Omoruyi, Lawrence, and Melendez: Weekend SEC MBB transfer portal roundup - Friday, May 3rd-Sunday, May 5th

This time we will be looking at the full weekend (May 3rd-May 5th) in our SEC basketball transfer portal roundup before we go back to the daily format moving forward. It was a busy weekend, with several SEC teams picking up some key players:

Georgia lands Vanderbilt transfer Tyrin Lawrence

Georgia is bringing another former in-state HS product back home, as they have added experienced Vanderbilt transfer guard Tyrin Lawrence (from Monticello, Ga.). This past season, Lawrence averaged 13.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG while shooting 39.9% from the field. He was more efficient back in 2023 however, when he averaged 13.1 PPG and 4.4 RPG on 50.2% from the field and 36% from three. Lawrence played in 105 games across four years in his career at Vandy. 247 ranks Lawrence as the No. 81 overall player in the portal.

Alabama adds Rutgers transfer big Clifford Omoruyi

Alabama has landed one of the top bigs available in the transfer portal in Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi. Omoruyi, who measures in at 6'11 and 240 pounds, averaged 10.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 2.9 BPG on 51.2% shooting this past season for the Scarlett Knights.

Omoruyi has three seasons of production under his belt, averaging 11.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG on 54.3% shooting across 98 games in his final three seasons at Rutgers. The Crimson Tide beat out Georgetown, Kansas State, and North Carolina to land Omoruyi. He will have one season of eligibility remaining. Omoruyi ranks as the No. 10 overall player in the portal according to On3, and ranks No. 13 according to 247.

Mississippi State lands Georgia transfer RJ Melendez

RJ Melendez will remain in the SEC and is still a Bulldog as he heads to Mississippi State after transferring from Georgia. Melendez averaged 9.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG on 45.1% shooting this past season for Georgia. He played better as the year went on, as his efficiency jumped to 48.8% shooting from the field and 37.5% 3-point shooting after the calendar flipped to January (Georgia's final 23 games of the season). Melendez started his career at Illinois where he played two seasons before going to Georgia where he played one year this past season.

Oklahoma beats out Auburn for High Point transfer Duke Miles

Oklahoma added a high-scoring transfer guard from High Point in Duke Miles, beating out Auburn (which is impressive considering Miles went to High School in Montgomery, Alabama, just an hour from Auburn). At High Point this past season, Miles averaged 17.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG while earning first team All-Big South honors. He shot 52.8% from the field and 36.1% shooting from three. Miles started his career at Troy where he spent three seasons (averaged 9.2 PPG on 44.5% shooting across 49 games there).

South Carolina flips Norfolk State transfer Jamarii Thomas from VCU

After previously committing to VCU, Norfolk State transfer guard and MEAC Player of the Year Jamarii Thomas has flipped to South Carolina. Last season, Thomas averaged 16.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 2.1 SPG on 40.4% shooting from the field and 38% shooting from three. Thomas started his career at UNC-Wilmington where he spent two seasons, where he averaged 7.1 PPG in his second year there in 2022/23. Thomas has played in 93 games in his career.

Several SEC Players who are leaving SEC programs (and leaving the conference) announced their transfer destinations over the weekend:

Tyler Ringgold (Texas A&M-->Tulane)

Mari Jordan (Georgia-->Tulane)

Khaliff Battle (Arkansas-->Gonzaga)

Auburn is getting a visit from Samford transfer Achor Achor

Samford transfer Achor Achor will reportedly be visiting Auburn this week. Achor averaged 16.1 PPG and 6.1 RPG this past season on 58.6% shooting. On3 ranks Achor as the No. 12 player in the portal.