Divine Ugochukwu, Michigan State guard, enters transfer portal

East Lansing — At the 11th hour, Michigan State lost a guard to the transfer portal.

The college basketball transfer portal closed Tuesday night. Before then, Divine Ugochukwu entered it to explore his other NCAA options according to a report by On3.

The Detroit News reached out to his agency, WME, for confirmation but has yet to receive a response.

The 6-foot-3 Texan averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 assists per game as a combo guard who started 12 games at shooting guard for the Spartans last season. He played 16.1 minutes per game in 22 appearances.

Michigan State Spartan's Divine Ugochukwu during a practice session at the 2026 Men's Basketball Championship, first and second rounds, in Buffalo, New York on March 18, 2026.

This is Ugochukwu’s second transfer — he left Miami (Fla.) after the surprise retirement of Jim Larrañaga weeks into his true freshman season.

Ugochukwu spent the final 12 games out of the lineup after a left foot injury required surgery. He was trending toward a possible (though improbable) return in March Madness when Michigan State’s 27-8 season ended in the Sweet 16. In his absence, freshman Jordan Scott — with whom he attended Saturday’s spring football showcase alongside other teammates — stepped into the role.

Guard minutes were going to be thin in next season’s rotation. If All-American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. withdraws from the NBA Draft after evaluations, as is expected, incoming freshman Carlos Medlock Jr. is the presumed backup at that position. At shooting guard, Medlock’s classmate Jasiah Jervis is expected to play a leading role, while Scott will command wing minutes and rising junior Kur Teng is also in the mix. Ugochukwu would have had to fight for playing time in a crowded group.