaged 5 points and 2.2 rebounds for his CSU career. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds this past season. Rivera has two seasons of eligibility remaining (including the fifth COVID season). He entered the portal on March 28. He has committed to UIC (University of Illinois Chicago).

Baylor Hebb — The 6-foot-2 guard just completed his junior season. Hebb transferred to CSU from Loyola-Chicago before the 2021-22 season. The former 3-star recruit played in 44 games (14 starts) over two seasons as a Ram, averaging 1.8 points per game. He entered the portal on March 28. Hebb committed to UTEP on April 17.

John Tonje — The 6-foot-5 guard played four seasons at CSU, averaging 14.6 points per game (11th in the Mountain West) as a senior in 2022-23. He scored more than 1,000 points at CSU and is eighth in program history for games played. Tonje has one season (the extra COVID year) of eligibility remaining. He entered the portal on March 21 and has committed to Missouri.

Jacob Jennissen — The 7-foot-1 center was a Ram for three seasons, spending most of two of them out while rehabbing two different ACL tears. Jennissen may have been CSU's starting center last season if not for tearing his ACL in the offseason. He appeared in six games and played seven minutes in his three seasons at CSU. Jennissen officially entered the portal on March 23.

James Moors — The 6-foot-10 center just finished his redshirt junior season, but after four years was honored on senior day. He could continue his career professionally, potentially near his home of New Zealand. Moors made 37 starts in 92 career games as a Ram, averaging 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He averaged 6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 2022-23.

The Isaiah Stevens decision

Like David Roddy last year, one of the biggest questions about the roster for next season is if a star goes pro or returns. Isaiah Stevens has entered the NBA draft to receive evaluation, but has left the door open to return to CSU.

His decision will come later in the spring, likely in May.

Incoming freshmen

The Rams have two players signed who will be freshmen in the fall. CSU will add 6-foot-7 big Rashaan Mbemba and 6-foot-2 guard Kyan Evans.

Mbemba is playing in a pro league in his native Austria. Evans recently helped lead his school to a state championship and was named Missouri's Player of the Year.

Both are expected on campus in June for summer workouts.

Scholarship look

Men's college basketball teams are allowed 13 scholarships. Here is a look at CSU's count right now:

  • Isaiah Stevens (pending draft decision)

  • Tavi Jackson

  • Josiah Strong

  • Jack Payne

  • Patrick Cartier

  • Jalen Lake

  • Joe Palmer

  • Kyle Evans

  • Rashaan Mbemba

  • Kyan Evans

  • Joel Scott

  • Nique Clifford

  • Javonte Johnson

Trace Young and Luke Murphy are expected to return as walk-ons.

CSU's recruiting for the 2023-24 roster is done, if Stevens returns rather than going pro.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State basketball transfer tracker