ACC coming and going

[Olympic Fan]

The spring secondary transfer market has exploded in recent years and is now a huge deal. I thought we ought to have a thread to keep up with the comings and goings in the ACC.

I know that two players have already announced they are transferring:

Aaron Roundtree, Wake Forest -- although he started late for the Deacons, he's a marginal player and no big loss.

Adam Smith, Virginia Tech -- he was the Hokies' leading scorer and top 3-point shooter. I guess he saw his playing time likely to fall with the arrival of Seth Allen next season. He's leaving as a grad student and will be able to play immediately. This will make his third school -- he started at UNC-Wilmington and transferred to VPI.

I don't know any immediate transfers who will be arriving, but I do know of five who sat out last season and will be able to play next season:

Sean Obi (Rice to Duke) -- strong big man with great rebounding credentials ... not much offense
Terry Henderson (West Virginia to NC State) -- a good wing shooter, expected to replace Ralston Turner
Zach LeDay (South Florida to VPI) -- an athletic, but undersized power forward
Seth Allen (Maryland to VPI) -- a proven ACC combo guard -- very talented and very erratic in two ACC seasons at Maryland
Nick Jacobs (Alabama to Georgia Tech) -- experienced big man expected to replace Demarco Cox in the lineup.

I'm I missing anybody?

It's possible Duke will be in the transfer market (beyond Obi) if Tyus Jones leaves ...

[andyw715]

Leaving from SU - Ron Patterson (to somewhere near Indy) and BJ Johnson (to LaSalle). Hate to see them leave, but does open up scholarships for H.S.recruits.

[budwom]

anyone know of a list of potential fifth year transfer possibilities? We could certainly be in the market...

[jimsumner]

anyone know of a list of potential fifth year transfer possibilities? We could certainly be in the market...

One intriguing option.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/03/cornell_graduate_transfer_shon.html

[pfrduke]

Leaving from SU - Ron Patterson (to somewhere near Indy) and BJ Johnson (to LaSalle). Hate to see them leave, but does open up scholarships for H.S.recruits.

So what does next year's roster look like for you? Sub McCullough for Christmas in the starting lineup, but who's on the bench?

[jimsumner]

So what does next year's roster look like for you? Sub McCullough for Christmas in the starting lineup, but who's on the bench?

I would not be at all surprised to see McCullough declare for the 2015 draft.

[Olympic Fan]

I would not be at all surprised to see McCullough declare for the 2015 draft.

A real key is DaJuan Coleman, a 6-9, 255-pound fourth year junior (I think he got a hardship year). who has missed the last year and a half. He was starting ahead of Jerami Grant in 2014 when he was hurt. Of course, the fact that he wasn't able top come back at all last year is a bad sign.

[El_Diablo]

Adam Smith, Virginia Tech -- he was the Hokies' leading scorer and top 3-point shooter. I guess he saw his playing time likely to fall with the arrival of Seth Allen next season. He's leaving as a grad student and will be able to play immediately. This will make his third school -- he started at UNC-Wilmington and transferred to VPI.

Big loss for VT. Although you failed to mention his best asset - his ability to get away with discreet fouling (thanks to his invisible hand).

[devildeac]

Big loss for VT. Although you failed to mention his best asset - his ability to get away with discreet fouling (thanks to his invisible hand).

He'd be perfect for Duke! Just think about how many more fouls we wouldn't commit:rolleyes:;) .

[HCheek37]

Jeff Greer
‏@jeffgreer_cj
Sophomore guard Anton Gill will transfer from Louisville, per source http://cjky.it/1EsGouF

Tough day for Louisville - bye bye Harrell, Rozier and now Gill

[brevity]

According to Sports Illustrated (http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/04/03/virginia-bj-stith-transferring-old-dominion), B.J. Stith is transferring from UVA to Old Dominion.


Stith played in just 13 games as a freshman, averaging 1.0 points and 0.6 rebounds. His father, Bryant, played for Virginia from 1989 through 1992 and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,516 points. Bryant is an assistant coach at Old Dominion, and his brother Brandan plays for the team.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman compiles a running list (http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/insider/post/_/id/4899/top-10-transfers-and-complete-transfer-list) of transfers that includes a few ACC players not mentioned above. (The URL suggests ESPN Insider, but I was able to read the whole thing without signing in.)

[Reilly]

According to Sports Illustrated (http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/04/03/virginia-bj-stith-transferring-old-dominion), B.J. Stith is transferring from UVA to Old Dominion. ... )

His older brother started his college career at ECU before transferring to ODU when dad was hired as an assistant at ODU. Dad Bryant Stith had a neat path: after making his NBA millions, he returned to his small hometown and was the head coach at his old h.s., coaching his sons, going to something like five straight state championship games, and running a model program known for its sportsmanship.

