College basketball’s best value: Transfers back for Year Two and beyond

Amid all the conversation surrounding the best and worse things about the transfer portal, one unquestioned benefit is the ability to hand-pick a developed player to fill a specific role. But what happens when that player has another year of eligibility? Good things seem to follow.

Some programs – especially those which undergo a coaching change – struggle to retain enough players to field a competitive roster, and that means a deep dive into the transfer portal. But others – often ranked near the top of their conference with established staffs – are able to evaluate the holes left on the roster after taking care of returning players and incoming freshmen.

This second group of teams is best positioned to land not only the best transfers, but the best fits for the roster. The position of strength offers them the ability to pitch a narrow and accurate picture of their role.

But the group of players who seems increasingly important to the success of college basketball’s national championship contenders is the previous transfer class which holds eligibility moving forward.

Retaining transfer additions

Retention has become the key to success across college basketball, whether the player was originally recruited to the roster or not. But for the transfers in past cycles, it is a combination of the hand-picked fit with continued growth within the program itself that sets things apart.

“Often times a second season can really bring out the best in a student-athlete,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “They’ve gone through the experience. They’ve had the good, the bad, the ugly. It’s new. And when the season is over, they get to break down what they did well and what they need to get better.

“They get the offseason, and then the second season it’s just so much more comfortable in that situation.”

The first year in the system provides time to get acclimated with the surrounding, but that second season is an opportunity to step up as a leader. Alabama is seeing that from Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell.

“All three of those guys are much more comfortable this year than they were last year in the system,” said Nate Oats. “They’re doing a really good job coaching the younger guys up on what to look for, what to be.

“Grant is a lot more vocal, Wrightsell is a lot more vocal, Sears is a lot more vocal.”

In addition to Sears, others in the this category to look closely at this season include the following All-America selections: Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Auburn’s Johni Broome and Arizona’s Caleb Love.

The coaches know there is no coincidence as to why preseason pundits love the makeup of the rotation, and the leadership of those players.

“It all starts with the retention, it all starts with that continuity,” said Florida head coach Todd Golden. “Any team that’s able to build that continuity within the program is going to have a better chance at being successful.”

How the future of this group continues to impact college basketball remains to be seen as the COVID-19 eligibility runs out and the NCAA is pressed to consider changes to the redshirt rule, but there will always be a pool of players with the chance to stay multiple seasons.