UAlbany men's basketball freshman, America East rookie of the year Beagle enters into NCAA transfer portal

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

UAlbany's Jonathan Beagle takes a shot next to Vermont's Ileri Ayo-Faleye at HVCC Saturday, February 4, 2023.

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UAlbany freshman Jonathan Beagle, the 2022-23 America East Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year, has entered into the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Beagle, a 6-foot-10 forward and a Hudson Falls native, announced the move on his social media on Friday.

“I would like to give thanks to the coaching staff and my teammates at Albany,” Beagle wrote in a Twitter post announcing the decision. “They have helped me on so many ways and had a huge impact on my life/career. I would also like to give a special thanks to Coach [Dwayne] Killings for believing in me and helping me pursue my dreams. With that being said, after a long talk with my family I am announcing that I will be entering the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility remaining.”

Beagle was the clear choice as the America East’s top freshman this season, with his nine conference rookie of the week awards breaking the program record of seven weekly honors set by Jon Iati during his 2003-04 America East Rookie of the Year campaign. Beagle’s nine weekly awards was one short of the conference record.

A constant bright spot on a UAlbany team that struggled its way to an 8-23 overall record and a 3-13 record in America East play that resulted in the Great Danes missing out on the conference playoffs, Beagle started 29 of UAlbany’s 31 games this season. He ranked second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the field, and led the team with 7.5 rebounds per game. He finished the season 14th in the America East in scoring and fifth in rebounding.

Beagle recorded five games with double-digit points and rebounds this season, and scored a season-high 21 points in UAlbany’s Jan. 11 loss to Bryant.

With the announcement, Beagle became the third UAlbany player to enter the transfer portal in the past week. Guard Malik Edmead, who battled an injury over the second half of the season and saw his minutes decrease down the stretch run, was the first. Forward Gerald Drumgoole Jr., who led the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game, announced his entry into the transfer portal on Thursday.