Men’s basketball has lost three key players to the transfer portal from the back-to-back MAAC regular-season championship team, graduate student center Paul Otieno, senior guard Doug Young and junior forward Amarri Monroe

Monroe was the first to enter the transfer portal on Friday after two years in Hamden, according to Joe Tipton of On3.

The Newburgh, New York native could potentially leaves Quinnipiac after a junior campaign filled with accolades.

Monroe was named to the All-MAAC First Team and was honored with the MAAC Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. He is the second-straight Bobcat to win the award, following Matt Balanc ‘24.

“Women lie, men lie, numbers don’t,” graduate student guard Savion Lewis said March 6. “You guys see him. You don’t have to keep trying to advocate for him. He’s done everything on the number one team. So it’s a no brainer why he’s the Player of the Year.”

Monroe started in 31 of 32 games for the Bobcats this season, averaging 18.1 PPG and 8.1 RPG and was No. 2 in the MAAC in steals.

His work defensively helped break his own program record for most steals in a single season for the second-straight year.

Monroe had a stretch of seven out of eight games to end the season where he recorded a double-double capped off by a 29 point and 10 rebound performance against Canisius on Feb. 6.

He was the first Bobcat to enter his name into the portal following the 2024-25 season, and is expected to be a hot commodity for teams.

Monroe has received interest from 13 schools, five of who making the 2025 NCAA Tournament — Texas A&M, Creighton, Memphis, Louisville and Ole Miss.

The second to enter the portal was Young, who left the Bobcats after two years following a transfer from Midland College in Midland, Texas.

The Houston, Texas native had some bright spots this season in a reduced role compared to his junior year, when he was the team’s sixth man. Young played in 22 games this season however, in six of those, he played single-digit minutes.

“I work really hard,” Young said Feb. 14. “I don’t get down on my stuff. I know I don’t play a lot, but I’m not trying to be an energy sucker; I want to be somebody the younger guys can look up to when they’re not doing well.”

When given the opportunity to showcase his talents, Young didn’t disappoint, dropping a season-high 18 points against Sacred Heart on Feb. 14, and reaching double digits in six other games.

“Doug is worthy of getting in the game tonight because he’s been handling his business,” Quinnipiac head coach Tom Pecora said Feb. 14. “He’s been practicing hard and doing all the things we need him to do to win games. He’s doing all the things he needs to do to be a successful young man.”

Young’s best and consistent performances came against Iona, scoring 10, 18 and eight points in the three matchups with the Gaels. His presence against Iona didn’t just get the look from Pecora.

“Doug Young has killed us every game we played against him,” former Iona head coach Tobin Anderson said March 13.

The third and final transfer, as of publication, was Otieno, who had a career year in the 2024-25 season. The Nairobi, Kenya native posted career-highs in three-point percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, blocks and points. 

His breakout year jolted him to be named to the All-MAAC First Team alongside Monroe. Otieno posted 13 double-doubles this season — one behind Monroe  — and was the No. 2 scorer on the Bobcats.

“He’s a machine,” Pecora said on Feb. 6. “In our locker room it says on the wall, ‘The work defines the man.’ Well, no one’s a better example of that than Paul Otieno in everything he does.”

In his best game of the season against Niagara on Feb. 8, Otieno showcased his improved shooting that carried him to a career-high 28 points. The graduate student center was able to knock down three three-pointers and was a perfect 5-5 from the line.

“Paul’s a great player,” senior forward Alexis Reyes said on Feb. 6. “We still want him to go get offensive rebounds, shoot those free throws and finish and-ones. And we know who he is, and we trust him.”

Where these three will land remains up in the air, but all are expected to draw interest from top programs around the country.