SR Frank Booker – South Carolina Gamecocks
2017-18 stats: 12.7 ppg 3.6 rpg 1.2 apg
It was honestly one of the more confusing transfers at the time.
When South Carolina lost their entire perimeter, Frank Martin decided to go through the transfer market to bring in immediate and experienced talent (despite having an anti-transfer attitude based on his previous comments).
Two mid-major guards were already coming in, but the Gamecocks added Booker, who after leaving Oklahoma, averaged just 5.7 ppg and shot under 30% from deep at Florida Atlantic. But he took the risk and decided to go to the SEC, which ultimately proved to be the right decision.
The senior bet on himself, and was easily the best guard on the team. He scored eight more points than his previous career-high and became a 40% shooter from three-point range. There were times where he was the best player on the court, including a 27 point and 10 rebound performance at Auburn towards the end of the season. Booker had at least 17 points in seven of the team’s final 12 games.
It was a down year for the Gamecocks overall, but it wasn’t Booker’s fault. There are guys on this list whose production this season was expected. What the former Owl did wasn’t.