The top five transfers in the Big East

The transfer portal has become such a hot-button topic, especially over the last 12 months. Here we are with the college basketball season starting in a couple of weeks. Teams can be transformed in one offseason by adding talented players with college experience who are looking for a fresh start.

The Big East alone had at least 30 players transfer into its 11 teams within the conference this offseason. Some players were added to be focal points, and some were added as pieces of a bigger picture.

In 2020, Jeff Goodman of Stadium Sports wrote an article with research suggesting that players who transferred up in level (D-II to D-I, mid-major to high-major, etc.) would, on average, have their statistics cut in half. It should be noted this article was written while the transfer portal was on the rise but prior to the one-time transfer rule when the portal exploded. However, that is interesting research and an article I suggest reading.

In this series, I wanted to go through each conference and look at the transfers. I plan to list the top five transfers from each conference in alphabetical order and then others to watch. The purpose of this is to spark conversation.

Read the top five transfers in the ACC

Next up is the Big East, and I can’t wait to hear your comments.

Top five transfers

Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky) Providence

Height/Weight: 6-7/220
Class: Sophomore
2021-22 Stats: 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds

Bryce Hopkins came to Kentucky with a ton of hype that simply did not come to fruition. Relocating to a different spot could be exactly what is needed for the powerfully explosive forward. Hopkins will probably slot in at the four, where his explosion will help on the boards, and his switchability and toughness could help on defense. New year, new you and Hopkins fits the mold.

Deivi Jones (DePaul) St. John’s

Height/Weight: 6-6/205
Class: Junior
2021-22 Stats: 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks

Deivi Jones is an alpha among alphas, a player who is naturally wired to score the basketball. Jones’s length and versatility should fit well in the up-and-down pressing system Anderson likes to utilize. The DePaul transfer should be able to play some at the two, three, and four, depending on lineups. Jones has natural defensive instincts and toughness. Playing beside two point guards and getting out and running should play right into his strengths as the primary scorer, but he can also rebound and create chaos on the defensive end.

Caleb Murphy (USF) DePaul

Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Class: Junior
2021-22 Stats: 11.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists

There is some untapped stuff in Caleb Murphy’s game that the big guard was not able to show at South Florida. At 6-foot-4, there is a burst and a craft to his game that led to a lot of excitement as a recruit. A change of scenery was necessary, a look for the former All-AAC rookie team member to take another step forward with some freedom to simply go make plays.

Brandon Murray (LSU) Georgetown

Height/Weight: 6-5/225
Class: Sophomore
2021-22 Stats: 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals

Brandon Murray should slide nicely into Georgetown’s featured scorer role. The 6-foot-5 wing has an innate ability to put the ball in the basket and can do so from any level on the floor. Murray is aggressive in the passing lanes, and that leads to some defense-to-offense transition points as well. Coming on to a team that finished 175th in points scored per game and 170th in threes made on the season, Murray should be able to boost those numbers.

Baylor Scheierman (South Dakota State) Creighton

Height/Weight: 6-7/201
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds. 4.5 assists, 46.9% 3P

Perhaps no player in the country built more hype for themselves this summer than Baylor Scheierman. The South Dakota State immediately boosted Creighton into many people’s pre-season top ten when he chose to transfer back to his home state. Scheierman has deep range, which will help with the pace and space style of play McDermott likes; he is also an adept passer when teammates play off him. There is a skill set and stylistic fit here to go with the monster expectations.

Next five

Manny Bates (NC State) Butler

Height/Weight: 6-11/240
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: DNP (Injured)

Souley Boum (Texas El Paso) Xavier

Height/Weight: 6-3/165
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: 19.8 points. 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals, 36.8% 3P

KC Ndefo (St. Peter’s) Seton Hall

Height/Weight: 6-7/200
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: 10.5 points. 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.8 blocks

Tristen Newton (East Carolina) UConn

Height/Weight: 6-5/200
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: 17.7 points. 4.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals

Qudus Wahab (Maryland) Georgetown

Height/Weight: 6-11/240
Class: Senior
2021-22 Stats: 7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 55.9% FG

Others to watch

Ali Ali (Akron) Butler

Nahiem Alleyne (Virginia Tech) UConn

Devin Carter (South Carolina) Providence

Andre Curbelo (Illinois) St. John’s

Al-Amir Dawes (Clemson) Seton Hall

Hasaan Diarra (Texas A&M) UConn

Jay Heath (Arizona State) Georgetown

Umoja Gibson (Oklahoma) DePaul

Eric Hunter (Purdue) Butler

Noah Locke (Louisville) Providence

Noah Wrightsil (Loyola – NO) Marquette