HANOVER — Dartmouth men’s basketball forward Aaryn Rai has entered the NCAA transfer portal but has no intentions of leaving the Big Green.
The senior started in every contest last season, averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game.
The decision to enter the transfer portal is meant to keep his options open, Rai said. While the NCAA has announced that college basketball will start Nov. 25, the Ivy League hasn’t made a decision on whether to go forward with a season. The Ancient Eight is expected to release its determination in mid-October but, as a senior, Rai’s supposed to graduate in the winter term from Dartmouth.
“Unprecedented times, so unprecedented stuff happens,” Rai said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Obviously, I would love to play this year with Dartmouth, but that stuff’s out of our control. I’m just waiting on the Ivy League decision. If we do play this season, I’m obviously going to take my name out of the portal.”
If the Ivy League doesn’t play, Rai would be forced to petition the conference for a fifth season of eligibility and also petition to move his graduation date back, all to play in 2021-22 for Dartmouth.
The chances of having both his eligibility and graduation date petitions granted aren’t high.
That’s why Rai has taken the initiative to start exploring his options, if necessary. If he leaves the program, he would be the fourth player to transfer under coach Dave McLaughlin.
Senior Chris Knight, a two-time all-Ivy League selection, is also in the transfer portal because of a ruptured left Achilles tendon he suffered this summer. He won’t make a decision on his future until the start of Dartmouth’s spring term.
Both Rai and Knight, however, can follow the example of Brendan Barry, who sat out last season as he rehabilitated from hip surgery and entered the portal. He made the decision to return to Dartmouth.
“He’s (Barry) been talking me through it,” said Rai, who is currently living with Barry in New Jersey.
If the Big Green plays this season, a lot of its success will be predicated on Barry and Rai. Dartmouth was 12-17 last season and 5-9 in the Ivies.
McLaughlin knows Rai’s decision has nothing to do with Dartmouth but is just part of the havoc COVID-19 has caused.
“Everyone has to be really flexible because it’s such a fluid time,” McLaughlin said in a Wednesday morning interview.
“And Aaryn has no intentions of leaving. The portal is different than it used to be; now it is just an opportunity in case things don’t work. That’s not in terms of his playing career here but the Ivy League and waivers.”
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.