Jeremy Roach made a significant impact on the transfer portal scene when he announced his departure from the Duke basketball program on Tuesday. Almost immediately, several teams expressed interest in acquiring him.
Initially, St. John’s, Kentucky, and Arkansas were considered the top contenders to land Roach, who had served as captain for Duke twice. However, this changed suddenly on Thursday, with reports indicating that Baylor had emerged as the frontrunner.
Subsequently, it was alleged by Trilly Donovan, a social media insider in college basketball, that Baylor had offered Roach a substantial $1.5 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. This figure would have been among the highest sums paid to a basketball player in the current NIL era.
Roach took to social media to dispute these claims.
Man I wish smh… 😭🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/l584jjfEQh
— iam_jr20 (@Jeremyroach10) April 19, 2024
The recent reports of increased financial resources surrounding the Baylor basketball program follow Scott Drew’s decision to decline the head coaching position at Kentucky. Instead, Drew opted to remain in Waco, enticed by promises of a higher salary and enhanced Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities aimed at attracting top-tier talent.
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It seems Drew’s strategy may have paid off, as Baylor appears to be on the brink of securing Jeremy Roach, who notably put up 18 points against Baylor earlier in the season when Duke triumphed over the Bears at Madison Square Garden. Roach boasted impressive stats this season, averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc. Despite declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft, Roach is not expected to stay in the draft pool, mirroring his decision to return to Duke after his junior year.
The departures of Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster likely played a significant role in Roach’s decision to leave the Blue Devils.
In addition to Roach, Baylor is anticipated to add Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo to its roster, positioning the team as a likely contender for a Top-10 ranking in the preseason.
Conversely, Duke has experienced a notable exodus, with six players, including Roach, entering the transfer portal. Mark Mitchell, Christian Reeves, TJ Power, Jaylen Blakes, and Jaden Schutt are among those who have decided to leave the program.
