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Player Movement Central: Updates on Latest Transfers

By Chris Godfrey

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It’s been almost impossible to keep up with who’s staying and who’s going all over the nation. At the beginning of college basketball’s free agency period, we anticipated a good deal of movement, but the amount of turnover that we’ve seen this April has been without precedent. The only thing more impressive than the amount of talent that has changed schools, is the number (and quality) of players who is still waiting to make a decision. This won’t be the last time we visit Player Movement Central, but here’s a few noteworthy transfers that have gone down in the last two weeks.

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(in no particular order)

Ricky Tarrant Commits to Memphis

This will be stop number three in the college career of Ricky Tarrant, despite his success at two previous locations. Tarrant started his career at Tulane. He was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in his first season, and garnered 2nd team all-league honors in his sophomore year. He transferred to Alabama after his second season with Tulane, hoping to be a part of Anthony Grant‘s hardwood rebuild in Tuscaloosa. Instead, Bama toiled in mediocrity for another season and Grant was fired despite a solid season from Tarrant. Instead of spending his final season with new Tide coach Avery Johnson, Tarrant will head to Memphis as a graduate transfer, where he looks to be the missing piece to their NCAA Tournament puzzle. He will join the highly touted Lawson brothers (K.J. and McDonald’s All-American Dedric) as key additions to next year’s loaded roster that will also return Austin Nichols and Shaq Goodwin up front. Expect the Tigers to find their way back to the NCAA Tournament with Tarrant at the helm.

Mark Tollefson Commits to Arizona

If Daniel Tran didn’t convince you with his pro-Wildcat propaganda early this month, here’s another reason to believe that the kids will be OK down in Tuscon. Not many casual fans will get excited over the addition of Mark Tollefson, but once they see the big man suit up for his new team, it will be hard to imagine that he spent the first four years of his college career at the University of San Francisco. Tollefson may have been a late-bloomer, but it is clear that he can now play at an elite level, making him an intriguing addition as an immediately eligible grad transfer. His last game with San Francisco was a 21-point outing against Gonzaga (a sequel to an 18-point performance against the Zags in an earlier meeting). Tollefson won’t be a starter for Sean Miller, but he will be a valuable role player that will provide a deft shooting touch from the forward position. At a wiry 6’9, Tollefson could realistically see time at three positions next season, which will help ease the pain of the variety of losses the Wildcats have suffered this off-season.

Nick King commits to Alabama

The loss of Ricky Tarrant to Memphis eventually turned into a trade for the Crimson Tide, a concept that former NBA coach Avery Johnson is probably more familiar with than all this transfer nonsense. Nick King has become the piece that the Tide will receive in return, as he has left Memphis to take Tarrant’s scholarship at Alabama.

King was a consensus top 50 recruit coming out of high school, and he showed glimpses of fulfilling his great potential at times, but the addition of both Lawson brothers may have spelled the end of King’s value to the program. Now King will try to be a key member of Johnson’s rebuilding effort. After sitting out next season, King will be a key member of Johnson’s core during his final two years of eligibility.

Eric Paschall Commits to Villanova

College basketball recruits fall through the cracks every year, and Eric Paschall was this season’s most glaring example of that reality. Paschall committed to Fordham last year despite offers from schools like Providence and West Virginia. However, the coach that sold him on a bright future at Fordham, wasn’t able to ensure the same outcome for his own tenure at the school. When Tom Pecora was fired after another awful season in the Atlantic 10, Paschall opted out as well. Now, after sitting out a season, Paschall will join Villanova for the 2016-2017 season as one of the most anticipated additions in college basketball. Paschall was statistically one of the best freshmen in the country last season, averaging 15.9 points (4th among freshmen) and over five rebounds per game from his position on the wing. He will look to make dramatic strides during his redshirt year with the intent of being a top player for the Wildcats upon his return. Essentially, the rich get richer.

Manu Lecomte Commits to Baylor

This Belgian import became an unfortunate victim of circumstance for Jim Larranaga’s Miami Hurricanes. A loaded backcourt led to the departure of Manu LeComte, and now it will be Scott Drew that benefits from LeComte’s talents. The foremost of those talents will be his three-point shooting, a skill that he cashed in on at a 45% rate last season. At Baylor, LeComte’s shooting and ability to lead a team will be a welcomed addition to a team that will be short on guards when he becomes eligible. If you’re still wondering what type of player the Bears are getting, I would reference LeComte’s 23 points against Duke as the height of his influence.

Marcus Foster Commits to Creighton

The saga that led to Marcus Foster‘s dismissal from Kansas State is multifaceted. However, the short story seems to be that Foster was never able to put his ego aside for the benefit of his team. After an up and down year, Bruce Weber eventually decided that his program was better off without its best player. While some may criticize Creighton’s quickness and willingness to jump on Foster, one thing must be taken into consideration — Creighton is a Big East basketball program located in NEBRASKA. The Blue Jays need talent, and they’re not in a position to be picky about how they acquire it. Foster is a proven scorer, who has proven capable of burying teams when he gets hot. Unfortunately, he is also known for burying his own team when he’s not. Coach Greg McDermott is familiar with Foster. He came very close to signing him out of high school. There is clearly confidence within the program that Foster can be reeled in once he gets to Omaha during his remaining two seasons of eligibility. Even if that confidence wasn’t there, can Creighton really afford to pass up on any talent at this point? When Foster takes the floor as a Blue Jay (after sitting out a year), expect for him to be the team’s best player, and their next great hope to obtain respectability in their new conference. That’s all that matters to Blue Jays fans right now. We’ll revisit this topic after Foster’s first bad shooting performance with his new team.

Next: Drexel Transfer Damion Lee Chooses Louisville

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