La Salle Basketball: Transfer David Beatty eligible for 2018-19 season
La Salle Basketball was looking for help to replace leading scorer BJ Johnson. They got it, with transfer guard David Beatty eligible to play for this season.
Although La Salle finished under .500 in both the A-10 and in overall record, they were still a fun team to watch. They were led by the dynamic duo of B.J. Johnson and Pookie Powell, who combined to average nearly 40 ppg and 12.5 rpg.
The Explorers were not only having to replace what Johnson did by himself (20.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg) but also Amar Stukes, who averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.1 apg from the perimeter as well. But the coaching staff(s) have been hard at work in the transfer market to bring in good talent.
Last season La Salle got 6’0 guard Traci Carter from Marquette, who averaged 4.4 apg in 41 total games with the Golden Eagles. He’s slated to be the Explorers starting point guard alongside Powell.
As for this offseason, the A-10 team prepared for Powell’s impending departure as well, grabbing 6’2 guard David Beatty from South Carolina. As a freshman, he averaged three points a night in 12 mpg, playing 29 total games last season off the bench. He didn’t play much in SEC play but showed potential during the non-conference slate for the Gamecocks. Beatty reached double figures a couple of times, including a 13 point performance against Temple. His efficiency needs work (25% field goal shooting) but plays solid defense and could excel at a different place.
More from NCAA Basketball News
- NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 5 teams for top-100 SG Larry Johnson
- NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 5 teams for 4-star PG Jeremiah Johnson
- NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 8 teams for 5-star SF Annor Boateng
- NCAA Basketball: 4 head coaches who needs to win big in 2023-24 season
- NCAA Basketball: Top 15 head coaches on the rise entering 2023-24 season
That’s what he did by transferring to La Salle to be closer to home for family reasons. Per NCAA rules, non-grad transfers are supposed to sit out a season. However, Beatty filed a waiver in hopes that the extenuating circumstances would allow him to play immediately.
It worked, with the South Carolina transfer now able to play this upcoming season without having to sit out. This is a huge boost to La Salle in their hopes to rise in the A-10 standings. The Explorers now have a formidable three-guard lineup in Beatty, Powell and Carter.
And at 6’2 and 210 pounds, Beatty can play the three-spot without giving up size to his opponents in an overall smaller league. And to be honest, La Salle will have a better group of perimeter players than the Gamecocks did last season, which was a clear weak point of that team.
Next. Preseason A-10 Rankings for 2018-19. dark
There are still concerns about the Explorers frontcourt and where the overall scoring production will come from outside of Powell. If Beatty can become the kind of player that can score at a high level, La Salle will be a bigger threat than anticipated for the 2018-19 season, which will be a problem for the rest of the A-10.