When Rider Portela joined the Colorado Buffaloes, he was projected as the only freshman in CU’s 2026 recruiting class.
Seven months later, when Rider went through his first official workout at Colorado, his face was just one of many in what grew into a bloated rookie class.
Portela’s journey to Boulder might not quite qualify as the sort of thing that is becoming a dying breed in college basketball, but in an era of massive roster overhauls every spring, landing early signees out of high school no longer is the norm.
Signing early also is a different prospect for recruits, who rarely stay with the program they originally pledged with for the duration of their careers. CU last four-year player was guard Julian Hammond III, who graduated after the 2024-25 season, and the Buffs won’t have another unless anyone from the current trio of sophomores — Jalin Holland, Ian Inman and Josiah Sanders — remains at CU through the 2028-29 season.
Only time will chart the course of Portela’s career. But the rookie wing says he as a short-term partnership.
“I definitely want to be here all four years,” Portela said. “My dad’s definitely built that in me. I’m not one of those people that just kind of chases money or fame or anything like that. I kind of want to chase just getting better. I feel like this place is perfect for me.”
The son of a coach, Portela was the only recruit signed by the Buffs on the annual November signing day. CU’s rookie class grew dramatically during the spring, though, as head coach Tad Boyle added Alex Dickeson, Chase Hill, Eric Jacobsen, Amir Jones, Goc Malual, and Luke Mirhashemi. Seven of the 15 players on the Buffs’ roster are freshmen, and that doesn’t include transfer David Gomez, who played just two games as a freshman at Charlotte last year before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Like his fellow freshmen, the summer workouts with the Buffs marked new ground for Portela. Yet unlike his new classmates, this summer has marked the first time Portela hasn’t been coached by his father.
“Itap a little different, but itap really new and I like it,” Portela said. “Me and my dad’s relationship grew over time, both with that father-son and coach-and-player. Going here, I think coach Boyle is kind of like my dad, and that really contributed to me coming here. He’s a great coach and always on the players to get really better. And he’s a defensive guy too, which is what I really bring to the table. Thatap what my dad saw, and I think itap what coach Boyle sees as well.”
Born and raised in Arizona, the 6-foot-6 Portela fits the mold of the bigger, versatile wings favored by Boyle during his 16 seasons as CU’s head coach. While itap far too soon to predict which of the rookies might have an opportunity to crack the rotation, Portela has used the summer sessions to get acclimated to his new home.
“Itap been eye-opening a little bit, but at the same time itap really been helpful,” Portela said. “Just getting better here on my own, kind of seeing who I really am and who I can really be. The game’s a lot faster, but I’ve gotten better at that. I’m not saying I’m there right now, but I know I will be.”
