Caden Pierce, the 2023-24 Ivy League player of the year, will officially enter the transfer portal on Wednesday after having been in Princeton to retain his suitability. The 6-foot-7 wing is expected to receive interest from large programs throughout the country.
In Princeton, Pierce spends this academic year as a athlete to complete his diploma Economy before switching to a Power Conference program. The decision enables him to show his skills against elite competence and at the same time pursue considerable zero compensation that is not available in the Ivy League.
The Ivy League prohibits athletic fairs, zero collectives and sharing income between schools and athletes. The Van Pierce family pays his full tuition fees in Princeton. When asked if he would take this step if Princeton offered a similar compensation to Power Conference programs, Pierce recognized the financial factor.
“I can’t say it for sure, but it is 1,000 percent a more difficult decision,” said Pierce. “There is a lot of money beyond, basketball at a higher level, a chance to prove myself.”
Pierce earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year Honors in 2022-23 and led Princeton to the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. He was appointed a second-year student of conference player of the year. His decision to sit outside came after Point Guard Xaivian Lee handed over to Florida and Vooruit Jack Scott left for Duke last spring.
“What I learn while I keep growing is that the only constant in life is a change,” Pierce wrote in a social media post that announced his decision.
Pierce’s older brother Justin pioneered a similar path in 2019 and crossed from William & Mary to North Carolina as a graduate student. Justin played professional overseas for four years after the university.
Coaches can officially contact the Pierce agency, Priority Sports, from Wednesday. He plans to approach the recruitment process methodically by falling autumn and winter instead of following a decision next spring. Pierce recently participated in the US Under-23 Three-on-Three team in China.
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