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While a lot of people get excited about big programs like Louisville getting name players like Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad, I enjoy the less-heralded moves, specifically when programs pick up interesting players to fill a role. Here are some moves that I have really liked the past few days, in no particular order.
- Brant Byers transfers from Miami Ohio to Penn State. While it stinks to see contributing players leave Miami Ohio's great team from last season, Byers going to Penn State is a great pickup for the Nittany Lions. While Byers needs to put on muscle for the Big Ten, he can really shoot the ball, as seen during the first half of the First Four game against SMU. Byers is apparently from Scotland, Pennsylvania, so give credit to Penn State for bringing him back to his home state.
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- Cooper Bowser transfers from Furman to Arkansas. At 6'11'' and 215 pounds, Bowser seems to be a perfect Arkansas big man, lanky and able to stretch the floor, someone to help fill the void left by Trevon Brazile. While Furman struggled to block out UCONN's Tarris Reed Jr. in the first round, Bowser brings high-energy activity that matches Arkansas' style of play.
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- Devin Royal transfers from Ohio State to Villanova. I have always respected Royal's game after he had a good performance at Illinois two seasons ago. While Royal was rumored to go to UCONN, he ends up at another Big East program where he can be a plug-and-play starter and role player/glue guy who brings toughness.
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- Jaylen Carey transfers from Tennessee to Missouri. Carey is a bit of an undersized power forward who can rebound and pass the ball. He is built like a truck and will bring toughness to Missouri's front line. Carey was a great catalyst off the bench for Tennessee during the Volunteers' run to the Elite Eight, where he almost got into a physical altercation with Morez Johnson Jr. that would have been a scary showdown between two behemoths.
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- Derek Dixon transfers from North Carolina to Arizona & JJ Mandaquit transfers from Washington to Arizona. Tommy Lloyd is losing a lot in the backcourt after a Final Four run with Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley. Lloyd did a great job with a former UNC player Caleb Love, which bodes well for Dixon, who is leaving Chapel Hill with Hubert Davis gone and Mike Malone in. Mandaquit was a sneaky player for Washington who showed a lot of potential. Lloyd seems to get the most out of his guards so I like this pivot to incoming sophomore guards who could be with the program for a few years, ideally .
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- Christian Hammond transfers from Santa Clara to North Carolina State. From what I saw of the sophomore Hammond during the WCC Final against Gonzaga and a first-round loss to Kentucky, I really, really liked. Hammond plays hard and does not have much fear getting into the lane and hitting from the mid-range. He is a great piece for new N.C. State Head Coach Justin Gainey.
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- David Punch transfers from TCU to Texas. While saddled with fouls during the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament, the undersized Punch impressed with his ability to facilitate offense from the free-throw line in and battle down low. Texas is having a strong portal season so far with the additions of the 6'7'' Punch and Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson.
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- Iowa State adds five players from the portal. While the Cyclones are losing Milan Momcilovic to either the NBA or another school, Iowa State has already added five players in guard Ryan Prather Jr. from Robert Morris, forward Tre Singleton from Northwestern, guard Jaquan Johnson from Bradley, power forward Taj Manning from Kansas State, and small forward Leon Bond from Northern Iowa. I am not going to lie and pretend that I know much about these players beyond Singleton, but I do know that Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger has one of the best cultures going in college basketball. Otzelberger has been quick and effective in identifying and landing players who fit his program and should be able to contribute right away.
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