Fresno State’s men’s basketball faces uncertainty with four ‘Dogs in the transfer portal

Marcos Acosta/The Collegian

Jemarl Baker Jr. (left) and Fresno State Head Coach Justin Hutson answer questions during the post game press conference on Feb. 24.

By Alexis Bruno, Reporter
Apr 11, 2023

Everything for the Fresno State men’s basketball team is up in the air. 

Four of the team’s top players have entered the NCAA transfer portal. After seeing one Mountain West team make it to the NCAA championship, the future for Fresno has reached a low, and it’s uncertain where the program will go from here.

This past week, Jemarl Baker Jr. entered the transfer portal, and Anthony Holland finalized his decision to sign with Washington. 

Baker Jr. began his collegiate career at Kentucky for two years, and then Arizona for another two before moving to Fresno State. Baker’s seventh year of eligibility was given after a redshirt year, COVID-19 waiver and a medical redshirt year.

Baker Jr. was a key component to Fresno State’s roster, shooting 39% and averaging 12.5 points per game. He ended the 2022-23 regular season setting a program record in a win over Chicago State.    

Many other Bulldog players could be testing out their options in the transfer portal because the roster is now hollow. Holland made a clear exit no matter the circumstances. He is the second Bulldog in the past two years to go from a Bulldog to a Huskie, following center Braxton Meah who transferred in 2022.

Holland averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this past season,excelling on the defensive end of the court for the ‘Dogs as well. 

Jordan Campbell and Destin Whitaker also entered the transfer portal in March.

Campbell ended this last season averaging 5.7 points per game and 2.3 rebounds, but he entered a waiver to play another year. Whitaker, who didn’t see much playing time, averaged 2.2 points per game and 0.9 rebounds.  

Head coach Justin Hutson has one year left on his contract, and no announcements have been made about his status.  

Hutson came off an 11-20 record this season that came to a close in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament. Despite winning the Basketball Classic Tournament in 2022, in the last four seasons, his team has not finished above .500 in conference play. 

Fresno State now has to fill roster spots of players who have entered the transfer portal or exhausted their eligibility.