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Where’s RayJ?
On the move again.
RayJ Dennis, reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year after a breakout season at Toledo, could be the poster child for the controversial NCAA transfer portal that was established in 2018.
But Dennis, a 2019 Oswego East graduate, put in the work, earned his bachelor’s degree and made the most of his opportunities.
Now, he’s taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic shutdown. Dennis will be a graduate transfer this season playing for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, Dennis’ third school.
Dennis will earn much more name, image and likeness money at the Big 12 program and arguably give himself a chance to improve his stock for the next level.
Good for him.
A 6-foot-2 guard, Dennis played two seasons at Boise State then two at Toledo, his second choice as a high school recruit.
“The transfer portal has worked out for me tremendously,” Dennis said, speaking by phone from his new school in Waco, Texas. “Without my experience at Boise State and with the great people at Toledo, landing on my feet there, I wouldn’t be in the spot that I’m in.”
It’s a good place to be.
Dennis scored in double digits every game last season, averaging 19.5 points and 5.8 assists. He was a unanimous choice for player of year by the conference’s coaches after Toledo tied the program record with 27 wins and took a third straight MAC title.
“RayJ deserved to be all-conference as a junior as well,” Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “Only coaches vote, no media, so there can be some jealousy and bias. Plus, we had such a good team. We had three guys with better numbers.”
The unanimous vote this year surprised Kowalczyk.
“I’ve never seen it happen in a league I’ve coached,” Kowalczyk said. “He’s been unbelievably consistent and had a fantastic year. It’s not just his numbers that are important. It’s his leadership and knowledge of the game. He’s just a winner.”
A two-time academic all-conference selection at Toledo, Dennis scored 683 points last season for the Rockets, the second-best total in program history.
“The work I put in combined with the trust my teammates had in me and the trust I had in them made the difference,” Dennis said.
It made his decision to enter the transfer portal a second time “the toughest I’ve had to make in my basketball journey.” It was hard on Kowalczyk, too.
“Ultimately, my decision to get to the transfer portal was about being able to showcase my game and the type of player I am at the highest level,” Dennis said.
It came after first making himself available for the recent NBA draft and working out for several teams.
The consensus of feedback he received, though, was that he wouldn’t be selected and it would be wiser to play one more year in college.
Kowalczyk said he and Dennis may disagree on a few things but “there’s no ill will with RayJ. I have so much respect for him and his family. I love him.”
It goes both ways.
“We’re close and our relationship will go on forever,” Dennis said. “Obviously, he wasn’t the happiest in the world with me leaving, but he was happy for the opportunity I had.”
Kowalczyk knows Dennis will make more through NIL at Baylor but believes Toledo can allow him to showcase his skills for the pros, too.
Still, looking at a conference schedule that includes Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Cincinnati, as opposed to Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Ball State and Bowling Green?
It’s hard to argue with RayJ.
Then there’s Drew, whose Bears won a national title in 2021.
Plus, “they really had a need for me and a spot and the path they showed me made sense,” Dennis said. “Just the work they’ve done with their guards since Drew has been there has been great.
“He gives all these guards, especially older guards, a chance to get their foot in the door in the NBA. That’s all I could ask for.”
While Kowalczyk has had success with the portal, he believes the NCAA needs to eliminate two-time transfers because some players don’t want to be held accountable.
Such is not the case with Dennis, however.
“RayJ is a grad transfer — he fulfilled his commitment to Toledo,” Kowalczyk said. “He made our program better.”
