
Former Alabama basketball starter to reportedly reenter NCAA transfer portal
According to a report Monday afternoon from On3's Joe Tipton, former Alabama Crimson Tide forward Nick Pringle is re-entering the NCAA transfer portal after only one season at South Carolina.
Pringle will also be testing the NBA draft waters according to Tipton, entering his name into the transfer portal at the same time.
Transferring to South Carolina last offseason from Alabama, Pringle is coming off likely his best collegiate season in which he averaged a career-high 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 57.2% shooting from the field. Pringle also shot a combined 65.5% at the free throw line, a career-high.
At Alabama, Pringle appeared in 70 games for the Crimson Tide across two seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24, 16 of which he started. Pringle was also a key player in the Crimson Tide's run to the Final Four a year ago, and averaged a combined 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 69% shooting from the field while in Tuscaloosa.
The South Carolina forward is the second former Alabama transfer to enter the transfer portal so far, joining guard Davin Cosby.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Los Angeles Times
4 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
USC transfer Chad Baker-Mazara leans on his Dominican roots as he pushes to succeed
Don't call him a traveler. Chad Baker-Mazara said that his journey through four universities allowed him to land in the place he had been looking for since the beginning of his college basketball adventure. Baker-Mazara, 25, arrived at USC in May. The veteran is hoping to help lead young players in the locker room and on the court after joining his fifth team since 2020. He began his journey with at Duquesne in 2020-21, then moved on to San Diego State for the 2021-22 season in search of a better fit on the roster. He fell behind academically in San Diego and was dismissed from the team when he couldn't catch up on classwork. Baker-Mazara then traveled to the East Coast to play for Northwest Florida State College during the 2022-23 season while getting back on track academically before landing a spot on the Auburn roster during the 2023-25 seasons. It has been a unique journey, but he is confident that he will write the most important chapter of his basketball career with the Trojans during the upcoming season. Born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, he grew up under the influence of his father, who played basketball for the Dominican national team and in several international leagues. From a young age, Baker-Mazara knew he wanted to play basketball. 'My dad was my first coach, my role model. Watching him play left a lasting impression on me,' Baker-Mazara told L.A. Times en Español. Although he tried other sports, including soccer and baseball, basketball was his favorite. His dream of playing at higher levels began to pick up momentum as a teenager when he moved to New Jersey. He played at Colonia High School and later at SPIRE Academy, where he began to gain national recognition. His college career has been anything but linear. He started at Duquesne, where as a freshman he averaged 9.5 points per game and had some outstanding performances. Then came his stint at San Diego State, where he was Sixth Man of the Year in the Mountain West Conference. He then dropped down to the junior college level with Northwest Florida State College and was instrumental in the team winning the NJCAA national championship. There, he exploded offensively, averaging over 15 points per game and shooting 46.9% from the three-point line. His performance opened the door to Auburn. In two seasons with the Tigers, he established himself as a starter and key player. He contributed defense, maturity and efficiency from the perimeter. In his second year, he averaged 12.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, helping Auburn reach the Final Four. During the semifinals against Michigan State, a hand injury temporarily halted hims plans to jump to the professional level. 'I was going to declare for the draft this year, but with the injury, I wouldn't be able to show my best,' he said. Baker-Mazara, a versatile 6-foot-7 athlete who can play guard and forward, decided to recover completely and give college basketball one last shot. After Auburn reportedly offered Baker-Mazara's teammate nearly twice as much as his name, image and likeness deal, he entered the transfer portal. USC coach Eric Musselman landed a player widely regarded as the biggest loss from an SEC roster during the offseason. 'He's a proven winner and will be a player that we can play all over the floor,' Musselman said shortly after Baker-Mazara signed with USC. '... Chad plays with incredible passion and emotion that can lift a home crowd.' Baker-Mazara considers his arrival at USC the symbolic end of a cycle. 'When I was younger, I came to visit the university with my aunt, who graduated from here,' he said. 'I saw Nikola Vucevic walking around campus and said to myself, 'I want to play here someday.'' Now that dream is a reality. He is being mentored by Musselman, who previously was an NBA head coach. Baker-Mazara is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with minors in sports coaching, Spanish and sociology. 'He pushes us to be united on and off the court,' Baker-Mazara said of Musselman. 