Lost That Winning Feeling: 3 UConn Transfers Denied 2 Championship Rings

April 9th, 2024 - 8:36

Whether voluntary or encouraged to leave, three quality Connecticut players transferred the last couple of campaigns, costing them a chance to earn multiple championship bling. The dearly departed included Akok Akok (Georgetown and West Virginia), Rahsool Diggins (Massachusetts) and Jalen Gaffney (Florida Atlantic). Gaffney was a tick of the clock away from opposing the Huskies in the 2023 NCAA championship game.

Numerous other players have also been denied because they transferred before NCAA playoff title run. Additional player transfers forsaking a couple of rings were Ryan Appleby (Florida), Deward Compton (Kentucky) and Sandy Pomerantz (Cincinnati). A striking number of original recruits for Duke, Indiana and Kentucky are on the following alphabetical list of transfers denied receiving an NCAA championship ring because the players left a school subsequently capturing a national crown:

Transfer Player Alma Mater Original College (Title Year Missed)
Mohamed Abukar San Diego State '07 Florida (2006)
Brendan Adams George Washington '23 Connecticut (2023)
Akok Akok Georgetown '23/West Virginia '24 Connecticut (2023 and 2024)
Bob Albertson Ball State '82 Louisville (1980)
Ryan Appleby Washington '08 Florida (2006 and 2007)
Tommy Baker Eastern Kentucky '81 Indiana (1981)
Craig Bardo The Citadel '87 Indiana (1987)
Larry Bird Indiana State '79 Indiana (1976)
Mario Boggan Oklahoma State '07 Florida (2006)
Adam Boone Minnesota '06 North Carolina (2005)
Bob Brannum Michigan State '48 Kentucky (1948)
Delray Brooks Providence '88 Indiana (1987)
Javonte Brown Texas A&M '23 Connecticut (2023)
Mislav Brzoja Evansville '16 Villanova (2016)
Rakeem Buckles Florida International '14 Louisville (2013)
Chris Burgess Utah '02 Duke (2001)
Marquis Burns New Mexico State '96 UCLA (1995)
*Billy Butts Ball State '90 Michigan (1989)
Altonio Campbell Idaho '89 Kansas (1988)
Deward Compton Louisville '48 Kentucky (1947 and 1948)
Olek Czyz Nevada '12 Duke (2010)
Doug Davis Miami (Ohio) '02 Michigan State (2000)
Silvio De Sousa Chattanooga '22 Kansas (2022)
Rahsool Diggins Massachusetts '24 Connecticut (2023 and 2024)
Darnell Dodson Southern Mississippi '13 Kentucky (2012)
Micah Downs Gonzaga '09 Kansas (2008)
David Dunn Georgia '87 Georgetown (1984)
Dylan Ennis Oregon '17 Villanova (2016)
Tristan Enaruna Iowa State '23 Kansas (2022)
Tracy Foster UAB '87 Indiana (1987)
Bob Fowler Iowa State '80 Kentucky (1978)
Sam Funches North Texas '00 Connecticut (1999)
Jalen Gaffney Florida Atlantic '24 Connecticut (2023 and 2024)
Alex Galindo Florida International '09 Kansas (2008)
Michael Gbinije Syracuse '16 Duke (2015)
C.J. Giles Oregon State '08 Kansas (2008)
Mike Giomi North Carolina State '87 Indiana (1987)
Tyon Grant-Foster DePaul '23 Kansas (2022)
Danny Hall Marshall '78 Kentucky (1978)
Andre Harris Austin Peay State '88 Indiana (1987)
Kenny Harris Virginia Commonwealth '94 North Carolina (1993)
Yarin Hasson Southern Indiana '24 Connecticut (2024)
Mark Haymore Massachusetts '79 Indiana (1976)
Scott Hazelton Rhode Island '05 Connecticut (2004)
Derek Holcomb Illinois '81 Indiana (1981)
David Huertas Mississippi '10 Florida (2007)
Rodney Hull Chicago State '89 Kansas (1988)
*Karl James South Alabama '91 UNLV (1990)
Anthony Jones UNLV '86 Georgetown (1984)
Latrell Jossell Stephen F. Austin '24 Kansas (2022)
Arlan "Bud" King Hanover (Ind.) '53 Kentucky (1951)
Taylor King Villanova '12 Duke (2010)
Ray Knight Providence '85 Georgetown (1984)
Jack Kramer UAB '91 Michigan (1989)
Michael Leblanc Vanderbilt '99 Connecticut (1999)
Darrell Lorrance Missouri '47 Kentucky (1947)
Monte Mathis Toledo '89 Kansas (1988)
Billy McCaffrey Vanderbilt '94 Duke (1992)
Malcolm McMullen Xavier '49 Kentucky (1948)
Mike Miday Bowling Green State '81 Indiana (1981)
Danny Miller Notre Dame '03 Maryland (2002)
Alex Murphy Florida '16 Duke (2015)
Gethro Muscadin New Mexico '24 Kansas (2022)
Semi Ojeleye Southern Methodist '18 Duke (2015)
Dylan Painter Delaware '22 Villanova (2018)
Crawford Palmer Dartmouth '93 Duke (1992)
Jim Pelton San Diego '88 Kansas (1988)
Sanford "Sandy" Pomerantz Washington MO '63 Cincinnati (1961 and 1962)
Stacey Poole Georgia Tech '14 Kentucky (2012)
Jarred Reuter George Mason '19 Virginia (2019)
Rodrick Rhodes Southern California '97 Kentucky (1996)
Jason Richey San Diego State '98 Arizona (1997)
Clifford Rozier Louisville '95 North Carolina (1993)
Jarvis Kelly Sanni Rice '98 Arizona (1997)
Dean Shaffer Florida State '85 North Carolina (1982)
Marty Simmons Evansville '88 Indiana (1987)
Oliver Simmons Florida State '00 Kentucky (1998)
Will Smethers Bowling Green State '51 Kentucky (1949)
Roscoe Smith UNLV '15 Connecticut (2014)
Richie Springs Quinnipiac '24 Connecticut (2024)
Alex Stephenson Southern California '11 North Carolina (2009)
Rasheed Sulaimon Maryland '16 Duke (2015)
Barry Sumpter Austin Peay State '87 Louisville (1986)
Andre Sweet Seton Hall '05 Duke (2001)
Jared Swopshire Northwestern '13 Louisville (2013)
Bryce Thompson Oklahoma State '24 Kansas (2022)
James Thues Detroit '05 Syracuse (2003)
Jeff Tropf Central Michigan '79 Michigan State (1979)
Jason Webber Central Michigan '00 Michigan State (2000)
Milt Wiley St. Louis '79 Michigan State (1979)
DeShaun Williams Iona '04 Syracuse (2003)
Elliot Williams Memphis '12 Duke (2010)

*Played for a junior college between four-year schools

NOTES: McCaffrey and Palmer played for an NCAA champion with Duke in 1991 and Huertas did with Florida in 2006. . . . King played only one season for Villanova in 2009-10. . . . E. Williams left Memphis after 2009-10 campaign when he declared early for the NBA draft. Likewise for Smith at UNLV following 2013-14 season.