Don't like your basketball roster? Just wait five minutes
“If you don’t like the weather in New England now, just wait five minutes” – Mark Twain
You could say something quite similar about basketball in the Southeastern Conference. You don’t like your roster? Wait five minutes. As Bob Dylan might say, the times, they are a changing.
As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, there were 1,376 Division I basketball players with their names in the NCAA transfer portal. For those who find a new place to play basketball, not a one of them will have to sit out an entire season since the NCAA has approved legislation that eliminates the one-year sit out penalty for transfers. If you were of the opinion that things couldn’t get more chaotic with the daily reports of players coming and going not just in the SEC but all over the nation, then think again. The new legislation is only going to increase the number of kids who believe there is a better place to showcase their basketball talents. Since a kid who puts his name in the transfer portal has to be in good academic standing to leave his school and be eligible at the next, things will get wild and wooly in the next few weeks. Once the spring semester ends and everyone knows if he will be academically eligible to find a new place to play, the already bulging transfer portal is going to burst at the seams.
Some are already saying the wild, wild west of Dodge City and Tombstone days will seem tame by comparison.
Of the 14 teams in the SEC, only Alabama avoided losing a player to transfer. Bama did, however, dip into the transfer portal to bring in two players who will likely start next season. Missouri was hit the hardest with six transferring out to join the three who declared their pro intentions, leaving Cuonzo Martin to fill nine vacancies on his roster. So far he has added three transfers to go with four high school signees. He has two open scholarships and is actively seeking two more from the transfer portal.
At Florida, fans have gone from the depths of transfer despair to a stunning roster rebuild in record time. Following Tre Mann’s declaration for the NBA – much expected and a smart move on his part since he will go in the top half of the draft – four transferred out in staccato succession followed by the surprising decision by Scottie Lewis to turn pro and hire an agent after what can only be deemed as a roller coaster season. At that point, with rumors swirling that the screen door might hit others in the butt on the way out, Mike White calmly went to work in the transfer portal and in a matter of two weeks has attracted four players who will – on paper at least – give the Gators a stronger and more competitive roster next season.
The most difficult to replace of the outgoing players will be Mann, who made first team All-SEC by averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.1 blocked shots per game. Mann was Florida’s most consistent player all season but he improved dramatically in the final month to go from a late first to early second NBA prospect into one who has a legitimate shot at the lottery. As for the other five departing players, consistency was hard to find. If you add Mann’s productivity to that of the five other players who are leaving – Lewis, Noah Locke, Omar Payne, Ques Glover and Osayi Osifo – and it totals 42.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.6 blocked shots that have to be replaced.
The incoming foursome of Brandon McKissic (from Missouri-Kansas City), Myreon Jones (from Penn State), C.J. Felder (from Boston College) and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (from Charleston Southern) combined to produce 62.3 points, 19.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 5.6 steals and 3.3 blocked shots per game. From a purely statistical standpoint, White has upgraded his roster substantially.
McKissic was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Summit League and a finalist for the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 17.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. He shot 50.8 percent overall and 42.9 percent from the 3-point line.
Jones was Penn State’s leading scorer, averaging 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. He shot 39.5 percent on his 3-pointers, 77.3 percent on his free throws and turned the ball over only 31 times in 25 games.
Felder plays much bigger than his 6-7, 235-pound frame would indicate. At Boston College he was good for 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.2 blocked shots per game. He has three full years of eligibility remaining.
The most recent piece in the rebuild is Fleming, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Big South Conference. Last season on a vertically challenged team where he was sometimes the tallest player for CSU, Fleming averaged 20.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocked shots.
There remain a couple of question marks for White, who may have as many as three open roster spots to fill. Colin Castleton is exploring his NBA Draft status without hiring an agent. He is almost certain to return next season. Keyontae Johnson remains on scholarship but there has been no indication whether or not he will be able to return. It is possible that Johnson will remain on scholarship into the fall while continuing treatment for the medical condition that led to his collapse on the floor in Tallahassee last December. If he is unable to play Johnson could be given a medical hardship which allows him to remain on scholarship without it counting against the NCAA mandated 13 for men’s basketball.
