Penn State forward Demetrius Lilley enters NCAA transfer portal

The exodus continues for Penn State hoops as sophomore big man Demetrius Lilley is the latest Nittany Lion player to enter the transfer portal, according to on3’s Jamie Shaw.

Lilley played just two years at Penn State and participated in 25 total games, including 20 this season where he averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in just over nine minutes of action per outing. Those numbers may not raise anyone’e eye brows, but Lilley actually put some decent work in given his limited playing time.

For instance, he was terrifically efficient making 70% of his field goal attempts, much higher than his 57% mark from the free throw line. Then, his per-40 minutes numbers come out to more than 12 points and 11 rebounds per game. So there could be some untapped potential with the rising junior.

Prior to arriving at Penn State, Lilley was an in-state recruit from Ardmore (PA) Lower Merion, who was rated by On3 as a three-star prospect and the No. 276 overall player in the 2022 class.

Now, he’ll find a new home.

Other Penn State departures

Another now-former PSU player and the Nittany Lions leading scorer in 2023-24 is off to the transfer portal. Kanye Clary entered the portal, On3 learned this week, after a puzzling but productive season in State College.

Clary was ultimately dismissed from the Penn State team earlier this season though he was still leading the Nittany Lions in scoring at the time he was let go.

He spent just two seasons with the program before being kicked off and deciding to transfer, averaging 16.7 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game over 23 games this season.

The other departure for the portal was by forward Favour Aire, who just finished his only season with the Nittany Lions as a sophomore after he transferred to PSU following his freshman year with Miami in 2022-23.

Aire has appeared in 26 total games between the two schools with 14 in Coral Gables and 12 in University Park. In under four minutes a game in his two-year collegiate career, he is averaging 0.6 points and 0.8 rebounds.

Aire played high school basketball at Bishop McNamara in Maryland where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 107 overall recruit in the 2022 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He finished as the No. 15 center in the class and the No. 4 player out of his state.