Transfers/Seniors with Remaining Eligibility

[nescac1]

Interesting, WUPHF.  In New England, Nichols and St. Joseph's have both benefited from D1 or high level JUCO transfers in recent years, so I'd be keeping a close eye on them as potential late transfer destinations.  One big-time guy added could vault either into a higher level of contention. 

I think this year is already one in which D1 transfers will probably have a bigger impact than any year in D3 history (in addition to NYU, Mount Union, Bethel, and especially John Carroll -- that we know of, most likely there are others -- will be significantly impacted by incoming D1 guys).  The COVID effect continues to wreak havoc with prognostication, and probably will for another year (at least) after this one ...   

[stlawus]

The Liberty League has had a few in recent years as well, SLU last year brought in 2 alone.  Ithaca's best player last season was a D1 transfer.  Before the pandemic I can't ever really recall that happening in the league.  Plenty of players in the league have transferred to D1, but not from.   

One league I would keep an eye out for this is the SUNYAC.  You mentioned rolling admissions, and with most SUNY schools having late application/enrollment deadlines it's easier for them to get late additions.

[y_jack_lok]

Not your typical point guard mix tape.  Very interesting.

I did see a stat that suggested that 43% of Division I who entered the portal have yet to find a team.

Those guys are not going to play at NYU, but there are enough open and rolling admissions schools that players could find a home at a Fontbonne or Webster or some other school.

As an educational institution I think Webster could appeal to some potential D1 transfers, depending on their field of study. As a basketball program -- hard to say.

[WUPHF]

As an educational institution I think Webster could appeal to some potential D1 transfers, depending on their field of study. As a basketball program -- hard to say.

This is the philosophical question...

For a player who is a year or more past the photo shoots and press releases that come with signing with a Division I team and then going through the process of leaving a program and every other opportunity they have at their current institution...

Is giving up on basketball altogether and remaining a student at directional state university better than going elsewhere and playing?  Especially when, as mentioned, there are great educational opportunities at institutions such as Webster.

I imagine that the answer will be yes for most students, but I am surprised we have not seen more make the move than we have already.

I think about a guy like Hakim Harris who played at two Division I institutions and then transferred to NYU.  He was good enough to play in the Ivy League, but clearly enjoyed his final season at NYU and made the most of it.

[Gregory Sager]

Not your typical point guard mix tape.  Very interesting.

I did see a stat that suggested that 43% of Division I who entered the portal have yet to find a team.

Those guys are not going to play at NYU, but there are enough open and rolling admissions schools that players could find a home at a Fontbonne or Webster or some other school.

As an educational institution I think Webster could appeal to some potential D1 transfers, depending on their field of study. As a basketball program -- hard to say.

Someday there's going to be a stud in the D1 transfer portal who really likes chess, and then we're all gonna be sorry.

[WUPHF]

That reminds me of that time that Webster had billboards advertising the chess program and had a few members of the chess team suited up in basketball uniforms.  There was some consternation among the athletes of the other sports.

[y_jack_lok]

About 12 years ago, I think it was 2010-11, Webster had a D1 caliber player, Willie Trimble, for that one season. He made an otherwise decent team quite good, but not good enough to get out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Augustana by quite a bit.

[nescac1]

Nichols posted its preliminary roster and for the second year in a row brings in some high profile transfers:

Quincy Ferebee, who was a rotation player at U. Portland, and Tavon Jones, who was on the roster at NIU but was injured.  Both have very strong H.S. credentials. 

In addition, Devin Wade-Henderson played one game for Alcorn State as a frosh before going to a JUCO, so he could be interesting as well, and there seems to be some other JUCO guys as well.  Nichols has its four transfers from last year (one D1, one D2, two high-level JUCO guys including one who was hurt but could be a star) back as well, so it's clear that the coach there is going to build his program in ways that worked out very well for Cabrini and Rowan way back when.  They should be a team to watch going forward, given the level of transfer player they have attracted over the past two years ...

[Greek Tragedy]

They basically have the same guys, including the new transfers, minus Matt Morrow. Matt Alectus was listed as a grad student last year and he's listed as a senior on the preliminary roster. They should be an exciting team to follow again.

[nescac1]

Correction to an earlier post - Drew Lutz transferred to Bethel (IN), not MN ... whoops!

[nescac1]

Here's a list (I'm sure not complete) of especially significant players listed as seniors on the roster but with (I believe) a year of eligibility remaining. Many of these guys may earn higher level looks, if interested, and many could be difference-makers for contending teams.  All guys to keep an eye on in 2023:

Jeff Hunter - Keene State
Dylan Thoerner - Tufts
Miles Mallory - RMC
Josh Talbert - RMC
Levi Borchert - Oshkosh
Josh Angle - CMC
Austin Grunder - Cortland
John Lowther - WPI
Josiah Johnson - MHB
Daniel Carr - Augustana
Brendan Mora - Pomona
Ryan Clement - HSC
Jack Clement - OWU

RMC in particular will be crazy loaded if Talbert and Mallory stick around.  Lowther is WPI's only senior of note.  Same with Clement on HSC.  If Hunter returns Keene will be again be loaded.

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ I do not have any inside information, but it would surprise me if Mallory and Talbert return for another year art R-MC. They've already won a National Championship. Maybe, in the unlikely event R-MC wins it all again this coming March, they might want to stick around to attempt a three-peat. But it makes more sense to me for guys to move on with their lives.

[nescac1]

I would think one or both of the RMC guys would attract some D1 interest, if they want to go for a scholarship.  Both a bit undersized for that level, but elite two-way athletes and can't argue with the big game production.

[stlawus]

Grunder is also 24, or will be very soon.  Doubt he comes back for another year.

[nescac1]

Update on this list. So far I've not seen anything to indicate that anyone on this list is returning, except for Jeff Hunter, who will be back after putting up first team all American numbers this season:

https://www.keene.edu/news/stories/detail/for-jeff-hunter-owl-basketball-team-winning-has-become-habit-forming/

Keene returns all but one rotation player, Cichon, a solid role player.  They should be absolutely loaded next year with all the key guys back plus a full year of Tahmeen Dupree - a potential preseason number one.  And Hunter, a workout warrior who has improved quite a bit each season, will surely be the consensus pre-season POTY.