'He wants there to be a real connection between us as a group. And you can tell that the guys want to compete and win together.' Baker-Mazara is working to thrive in the spotlight, not only for himself and his family but for others who might be inspired by his journey. He is proud to be a high-profile Dominican player at an American college, a space with limited Latino representation. 'Every year there are more Latinos knocking on doors,' he said. 'The important thing is that when you get there, you're not just representing your country, but the entire Latino community. I want people to understand that I'm not the same on and off the court. Out there, on the court, we are rivals. My dream is at stake, and I'm going all out. ... Many may not like my mentality because I believe that if you and I are fighting for that plate of food, I will do everything possible to prevent you from taking that plate. On the court, we are enemies.' With the unrest created by immigration raids in Southern California, Baker-Mazara wants to serve as an example of an immigrant who makes positive contributions. 'When I got here, they made it very difficult for me,' he said of his arrival in the U.S. 'They didn't want to let me play or anything like that. And I, naturally, lowered my head, focused and set my sights on myself, and look where I am now, thank God. So I tell everyone, even if it's more difficult, even if it seems impossible, try. Impossible is just a word, that's if you put it there yourself.' One of the role models Baker-Mazara admires is Hansel Emmanuel, the young Dominican who lost his left arm in an accident at the age of 6 when a wall of concrete blocks collapsed on him. Today, he competes at the highest level of college basketball. 'It was a shock to the whole country when that happened, because Hansel was always a talented kid. That accident caused a lot of noise there. From a young age, you could tell he was different,' said Baker-Mazara, who has known Emmanuel since childhood because their parents were friends. Emmanuel was not selected in the NBA draft, but he signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. 'What I admire most about him is his mindset,' Baker-Mazara said of Emmanuel. 'He never let what might seem like a disadvantage get him down. He pushed forward and kept working. Today he is where he is because he never took no for an answer. And even though I'm older than him, I often look up to him as an example, as someone whose footsteps I want to follow.' Their relationship remains strong even though they don't talk every day. 'He's like a little brother to me,' said Baker-Mazara. 'We live 15 minutes away from each other when we're at home. He knows that with one phone call, he can count on me.' Baker-Mazara also counts Kobe Bryant as a major source of inspiration. 'Kobe died the day before my birthday,' Baker-Mazara said. 'Since that year, I haven't even celebrated that day. It was like losing a family member.' Bryant's No. 24 jersey had a profound impact on Baker-Mazara's life. 'Apart from my dad, Kobe was one of the reasons I took up basketball,' Baker-Mazara said. 'It was one of my dreams for him to come and see me play. It didn't happen, but I feel like he's here in spirit. This is his city. This is Kobe Bryant.' Baker-Mazara tries to emulate the Mamba Mentality in his daily routine, in the way he competes and faces challenges. If he doesn't make it to the NBA, Baker-Mazara plans to seek professional playing opportunities internationally. 'I come from Santo Domingo. I'm not afraid to play in any country,' he said. 'As long as I can feed my family and set an example for my little sister, I'll keep going.' This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

NBC Sports
5 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
A resilient Skye Blakely returns at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships
There was a time last summer when Skye Blakely, toting crutches after surgery, reflected with her parents about how well she competed at the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships a month or two earlier. Blakely finished runner-up to Simone Biles at those nationals, confirming she was a bona fide contender for the five-woman Paris Olympic team. Three weeks later, Blakely ruptured her right Achilles' tendon while training on floor exercise, two days before the Olympic Trials. She underwent season-ending surgery. 'Just talking about the feeling of how I competed at (2024 U.S.) Championships — I was very free, I was very relaxed, and I was having fun,' Blakely recalled. 'That was a newer kind of feeling for me. I don't always compete like that. 'They (mom Stephanie and dad Steven) were just like, 'You see how well you did, and you're still talking about how (much) more you have to give. Allow that to drive you for this next Olympics.'' Blakely returns to elite gymnastics competition for the first time in 14 months at this week's Xfinity U.S. Championships. Nick Zaccardi, She plans to do strictly balance beam and uneven bars, eschewing vault and floor for now. She is working toward returning to all-around competition in 2026. Even without doing all four events, she can still be chosen for this October's World Championships, which include individual events only. The four women for worlds will be decided at a selection competition in early autumn, though results at nationals will also play a role in committee picks. Blakely's young senior career — she is 20 years old, coming off her freshman year at Florida — has already been defined by perseverance. At