The transfer portal has become a popular place for collegiate athletes ever since its inception, and Illinois basketball was already hit with a departure.
It's a system that players can use for a multitude of different reasons, whether it has to do with playing time or if another program is willing to pay them more money. The Illini have been helped and hurt by the transfer portal during the Shauna Green era.
Regardless of what anyone thinks, the transfer portal is alive and well and is something that we all have to get used to. It has officially become a part of our everyday lives, and on Friday, we witnessed the first member of this year's women's Illinois basketball team enter the transfer portal.
Thank you to everyone at the University of Illinois who has supported me the last two years, you will always be special to me 🧡 I will be entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility! On April 6 coaches please feel free to contact me via DM or 815-277-6615 pic.twitter.com/WExsQ0mVHG
— hayven smith (@SmithHayven) March 27, 2026
Hayven Smith, a 6-foot-6 center from Frankfort, Illinois, just finished her second full season with Illinois. The product of Lincoln-Way East High School had a very limited amount of playing time for the Illini, averaging 0.4 points and 0.9 rebounds through 4.3 minutes of play.
Smith was a key defensive component for Green in her first year with the program, ranking in the 99th percentile on all possessions according to Synergy. Her length, agility, and high basketball IQ were her calling cards and what made her the perfect addition to Illinois in the beginning.
Illinois basketball fans should be very proud of Hayven Smith's transfer portal decision
If you are a college basketball fan, then you should never be upset when a player decides to enter the transfer portal. It is their decision, and regardless of their reasoning, we should be respectful of what they want to do with their own lives.
But when it comes to Smith, it makes complete sense why she would want to enter the transfer portal. The Illini are very strong when it comes to their frontcourt, with the likes of Berry Wallace, Cearah Parchment, Lety Vasconcelos, and Manuella Alves already on the roster.
Smith needs a fresh start on a team where she can flourish. As someone who averaged a double-double in her final year of high school, she has too much talent to have to battle for minutes on this roster.
It's always a bummer to see someone from your favorite team leave, but this move makes too much sense for her. Here's to hoping for the best for Smith, and maybe we can see her again down the road.