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Xavier Basketball: Graduate transfer Kerem Kanter commits to Musketeers

By Carmine Carcieri

Dec 14, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Green Bay Phoenix forward Kerem Kanter (1) attempts to keep the ball from Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Green Bay 73-59. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Green Bay Phoenix forward Kerem Kanter (1) attempts to keep the ball from Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Green Bay 73-59. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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Xavier basketball is adding a big man to help replace senior RaShid Gaston and to play alongside Sean O’Mara.

With senior RaShid Gaston set to graduate and stretch four Trevon Bluiett testing the 2017 NBA Draft waters, the Xavier Musketeers are adding a new piece to provide Chris Mack with some depth up front.

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On Tuesday, graduate transfer and former Green Bay Phoenix forward Kerem Kanter announced on Twitter that he will be playing his final season of college basketball at Xavier. Kanter, the brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward, Enes, will be immediately eligible and will likely make an instant impact for the Musketeers.

https://twitter.com/KeremKanter/status/851853682199203841

The 6’10” big man from Istanbul, Turkey had a minor role in his first two seasons at Green Bay, playing less than 10 minutes a night during both his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He averaged just 1.6 points in year one and while he increased his scoring average to 4.0 in year two, Kanter shot a worse percentage from both the field overall and from downtown.

In year three, Kanter took a huge step forward, though, as he played nearly 20 minutes an evening and put up 11.3 points per outing (second best on the team). In addition to his ability to score, Kanter grabbed 6.3 rebounds and shot a career-best 35 percent from beyond the arc.

While Kanter may not play more than 20 minutes with Xavier, his presence in the paint will be much needed with Gaston gone. Kanter will play alongside Sean O’Mara and rising sophomore Tyrique Jones, giving the Musketeers a three-headed monster that can score around the rim and rebound.

Kanter won’t be a player that puts Xavier over the hump in order to win the Big East title, but he does provide them with valuable depth and balance. With Edmond Sumner gone and Bluiett potentially remaining a pro, Mack needs all the talent he can find in order to overcome the losses.

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Because we now know that the front court has plenty of size, and skill and that Mack is returning to the sidelines despite some interest from major programs, the lone concerns for Xavier are in regards to Bluiett returning (and overcoming his recent arrest) and Quentin Goodin maturing at the point guard position. If both of those things happen, Xavier will again be one of the more dangerous teams throughout the 2017-18 and in March Madness.