CORRECTION: The original version of this article listed Connor Yarborough as a junior. He is a freshman. Elon News Network regrets this error.
Nick Dorn, a former member of Elon’s men’s basketball team, entered the NCAA transfer portal on March 25 and announced his commitment to Indiana University on April 24. After reviewing game footage and discussing his decision with his coaches and family, Dorn decided that transferring would give him a better opportunity to reach the professional level.
“I've given a lot of thought to it, really just watching film break down, talking to different people, coaches, and I just thought that was the best decision I could make to give me the best chance of going to the NBA,” Dorn said.
Dorn, a sophomore shooting guard and small forward, originally chose Elon out of high school because it allowed him to play early and make an immediate impact. One of his favorite memories at Elon was helping the Phoenix defeat Notre Dame — the program's first win over a Power Four opponent since 2012 — when Dorn scored 24 points.
Dorn’s transfer to Indiana is a step up to a Big Ten program with rich basketball history, including 41 NCAA Tournament appearances and five national championships. Elon, by contrast, has never made the NCAA Tournament in its Division I history. TK Simpkins announced his transfer to the University of Oregon, which is another Big Ten Conference school on April 9, while TJ Simpkins will transfer to Seton Hall, a program with 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.
While his goal remains to play in the NBA, Dorn said he is open to different paths that could help him achieve it and understands the continued effort it will take.
“My end goal is the NBA, but there are different routes you can take to get there, and I wouldn’t be opposed to any route to get there,” Dorn said “I've been working my whole life for it so it would feel surreal, but when I get there, it's still gonna be a lot of work to stay there.”
Elon basketball manager and freshman Connor Yarborough said reaching the NBA is difficult because of the high level of physical competition and the detailed evaluation players undergo before the draft.
“I think it's really difficult for everyone to make it to the NBA, just because there is a clear difference in talent and skill. Quite frankly, it's a different level of physical competition that a lot of people can't handle,” Yarborough said.
Only about 1.1% of NCAA Division I men's basketball players make it to the NBA, according to the NCAA’s data from April 2024.
Still, Dorn remains confident in his journey. He said he often tells himself affirmations to stay motivated.
“I can’t be stopped,” Dorn said.