We were all disappointed that we didn’t get to watch the NCAA Tournament this season. But we can take some solace in knowing that the tournament would be over by now and we’d be without college basketball for the next several months anyway.
Plus, the college hoops offseason is progressing as normal amidst the pandemic. The transfer decisions have been flying in hard and fast, so let’s check up on some of the top players who have chosen a new team over the last few days.
Wise Guy
Ivy League grad transfers are becoming a growing trend these days, and another one of the Ivy’s top players from this past season is on the move. Yale’s Jordan Brunner announced Friday that he’ll spend his final season of eligibility at Alabama. The 6-9 forward averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and nearly four assists per game for the Bulldogs, earning First-Team All-Ivy honors.
Alabama was just 16-15 this season, so they could use some help, which is on the way. In addition to Brunner, the Crimson Tide will also add Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly, who sat out this past season, and junior college player Keon Ellis.
Head coach Nate Oates also has a promising freshman class coming to Tuscaloosa next season.
The Newest Wildcat
Kentucky is losing several players to the NBA, but they’ll help replace them with Creighton grad transfer Davion Mintz. The 6-3 guard announced last week that he was leaving the Bluejays after sitting out this past season because of a preseason ankle injury.
He was a starter in each of the past two seasons, averaging nearly 10 points and three assists during the 2018-19 campaign. Despite bringing in another stellar class of freshmen, the Wildcats have lost Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans to the pro ranks with Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley likely to follow.
Bluegrass to Westwood
Speaking of Kentucky, John Calipari’s team is also losing Johnny Juzang, who has decided to transfer to UCLA. Juzang was a top prospect coming out of high school but played sparingly at Kentucky this past season, averaging less than three points per game.
The 6-6 shooting guard is a native of Los Angeles and chose UCLA over interest from Oregon, Arizona, Notre Dame, Villanova, and Texas Tech in part because it meant coming home. Juzang will seek a waiver to play right away but may have to sit out the 2020-21 season.
The Bruins could use some immediate help with Chris Smith putting his name into the NBA Draft. Smith could still return to school after being the only UCLA player to average double-figures this past season.
Much-Needed Help
Another Ivy League player is on the move with Harvard guard Bryce Aiken committing to play his final college season at Seton Hall. An injury limited him to seven games this past season, allowing him an extra season of eligibility.
During his junior season, Aiken was an all-Ivy-League player who averaged over 22 points per game. Aiken will join Canisius grad transfer Takal Molson as Seton Hall’s new backcourt.
That duo will have the difficult task of replacing Quincy McKnight and Myles Powell, who had many believe the Pirates were Final Four contenders before the NCAA Tournament was canceled.
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