Transfers FROM and TO the 5 Teams:
UC-San Diego: PF Stephen Leith was unhappy with Coach Yamoto since he played little as a freshman, was unlikely to win a starting role, and wanted solid minutes so he transferred. Coach Yamoto released PG Lance Rhodes who redshirted in his first year at UC-San Diego and then last season played in all games but only averaged 4.3 mpg. Rhodes wanted solid minutes but wouldn’t have gotten them on the Tritons. Therefore there were 2 scholarships to fill with the need for a good scoring guard and good rebounding big man.
Coach Ken Yamoto’s comments after the transfer period: “We had plenty of money in our recruiting budget so I maximized my contacts with transfer players. One of the two I initially made offers to eventually accepted. I made a series of offers to two interior players who we were close to signing but ultimately missed out on. I then made an offer to third interior player and he accepted. So we filled both available scholarships. The first player who accepted is SG Devante Botts. He’s a 6’4” sophomore who as a freshman played for James Madison, averaging 15.5 ppg, 2.3 apg, and 4.4 rpg and was named the Conference N Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Conference 1st Team. He’s a very sound player on both ends of the court but is known to have a bit of an attitude. Since we were weak at the guard positions, he will be a big asset as our starting SG this season. The second player transferring to us is 6’9” sophomore PF Camara McWilliams who played very little for Eastern Washington as a freshman. But he’s significantly improved on his skills and is a solid player who I believe will score and rebound well for us. He’s likely to start at either C or PF this season. So a good haul and both transfer players will fill big holes on our roster and greatly improve our team.”
MD-Eastern Shore: No one transferring. No available scholarships to fill. Coach Mike McMillan said, “I would have loved to pick up a talented transfer player. But we’re relatively strong at all 5 positions with good depth, so I preferred to maintain team cohesiveness rather than to cut a player to try to make a bit on an upgrade.”
Alcorn State: C Rick Kraft, PG Jameel Miller, and PF Anthony Hanganu, all of whom were sophomore and wanted a new start somewhere else, transferred away from the Braves. All 3 played little as freshmen. Alcorn State has 3 scholarships to fill and needs 2 SG’s and a big man.
Coach Ramon Montez’s comments after the transfer period: “I’m extremely happy with how we did. We lassoed 3 very good players, 2 guards and an interior players…just what the doctor ordered. The first player to transfer to us was 6’3’ sophomore SG Andy Carney. He started last season for Denver where he averaged 13.9 ppg, 2.5 apg, and 4.0 rpg and shot very well from all over the court and at the free throw line. He was named to the All-Conference 1st Team for Conference Q. The second guard we landed was 6’2” senior Dan Hodge who played 3 seasons for Monmouth. As a freshman he averaged 7.6 ppg coming off the bench then started all games as a sophomore and averaged 13.3 ppg. But after being relegated to the bench as a junior and averaging 6.0 ppg, he wanted to again start. Like Carney, he's a high percentage shooter from all over the court and at the line. We missed out on a couple big men, but then signed 6’6” PF Rob Daniels who started all games at Sacred Heart last season as a freshman. He averaged 8.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg and should be a good rebounder and shot blocker for us. My expectation is that both Carney and Hodge will be starters and Daniels will compete for a starting position.”
Western Illinois: PF Charles Jones, PG Martin Dixon, and PG Jonathan Bailey, all juniors, wanted to play their natural positions and felt there was too much competition so they left. All 3 players have been reserves as freshmen and sophomores and most likely would have again subbed this season. The Leathernecks have 3 unfilled scholarships and want to get a guard, a big man, and the best player available regardless of position.
Coach Terry Morillo had this to say after the transfer sessions concluded: “We struck gold early. After contacting the guys we wanted, we the made offers and all 3 accepted. I think our big catch was 6’6” Ty Wilfork who played SF for Valparaiso as a freshman and averaged 15.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, and 3.3 rpg. The guy has the tools to play any position for us, but I believe he’s mostly like to start at one of the guard positions, maybe even PG. He shoots well from outside (and scored 38 points in one game last season) and is a good passer. We also picked up 6’1” sophomore SG Tevis Tahid. He averaged 7.1 ppg, 1.4 apg, and 3.6 rpg as a starter last season for Montana State. I believe he will do even better for us. And we also got an excellent interior player in 6’6” sophomore PF Idris Bass who came off the bench for Alabama State as a freshman and averaged 5.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg. He had a chip on his shoulder last season since he wanted to start. He’s a strong enough rebounder and scorer that he’ll be competing for a starting role for us and hopefully we can keep him happy.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: SF Randy Kickert and C Delvon Palmer both wanted a chance to play their natural positions so departed. Kickert played little laswt season as a freshman but had a good chance of starting at PF this season, but no chance of starting at SF. Palmer was a starter as a freshman but came in off the bench in his sophomore season and was likely to do the same this season. Coach Spencer then cut sophomore PG Erik Taylor who didn’t play as a freshman and was unlikely to play much this season. Since the Golden Lions also didn’t fill their last remaining available scholarship through recruiting last season, they have 4 scholarships to fill and would like to get 3 guards and a big men.
Coach Dontell Spencer’s comments regarding incoming transfers: “We landed 4 transfer players. While I was shooting for higher quality players, I’m pretty happy with the 4 we got. We picked up 2 players pretty early but the final 2 took us a while to get. 6’2” Albert Taylor was a starter at SG for Cal State Northridge. He’s not yet developed the overall skills that will likely make him a starter as a sophomore for us, but since he scored 14.7 ppg and had 3.1 apg and 3.1 rpg last season, he could come into games to light a fire for us this year. Our next signing was C Trent Harris, a 6’10” sophomore who comes to us after subbing for Niagara last season and averaging 2.5 ppg and 1.6 rpg. But he’s developing quickly and may challenge for a starting role before you upcoming season concludes. Our third transfer player is guard Jerome King, a 6’4” junior who broke his leg last season but was able to start 14 games during which he averaged 11.2 ppg, 2.7 apg, and 3.5 rpg. He has a good chance of starting for us at PG. The final transfer player coming our way is C Lou McFall, a 6’9” sophomore. Playing for Oklahoma State last season, he came in off the bench to average 4.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg before he tore his ACL. He’s not expected to fully recover for another 5-6 months. So he could be ready to provide depth inside for us as we go into conference play, although we may redshirt him to allow him to not only fully recover, but also gain familiarity with our sets and save a year of eligibility.”