Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Vanderbilt

NC State guard Mike James commits to Vanderbilt out of NCAA transfer portal

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•about 18 hours
Jayden Taylor
Jan 13, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Mike James (0) dribbles the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Jayden Taylor (1) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

NC State guard Mike James has committed to Vanderbilt out of the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. He does so after spending only one year with the Wolfpack.

James did not play during the 2024-25 season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury that prevented him from suiting up after he had transferred from Louisville.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard spent the first two years of his career with the Cardinals. There, he developed into a quality, every night starter.

Mike James started 64 of 64 games in his two years at Louisville. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as a sophomore in 2023-24. He also chipped in 1.5 assists per game.

Better, James was a quality shooter. He shot a combined 34.8% from 3-point range during his two years with Louisville, making him an effective threat from the perimeter.

In addition, Mike James was a quality free-throw shooter. He shot 81.8% from the charity stripe during his last season with the Cardinals.

Vanderbilt has added considerable pop to the backcourt via the transfer portal this offseason. While Mike James is the latest addition, he’s not the only one.

Vanderbilt adds TCU guard from portal

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, former TCU Horned Frogs guard Frankie Collins has committed to Vanderbilt. Collins just went through the NCAA transfer portal process for the third time in his career, making Vandy his fourth school. A nice pickup for head coach Mark Byington, adding an experienced guard.

Collins missed most of the 2023-2024 season due to a broken foot. He played in just nine games, all of which he started in. Playing over 30 minutes per game, Collins averaged 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 42.2% from the field.

MIchigan was where Collins started his college career. After one season in Ann Arbor saw him head out West to play for Arizona State. Bobby Hurley was Collins’ head coach for two years but the portal once again opened ahead of the 2023-2024 season.

Now, entering his final season of eligibility, Collins lands with Vanderbilt along with Mike James. Making a jump to the SEC will be a new challenge for him, hoping to find new heights in Nashville. Fresh off a season where the Commodores broke their NCAA Tournament drought, they will be looking for back-to-back appearances since 2017. Byington will be hoping Collins is a big piece of the puzzle.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this report.