Princeton's standout forward Caden Pierce, the reigning 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year, has announced his decision to redshirt the upcoming season. This strategic move allows him to complete his degree before entering the NCAA transfer portal and playing his final collegiate season elsewhere in 2026-27. Pierce shared his plans exclusively with ESPN, emphasizing that this decision was not made lightly.

A Strategic Decision

Pierce informed Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson of his decision last week. This development comes amid a busy offseason for the Tigers, which saw Xaivian Lee, a first-team All-Ivy League guard, transfer to Florida, and Henderson making significant changes to his coaching staff.

"This decision is nothing against Princeton," Pierce said. "Princeton is forever my home, the school that believed in me coming out of high school. Everything we accomplished is far more than I could have ever imagined. What went into the decision: some of my teammates were leaving, two of our assistant coaches weren't retained. And obviously, the current landscape of college basketball is always sitting in the back of your mind. Those things kind of guided my decision."

Navigating the Transfer Portal

Pierce, represented by Priority Sports, plans to enter the transfer portal as soon as he is eligible in the fall. This early entry will give him ample time to evaluate his options and avoid the rushed process typically associated with the postseason transfer window.

"It takes away the speed-dating process of the postseason transfer portal," he explained. "It's going to be interesting because I'm not going to have a sense of what the complete roster makeup is going to be for the coming year. Then again, going through the transfer portal process, you never really know. It's going to be more of a high school recruiting process, I'd like to think. Because I won't be involved with the team, I can take some visits here and there, move at a slower pace, it won't have to be so rushed."

A Stellar Career at Princeton

Pierce, a 6-foot-7 forward, has been a cornerstone of Princeton's basketball program. He started 89 games over three seasons, playing a pivotal role in the Tigers' Sweet 16 run in 2023. As a freshman, he earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors and grabbed 16 rebounds in a second-round NCAA tournament victory over Missouri.

His sophomore season was a breakout year, averaging 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, earning him the Ivy League Player of the Year title. Among the 22 low- and mid-major conference players of the year in 2023-24, Pierce was the only one to return to the same school the following season. Despite opportunities to transfer after his sophomore campaign, he chose to stay with the Tigers for his junior year.

Overcoming Adversity

Pierce battled through injury during his junior season, suffering a severe ankle injury in late December that resulted in two fully torn ligaments and two partially torn ligaments. Despite the pain, he continued to contribute, averaging 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, and was named to the second-team All-Ivy League.

"I probably could have sat out and recovered a little bit more," Pierce admitted. "But I'm a competitor."

A Rare Move in Ivy League Basketball

While many Ivy League athletes transfer for their final season due to the conference's ban on graduate students participating in athletics, it's rare for a player to voluntarily redshirt before leaving. Brown forward Nana Owusu-Anane underwent shoulder surgery last October before transferring to Grand Canyon this spring, but Pierce's decision to redshirt is a unique strategy.

Looking Ahead

Pierce will represent Team USA on its U23 3x3 team later this month but will then face several months without competitive basketball. "I'm prepared for it to be difficult, but I won't know how difficult until I'm in that situation," he said. "I can't remember the last time I took a year off from competitive basketball -- probably before I started playing basketball. I hate that I have to step away from a place I love so much. Princeton's my home."

Pierce's decision underscores the evolving landscape of college basketball, where players are increasingly making strategic decisions to maximize their academic and athletic opportunities.