Former Maryland forward Elijah Saunders is back on the market.
Saunders has entered the transfer portal and will try to find another college basketball stop for the 2026-27 season. He was part of the group of athletes who joined the eligibility suit in California last week, taking advantage of the recent court ruling and the new five-for-five eligibility as a former four-star in the 2022 class.
His move comes as late roster churn keeps spreading across the sport. Saunders became the second former Big Ten player to enter the portal on Tuesday, joining former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, who suited up in the NBA Summer League.
Maryland, though, is off the table. Alek K’Medehouto’s arrival filled the Terps’ 15th and final roster spot, and it also marked the seventh transfer portal addition of the offseason for head coach Buzz Williams.
That leaves Saunders searching elsewhere after one season in College Park. He also becomes the second player from last year’s Maryland team, along with Rakease Passmore, to look for a new home in 2026-27.
Williams had praised Saunders before the regular season after he arrived from Virginia, where he posted 10.4 points and five rebounds in his lone year. Maryland expected him to be a major part of its year-one identity, but Pharrel Payne’s season-ending injury changed Saunders’ role. He ended up averaging nine points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 44.1% from the floor and 41.1% from three in his lone season with the Terps.
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