Arkansas guard Layden Blocker enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Arkansas guard Layden Blocker has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned. Blocker, a freshman this season, will have multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Blocker played in 27 games, starting five, for Arkansas as a true freshman. He averaged just under four points per game.

Blocker shared on social media on Thursday afternoon that he intends to enter the transfer portal.

“Prayer, hard work and sacrifice opened up the doors for me to have an opportunity to play college basketball,” Blocker said. “First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the talent to play this game. I want to thank the University of Arkansas basketball coaching staff for recruiting me. It was an honor to represent the state of Arkansas, and the Razorback program. I’m grateful for my teammates, that have become brothers, that who’ve all supported me on this journey. Thank you to all of the fans and the community for your love and support throughout the season. I also want to give a special thanks to the local businesses for your support. After much discussion and consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal.”

Blocker is also part of a larger exodus to the portal at Arkansas.

Blocker is the fifth Arkansas player to either announce he’s transferring or enter the portal, joining the likes of Davonte “Devo” Davis, Denijay Harris, Keyon Menifield and Joseph Pinion.

Arkansas might see its coach in the running for the Louisville opening

During a recent hit on College GameDay to discuss the possibilities, ESPN insider Pete Thamel shared that Musselman could be a name to watch in the Louisville search among a second tier of candidates.

“Well, I think the Cardinals are going to look at Dusty May,” Thamel said. “They present a basketball-forward job. They’ve gotten a generous NIL package together, and I really think Dusty May is going to have some really profound decisions to make in the upcoming weeks when Florida Atlantic is out of the NCAA Tournament.”

Dusty May has been at Florida Atlantic since 2018. The Owls went 35-4 last season, reaching the Final Four. FAU is projected to be a No. 8 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

May attended Indiana and has been an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Florida. He is expected to be in the mix for several jobs this offseason.

Thamel also discussed others who could be in the mix for the Louisville job, if not Dusty May.

“Louisville, from there, it’s going to be really interesting,” Thamel said. “Does a name like Eric Musselman come up? His buyout is only a million dollars after this season.”

Musselman and Arkansas struggled this past season but advanced to at least the Sweet 16 each of the past three years.