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Miami Men's Basketball Loses its First Player to the Transfer Portal

The post Larranaga era has not started off well and now the first of likely many has entered the transfer portal.
Justice Sandle|
Jan 4, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Ben Burnham (13) shoots the ball against Miami Hurricanes forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (4) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Jan 4, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Ben Burnham (13) shoots the ball against Miami Hurricanes forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (4) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

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Miami (FL) Hurricanes

CORAL GABLES, Fla — Following the sudden retirement of legendary head coach Jim Larranaga, the Miami Hurricanes began to have a 30-day window that allowed players to enter the transfer portal. The first player did so as freshman guard Isaiah Johnson-Arigu officially entered the portal.

In his short stent with Miami, he played in eight games, averaging 1.1 points per game and collecting 0.8 rebounds.

Johnson-Arigua was the No. 129 player overall and No. 26 small forward in the 2024 class out of Minneapolis Totino-Grace and was also the No. 3 player from Minnesota for his class. Entering himself into the transfer portal is more of a long-term loss than one that will hurt the Canes for the rest of this season.

Johnson-Arigua was the only freshman to not see the floor as much compared to Austin Swartz and Divine Ugochukwu who averages 14 minutes a game alongside Jalil Bethea who averages 13.

Miami still has signed center Ben Ahmad and guard Matthew Able in the 2025 class as there has been no indication yet of those players changing their minds after National Signing Day.

More portal moves are expected to happen in the short future with a few days left in the short window period.

READ MORE FROM MIAMI HURRICANES ON SI:

Bill Courtney Prepares Miami Men's Basketball Team in a Post Larranaga Era

Matthew Cleveland's Confidence is 'at an All Time High' Entering ACC Play

Everything Miami Interim Head Coach Bill Courtney Said in First Press Conference

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Justice Sandle
JUSTICE SANDLE

Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.

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