By Andy Walter

NEWARK — Hanging on to top players has become extremely difficult for any mid-major college basketball program.

Delaware is no different.

Today, Jyare Davis joined the list of Blue Hen hoop standouts who will finish their careers somewhere else.

Davis, the MVP of the CAA Tournament in 2022 when Delaware won the league, announced that he is entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The Newark native and former Sanford School standout plans to graduate this summer and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

“The University of Delaware has been an incredibly special place not only in my heart, but in my family’s heart,” Davis said in a statement. “I’ve grown up attending Delaware football and basketball games, calling the 302 home. It has been an absolute honor to represent the Blue Hens in the NCAA Tournament after winning a CAA Championship.

"I have nothing but gratitude, respect, and love for UD, the athletic department, Coach Ingelsby, the entire staff, and my teammates.

“Given the changing landscape of college athletics, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal looking for an opportunity to challenge myself at the highest level possible. I plan on graduating from the University of Delaware this summer and will have one year of eligibility remaining.”

Davis signed the statement, ‘Always for the 302.’

Between the portal and the NIL money available at bigger programs, many mid-major programs lose players this time of year. UD’s CAA rival Hofstra had two of its best players enter the portal on Monday, the first day it was opene.

A 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward, Davis made second-team All-CAA this past season and was a third-team pick the year before.

Davis spent his first college season at Providence before transferring to Delaware.

“Jyáre has been a tremendous ambassador for our program for the past three years,” said UD coach Martin Ingelsby. “He’s given everything he has to the University of Delaware, and we are grateful to have been a part of his journey. Jyáre played an instrumental role in our 2022 CAA Championship run and will continue to represent the University of Delaware as an alumnus. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Among the players that Delaware has lost to the portal in recent seasons were Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Jameer Nelson, Jr. (TCU) and Justyn Mutts (Virginia Tech).

The Hens also had backup guard Wes Peterson enter the portal on Monday.