After looking at the top 12 high-major transfers last week, we dive into the mid-major schools this week. Who tops the list? Who will make a difference? Who will help take their team to the NCAA tournament? We take a stab at the top dozen mid-major transfers that are eligible to play this season.
1. Tyrone Shelley, Pepperdine to San Diego State (pictured above) - After averaging 15.1 points a game at Pepperdine as a freshman, the 6-5 sophomore is back home and ready for an equally big role for the Aztecs. Shelley’s addition, as well as his high school teammate Malcolm Thomas’s addition, make a strong case as to why San Diego State will be in the National Hoops Report top 25 pre-season teams.
2. Armon Bassett, Indiana to Ohio - There are those in the Midwest that believe the former Hoosier could be the Player of the Year in the MAC despite missing a couple of games at the start of the year due to transfer rules. He averaged over 10 points and three assists a game in his career at IU.
3. Tony Freeman, Iowa State to Southern Illinois - After being named third team All-Big Ten, the Illinois native returned home for his senior season. Before ending his junior year early due to an injury, Freeman averaged 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He’ll likely content for All-Missouri Valley Conference honors this year.
4. Derrick Jasper, Kentucky to UNLV - A change of scenery is what the California native was looking forward. What he found was the keys to the car for the Running Rebels. Jasper should drive Lon Kruger’s team back to the Big Dance once again this year.
5. Xavier Silas, Colorado to Northern Illinois – The Texas native averaged nearly 10 points a game as a sophomore at Colorado. He started 35 games for the Big 12 school and should start every game this year for Ricardo Patton, the coach that recruited him to Colorado.
6. Shamari Spears, Boston College to Charlotte – The former ACC starter gives the 49ers some more brute strength on the low blocks. He averaged 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds as a sophomore at BC. He should be good for 13 points and similar rebounds for a team that is ready to right the ship.
7. Christian Polk, Arizona State to UTEP – After scoring a dozen points a game as a freshman, he dropped down to less than four a game last year for Herb Sendek. Now in West Texas, Polk and Randy Culpepper make for a deadly duo for Tony Barbee’s team.
8. Larry Wright, St. John’s to Oakland - After two years playing for Norm Roberts, the 6-2 Michigan native is back home. And there are some that expect him to be the Summit League Player of the Year. We aren’t as confident but Wright should be an instant starter and an all-conference level player this season.
9. JayDee Luster, San Diego State to Wyoming - The 5-7 point guard was looking for a change. And boy will he get one. The San Diego native leaves the majestic winters of SoCal for the dreary Wyoming blizzards. In return, Luster will likely start for a team that is trying to make a move from middle of the pack to relevance in the Mountain West. How about this – he’s already a team captain.
10. Eli Holman, Indiana to Detroit – The Detroit coaches are expecting a lot from him defensively. The long-armed Californian will block a lot of shots and clog the lane. A near 7-footer, Holman is a rarity in the Horizon League.
11. Larry Davis, Seton Hall to Loyola Marymount - After last year’s three win season, the only way to go is up for LMU. Davis, a New York native, should play a big role in the upswing. He’s a smart scorer that could be a 15 points per game guy.
12. Justin Tubbs, Alabama to East Tennessee State - There just aren’t guards like him in the competitive and balanced Atlantic Sun. The muscular and athletic 6-4 guard could be the difference maker for a team that always battles for the top spot in the A-Sun.
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