Oregon Ducks Transfer Portal: Dana Altman Adds To Backcourt With Elite Guard TK Simpkins

Out of the Colonial Athletic Association, Elon Phoenix guard TK Simpkins is now officially transferring to the Oregon Ducks. According to On3, the 6-5 junior is ranked as the No. 169 overall player in the transfer portal and ranked as the No. 24 shooting guard available.

The Brooklyn native started out with Northwest Florida State Junior College in 2022-23. He then would go on to average 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals during his first season of Division-I basketball with Elon in 29 games played in 2023-24.

In 2024-25 with the Phoenix, Simpkins put together a team-leading 16.4 points on a shooting split of 42.3 field goal percentage, 36.7 three-point percentage, and 75.6 three-point percentage. He also contributed 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 27 games played during his most recent campaign.

Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Elon Phoenix guard TJ Simpkins (2) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

A fun fact about TK is that he has a twin brother, TJ Simpkins, who he played with at Elon this past season. The duo was one of the best backcourts in the entire Colonial Athletic Association.

TK Simpkins' upside is more of an individual scoring threat for the Ducks and can do it on all three levels. He scored 20+ points a total of eight times for Elon this past season. Flashes of his defensive abilities were seen when trying to get in the passing lanes. Simpkins collected two+ steals in 10 separate games. For all of his efforts in 2024-25, he was named to All-CAA Second Team.

Oregon coach Dana Altman now has four guards on his 2025-26 roster. Simpkins will be competing for the starting two spot in the backcourt alongside lead sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad. Freshman Jamari Phillips should be thrown into the mix as well as incoming Texas Longhorns sophomore transfer Devon Pryor for the shooting guard position in the starting lineup as well.

Texas A&M Aggies guard Jace Carter (0) and Texas A&M Aggies guard Manny Obaseki (35) guard Texas Longhorns forward Devon Pryor (22) during their second round game of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 13, 2025. | Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Simpkins can be capable of taking over the point guard position when Shelstad is on the bench or dealing with foul issues, but the amount of turnovers he makes is a bit concerning. He averaged 2.4 per game throughout his collegiate career with the Phoenix.

At this moment, the roster has eight of the 15 scholarship spots filled with the massive recent announcements that the two cornerstone pieces of the program in Shelstad and Kwame Evans Jr. will return. Nate Bittle will be going through the NBA Draft process while maintaining his college eligibility. He has until June 15 to decide if he will be returning to Eugene or not.

6-9 sophomore forward Kwame Evans Jr.

6-0 sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad

6-7 junior forward Oleksandr Kobzystyi

6-6 junior forward Dezdrick Lindsay

6-3 freshman guard Jamari Phillips

Mar 20, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Jamari Phillips (24) shoots the ball during practice at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

6-5 guard JJ Frakes (2025 three-star recruit)

6-7 sophomore forward Devon Pryor (transfer from Texas Longhorns)

6-4 junior guard TK Simpkins (transfer from Elon Phoenix)

Here are some names that Oregon has reportedly reached out to through the portal and are currently uncommitted:

Louisville Cardinals junior Koren Johnson (6-2 guard)

Maryland Terrapins freshman Braden Pierce (7-0 center)

Longwood Lancers Colby Garland (6-1 guard)

Paul Mbiya is also an international recruiting target to monitor for next season's roster. The 6-10, 260-pound center previously played for the French pro team LDLC ASVEL of the EuroLeague and is originally from the Congo. Mbiya recently took his official visit to campus on March 30 through April 2.