Transfers to watch in low- and mid-major conference tournaments this week

It’s not March, but “March Madness” already has begun. That’s because conference tournament action began in the Atlantic Sun on Monday night, and 13 other tourneys begin this week.

A number of transfers will play big roles in those tournaments, all of which fall into the low- or mid-major ranks. Some are transfers down from major conferences. Some are lateral transfers – from one low- or mid-major conference to another. And some are transfers up, from Division II to Division I.

Here are 11 schools that were in the hunt for or won a regular-season conference title and who for sure need their transfers to come through to earn an NCAA bid. The schools are listed alphabetically.

Charleston G Dalton Bolon

Transfer from: From Division II West Liberty (after ’21)
The buzz: Charleston (28-2) is the winningest team in the nation and has spent a few weeks in the top 25. But with zero Quad 1 wins, the Cougars almost assuredly have to win the Colonial tourney to get an NCAA bid. Plus, Charleston tied with Hofstra for the CAA regular-season title (more on Hofstra in a minute). Four Charleston starters are transfers, as are the Cougars’ top three scorers (and four of the top five). Dalton Bolon (6 feet 4, 205 pounds) is the Cougars’ top scorer (12.7 ppg; he’s one of five players averaging in double figures) and is a solid rebounder, defender and passer. He’s also shooting 87.8 percent from the line. Bolon was a three-time D2 All-American who redshirted because of an injury at Charleston last season. The Cougars have great balance, thanks to G Ryan Larson (transfer from Wofford), F Ante Brzovic (from Division II Southeastern Oklahoma), F Jaylon Scott (from NAIA Bethel, Tenn.) and super-sub G Pat Robinson (also West Liberty).

Fairleigh Dickinson Gs Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton

Transfer from: Both from Division II St. Thomas Aquinas (after ’22)
The buzz: FDU finished second, two games behind Merrimack, in the Northeast Conference regular season, but Merrimack is ineligible for the NCAA tourney because it is in its fourth season transitioning to Division I. (The Warriors will be eligible for the NCAAs next season.) FDU’s starting backcourt of Demetre Roberts (5-8, 165) and Grant Singleton (5-9, 163) came with first-year coach Tobin Anderson from St. Thomas Aquinas. Roberts was a three-time first-team All-East Coast Conference selection, while Singleton was a second-team pick last season. This season, the duo combines for 31.4 points per game (Roberts is No. 1 in scoring, Singleton No. 2). They also have a combined 229 assists and 98 steals. They also shoot a combined 83.3 percent from the line. FDU is a sure-fire No. 16 seed if it gets in, but, hey, an NCAA bid is an NCAA bid.

Hofstra G Aaron Estrada

Transfer from: Oregon (after ’21)
The buzz: Here’s the other regular-season co-champ from the Colonial. And unlike Charleston, the Pride have a clear-cut leader in Aaron Estrada (6-3, 195). He was a part-time starter as a true freshman at St. Peter’s in 2019-20, then played in just nine games at Oregon the next season. Estrada transferred again and has become a mid-major star. He was the CAA player of the year last season and is averaging  20.3 points per game this season. While he is a high-volume shooter, he’s hitting 48.4 percent from the field (209-of-432). Estrada also leads the Pride in rebounding and is second in assists and steals. He has had 14 20-point outings this season, including one 40-point game (he was 16-of-25 from the field, including 8-of-15 from beyond the arc) and three others with at least 30. He has failed to reach double figures just once in 27 games – but had 10 rebounds in that contest.

Longwood F Isaiah Wilkins

Transfer from: Wake Forest (after ’21)
The buzz: Longwood finished tied for second, behind UNC Asheville, in the Big South Conference, and if the Lancers are to win the tourney, they need big games from Isaiah Wilkins (6-4, 220). Wilkins is the only Longwood player averaging in double figures (13.0 ppg) and also leads the Lancers in rebounds. He is second in steals and third in assists. Wilkins is shooting 84.4 percent from the free throw line. He began his career at Virginia Tech, starting six games and appearing in 66 in two seasons with the Hokies. A Winston-Salem, N.C., native, he transferred home to Wake Forest for the 2020-21 season but didn’t play much. This is his second season as a starter for Longwood.

Morehead State G Mark Freeman

Transfer from: Illinois State (after ’22)
The buzz: Mark Freeman (5-11, 165) is on his third school; he began his career as a two-year starter at Tennessee State, played last season at Illinois State, starting 14 times, then moved on to Morehead State. The Eagles won the OVC regular-season title, and Freeman needs to continue to provide offense and playmaking if the Eagles are to make their fourth NCAA appearance in 15 seasons. He leads Morehead State in scoring (14.8 ppg), assists (3.8 per game), steals (1.2 per game) and free throw percentage (86.5). He’s also hitting 38.6 percent from 3-point range, though he has struggled big-time from beyond the arc of late (just four of his past 19). Freeman was a big scorer for Tennessee State as a sophomore (17.1 ppg), and now that he is back in the OVC, that trait has come to the fore again.

