The Dayton Flyers are making serious moves in the transfer portal, securing their second major commitment in a single day. The latest addition is Jalen Haynes, a powerful 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward who announced his commitment late Thursday, just two hours after former Ole Miss and Kentucky guard Travis Perry pledged to the program.

Haynes, a Fort Lauderdale native, brings a well-traveled but impressive resume to UD Arena. After a standout season at George Mason in 2024-25 where he averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, earning First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, he spent last season at Cincinnati recovering from knee surgery. His physicality and scoring touch are a welcome boost for Dayton's frontcourt.

His journey is a testament to perseverance in the modern college game. Having attended four schools in five years—with stops at Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State, George Mason, and Cincinnati—Haynes is now immediately eligible under the NCAA's updated transfer rules. He even has experience against the Flyers, scoring 12 points in George Mason's win at UD Arena in January 2025.

Haynes and Perry represent a significant infusion of talent for Coach Anthony Grant. They are the program's first spring transfers and, notably, Haynes is the first former Atlantic 10 player to transfer to Dayton. His high school pedigree is also strong, having led his team to a state final and excelled at the prestigious Montverde Academy.

With these two commitments, the Flyers' 2026-27 roster is taking exciting shape, signaling a team ready to compete at a high level in the Atlantic 10 and beyond. For fans, it's a clear sign that Dayton is aggressively building a roster capable of making a deep run.