Middle Tennessee basketball: Blue Raiders grab coveted Nick King

There might not be a hotter mid-major program than MTSU. The Blue Raiders just picked up a former top 50 guy for 2017-2018.

Middle Tennessee basketball keeps trending upward. They made the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and knocked off Minnesota in a popular upset game. Then the school cut a new deal with head coach Kermit Davis to keep the man in Murfreesboro. Things were already looking bright for the Blue Raiders.

That momentum continued this week when the announcement broke that former Alabama Crimson Tide forward Nick King would play for MTSU next season.

This is potentially a huge grab for a program that is losing two of its top three scorers and four guys that appeared in over 30 contests. What does King bring to the table?

King is listed at 6’7, 225. He has the frame to play high-major ball and will now suit up for one of Conference-USA‘s strongest programs. He played in seven games for Alabama this year before suffering a lung infection. King averaged just 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds, but put up 7.2 and 4.8 as a sophomore with Memphis in 2014-2015.

King should slide right into the starting spot JaCorey Williams occupied this year. The Arkansas transfer was one of the best stories this season with 17.3 ppg after scoring less than five per contest as a Razorback. He also has a similar frame to the newest Blue Raider at 6’8″, 220.  It’s easy to draw potential parallels with these two former SEC wings. King will join sharpshooting guard Giddy Potts and point man Tyrik Dixon as a trio with tons of potential.

Next: Players bolting New Mexico

Getting the 37th players from the 2013 class is a major coup for Middle Tennessee State. King has a prime opportunity to star in his final season with the Blue Raiders. One of the offseason’s top transfers will keep MTSU in the hunt for an NCAA tournament  bid next season.