Assuming Castleton returns and Johnson is not cleared medically, White could bring in two more players to fill out his roster. He needs to bring in another true point guard and someone 6-9 or better to give added size coming off the bench when Castleton needs to sit. How many of these will he find in the transfer portal and how many will be high school signees? We will have to wait to find out.
THE FLORIDA ROSTER AS OF APRIL 15
Back for one more year (5): Tyrie Appleby (6-1, 172, RJR); Anthony Duruji (6-7, 220, RJR); Jason Jitoboh (6-11, 285, SO); Samson Ruzhentsev (6-7, 192, FR); Neils Lane (6-5, 205, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (2): Keyontae Johnson (6-5, 240, JR); Colin Castleton (6-11, 235, JR, Pro but won’t hire an agent)
Going, going gone (6): Noah Locke (6-2, 203, JR, Transferred to Louisville); Osayi Osifo (6-7, 225, JR, Tranferred to Jacksonville); Tre Mann (6-5, 190, SO, Pro); Omar Payne (6-10, 230, SO, Transferred to Illinois); Scottie Lewis (6-5, 189, SO, Pro); Ques Glover (5-11, 175, SO, Transferred to Samford)
Just dropped in (4): Brandon McKissic (6-3, 195, GR); Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (6-4, 210, GR, Transferred from Charleston Southern); Myreon Jones (6-3, 185, JR, Transferred from Penn State); C.J. Felder (6-7, 235, SO, Transferred from Boston College)
Preppies and jucos (1): Kowacie Reeves (6-6, 180)
THE REST OF THE SEC AS OF 2 P.M., THURSDAY, APRIL 15
ALABAMA
Back for another year (5): James Rojas (6-8, 220, JR); Keon Ellis (6-6, 180, JR; Jahvon Quinerly (6-1, 180, SO); Juwan Gary (6-5, 220, FR); Alex Tchikou (6-11, 230, RFR)
Maybe, maybe not (3): Jaden Shackleford (6-3, 190, SO, Pro but won't hire an agent); Jordan Bruner (6-10, 235, SR); Alex Reese (6-9, 245, SR)
Going, going gone (2): Herb Jones (6-8, 210, SR, Pro); John Petty (6-5, 200, SR, Pro)
Just dropped in (2): Nimari Burnett (6-4, 200, FR, Transfer from Texas Tech); Noah Gurley (6-8, 210, SR, Transfer from Furman)
Preppies and jucos (4): Charles Bediako (6-11, 220); Jedarrion Davison (6-3, 180); Jasaun Holt (6-6, 190); Jake Wilson (6-9, 190, JUCO)
ARKANSAS
Back for one more year (6): Kamani Johnson (6-7, 215, JR); Abayomi Iyiola (6-9, 230, JR); Connor Vanover (7-3, 245, SO); Jaylin Williams (6-10, 245, SO); Davonte Davis (6-4, 180, FR); Khalen Robinson (6-0, 175, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (2): Jalen Tate (6-6, 190, SR); Vance Jackson (6-9, 235, SR)
Going, going gone (5): Justin Smith (6-7, 230, Pro); Desi Sills (6-1, 202, JR, Transfer); Moses Moody (6-6, 210, FR, Pro); Ethan Henderson (6-8, 210, JR, Transferred to Texas A&M); Emeka Obekwulu (6-8, 235, SR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (3): Chris Lykes (5-7, 165, GR, Transferred from Miami); Au’Diese Toney (6-6, 210, JR, Transferred from Pittsburgh); Stanley Umude (6-6, 210, GR, Transfer to South Dakota);
Preppies and jucos (2): Chance Moore (6-5, 190); Akol Mawein (6-9, 200, JUCO)
AUBURN