Oral Roberts C Connor Vanover

Transfer from: Arkansas (after ’22)
The buzz: ORU ran away with the regular-season title in the Summit League, winning by five games. The Eagles are the only team in the nation to finish unbeaten in league play (18-0) and are in line for a No. 12 NCAA seed if they win the Summit tourney. Connor Vanover (7-5, 227) has been a big addition for Oral Roberts. He began his college career as a part-time starter at California, then spent the past two seasons as a starter (but one who saw spotty minutes) with the Hogs. G Max Abmas is Oral Roberts’ best player, but Vanover (12.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg) gives the Eagles an inside presence on both ends. He has 95 blocks, which is second nationally. Vanover has had seven games with at least five blocks, including six against Saint Mary’s. He provides a defensive impediment despite not fouling (he’s been called for just 41 fouls in 30 games). Vanover also is third on the team with 126 3-point attempts.

Samford G Ques Glover

Transfer from: Florida (after ’21)
The buzz: After two seasons as a reserve at Florida, Ques Glover (6-0, 180) transferred to Samford and has become one of the best players in the Southern Conference. He averaged 19.2 points per game and was second in the league in assists last season. Glover has missed 13 games this season with a knee injury, but he has had four 20-point outings in his past 10 games for the Bulldogs, who tied for the SoCon regular season title with Furman. He is averaging a team-leading 15.5 ppg, and if he and F Jermaine Marshall (a transfer from Akron who is Samford’s leading rebounder) are hitting their 3-pointers – both are above 38 percent – the Bulldogs can win the league tourney.

Southern Miss G Austin Crowley and F Felipe Haase

Transfer from: Crowley from Ole Miss (after ’22) and Haase from Mercer (after ’22)
The buzz: Southern Miss won the Sun Belt regular-season title by a game, and is aiming for its fourth NCAA bid and the first since 2012. A prolific inside-outside duo has led the Golden Eagles. Austin Crowley (6-5, 184) played in 89 games in three seasons at Ole Miss, starting 14 times. He led the Rebels in assists last season. Crowley now leads Southern Miss in scoring (16.4 ppg) and steals. He is third in assists and fourth in rebounds. Felipe Haase (6-9, 245), a native of Chile who played high school ball in Miami, was a part-time starter as a true freshman at South Carolina in 2018-19. He moved on to Mercer and became a two-year starter for the Bears who was one of the best rebounders and 3-point shooters in the Southern Conference. Haase transferred to Southern Miss after last season and is second on the Golden Eagles in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounds (6.2 per game). He’s also shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range and is money from the line (103-of-120, 85.8 percent).

UNC Asheville F Drew Pember

Transfer from: Tennessee (after ’21)
The buzz: UNC Asheville ran away with the Big South regular-season title, finishing four games ahead of Longwood and Radford. Drew Pember (6-11, 215) was a big reason for that. He averages 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks; last season, his first with the Bulldogs, those numbers were 15.7, 6.6 and 3.0, respectively. Pember has had 13 double-doubles this season, including two 40-point games. He’s also had a game with 19 rebounds and one with 18. In his first two seasons at Tennessee, Pember played in 32 games and scored 31 points. An aside: Pember teamed with the aforementioned Glover to help Knoxville (Tenn.) Bearden win a state title in 2019.

UNC Greensboro F Keondre Kennedy

Transfer from: UMBC
The buzz: UNCG finished a game behind Southern Conference co-champs Furman and Samford. Keondre Kennedy (6-6, 185) is second on the Spartans in scoring (13.3 ppg) and rebounds (6.2 rpg). He’s excellent from the line (82.1 percent) and has a nice 3-point stroke (39.2 percent). Kennedy was a reserve for his first two seasons at UMBC before emerging as one of the Retrievers’ best players last season.

Youngstown State G Dwayne Cohill

Transfer from: Dayton
The buzz: After spending three seasons at Dayton (two as a reserve, one as a redshirt because of injury), Dwayne Cohill (6-2, 180) has become one of the best players in the Horizon League for Youngstown State. The up-tempo Penguins won the regular-season title in the Horizon and Cohill makes them go. He leads the team in scoring (17.8 ppg), assists and steals. He also is shooting 52.5 percent from the field – a notable figure for a guard – and 46.2 percent from 3-point range. To top it off, Cohill is at 85.7 percent from the line (120-of-140) for a Penguins program looking for its first-ever NCAA tournament bid. Youngstown has four players averaging in double figures, and three are transfers: Cohill and Fs Malek Green (Canisius) and Adrian Nelson (Northern Kentucky).