Seton Hall Scores Big: Meet the Transfer Wing Poised to Shake Up the Court

Basketball fans know the true value of a sharpshooter, and Seton Hall has been hunting for one like a prospector striking gold. Turns out, they may have struck a vein with Jacob Dar, a lanky 6-foot-7 wing who spent last season lighting it up for Rice. Making his move through the transfer portal, Dar’s arrival at Seton Hall adds not just length, but a promising scoring touch that teams cautiously guard their wallets for these days. But there’s more to the story—his journey is as impressive as his shooting stroke. From his roots in South Sudan to rising steadily through the ranks of college hoops, Dar brings a blend of grit, skill, and untapped potential into the Pirates’ fold. Curious about what this junior swingman really offers? Let’s break down the three key things you need to know about Seton Hall’s newest weapon. LEARN MORE

Making his Division I debut with Rice in 2024-25, Dar averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game, shooting .406 from the field, .370 from 3-point range and .746 from the free-throw line.In a 3-point loss to Memphis in February, Dar posted 17 points on 4-of-10 shooting (including 3-of-5 from deep), grabbed eight rebounds (five offensive) and blocked three shots. The effort caught the attention of Tigers coach Penny Hardaway, who recruited him this offseason.Guards (4): Budd Clark, TJ Simpkins, A.J. Staton-McCray, Jahseem Felton.

1. He came on strong this past season

The Seton Hall basketball program’s search for shooters – probably the priciest attribute on the free-agent market, along with rim protectors – has landed one in the transfer portal.

Rice listed Dar as a junior; it’s unclear if he can gain an extra year of eligibility due to his injury as a freshman.

A reported 7-foot wingspan coupled with vertical explosion (he had 19 blocks and 16 dunks in 2024-25) added to the allure.Memphis had him on campus for a visit, and Gonzaga, West Virginia and Minnesota were among the notable programs that reached out to him. Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway was the Pirates’ lead recruiter on this one.Here are three things to know about the 6-foot-7 junior.

2. He’s taken a long road here

Dar was born in South Sudan and came to the United States at age 2. He was raised in Utah and Nebraska and attended Freedom Christian Academy in North Carolina. He’s grown three inches since his sophomore year of high school.

Jacob Dar, a wing who played at Rice this past season, committed to the Pirates.Bigs (2): Godswill Erheriene, Stephon Payne.

3. He was heavily recruited in the portal

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at [email protected].Rice finished 13-19 overall and 4-14 in the American Athletic Conference.

Seton Hall’s projected 2025-26 depth chart

Over two years of Division 2 ball with Emory & Henry University in Virginia, including a truncated freshman season when he was limited to 10 games due to an injury, he shot 45 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from 3-point range and 77.3 percent from the free-throw line. He also made the college’s honor roll both years and received an academic achievement award as a sophomore.Against North Texas, the AAC’s second-place squad, Dar tallied 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed eight boards (four offensive). Against third-place UAB he racked up 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting (including 4-of-7 from deep) to go along with six boards, two assists and two blocks.  Wings (3): Elijah Fisher, Jacob Dar, Joshua RiveraHowever, he came on strong in American Athletic Conference action, moving into the starting lineup and averaging 10.4 points and 4.2 boards while shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range in AAC games. That ranked fifth in the league in 3-point percentage.