[Olympic Fan]

ESPN's Jeff Goodman compiles a running list (http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/insider/post/_/id/4899/top-10-transfers-and-complete-transfer-list) of transfers that includes a few ACC players not mentioned above. (The URL suggests ESPN Insider, but I was able to read the whole thing without signing in.)

Interesting list -- anybody doubting the number of players on the market this spring should take a look -- it's stunning.

It does include some names that we haven't mentioned yet. I break them down into three categories -- three of the kids are fourth year seniors who have another year of eligibility left, but will not return: Daniel Green of Wake Forest, Lonnie Jackson of BC and Joe Uchebo of Pitt.

None played last year (well, Green got in a couple of minutes). Jackson was a key player for a couple of years -- maybe BC's best 3-point shooter -- but he sat out all last year with an injury.

Goodman also includes three younger players who never got off the bench -- Patrick Rooks at Clemson, Tyrone Haughton at Pitt and Patrick Wallace at NC State.

Actually, Rooks is the only one I've ever heard of. Will one of our NC State fans help me, who the hell is Patrick Wallace? I follow ACC (and Triangle basketball) pretty closely, but I've never heard of the guy.

[brevity]

who the hell is Patrick Wallace? I follow ACC (and Triangle basketball) pretty closely, but I've never heard of the guy.

Patrick Wallace's game log (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/66136/patrick-wallace) shows that he saw 2 minutes of ACC action this season and 11 minutes total.

You can see better numbers (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/56753/joey-van-zegeren) from former Virginia Tech player Joey van Zegeren, whose transfer was announced in January (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24984544/virginia-tech-announces-f-joey-van-zegeren-to-leave-basketball-team) after a 4-game suspension. He committed to Northwestern (http://www.insidenu.com/2015/2/23/8097079/joey-van-zegeren-commits-to-northwestern) in February. So, old news, but of double interest to this board.

[Nugget]

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83217244/

If Tyus Jones goes pro and Thornton decides not to reclassify to 2015, seems like Dylan Ennis as a 5th year transfer would make sense for us, given that we'd otherwise have a backcourt of Matt Jones, Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard and ???, which itself offers minimal play-making experience. Obviously, Ennis isn't a prototypical PG, but I can't imagine he wouldn't be a big help.

[brevity]

Here's a transfer into the ACC. Trey Lewis leaves Cleveland State for Louisville. (http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/07/louisville-lands-cleveland-state-transfer-trey-lewis/)


Lewis averaged 16.3 points per game as a junior at Cleveland State, earning Horizon League first team honors. He announced his intent to finish up his college career elsewhere on March 31. The 6-foot-1 guard will provide a boost in an area the Cardinals struggled in this past season: 3-point shooting, hitting 96 threes (42 percent) on the year.

Smart of him to leave Cleveland State while the NCAA is still evaluating UNC.

[Duvall]

Manu Lecomte transferring from Miami. (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25140711/miami-guard-manu-lecomte-to-transfer)

No destination known yet.

[brevity]

More Louisville news. Shaqquan Aaron to transfer. (http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2015/04/08/shaqquan-aaron-transfer-louisville/25463423/)


Scout... first reported Aaron's change of heart. Multiple sources told The Courier-Journal that Aaron, who was Wayne Blackshear's backup at small forward last season, was frustrated that Louisville is recruiting ex-Drexel wing Damion Lee, who was fifth in the nation in scoring this past season.

Good article, with choice quotes from Rick Pitino about his 4-star freshman.

[-jk]

NCSU reportedly losing Kyle Washington.

-jk

[Bob Green]

NCSU reportedly losing Kyle Washington.

-jk

Jon Pence ‏@scacchoops · 3h3 hours ago
Kyle Washington will transfer from NC State http://bit.ly/1aZAkx8

[Olympic Fan]

Manu Lecomte transferring from Miami. (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25140711/miami-guard-manu-lecomte-to-transfer)

No destination known yet.

Lecomte is not the only transfer out of Miami, guard Deandre Burnett is also leaving ... of course, the Canes are still loaded in the backcourt (McClellan, Rodriguez, Reed, Newton and Palmer)

Also, Pitt is losing Durand Johnson. He hasn't played in the last two years (he was injured in 2014 and suspended in 2015), but he was a talented guy that the Pitt coaches thought could have a big impact.

