Vanderbilt Gets Commitment From Ex-Ivy League Player

The Commodores now have players committed to come to Nashville from the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Cornell Big Red forward AK Okereke (12) passes the basketball against California Golden Bears guard Jeremiah Wilkinson (0) during the first half at Haas Pavilion. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt received its fifth commitment from the NCAA Transfer Portal on Tuesday.

Former Cornell forward AK Okereke has committed to the Commodores, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. After three years at in the Ivy League, he’s coming to a Southern Ivy League school.

Cornell transfer forward AK Okereke has committed to Vanderbilt, he tells @On3sports.

The 6-7 junior averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. https://t.co/6xqZOsdKf5 pic.twitter.com/3VjLjWXwV8

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 22, 2025

Okereke was a walk-on at Cornell and developed into a starter last season. It was his best statistical season, averaging 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He was second in scoring and rebounding on the team and led in assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage (59.5 percent).

In 63 total games with Cornell, the 6-foot, 7-inch junior from Clovis, Calif. made 58.2 percent of all his field goals and 31.7 percent from beyond the three-point line.

6'7 JR F AK Okereke was quietly one of the BEST PLAYERS to enter the PORTAL yesterday!! Okereke is a versatile, skilled, strong forward who was the engine of a very good Cornell team that lost in the Ivy League championship game. Against D1 competition he averaged:

• 14.2 PPG… pic.twitter.com/k0kZSJKqwp

— Workin It Hoops (@workinithoops) March 26, 2025

Okereke’s commitment is the fifth for Vanderbilt in this transfer period, but only second forward. Former Jacksonville State’s Mason Nicholson is the only other non-guard to commit to Vanderbilt.

The NCAA Transfer Portal officially closes today, which means no more players can enter the portal. Players in the portal after today are still able to sign with a team. So, there will most likely be more news in the coming days and weeks.

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball Transfers

Outgoing

• Karris Bilal
• Jaylen Carey (to Tennessee)
• MJ Collins
• Jason Edwards (to Providence)
• Alex Hemenway
• JaQualon Roberts
• Jordan Williams
• Kijani Wright

Incoming

• G Jalen Washington (from North Carolina)
• F Mason Nicholson (from Jacksonville State)
• G Frankie Collins (from TCU)
• G Mike James (from NC State)
• F AK Okereke (Cornell)