Rutgers Guard Dorian Jones Enters Transfer Portal

Four-star recruit did not see playing time in his first season with the Scarlet Knights.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:38pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the silhouette of a basketball player in motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a muted color palette, conceptually representing the loss of a key recruit for the Rutgers basketball team.The departure of highly touted recruit Dorian Jones leaves Rutgers with roster holes to fill as the program looks to rebuild.Richmond Heights Today

Dorian Jones, a highly touted four-star freshman guard, has entered the NCAA transfer portal after redshirting his first season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Jones joined Rutgers last fall after backing out of his national letter of intent with Ohio State due to academic issues.

Why it matters

Jones was ranked as the top player in Ohio and 89th nationally coming out of high school, making his decision to transfer a significant loss for the Rutgers program. His departure, along with that of fellow freshman Bryce Dortch, leaves the Scarlet Knights with three open scholarship slots to fill for the 2026-27 season.

The details

Jones did not appear in a single game for Rutgers this past season after redshirting. He had originally committed to play for Ohio State but requested to be released from his national letter of intent in May 2025 due to 'academic issues.' Rutgers then swooped in to land the 6-foot-4 shooting guard, who was considered one of the top recruits in the state of Ohio.

  • Dorian Jones entered the NCAA transfer portal at midnight on April 7, 2026.
  • Jones joined the Rutgers program at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

The players

Dorian Jones

A four-star freshman guard who redshirted his first season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after backing out of his national letter of intent with Ohio State.

Bryce Dortch

A freshman who also entered the transfer portal, leaving Rutgers with three open scholarship slots for the 2026-27 season.

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What they’re saying

“Dorian Jones did not step on the floor for Rutgers in year one and will now be looking for a new home.”

— Greg Patuto, Author

The takeaway

Jones' decision to transfer is a setback for the Rutgers men's basketball program, which was hoping the highly touted recruit could contribute immediately. His departure, along with that of Bryce Dortch, leaves the Scarlet Knights with work to do in rebuilding their roster for the 2026-27 season.