Vanderbilt Player Bolts to Transfer Portal Just Minutes After March Madness Loss
Sarah Johnson
March 23, 2025
Brief
Vanderbilt freshman Karris Bilal entered the transfer portal just minutes after the team's March Madness loss to Saint Mary’s, seeking a fresh start after a redshirt season.
Vanderbilt freshman Karris Bilal wasted no time deciding his future, entering the transfer portal a mere 13 minutes after his team’s heartbreaking loss to Saint Mary’s in the first round of March Madness.
The Commodores, who tipped off at 3:30 p.m. ET, saw their hopes dashed by 5:40 p.m. By 5:53 p.m., reports from 24/7 Sports confirmed Bilal’s decision to enter the portal. Talk about a speedy exit—he didn’t even let the tears dry before making his move.
Bilal had verbally committed to Vanderbilt in September 2022 and signed his letter of intent that November. Yet, his time with the Commodores was far from memorable. He didn’t play a single game this season, opting to redshirt, and reportedly didn’t even travel with the team to the SEC Tournament or March Madness. It’s safe to say he was more of a spectator than a player.
A three-star recruit out of Atlanta, Bilal clearly has talent, but his Vanderbilt experience never got off the ground. Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall and decided it was time for a fresh start.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s basketball program suffered a crushing defeat, squandering a 12-point lead against Saint Mary’s. The Commodores were ahead 39-27 with less than 15 minutes to go, but a blistering 16-4 run by Saint Mary’s tied the game with just over eight minutes left. Vanderbilt’s hopes sank further as Jason Edwards missed a game-tying three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, sealing their 59-56 loss. It was a tough pill to swallow for the team, but Bilal didn’t seem too affected by the emotional fallout.
His decision to focus on his next opportunity was swift and, frankly, impressively pragmatic. While Vanderbilt fans might feel stung, it’s clear that Bilal has his sights set elsewhere.
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Editor's Comments
You’ve got to admire Karris Bilal’s efficiency here. Thirteen minutes after the buzzer sounds, and he’s already plotting his next move. It’s almost like he had his suitcase packed before tip-off! But seriously, this raises questions about the player-coach relationship—or lack thereof—at Vanderbilt. Not traveling with the team? Not playing a single game? That’s a recipe for discontent. Bilal’s quick decision might be a sign of deeper issues within the program.
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