[Reilly]

Andrew Rowsey looking at NC State.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/colleges/former-all-timesland-boys-basketball-player-rowsey-plans-to-transfer/article_2fb7e40c-9bdd-57fe-a18f-df55eea377fc.html

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

From the other end of the Rowsey transfer. Sorry to see him go. Quite an uphill climb from UNCA to an ACC school, but he was nearly unstoppable when he was "on."

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/2015/04/16/unc-ashevilles-leading-scorer-rowsey-transfer/25872269/

[Troublemaker]

Damion Lee, the best grad transfer available this offseason, has committed to play for Louisville.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2015/04/23/drexel-grad-transfer-damion-lee-to-play-for-louisville-basketball/26235159/

This is huge for the Cards. Lee was 4th in the country in scoring.

[Olympic Fan]

Pitino has now added Lee, a 21 pt scorer, from Drexel and Troy Lewis, a 16 pt. all-conference player from Cleveland State. Both guards.

Pretty good reloading job (along with a strong recruiting class).

In other transfer news, Lecomte will transfer to Baylor (he has to sit out a year).

Clemson has added guard Shelton Mitchell, a onetime Wake recruit who bailed on the Deacs after the coaching change and played a year at Vandy.

Also, Wake transfer Aaron Roundtree is going to Iona.

One other bit of news. Shonn Miller, the all-Ivy forward from Cornell, will transfer to UConn for his fifth and final year. He's a guy that Jim Sumner liked for Duke (I think because of his academic background). No evidence that Duke ever recruited him.

One final thing, I heard a great story about Burnett's decision to transfer from Miami (no landing place yet). Apparently, it went down very much like the Duke-Kris Humphries situation. Burnett and his mother met with Larranaga after the season and she demanded a certain level of guaranteed minutes. Larranaga asked Burnett if she spoke for him and when he said she did, he was "encouraged" to transfer.

[Olympic Fan]

Sorry to double post but just saw the story that Virginia Tech transfer Adam Smith is heading for Georgia Tech to play his last year:

http://georgiatech.blog.ajc.com/2015/04/23/report-georgia-tech-getting-a-graduate-transfer/

The ACC has always been strict on in-conference transfers (Gbinije landed at Syracuse before they joined the ACC)

Apparently this is not going to be a problem.

Smith averaged 13 ppg and was one of the ACC' best 3-point shooters last season.

[-jk]

Sorry to double post but just saw the story that Virginia Tech transfer Adam Smith is heading for Georgia Tech to play his last year:

http://georgiatech.blog.ajc.com/2015/04/23/report-georgia-tech-getting-a-graduate-transfer/

The ACC has always been strict on in-conference transfers (Gbinije landed at Syracuse before they joined the ACC)

Apparently this is not going to be a problem.

Smith averaged 13 ppg and was one of the ACC' best 3-point shooters last season.

Does the ACC limit Grad Transfers? I think LOIs aren't in force after graduation. (And what if a player doesn't sign an LOI?)

-jk

[RamblinRed]

Does the ACC limit Grad Transfers? I think LOIs aren't in force after graduation. (And what if a player doesn't sign an LOI?)

-jk

ACC Transfer rule does not apply to Grad Transfers. They are free to go anywhere. GT did this once before with Pierre Jordan from FSU (not nearly the same caliber of player obviously).

RamblinRed

[BD80]

Interesting retweet by Seth Davis:

Already lots of love for Maryland in pre-preseason hoops, also hearing College Park could be a possible landing spot for Rasheed Sulaimon

[BD80]

Jeff Borzello reporting via Twitter that 6-6 Fwd Shaun Kirk (who received an offer from Ky) committed to NCSU last night

Good get for Gott

Even better that cal swings and misses again. How many scholly offers has he made to this year's class? Certainly more than 10. More than 20?

[BD80]

Jeff Borzello reporting via Twitter that 6-6 Fwd Shaun Kirk (who received an offer from Ky) committed to NCSU last night

Good get for Gott

Even better that cal swings and misses again. How many scholly offers has he made to this year's class? Certainly more than 10. More than 20?

Uh oh. Looks like cal may have made his offer AFTER Kirk committed to NCSU. cal trying to steal recruits now.

[Dev11]

Uh oh. Looks like cal may have made his offer AFTER Kirk committed to NCSU. cal trying to steal recruits now.

Throwing stones in glass houses and all, we sort of did this with Austin Rivers well after he committed to Florida.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Interesting retweet by Seth Davis:

Already lots of love for Maryland in pre-preseason hoops, also hearing College Park could be a possible landing spot for Rasheed Sulaimon

I have all sorts of mixed feelings about that.

