AKRON, Ohio — *EDITOR'S NOTE: The above video is from a previous story.
Less than a month after a trip to the "Big Dance," Akron's men's basketball program appears poised to lose one of its brightest stars.
Zips wingman Ali Ali announced on Twitter Wednesday he has entered the NCAA's transfer portal. The junior could still technically back out and return to Summit County, but that appears highly unlikely, and as of now he and his family "have decided it's best for me to continue my collegiate career elsewhere."
"Being able to represent the city of Akron was an honor and is something I'll cherish more and more as time passes," Ali wrote. "Leaving is never easy, but I am forever grateful for the opportunity coach [John] Groce and the city of Akron have given me these past three years."
A native of Kendallville, Indiana, the 6-foot-8 Ali averaged 7.7 points per game during his tenure at UA, including a team-high 13.9 this past season. A second-team All-MAC selection, he helped the Zips win the conference tournament title and reach their first NCAA Tournament in nine years, where they lost to 4-seed UCLA 57-53 in the first round.
Under the NCAA's new transfer rules, all student-athletes can change schools one time without have to surrender a year of eligibility or obtain a hardship waiver. Ali actually has two years of eligibility remaining, as the association granted all competitors an extra season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It appears Ali will have plenty of suitors for his services. According to Stock Risers' Jake Weingarten, the collegiate "free agent" has already spoken with representatives from power conference schools like Arkansas, Virginia, and USC.