College Basketball: Ten Mid-Major Transfers to Watch

We are eleven weeks into the college basketball season. Most teams have already played multiple conference games and we are starting to get a good feel for players and their roles.

Earlier this week I talked about the top ten transfers in college basketball. With so many transfers playing well this season, I was not able to capture all who were having a notable season. So yesterday I discussed other Power Six transfers who are playing well. And today, I want to use this article to talk about mid-major transfers across the college basketball landscape who are entering the discussion.

READ | Transfer Portal Power Rankings | Ten Power Six Transfers to Watch

F Darren Buchanan, George Washington

The Buzz: Darren Buchanan has taken the reigns of this George Washington team as the stat stuffer. The 6-foot-7 transfer from Virginia Tech is top two on the team in points (15.2), rebounds (6.2), assists (2.4), and leads the way in steals (1.2). While filling the stat sheet, the freshman tough guy also collects wins as the Revolutionaries currently sit at 14-3 and 3-1 in the A10.

G Nique Clifford, Colorado State

The Buzz: While Isaiah Stevens currently gets a lot of the Colorado State headlines, and rightfully so, Nique Clifford has been steadily going about his business, and producing. The 6-foot-5 wing scored 5.4 points per game through his three seasons in Colorado, that number bumped up to 13.5 this season at Colorado State. He is also leading the team in rebounds (6.3), while in the top two in assists (2.4), steals (1.4), and blocks (0.8). Clifford is also shooting 50.0 percent from three on 2.7 attempts per game. Clifford has had three double-doubles this season.

C Josh Cohen, UMass

The Buzz: Josh Cohen was a sneaky target out of the transfer portal this off-season, after averaging 21.8 points for Saint Francis (PA) last season. Cohen, a 6-foot-10 post player, came to UMass without missing a beat averaging 18.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. UMass is currently 11-6 on the season with Cohen leading the way.

G Ryan Conwell, Indiana State

The Buzz: Indiana State and Josh Shertz are getting a lot of buzz this season, jumping out to a 15-3 start, and 6-1 in the MVC. A big part of that has been USF transfer Ryan Conwell. The 6-foot-4 guard is playing 30.3 minutes and is second on the team, scoring at 15.8 per game. He is also top three in rebounds (5.2) and steals (1.2). A large part of the Indiana State team’s success to this point is the three-point shooting. The Sycamores are leading the country shooting 41.3 percent from three. Conwell has taken the second most attempts per game (6.6) and is knocking them down 41.1 percent of the time. 

F Sean Durugordon, Siena

The Buzz: While it has been an up-and-down year for the Siena team, Sean Durugordon has been lights out with his production since becoming eligible. Durugordon a two-time transfer who started at Missouri and then Austin Peay, played his first game for the Saints on December 19. He has scored 20, or more points in each game he has played this season, averaging 25.8 points through his first six. The 6-foot-7 forward has three double-doubles on the season and is shooting 36.1 percent from three. 

G PJ Haggerty, Tulsa

The Buzz: PJ Haggerty was a top 100 player coming out of high school. After redshirting last season at TCU, his production this year at Tulsa has shown why he was so highly thought of. The 6-foot-3 guard is leading the team in points at 19.2 per game while sitting in the top two in assists (3.6) and steals (2.1). He has scored 20 or more points in six of his last seven games and nine times overall this season.

F Keyshawn Hall, George Mason

The Buzz: Keyshawn Hall went viral during his senior year of high school with a series of highlight videos calling him ‘big guard”. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, the UNLV transfer has been able to explore his full game at George Mason. Hall is eighth currently in the A10 in points per game (16.7) and he leads the conference in rebounding at 9.3. Hall is playing 32.1 minutes for the 12-5 Patriots.

G Jordan King, Richmond

The Buzz: Richmond is currently sitting at 4-0, on top of the A10 Conference, and East Tennessee State transfer Jordan King is leading the way at 18.0 points on 41.6 shooting from three. The 6-foot-0 guard who is in his graduate year has scored over 20 points seven times this season, and over thirty twice. He has also knocked down five or more threes in four games, including two of his last three. King’s 2.4 assists per game and 1.3 steals per game also sit second on the Spiders’ roster this season.

G Duke Miles, High Point

The Buzz: New High Point head coach Alan Huss has come out of the gates strong with a 15-4 overall record and 4-0 in the Big South. A lot of the success has been behind Troy transfer Duke Miles. The 6-foot-2 guard is leading the way in points (19.4), assists (3.8), and steals (1.4), while shooting 37.3 percent from three. Miles, who averaged 14.0 per game last season at Troy, has his 19.4 points sitting second currently in the Big South 

F Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco

The Buzz: Already this season, Jonathan Mogbo has ten double-doubles. In total, the 6-foot-7 forward has finished 16 games with double-figure points and 11 with double-figure rebounds. For good measure, the Missouri State transfer also had a ten-assist game when he went for four points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists against Vanderbilt in December. San Francisco is currently 4-0 in the West Coast Conference and 15-4 overall. Mogbo is fourth in the conference at 15.6 points and leads the way in rebounds (10.7) and field goal percentage (68.3).