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Penn State Basketball: Top transfer portal targets

By Joey Lovell

RICHMOND, VA - FEBRUARY 18: Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr. #1 and Mikeal Brown-Jones #2 of the VCU Rams celebrate after defeating the Richmond Spiders during a game at Siegel Center on February 18, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA - FEBRUARY 18: Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr. #1 and Mikeal Brown-Jones #2 of the VCU Rams celebrate after defeating the Richmond Spiders during a game at Siegel Center on February 18, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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ALBANY, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: Jalen DeLoach #4 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams prepares to shoot a foul shot in the second half against the St. Mary’s Gaels during the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
ALBANY, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: Jalen DeLoach #4 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams prepares to shoot a foul shot in the second half against the St. Mary’s Gaels during the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Jalen DeLoach

6’9″ forward Jalen DeLoach is another VCU transfer that has been rumored to possibly be following his former coach to Penn State. Also a former four-star recruit out of Savannah, Georgia, Deloach had a solid, if not spectacular, first year as a starter.

He was VCU’s third-leading scorer this season with 9.7 points per game and 6.9 rebounds. He was very good in December and solid in February. had an abysmal performance in VCU’s first-round NCAA game against Saint Mary’s, in which he scored one point, two rebounds, and two turnovers before fouling out.

Regardless of his last game, DeLoach is in high demand, being pursued by no less than five programs. San Diego State is hoping to parlay their recent national championship appearance in landing his services. Florida State and Miami are hoping the lure of the ACC will prove irresistible to him. Indiana is trying to lure him to the Hoosier state.

Jamir Watkins

Watkins, a 6’7″ forward from Trenton, New Jersey will be entering his third season. A solid contributor for VCU, he started for the first half of the season. Since the new year, however, Watkin’s has started only three games.

Jamir averaged 9.5 points per game, which was fourth on the Rams. He also chipped in with 5.4 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists.

Some of the programs that have reached out to Watkins are Syracuse, West Virginia, Seton Hall, and Pitt.

It will be interesting to see if Watkins follows the coach who chose to bench him halfway through this season. One indication that he may actually take that path is the fact that he didn’t wait at all to see who VCU hired as Rhoades’ replacement before he entered the portal.

These two players will be beneficial to whatever program is lucky enough to get them. Nittany Lion fans have been blessed/spoiled a bit with Penn State having instant, high-impact transfers like Pickett, and Funk.

I think that Deloach will go in and immediately start wherever he goes. I see Watkins as being more of the Camren Wynter mold, providing valuable minutes off the bench, and can start if you need him.

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