Butler Basketball: Dawgs interested in sit-out transfer Adam Flagler

Butler Basketball has been active on the transfer market this offseason despite a lack of additions so far. Could they snag Adam Flagler from Presbyterian?

Welcome to transfer season. Over the past few seasons, the transfer market has expanded in prevalence as seemingly every single program is on the lookout for their next big addition. With regards to this offseason, Butler basketball is no different. While the program is yet to snag a commitment from a transfer this offseason, they have been linked to several players. This list then expanded this week when it was announced that the program is interested in Presbyterian sit-out transfer Adam Flagler.

One of the more underrated players in the transfer portal, Flagler recently finished up an impressive freshman campaign with the Blue Hose where he absolutely lit it up from beyond the arc. Over the course of the season, the 6-foot-3 guard posted 15.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He also recorded these numbers on relatively high efficiency as he posted shooting slashes of .438/.386/.835. Due to his high 3-point attempt rate to go along with that efficiency, it is important to mention that his effective field goal percentage of 55.9% ranked fourth in the Big South.

He was recognized as the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Now that Flagler has entered the transfer portal, a few teams are interested in snagging the talented guard. According to Jeff Goodman, four programs are seemingly in the mix:

Before launching into the other three teams mentioned, I want to start by saying I think Flagler would be a really good fit at Butler. In addition to simply being an elite shooter, Flagler boasts plenty of confidence as he lets trifectas fly at high volume. During this past season, he buried 108 total 3-pointers. Per the Sports-Reference database, only two Butler players (Rotnei Clarke and Bruce Horan) have hit more than that in a season and both of them did that in their senior year. Flagler was a freshman.

With regards to his fit in the program, it certainly seems as though Flagler would find minutes. By the time he is eligible, the only confirmed backcourt members on the roster will be a senior Aaron Thompson and a sophomore Khalif Battle. And while the Dawgs are targeting many top-tier 2020 guards, adding a proven shooter and scorer would be a strong move. Flagler is a true shooting guard with the ability to light up the scoreboard in the hurry. There is nothing wrong with a little “lightning in a bottle” scoring.

Even though Flagler spent this past season playing in the Big South, it is reasonable to expect that he can play meaningful minutes in a power conference. He can clearly stroke it from beyond the arc and brings enough size at 6-foot-3 to function as an off-guard. Also, Flagler will have to sit out this coming season due to transfer rules and that will give him time to add to his game or athleticism while also practicing alongside new teammates. Oh, and for a bit more convincing, here is a look at his numbers against “quality competition” last season (keep in mind he was just a freshman and all of these performances were in the first half of the season):

• Presbyterian at Marquette (36 minutes): 20 points on 4-for-7 from three
• Presbyterian at UCLA (36 minutes): 29 points on 7-for-14 from three
• Presbyterian at Butler (26 minutes): 13 points on 1-for-6 from three
• Presbyterian at Dayton (30 minutes): 20 points on 6-for-13 from three

It is also worth mentioning that, similar to former Butler guard Paul Jorgensen, Flagler almost never turns the ball over. Granted, he is not much of a playmaker but he exhibited the lowest turnover rate in the Big South last season at 7.9%. When he touches the ball, it is either getting launched at the rim or safely passed off to a teammate. He rarely forces the issue with a tough feed.

But even though this is a Butler-centric piece, let’s take a look at the pitch that the other programs involved might be able to make.

Seton Hall: Flagler is not the only player that Seton Hall has been linked to this offseason. The Pirates have also been in contact with several other guards and it is clear that they are looking to add another scorer. After missing out on Jared Bynum, it seems as though they have turned their attention to RJ Cole (Howard), Justice Sueing (Cal), and Flagler. It is also important to mention that they have already landed a transfer guard this offseason in the form of Takal Molson (Canisius). Seton Hall struggled from beyond the arc during this past season and adding another perimeter threat could certainly open up the offense in the future.

Baylor: The Bears have also been quite active on the transfer market this offseason, but it seems as though they are interested in the “best player available”. They have mentioned as targeting players such as Jahvon Quinerly and Nysier Brooks, two of the more highly sought-after players in the portal. With that said, though, they could use a shooter to place alongside rising sophomore Jared Butler moving forward (after the sit-out year). The Bears are currently lacking a bit with regards to off-guards for the future with most options graduating either this offseason or next.

Appalachian State: If Flagler does end up choosing Appalachian State, then it will not be a major upgrade in competition. Unlike the NCAA Tournament aspirations that come with the other three programs involved, this choice would be due to coaching familiarity. Dustin Kerns, who coached Flagler this past season at Presbyterian is now the leader of Appalachian State. This relationship could go a long way and he would likely also be the go-to offensive player for the Mountaineers.

All of these programs seem like they would be strong fits for Flagler with regards to playing at a higher level or under a familiar coaching staff. Regardless of where he ends up, that program will be getting a knockdown shooter with a high ceiling. He still has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining and that makes him a very valuable target. Flagler has proven that he can score at a high rate in the Big South and he should be able to find his shots in higher leagues as well.

Adam Flagler might not be the best transfer on the market but he is certainly an underrated one. Unlike many other transfers, Flagler already boasts an elite skill and will have three years of eligibility to continue developing. He will be a nice snag for any of these programs (or others that may get involved) and Butler basketball could certainly use another guard for the future.