Siena Guard Marcus Jackson Enters Transfer Portal

Amsterdam native leaves Saints program after two seasons

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:19am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy blue, gold, and white, conceptually representing the fragmented and multifaceted nature of a college basketball player's career.A cubist interpretation of a college basketball player's journey, with fragmented shapes and colors representing the ups and downs of his college career.Albany Today

Siena men's basketball senior guard Marcus Jackson, an Amsterdam native and former Albany Academy star, announced he is entering the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Jackson played his first two seasons at the University at Albany before transferring to Siena for the past two years, where he started 15 games as a junior before suffering a season-ending knee injury. This season, Jackson took a one-game leave from the team for personal reasons and never played again despite being in uniform, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Why it matters

Jackson's departure is a significant loss for the Siena program, as he was expected to be a key contributor this season. His decision to enter the transfer portal opens up a scholarship spot for the Saints and raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his limited playing time this year.

The details

As a junior, Jackson started the first 15 games for Siena before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Iona. This season, he took a one-game leave from the team for personal reasons at Holy Cross on Nov. 24, and despite returning to appear in all three games of the Capital Thanksgiving Classic in Washington D.C., he never played again, despite being in uniform and warming up before games.

  • Jackson announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • He took a one-game leave from the team for personal reasons at Holy Cross on Nov. 24, 2025.

The players

Marcus Jackson

A senior guard for the Siena men's basketball team and an Amsterdam native who previously played at the University at Albany.

Gerry McNamara

The former head coach of the Siena men's basketball team, under whom Jackson did not play the final 26 games of the season.

Nevada Smith

The new head coach of the Siena men's basketball team, who held a news conference on Tuesday where Jackson announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.

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What they’re saying

“Grateful is the best way to describe how I feel my college career thus far. I thank God for guiding me through this journey, ups and downs. I'm beyond thankful for my time at UAlbany and Siena University. Both places gave me opportunities to grow not just as a player, but as a person. I've built relationships, learned lessons, and created memories that I'll carry with me forever.”

— Marcus Jackson

“We'll see. I love Marc. I love what he brings to the table. His intent, his attitude, his physicality. We'll see and kind of evaluate that as we go along and watching practice.”

— Gerry McNamara, Former Siena Head Coach

What’s next

Jackson's decision to enter the transfer portal opens up a scholarship spot for the Siena program, and it will be interesting to see where he lands for his final season of eligibility as a graduate transfer.

The takeaway

Marcus Jackson's departure from the Siena men's basketball team is a significant loss, as he was expected to be a key contributor this season. His decision to enter the transfer portal raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his limited playing time this year, but it also provides an opportunity for the Saints to add new talent to their roster.