Back for one more year (7): Allan Flanigan (6-6, 215, SO); Jaylin Williams (6-8, 230, SO); Babatunde Akingbola (6-10, 245, SO); Devan Cambridge (6-6, 215, SO); Chris Moore (6-6, 230, FR); JT Thor (6-10, 205, FR); Dylan Cardwell (6-11, 250, FR)
Going, going gone (5) Justin Powell (6-6, 205, FR, Transfer to Tennessee); Sharife Cooper (6-1, 180, FR, Pro); Javon Franklin (6-7, 200, JR, Transferred to South Alabama); Jalen Johnson (6-4, 195, JR, Transferred to UAB); Tyrell Jones (6-1, 170, SO, Transferred to South Alabama)
Just dropped in (3): Wendell Green Jr. (5-11, 170, FR, Transfer from Eastern Kentucky); Zep Jasper (6-1, 175, JR, Transferred from Charleston); Walker Kessler (7-1, 245, FR, Transferred from North Carolina)
Preppies and jucos (2): Trey Alexander (6-4, 190); Jabari Smith II (6-10, 210)
GEORGIA
Back for another year (5): Jonathan Ned (6-8, 215, JR); Sahvir Wheeler (5-10, 180, SO); Tyron McMillan (6-9, 220, SO); Josh Taylor (6-9, 215, FR); K.D. Johnson (6-1, 190, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (3): P.J. Horne (6-6, 230, SR); Andrew Garcia (6-6, 225, SR); Justin Kier (6-4, 190, SR)
Going, going gone: Tye Fagan (6-3, 195, JR, Transfer to Ole Miss); Toumani Camara (6-8, 230, SO, Transferred to Dayton); Christian Brown (6-6, 205, SO, Transferred to Tennessee State); Mikal Starks (6-0, 160, JR, Transfer); Jaykwon Walton (6-7, 205, SO, Transferred to Shelby State Community College)
Just dropped in (4): Jailyn Ingram (6-7, 215, SR, Transferred from Florida Atlantic); Braeylin Bridges (6-9, 225, Transferred from Illinois-Chicago); Noah Baumann (6-6, 217, SR, Transferred from Southern Cal); Jabi Abdur-Rahim (6-7, 210, SO, Transferred from Virginia)
Preppies and jucos (2): Camron McDowell (6-5, 170); Tyrone Baker (6-10; 190)
KENTUCKY
Back for another year (4): Keon Brooks (6-7, 205, SO); Jacob Toppin (6-7, 194, SO); Lance Ware (6-9, 223, FR); Dontaie Allen (6-6, 198, RFR)
Maybe, maybe not (2): Isiah Jackson (6-10, 206, FR, Pro but won’t hire an agent); Davion Mintz (6-3, 191, GR); Olivier Sarr (7-0, 250, SR)
Going, going gone (3): BJ Boston (6-7, 185, FR, Pro); Cam’Ron Fletcher (6-6, 180, FR, Transfer); Devin Askew (6-3, 195, FR, Transferred to Texas)
Just dropped in (2): Oscar Tschiebwe (6-9, 260, SO), Transferred from West Virginia); Kellan Grady (6-5, 205, GR, Transferred from Davidson)
Preppies and jucos (3): Nolan Hickman (6-2, 181); Bryce Hopkins (6-7, 210); Daimion Collins (6-9, 210)
LSU
Back for another year (5): Josh LeBlanc (6-7, 230, JR); Shareef O’Neal (6-10, 226, SO); Eric Gaines, 6-2, 155, FR); Josh Gray (6-11, 255, FR); Mwani Wilkinson (6-5, 215, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (1): Darius Days (6-7, 245, JR)
Going, going gone (5): Trendon Watford (6-9, 240, SO, Pro); Javonte Smart (6-4, 205, JR, Pro); Cameron Thomas (6-4, 210, FR, Pro); Aundre Hyatt (6-6, 225, RSO, Transfer); Jalen Cook (6-0, 205, FR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (2): Seneca Knight (6-7, 215, JR, Transferred from San Jose State); Xavier Pinson (6-2, 170, JR, Transferred from Missouri)
