NCAA Basketball: Top transfer Tramaine Isabell visiting 3 schools
Tramaine Isabell is a late, but impactful addition to the grad transfer market. Which team will land a commitment from this talented guard?
Tramaine Isabell is looking to move up to the high major level after a breakout junior season. Isabell started his career at Missouri where he averaged 6.2ppg in 16.3 minutes per game as a sophomore, but chose to transfer to Drexel.
In his lone season at Drexel, his production soared to 21.0ppg, 7.5rpg, and 3.4apg making him one of the best players in the entire CAA conference. Isabell parlayed his successful season into an opportunity to return to a high major school.
The 6’1” scoring guard is being pursued by multiple schools with NCAA Tournament aspirations and he would be a starter or key reserve on all of the interested teams. He is reportedly visiting Seton Hall, Xavier, and Arizona State which shows the talent level of this former mid-major star. How does Isabell fit with the schools that he is visiting?
Seton Hall
Seton Hall needs Isabell more than the others schools that are competing for his services since the Pirates have already lost two guards to the transfer market. Eron Gordon was a serviceable backup PG and Jordan Walker had potential, but both players will transfer from the program.
The only other potential lead guard on the roster is Sacred Heart transfer Quincy McKnight who is more of a combo guard. Coach Kevin Willard has previously played a combo-guard as a full-time PG (see Isaiah Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington), but having another experienced ball-handler would be extremely helpful.
Isabell is not a traditional pass-first lead guard, but Seton Hall has thrived with a score first PG over the past few seasons. He would be a significant upgrade over Gordon and Walker and his addition would allow McKnight to move to a sixth man role.
Seton Hall would be thrilled to fill their gaping hole at PG with Tramaine Isabell and he would certainly receive major minutes. A Isabell-Powell-Cale perimeter would put the Pirates in NCAA Tournament contention.
Xavier
Xavier does not need a PG as they already have Quentin Goodin and Paul Scruggs, but they could use a talented scorer. Both Goodin and Scruggs have excellent size so the three guards could share the floor at the same time.
Isabell would probably fill a sixth man role and bolster an already strong bench unit. Xavier’s bench took a hit when reserve stretch four Kaiser Gates inexplicably left the program to play professionally, but fellow grad transfers Kyle Castlin and Zach Hankins are more than capable reserves.
With Blueitt, Macura, and Kanter out of eligibility, there are available shots and minutes. However, the Seton Hall situation has less risk from Isabell’s perspective and both teams are Tournament caliber with this talented guard. I certainly would not rule out Xavier, but they may be fighting an uphill battle.
Arizona State
Like Xavier, Arizona State already has multiple lead guards or combo guards on their roster. Remy Martin will likely earn the starting PG role after a strong freshman season and 5-star recruit Lugentz Dort will see major minutes both on and off the ball.
However, all three guards could play at once similar to Xavier’s potential situation. Coach Bobby Hurley regularly played three and even four-guard lineups this year so Isabell will definitely see the court.
The Sun Devils definitely have an NCAA Tournament roster, but there are many new pieces that have to gel. Isabell would improve the team’s overall talent level which certainly would not hurt and he would probably play a sixth man role at Arizona State as well.
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Isabell has at least three quality programs to choose from. Each team has the potential to make the NCAA Tournament and can give him a substantial role. If he wants to play for a “winner” or the best team, it is probably Xavier, but none of these teams are head and shoulders above the others. Therefore, I predict he will sign with Seton Hall because they have the most minutes and the biggest role to offer among these three teams.