Plenty Of Schools Relying On Multiple Impact Transfers
STEVE MEGARGEE, AP Sports Writer
The large number of transfers in college basketball creates opportunities for guys to shine at one school after starting their careers elsewhere.
Here's a look at some of this season's potential impact transfers, with their former schools in parentheses. As you can see from this list, some schools could benefit from the presence of multiple transfers.
It's worth noting, this list easily could have included Oregon guard Dylan Ennis, who played for Villanova last season. But a foot injury is expected to keep Ennis out for the start of the season.
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ARIZONA F RYAN ANDERSON (BOSTON COLLEGE)
Anderson posted scoring averages in double figures each of his three seasons at Boston College. In his final season with Boston College in 2013-14, he averaged 14.3 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Anderson had 19 points and 10 rebounds Sunday in the 12th-ranked Wildcats' exhibition victory over Chico State. "We have had some great forwards, like Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Aaron Gordon, but I would say Ryan is just as good if not better than them," Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski said.
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BOSTON COLLEGE G ELI CARTER (FLORIDA)
Carter is a 1,000-point career scorer who led Rutgers in scoring each of his two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He averaged 8.8 points per game for Florida last season. As a graduate transfer, the 6-foot-2 guard can play for Boston College immediately and should be a major factor for a team with only one returning starter. Carter had 33 points and 10 rebounds in Boston College's exhibition victory over Bentley.
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MARYLAND F ROBERT CARTER (GEORGIA TECH) and G RASHEED SULAIMON (DUKE)
This former ACC program should get help from a couple of former ACC players. Carter, a 6-9 junior, averaged 11.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 2013-14. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the third-ranked Terrapins' exhibition victory over Southern New Hampshire. Sulaimon, a 6-4 senior, averaged 7.5 points in 20 games at Duke last season before getting dismissed from the team. A former Maryland player also should emerge as an impact transfer this year. Virginia Tech guard Seth Allen averaged 13.4 points per game for the Terps in 2013-14.
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CONNECTICUT G STERLING GIBBS (SETON HALL) and SHONN MILLER (CORNELL)
Gibbs and Miller join No. 20 Connecticut as graduate transfers after playing for their old teams last season. Gibbs, a 6-2 guard who began his career at Texas, ranked fourth in the Big East in scoring (16.3) and fifth in assists (3.8) last season. Miller, who is 6-7, ranked second in the Ivy League in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (8.5) last season. He averaged 7.5 defensive rebounds per game to rank sixth among all Division I players. Miller averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds in Connecticut's two preseason exhibition games.
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MICHIGAN STATE G ERON HARRIS (WEST VIRGINIA)
Harris, a 6-3 junior, averaged 17.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for West Virginia in 2013-14 before sitting out the 2014-15 season. Harris should provide the 13th-ranked Spartans with a perimeter weapon after ranking third in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage (.422) and fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.7) in 2013-14. North Carolina State guard Terry Henderson is another West Virginia transfer who should make an impact. Harris scored 11.7 points per game for the Mountaineers in 2013-14.
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LOUISVILLE G DAMION LEE (DREXEL) and G TREY LEWIS (CLEVELAND STATE)
These two graduate transfers get a chance to deliver on a bigger stage after playing well for mid-major programs earlier in their careers. Lee, who is 6-6, averaged 21.4 points per game last season at Drexel to rank fourth among all Division I players. He averaged 23.6 points per game during Louisville's summer exhibition tour of Puerto Rico. Lewis, a 6-2 guard who began his career at Penn State, ranked fifth in the Horizon League in scoring (16.3) and 10th in assists (2.9) at Cleveland State last season.
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AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.
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