College Basketball: Busting Brackets Midseason Awards

Best Transfer

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga

Not only is Wiltjer the mid-season award winner, I’ll say he’s the only person who’s already wrapped up his award for the end of the season as well. The sweet-shooting big man has been such a perfect fit for Gonzaga that it’s hard to even imagine why he didn’t commit to Mark Few’s team out of high school.

Luckily, Wiltjer’s emergence from Kentucky’s bench to the Wooden Watch List as a member of the Zags is a feel-good story that stresses the importance of self-confidence and perseverance in the development of an athlete.

Wiltjer was an All-American out of high school, but it was clear that his style of play didn’t fit within John Calipari’s machine in Lexington. Despite an odd two-year stint that saw him viewed as a disappointment while still being recognized for his talent (he was the SEC Sixth Man of the Year during his sophomore year at Kentucky), Wiltjer left for Gonzaga because he believed in his ability to be a top option.

Fortunately for the Zags, Wiltjer’s confidence was warranted, and now the Bulldogs have their most talented team ever. Wiltjer stretches the floor with his shooting and perimeter passing, allowing Mark Few to play a trio of players 6’10 or taller when the situation calls for it. Not even Kentucky can comfortably put that many giants on the floor.

Next: Sixth Man of the Year