Junior guard Jamiya Neal entered the transfer portal less than a week after Arizona State's 33-point season-ending loss to the Utah Utes in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas.
Last season Neal entered the transfer portal after ASU's loss in the NCAA Tournament before swiftly withdrawing himself and announcing his return to Tempe after a strong second-half showing for the Sun Devils.
After ASU lost a plethora of players to the transfer portal last season, Neal returned to ASU with a much more elevated role and doubled his points per game this season, averaging from 4.8 points per game to 11.2.
Despite improving his production throughout the season, Neal took the blame for ASU's historic loss to the Utes in Las Vegas. He cited his disappointment in this season, not playing out how he imagined and his eagerness to improve going into his senior season.
Neal was also critical of his defense in the loss and his shooting slump. Neal finished the game scoreless, shooting an ice-cold 0-4 from the field.
"I feel like I just have to learn from this and be better," Neal said. "Because next year is my last year, so it's make or break now. We had a disappointing season, and I had an even worse season."
Now that the transfer portal is open and postseason play is set to kick off, Sun Devil basketball head coach Bobby Hurley will look to build next year's team without one of his top scorers this season, Neal.
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Only time will tell if Neal will be the only Sun Devil to enter the portal, but in recent seasons, it's become a trend in Tempe.
Edited by Alysa Horton, Angelina Steel and Grace Copperthite.
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