Oakland University gained national attention during the NCAA Tournament weekend, emerging as “America’s team.” Now, reports indicate that one of their standout players, forward Trey Townsend, has entered the transfer portal. Both Michigan and Michigan State have shown interest in recruiting him. Earlier reports suggested Townsend might declare for the NBA Draft, but entering the transfer portal seems to be his current path, as confirmed by recent developments.
Townsend’s breakout came during the Horizon League Tournament final, where he notched 38 points and 11 rebounds, propelling Oakland to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. His stellar performance continued into the tournament, notably in an upset victory against Kentucky, where he tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Oakland’s eventual loss to NC State in the Round of 32, Townsend stood out yet again with a 30-point, 13-rebound effort in overtime. Throughout his tenure at Oakland, he maintained impressive averages of 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, showcasing solid shooting percentages. Despite his height disadvantage at 6-foot-6, Townsend compensates with strong inside play, adeptly using his frame to dominate the paint. His rebounding prowess, along with his ability to finish through contact and contribute defensively, underscores his value on the court.
Is Townsend going to be a star at a power conference program? Probably not, but every top program could use a guy with his motor and finishing ability.
While he wasn’t playing great competition, he dominated his conference this past season, winning Horizon League Player of the Year and being named First-team All-Horizon League. Teams won’t soon forget Townsend’s tournament performances, and while sharpshooter Jack Gohlke got a lot of the attention, Townsend showing out on that bright stage will likely land him a roster spot in a power conference next season.
The news of Townsend entering the portal is relatively fresh, so we haven’t seen any reports of Michigan head coach Dusty May getting in contact or a potential visit being set up. But that news could be coming any day now, giving the fluidity of the transfer portal.