the Tokyo Olympic Trials, she tore an elbow ligament warming up for vault, her first event. Blakely underwent Tommy John surgery, then came back to earn places on world championship-winning U.S. teams in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Blakely could have been the first-timer on an Olympic team otherwise full of veterans (Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles). Instead, she could be the experienced rookie in 2028. A day after the Achilles tear, she posted, 'I'm devastated and heartbroken but I believe everything happens for a reason. I was so close to reaching my dream but this injury was unavoidable. I had an amazing season that I am extremely grateful for. the plans we have for ourselves aren't always the plans God has for us. I'm going to keep my chin high and be proud of the statement I have made for myself these past couple years. I'll be back.' Blakely, a Texan who started gymnastics at age 3, matriculated at Florida later last summer. She told coaches with determination that she planned to make it through physical rehab and be available for the first meet of the NCAA season in January 2025. 'There were some people who were like, 'I don't think you will compete. We're not sure if you will or be ready,'' she said. 'I was like, 'I'm going to be ready.'' On Jan. 10, Blakely mounted the bars minutes after older sister Sloane did in front of about 6,000 people at the O'Connell Center. She scored 9.725 in Florida's season-opening meet. #Gators freshman Skye Blakely's first collegiate routine … Not bad for where she was less than 200 days ago … Blakely's original plan was to make the 2024 Olympics and move on from elite gymnastics. But as she saw others go to college and then return to elite successfully — like Lee, Carey and Chiles — Blakely revised her thinking. 'Right after I got hurt, I was like, I'm going for 2028,' she said. Blakely began to feel like her old self in June. Through physical therapy, she had overcome weakness in her calf and discomfort in her heel after the NCAA season, which her surgeon had told her to expect. The next three years will be about progression, from getting her skills back to developing into a seasoned NCAA competitor. Come 2028, she can become the first U.S. female gymnast to make her first Olympic team off qualifying for her third Olympic Trials since Kelly Garrison in 1988. 'That kept me motivated, knowing how close I was to making the team, knowing how ready I was,' she said. 'The injury keeping me back from making that team just motivates me more.'
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rangers prospect EJ Emery impresses with slick assist at World Junior Summer Showcase
It's not often that EJ Emery makes the highlights for a pretty offensive play. But that's exactly what happened Friday for the New York Rangers' 2024 first-round pick. Playing for the United States at the 2025 World Junior Showcase in Minneapolis, Emery made a slick pass that sprung teammate Will Moore through the neutral zone and his way to a pretty breakaway goal. Emery, a standout stay-at-home defenseman set to enter his sophomore season at the University of North Dakota, doesn't find his way on to the score sheet that often. He had an assist in his NCAA debut last year with North Dakota, and it ended up to be his only point in 31 games. He's the first NHL Draft pick in NCAA history to record just a single point in a season. And Emery hasn't scored a goal in college, USHL or international play since the 2022-23 season. But he stood out at both ends of the rink in Team USA's 6-3 loss to Finland on Friday. 'Emery is one of the best shutdown defenders in this tournament, but it was nice to see him make a great long-range pass on USA's first goal,' Steven Ellis wrote in Daily Faceoff. 'He doesn't get a ton of points during a season, but he knows how to get the puck where it needs to be.' Related: Rangers prospect EJ Emery stands out on both sides of the puck at WJSS The Rangers want to see more production offensively from Emery as he gets older and his all-around game develops. But they're unconcerned about his point total last season, instead focusing on how well he played a shutdown role as an 18-year-old in his first year of NCAA play. Emery shrugged off a question about his lack of production at Rangers prospect development camp in July. 'It just shows that I've got something to work on,' Emery said 'You always want something to work on, to get better.' Emery and the Rangers are hoping that a strong summer showcase and start to the NCAA season this fall will help him land a spot on Team USA's roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship. He was among the final cuts last year, when the United States won a second consecutive gold medal at the WJC. Malcom Spence, New York's top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, picked up an assist for Canada in their 8-4 loss to Sweden on Friday. The 18-year-old forward, selected in the second round (No. 43 overall) this past June, has one assist and two penalty minutes in two games this week. Spence also was a standout in Canada's intrasquad scrimmage to begin the showcase. Related Headlines Former Rangers forward lands 2-year contract in Switzerland Igor Shesterkin enters 2025-26 season with $92 million worth of expectations from Rangers Why Dave Maloney believes this X factor with new Rangers coaching staff is 'beneficial' Matt Rempe 'still learning' as he prepares for training camp, Rangers reporter says