Preppies and jucos (4): Brandon Murray (6-5, 225); Jerrell Colbert (6-10, 196); Bradley Ezewiro (6-8, 225); Alex Fudge (6-6, 180)
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Back for another year (8): Iverson Molinar (6-3, 190, SO); D.J. Stewart (6-6, 205, SO); Tolu Smith (6-10; 245, SO); Quinten Post (7-0, 240, SO); Javian Davis (6-9, 240, SO); Andersson Garcia (6-7, 205, FR); Cameron Matthews (6-7, 220, FR); Derek Fountain (6-9, 210, FR); Reggie Morris (6-1, 160, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (1): Abdul Ado (6-11, 255, SR)
Going, going gone (3): Jalen Johnson (6-6, 210, SR); Deivon Smith (6-1, 165, FR, Transferred to Georgia Tech); Keondre Montgomery (6-7, 200, FR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (1): Garrison Brooks (6-10, 240, SR, Transferred from North Carolina)
Preppies and jucos (3): Camryn Carter (6-2, 175); Alden Applewhite (6-6, 230); Keshawn Murphy (6-10, 230)
MISSOURI
Back for another year (4): Javon Pickett (6-5, 220, JR); Kobe Brown (6-7, 240, SO); Jordan Wilmore (7-3, 245, FR); Sean Durugordon (6-7, 215, FR)
Going, going gone (9): Jeremiah Tilmon (6-10, 260, SR, Pro); Dru Smith (6-3, 203, SR, Pro); Mitchell Smith (6-10, 221, SR, Pro); Mark Smith (6-5, 220, SR, Transferred to Kansas State); Xavier Pinson (6-2, 170, JR, Transfer); Drew Buggs (6-3, 195, SR, Transfer); Torrence Watson (6-5, 205, JR, Transferred to Elon); Parker Braun (6-8, 217, SO, Transfer); Ed Chang (6-8, 220, JR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (3): DaJuan Gordon (6-4, 190, SO, Transferred from Kansas State); Jarron Coleman (6-5, 205, SO, Transferred from Ball State); Amari Davis (6-3, 170, SO, Transferred from Green Bay)
Preppies and jucos (4): YaYa Keita (6-9, 230); Trevon Brazil (6-7, 180); Anton Brookshire (6-0, 160); Kaleb Brown (6-6, 218)
OLE MISS
Back for another year (5): Robert Allen (6-8, 230, JR), Luis Rodriguez (6-6, 210, SO); Sammy Hunter (6-9, 230, SO); Austin Crowley (6-5, 190, SO); Matt Murrell (6-4, 195, FR)
Going, going gone (7): Devontae Shuler (6-2, 190, SR, Pro); Romello White (6-8, 235, SR, Pro); KJ Buffen (6-7, 235, JR, Transfer); Khadim Sy (6-10, 238, SR, Transfer); Dimencio Vaughn (6-5, 215, SR, Transferred to Rider); Antavian Collum (6-7, 224, SO, Transferre to Cal-Bakersfield); Shon Robinson (6-11, 212, FR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (2): Tye Fagan (6-3, 195, JR, Transferred from Georgia); Nysier Brooks (6-11, 245, GR, Transferred from Miami)
Preppies and jucos (4): Daeshun Ruffin (5-9, 160); James White (6-5, 170); Grant Slatten (6-6, 190); Eric Van der Heijden (6-9, 200)
SOUTH CAROLINA
Back for another year (5): AJ Lawson (6-6, 178, JR); Alanzo Frink (6-7, 260, JR); Wildens Leveque (6-11, 230, SO); Ja’Von Benson (6-7, 251, FR); Tre-Vaughn Minott (6-9, 280, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (3): Keyshawn Bryant (6-5, 197, JR, Pro will not hire agent); Jermaine Couisnard (6-4, 211, SO, Pro will not hire agent); Seventh Woods (6-2, 189, SR)
