Oneida Nation is celebrating UWGB's signing of Stewart Erhart II--Green Bay Press-Gazette
Panthers Men’s Basketball Adds Braylon Walker To Roster--mkepanthers.com
2026 College Basketball Transfer Tracker: How state teams are rebuilding this offseason--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Men
Purdue Fort Wayne
Out of eligibility: Mikale Stevenson, Maximus Nelson, Darius Duffy, Deangelo Elisee (working on a waiver)
New portal additions
Edir Ortiz, Seton Hill (Division II)
PFW has done a good job of pulling productive players from the Division II level in recent years, with the most notable such addition being Rasheed Bello, who went on to earn first-team All-Horizon League honors.
Ortiz is a 6-9 forward and this past season averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals in 21 games while shooting 51.8% from the field and a blistering 44.8% from 3-point range (39 of 87). He's the type of do-it-all big man the Mastodons need to fill in the gaps of a frontcourt that is set to lose substantial production.
D2 forward Edir Ortiz (@ortiz_edir) enters the portal after a big season averaging 14.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 51.8% FG, 44.8% 3FG.
— Rising Ballers Network (@dylan_lutey) March 14, 2026
Hearing from Purdue Fort Wayne, East Carolina, Hofstra, Loyola Marymount, Citadel, Southern Mississippi, IU Indy.
Mid major talent easily. pic.twitter.com/vHy1qs0R4BPortal departures
Corey Hadnot II, G
The 6-3 Hadnot was one of the best mid-major guards in the country this past season. He enjoyed one of the top offensive seasons in Mastodons history this past campaign, averaging 20.4 points on 52% shooting, hitting 35.8% from beyond the arc and adding 3.5 assists per contest. His 654 points were third-most in Mastodon history and and second-most in the program's Division I history, trailing only the 746 posted by Fort Wayne native Bryson Scott in 2017-18.
In addition to his offensive efforts, Hadnot averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals, the latter total ranking third in the Horizon League. For his performance, Hadnot was named first-team all-conference, the third PFW guard to earn that distinction in the last two seasons.
The Atlanta native scored 30 points three times in 2025-26, but arguably the best game of his career came in a contest that saw him fall just short of that mark – he poured in 29 on 10-for-16 shooting to go with six rebounds, three steals and two assists in a 72-69 win over Notre Dame in South Bend in December. It was the Mastodons' first victory over a high-major opponent since a win over DePaul of the Big East in November 2023.
Hadnot landed at Houston, which has been to the Sweet 16 in seven tournaments in a row under coach Kelvin Sampson. The former 'Don fits the Cougars' bulldog mentality perfectly and he could be a significant part of their next deep run in March.
Ebrahim Kaba, F
The athletic, 6-9 Kaba was an important pickup from the transfer portal last offseason, when he arrived with four seasons of eligibility left following a redshirt year at St. Bonaventure.
The big wing showed flashes as a redshirt freshman this season, but never fully cracked the rotation, averaging 4.0 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game. He didn't play after Feb. 7.
Ebrahim Kaba gets in on the action. This is good from three.#FeelTheRumble #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/QUuBVPtKaa
— Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Basketball (@MastodonMBB) January 22, 2026Yuval Levin, F
Levin's journey to the United States from Israel last offseason was harrowing and it was notable he played at all this past season. But like Kaba, he never quite cracked the rotation, averaging 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.
The versatile 6-8 forward has excellent court vision for his size and good instincts, but he wasn't quite physical enough to hold up in the paint in the Horizon League.
Yuval Levin with the steal and basket the other way.#FeelTheRumble #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/nA56Edz7y1
— Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Basketball (@MastodonMBB) November 8, 2025Danny Kelly, G
The 6-6 Kelly, a Fort Wayne native and former Bishop Luers star redshirted in 2025-26 and will have four seasons of eligibility left as he looks for his new home.
“I want to sincerely thank my coaches at Purdue Fort Wayne, my teammates, and everyone I’ve had the opportunity to meet during my time here,” Kelly wrote in a statement on social media. “Your support, guidance, and belief in me have meant more than I can put into words.”
Kelly averaged 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals as a senior at Luers, earning all-SAC honors. He helped the Knights to a sectional title that season.
Ja'Corey Lipkins
Lipkins made the jump from Division II, where he averaged 14.3 points as a freshman, last offseason and then redshirted in 2025-26. With DeAndre Craig Jr., EJ Mosley and Chris Morgan expected back next season, there was likely not a path for him to play big minutes next season.
Women
Purdue Fort Wayne
Out of eligibility: Jordan Reid, Alana Nelson, Lauren Lee
New portal additions
New Mastodons coach Kate Peterson Abiad, who took over in mid-April after Maria Marchesano departed to become head coach at Butler, her alma mater, will fill out the roster after the Mastodons lost their top five scorers to the portal or eligibility exhaustion.
