Liberty forward Blake Preston has entered the transfer portal, as first reported by Verbal Commits. He has one season of eligibility remaining as he can utilize an extra COVID year. Preston has confirmed the news on his personal social media accounts.

The 6’9″, 230 pound Preston, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and Charlotte Christian School, has spent the past five seasons at Liberty. After redshirting in 2018-19, he played in 109 games over the previous four seasons while making 51 starts. In his career, Preston has averages of 6.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 61.8% from the field.

This past season, Preston played in all 35 games for the Flames while making 22 starts. He averaged 17.3 minutes per game to go along with 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting a career best 66% from the field.

Preston joined the Flames in the same recruiting class as Darius McGhee. His redshirt-freshman season, Blake played behind seniors Scottie James and Myo Baxter-Bell while appearing in 14 games. Following their departure, Preston was inserted into the starting lineup for the 2020-21 campaign. He averaged 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds that season with four double-doubles.

“The last five years have been some of the best and most transformative years of my life,” Preston stated in his announcement. “I have gotten to experience Liberty University’s mission of ‘Training Champions for Christ’ through Coach McKay and his staff. They have embodied this through their commitment to develop me not just as an athlete but also as a man of God.”

“In my 5 years, I’ve made incredible relationships that have rewritten the lens I view things through,” Preston continued. “I am so thankful for every person who has invested in me during my time at Liberty. Liberty is a very special place to my wife and me and this will always be our home and community. We will forever be Flames.”

“After thorough discussion and prayer, I have decided to enter the transfer portal with 1 year of eligibility. I am excited for what doors God will open and the opportunity to build more relationships while playing the game I love.”

With Preston’s departure, Liberty currently has one scholarship available for the 2023-24 season. The Flames have previously signed Curtis Blair and Kai Yu who will join the team this summer.