Family portal drama continues as Madden Iamaleava follows brother to UCLA

Zeno Jo

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Family portal drama continues as Madden Iamaleava follows brother to UCLA image

© JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK

It's been a busy past few weeks in the Iamaleava family, but it's only getting busier.

Just days after Nico Iamaleava committed to UCLA after reported disputes on NIL earnings at Tennessee, his younger brother has also entered the transfer portal and committed to UCLA.

Madden Iamaleava, set to be a true freshman this fall, was undergoing his first spring with Arkansas, the school that he unexpectedly flipped his commitment to after being committed to UCLA. It was reported earlier that UCLA was blindsided by that decision, and could use the flip as leverage to pay Nico less than the $4 million that he was demanding.

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The shock will now rest on the Razorbacks, though, as Iamaleava's departure from the program also seems to have materialized from nothing.

"He’s done really well, especially coming off his – you know, he didn’t play his senior year,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said a few days ago. “Very mature. Well-coached out of high school. And, but, yeah, I think he’s made a ton of improvement and I think you’ll see that throughout the rest of the spring and then, you know, the summer and, and fall camp.”

There was no indication that the freshman quarterback might be on his way out, but now he lands in his home state with his older brother at UCLA.

"It remains to be seen if his brother follows suit by moving back to his home state, or if Madden Iamaleava is simply looking to find the right fit for him under center," On3's Barkley Truax said.

Iamaleava, a Long Beach, California native, was a four-star recruit coming out of high school according to 247 Sports. Given that his brother will be playing his sophomore season this upcoming fall, a redshirt season to develop under him at UCLA could help the Bruins fill their long-term quarterback needs.

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Zeno Jo

Zeno is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has experience covering South Korean soccer, NCAA sports and esports. Since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2023, he has written for The Champaign Room and Illini Inquirer, among other outlets.