Portal departures
Lili Krasovec, C
Easily the most impactful of PFW's transfer departures, Krasovec followed Marchesano to Butler after her one standout season in Fort Wayne.
The Hungarian junior, who transferred to PFW from Boston College, was immediately a centerpiece on both ends of the floor for the Mastodons, averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks in 23.3 minutes per contest. She was efficient, as well, shooting 57% from the field, which would have ranked second in the conference if she had enough attempts to qualify.
The 6-3 Krasovec started all 35 games for the Mastodons. She scored 24 points on 11-for-14 shooting in a win over a solid Robert Morris team in January and posted one of her best games in her final appearance in a PFW uniform: 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting with 10 rebounds in a WNIT loss to Arkansas State, one of her two double-doubles on the season.
She also posted 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting in a 68-67 upset of Purdue at the Gates Center in November.
Mobile with good hands and toughness, Krasovec could have been one of the best players in the Horizon League next season, but she will get a chance to anchor a high-major program in her final season of eligibility instead.
Lili Krasovec with the and-one! Nika Lokica notched her fifth assist on the entry pass.#FeelTheRumble #HLWBB pic.twitter.com/xjBpAVcifq
— Purdue Fort Wayne WBB (@MastodonWBB) January 3, 2026Destiny Macharia, G
The second of two former Mastodons to follow Marchesano to the Big East, Macharia was part of an excellent PFW freshman class this past season. The 5-6 Maryland native averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per contest in her first season of college basketball.
Her role grew down the stretch of the season and she broke out with 15 points on 7-for-14 shooting in a February loss to Youngstown State. She followed that with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting and three assists in a Horizon League tournament quarterfinal drubbing of IU Indy.
Destiny Macharia triple. You'll fit in well here.#FeelTheRumble #HLWBB pic.twitter.com/hyGxxF92IO
— Purdue Fort Wayne WBB (@MastodonWBB) November 4, 2025She will have three seasons of eligibility at Butler.
Rylee Bess, G
The best of PFW's four freshmen, the 5-6 guard was an instant-impact player in Fort Wayne and grabbed a starting spot by the middle of the season, replacing the more veteran Nika Lokica.
Bess averaged 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists while shooting nearly 38% from beyond the arc. She earned Horizon League All-Freshman honors and turned in a performance for the ages in an overtime win over Northern Kentucky in January: 27 points on 8-for-14 shooting and a 4-for-9 mark from 3-point distance. She also worked her way to the line seven times in the game and made all seven.
Arguably her most memorable moment came in the win over Purdue, when she hit a leaning 3-pointer on a kickout from Krasovec to turn a two-point deficit into a program-defining victory with 5.7 seconds left.
This week's Toyota Play of the Week: @MastodonWBB Rylee Bess' game-winner over Purdue (obviously).
— Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (@GoMastodons) November 18, 2025
All the angles, plus the radio call from Derek Decker and TV call from John Nolan. What more could you want?#FeelTheRumble #HLWBB pic.twitter.com/A6SBoc8vhEBess was in the portal even before Marchesano departed and found a new home at High Point, joining Feldman.
Hillary Offing, F
The 5-11 Offing joined the Mastodons from non-NCAA Penn State-Lehigh Valley during the 2024 offseason and redshirted in 2024-25 before stepping into a reserve role this past season.
The South Carolina native appeared in 27 games in her first Division I season and averaged 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in just 8.6 minutes per game while shooting 53.5% from the field.
Her role expanded substantially in February and she provided a glimpse of a potential future standout with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting in 27 minutes against Cleveland State in February.
Offing has two seasons of eligibility left.
Hillary Offing through the double team!#FeelTheRumble #HLWBB pic.twitter.com/17C3sVcFE9
— Purdue Fort Wayne WBB (@MastodonWBB) January 22, 2026Ella Riggs, G
The 5-9 Riggs started her career at Furman and joined the Mastodons as a redshirt sophomore during the 2024 offseason. She played sparingly in 2024-25, but was a key reserve this past season, appearing in all 35 games and playing 15.6 minutes per contest while shooting 35.8% from the field and 31.5% from long distance.
The Cincinnati native posted 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting in a non-conference win over Southern Illinois and averaged 9.5 points and 3 rebounds in back-to-back Horizon League victories over Milwaukee and Wright State in December.
Ella Riggs with the three, on a nice look by Bailee Duck. #FeelTheRumble #HLWBB pic.twitter.com/Fe4V7Dgpsv
— Purdue Fort Wayne WBB (@MastodonWBB) December 7, 2025Riggs has one season of eligibility left. She attended Peterson Abiad's introductory press conference along with a handful of other players and could return to the Mastodons.
Robert Morris Lands Cal Fullerton Transfer Guard--Robert Morris Sports Now
