The NIL (name, image and likeness) era in college sports collided with the transfer portal and conference realignments to create a whirlwind of change in recruiting.
Arizona State's first-year men's basketball coach Randy Bennett and Grand Canyon men's basketball coach Bryce Drew are heading into the 2026-27 season with their rosters heavily constructed through the transfer portal by getting the players' right price.
Bennett and Drew spoke with nonplussed and comedic tones during a panel discussion at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's 14th annual Jerry Colangelo Golf Classic fundraiser in Phoenix on Sept. 17. They discussed the undetermined direction of college basketball.
“It’s the unknown," Bennett said to the moderator, Dan Bickley of Arizona
Sports 98.7 FM. "We’re trying to make decisions about our teams, about our future of college basketball, but we don’t really know. I will say this: The only thing we do know is we have to adapt and then make good decisions. That’s all I can tell you. Those two things you have to do a good job of.”
Drew, who's entering his sixth year at GCU, concurred with Bennett about having to adapt as the business of college athletics reached a tipping point. Drew also half-joked when he pointed to NBA legends Paul Pierce, Drew's former Houston Rockets teammate, and Suns icon Charles Barkley in the audience about the college sports' NIL era compared to their time playing in the NBA.
“I did some research," Drew said. "Paul Pierce, we’re the same (1998) draft class. You would’ve made more NIL (money) in year one this year in college than your whole rookie contract. Charles Barkley, first year signing with the Houston Rockets, you would’ve made more money in NIL in one year of college this year; maybe you did. I don’t know.”
Drew continued amid laughs from the event's attendees.
"This whole game has changed so much," he said. "We’re a version almost of the NBA in the ‘90s for what we are in college basketball right now with the salaries, the agents, things we deal with on a daily basis.”
The polarizing discourse surrounding paying college student-athletes millions of dollars has reached a tipping point.
The Protect College Sports Act bill is expected to reach a Senate floor vote next week. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
Hall of Famer and Virginia Cavaliers legend Ralph Sampson, who was also part of the panel discussion, explained why college student-athletes shouldn't be called as such anymore.
"It’s professional, semi-pro basketball," Sampson said. "They make a lot of money, but the sad part about it is that financial literacy — it needs some help. You gotta know, you see the parents, and you understand that because you deal with it every day.”
Drew smiled and chuckled when he replied to Bickley's final question about his current roster. The crowd erupted in laughter when Drew spoke about having multiple players attempting to return to a college team after not getting pro deals.
"We have 17 guys on our team basically,' Drew said. "We signed three fifth-year seniors that have court cases going on right now. So if they all get cleared, I’m super excited about this year. I’m excited if they don’t, if they do. Two of them played in the NBA Summer League this year."
GCU coach Bryce Drew drew laughs at the Jerry Colangelo @Hoophall Golf Classic dinner about college hoops’ NIL era when he told @danbickley that among his 17 players entering the 2026-27 season, GCU has three 5th-year seniors in court cases; two played in the NBA Summer League. pic.twitter.com/IWtMUXxmzW
— Dana Scott (@mr_danascott) September 18, 2026
Bennett had more of stern look on his face about ASU's roster, following Drew's response.
“I’m right behind him," Bennett said. "I’m trying to figure it out. If we don’t lose anybody or gain anybody this week, then we’ll have a pretty good idea about who’s on our team. But we've got a lot of work to do.”
Reach Dana Scott at dana.scott@azcentral.com. Follow him on Instagram @iam_danascott and X, formerly Twitter, @mr_danascott.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How GCU, ASU basketball programs build their rosters among NIL changes