Going, going gone (6): Justin Minaya (6-6, 215, JR, Pro or Transfer); Trae Hannibal (6-3, 217, SO, Transferred to Murray State); T.J. Moss (6-4, 195, SO, Transferred to McNeese State); Jalyn McCreary (6-7, 225, SO, Transfer); Tre Anderson (6-6, 203, SO, Transferred), Patrick Iriell (6-10, 248, FR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (4): Chico Carter (6-2, 190, SO, Transferred from Murray State); A.J. Wilson (6-7, 230, SR, Transferred from George Mason); Erik Stevenson (6-3, 198, JR, Transferred from Washington); James Reese (6-4, 170, SR, Transferred from North Texas)
Preppies and jucos (4): Jacobi Wright (6-2, 170); Devin Carter (6-3, 173); Carlous Williams (6-5, 230); Taquan Woodley (6-7, 230)
TENNESSEE
Back for another year (6): John Fulkerson (6-10, 220, SR); Victor Bailey Jr. (6-4, 175, JR); Josiah-Jordan James (6-6, 208, SO); Santiago Vescovi (6-3, 188, SO); Olivier Nkamhoua (6-8, 223, SO); Uros Plavsic (7-0, 262, SO)
Going, going gone (7): Keon Johnson (6-5, 188, FR, Pro); Jaden Springer (6-4, 204, FR, Pro); Yves Pons (6-6, 215, SR, Pro); E.J. Anoskie (6-7, 245, SR, Transfer); Corey Walker (6-8, 219, FR, Transfer); Davonte Gaines (6-7, 181, Transfer to George Mason); Drew Pember (6-10, 200, Transfer to UNC-Asheville)
Just dropped in (1): Justin Powell (6-6, 205, FR, Transfer from Auburn)
Preppies and jucos (5): Kennedy Chandler (6-1, 160); Quentin Diboundje Eyobo (6-6, 185); Jamahl Mashack (6-4, 180); Jonas Aidoo (7-0, 220); Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6-8, 200)
TEXAS A&M
Back for another year (5): Andre Gordon (6-2, 188, SO); Hassan Diara (6-2, 197, FR); Jaxson Robinson (6-7, 193, FR); LaDamien Bradford (6-4, 223, FR); Hayden Hefner (6-6, 182, FR)
Maybe, maybe not:
Going, going gone (6): Savion Flagg (6-7, 220, SR, Transferred to Sam Houston State); Kevin Marfo (6-8, 245, GR, Transfer); JayJay Chandler (6-4, 180, JR, Transferred to South Alabama); Jonathan Aku (6-9, 263, SO, Transfer); Cashius McNeilly (6-4, 191, SO, Transfer); Emanuel Miller (6-7, 208, SO, Transfer);
Just dropped in (2): Javonte Brown, 6-11, 243, SO, Transferred from UConn); Ethan Henderson (6-8, 210, JR, Transferred from Arkansas)
Preppies and jucos (2): Wade Taylor (6-1, 170); Manny Obaseki (6-3, 175)
VANDERBILT
Back for one more year (6): Jordan Wright (6-5, 226, SO); Dylan Disu (6-9, 220, SO); Quentin Millora-Brown (6-10, 226, JR); Akeem Odusipe (6-9, 230, FR); Myles Stute (6-7, 220, FR); Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 190, FR); Trey Thomas (5-11, 165, FR)
Maybe, maybe not (1): Scotty Pippen Jr. (6-1, 170,YR SO, Pro no agent)
Going, going gone (5): Isaac McBride (6-1, 190, SO, Transfer); D.J. Harvey (6-6, 230, SR, Transferred to Detroit); Maxwell Evans (6-2, 190, SR, Transfer); Ejike Obinna (6-10, 243, SR, Transfer); Clevon Brown (6-8, 232, SR, Transfer)
Just dropped in (1): Liam Robbins (7-0, 235, JR, Transferred from Minnesota)
Preppies and jucos (2): Peyton Daniels (6-2, 175); Gabe Dorsey (6-6, 205)
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