Eastern’s 2026-2027 roster is set to look significantly different following its first Ohio Valley Conference tournament win in six years over Southern Illinois Edwardsville.
Five players will enter the transfer portal that opened Tuesday.
Junior guard Meechie White will enter the portal, according to 247sports.
White was one of the Panthers top performers this season.
White, from Louisville, Kentucky, averaged 10.5 points, 3.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 38% from three, 43% from the field and led the team in free throws at 85%.
He scored a season-high 23 points on the road against Purdue back in November, White also started all 33 games for Eastern.
Sophomore forward Terry McMorris reposted he will be entering the portal on his X account.
McMorris, from Oklahoma City, improved from his freshman campaign where he played 20 games and averaged 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds a game.
He was a key contributor for Eastern this season.
McMorris played in all 33 games for the Panthers, making 24 starts. He was second on the team in rebounds per game averaging 5.8 behind graduate Kooper Jacobi. McMorris also averaged 7.6 points and led the team in blocks per game at 1.1.
He finished the season 10th in single-season blocks in EIU history.
McMorris recorded back to back double-doubles in the OVC tournament, with 15 points, 13 rebounds along with three blocks in the win over SIUE and 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against UT Martin.
McMorris will have two years of eligibility left.
Redshirt sophomore guard Malik Olafioye announced on his Instagram account that he will enter the portal.
Olafioye from Ecorse, Michigan, averaged 3.9 points, 1.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game this season. He made two starts in 20 games played.
Olafioye had a season high of 14 points at home against Lindenwood.
He will have two years of eligibility left.
Junior forward Prince Johnson announced on his X account that he will enter the portal. Johnson, from Bennettsville, South Carolina, averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game.
Johnson played in 31 games making two starts and had a season high nine points and six rebounds against Blackburn.
Junior guard Kyle Layton is entering the transfer portal according to Jamie Shaw of On3sports on X.
Layton from McKinney, Texas, transferred to Eastern from Tennessee Tech but missed this season due to injury.
With five players entering the portal and four graduates Eastern’s basketball program will see at least nine players from the 2025-2026 team leave.
The men’s college basketball transfer portal is open for a 15 day period starting April 7 and closes April 21.
Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