[Troublemaker]

Interesting retweet by Seth Davis:

Already lots of love for Maryland in pre-preseason hoops, also hearing College Park could be a possible landing spot for Rasheed Sulaimon

Turgeon recruited Rasheed when he was still the coach at TAMU. (A&M is, of course, 90 minutes away from Rasheed's hometown of Houston.)

Sheed-to-MD is believable. The Terps have a hole at SG right now, the only thing keeping them from having a complete team and maybe deserving of preseason #1.

I do hope the ACC-Big 10 matchup is Maryland vs UNC. I want no part of Maryland if Rasheed goes there. Too many weird feelings.

[CDu]

Turgeon recruited Rasheed when he was still the coach at TAMU. (A&M is, of course, 90 minutes away from Rasheed's hometown of Houston.)

Sheed-to-MD is believable. The Terps have a hole at SG right now, the only thing keeping them from having a complete team and maybe deserving of preseason #1.

I do hope the ACC-Big 10 matchup is Maryland vs UNC. I want no part of Maryland if Rasheed goes there. Too many weird feelings.

Uggh, Sulaimon to Maryland absolutely makes sense and absolutely makes me queasy. He would be a great fit next to Trimble and filling in for the exit of Dez Wells. That team would be loaded.

[Duvall]

Turgeon recruited Rasheed when he was still the coach at TAMU. (A&M is, of course, 90 minutes away from Rasheed's hometown of Houston.)

Sheed-to-MD is believable. The Terps have a hole at SG right now, the only thing keeping them from having a complete team and maybe deserving of preseason #1.

Except that...if you're one piece away from being having a #1 team, why take a chance on Sulaimon being the guy to fill that role?

[Austin Maida]

Except that...if you're one piece away from being having a #1 team, why take a chance on Sulaimon being the guy to fill that role?

Not to mention the ON-court risk you'll be taking. If you're just one piece away, Sulaimon's inconsistent play is probably not what you need. Yes, on any night and in any moment he has the ability to be a force. But he also disappeared for stretches. I just didn't see enough from him to think that Maryland will say "Hey, THATS the guy that will put us over the top" and then stick their neck out there to bring him into the program.

Now, that says nothing of the chances of it actually happening, which I won't pretend to know anything about.

[-jk]

Throwing stones in glass houses and all, we sort of did this with Austin Rivers well after he committed to Florida.

Except Austin reopened his recruitment and contacted us (IIRC).

-jk

[SCMatt33]

Except Austin reopened his recruitment and contacted us (IIRC).

-jk

Not to mention that Rivers wavered before his senior year after committing at a very young age (Sophomore year?). Kirk just committed during the late signing period after his senior year. Shades of Terrance Jones perhaps? We may never know the truth on that one. Jones certainly placed the call to Cal, which isn't uncommon for re riots who just rejected someone. Whether Jones admitted to being unsure first, or Cal made a last pitch first might never be known.

[bob blue devil]

Except Austin reopened his recruitment and contacted us (IIRC).

-jk

That's my recollection as well - he committed to Florida when he was roughly 5 years old, then decided to reopen his recruitment his jr year and reached out to Duke. Quite a bit different then trying to change the mind of a kid who just committed.

[Troublemaker]

Except that...if you're one piece away from being having a #1 team, why take a chance on Sulaimon being the guy to fill that role?

Turgeon would have to discuss it with his AD and maybe the President of UMCP, but I think they are capable of taking this chance.

The options are thin. They missed out on Damion Lee, and Jaylen Brown doesn't list them.

The situation is perhaps similar to Dez Wells: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/63416/the-strange-case-of-dezmine-wells

[Duvall]

Turgeon would have to discuss it with his AD and maybe the President of UMCP, but I think they are capable of taking this chance.

The options are thin. They missed out on Damion Lee, and Jaylen Brown doesn't list them.

The situation is perhaps similar to Dez Wells: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/63416/the-strange-case-of-dezmine-wells

It's not so much that as the fact that Sulaimon was reportedly kicked off of Duke's team for being a malcontent. (But also that.) Why invite that kind of drama when you already have a highly ranked team?

[Henderson]

I have all sorts of mixed feelings about that.

Mixed, yes. But on balance I just wish Rasheed the best wherever he goes. This board has done some serious lovin' on Sheed (plus many a groan) when he was one of ours, and that doesn't fade for me with a change of jersey. Those sappy platitudes kind of make me queasy, but it's where I land.

Rock on, Sheed. This story ain't over.