The college basketball offseason is in full swing, and for the University of Evansville Purple Aces and the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, that means significant roster changes are underway. The transfer portal, which officially opened in early April, has already seen several key players from both programs announce their intentions to explore new opportunities, setting the stage for a transformed landscape in Southern Indiana hoops next season.
For players, the portal represents a critical window to reassess their fit and future, whether that means returning to their current school or seeking a fresh start elsewhere. This annual period of movement is a defining feature of the modern game, reshaping teams and conferences every summer. Here’s a look at the notable names from UE and USI who have entered the portal following the 2025-26 campaign.
Leading the list from the Evansville men’s team is Connor Turnbull, a 6-10 senior forward whose season was cut short by injury. Despite playing only 16 games, he made a massive impact, averaging 11.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025. His departure leaves a significant void in the paint. He’s joined by 6-10 junior forward Joshua Hughes (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and 6-6 redshirt sophomore Marlon Barnes Jr., who saw limited action after transferring from Pittsburgh.
The backcourt will also see changes, with 6-3 junior guard Weston Aigner entering the portal after a season marred by injury and 6-4 sophomore guard Kaia Berridge seeking a new destination after appearing in 28 games.
Across town, the Southern Indiana men’s program is facing the loss of its top scorer. Senior guard Ismail Habib, who transferred in from Portland State for one season, led the Screaming Eagles with 14.7 points per game. Also departing are two other key contributors from their first year with USI: junior forward Tolu Samuels, who led the team in rebounding (8.6 per game), and junior guard Amaree Brown, the squad’s second-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game.
As the offseason progresses, these moves will force both coaching staffs to rebuild their rotations, looking to the portal themselves to fill these newly created gaps. For fans, it’s a time of anticipation, wondering which new faces will soon be wearing the Purple Aces and Screaming Eagles uniforms and how the teams will retool for the challenges ahead.