NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Top 25 impact Junior College transfers for 2019-20
15. Jervay Green – Nebraska
JUCO school: Western Nebraska Community College
New head coach Fred Hoiberg has literally an entirely new roster in his first season with the Cornhuskers, filled with either transfers or high school prospects. Playing time is available everywhere, where the best players are going to get on the court this season.
That bodes well for one of the best JUCO scorers from this past year. Green 23.6 ppg on 54% shooting and nearly 40% from three-point range on seven attempts a game. He made 10 three-pointers in a single game for a career-high 51 point performance. Of all the players on the Nebraska roster, the 6’3 shooting guard could very well lead the team in scoring in 2019-20.
14. Gage Prim – Missouri State
JUCO school: South Plains College
One of the best JUCO forwards all of last season, the 6’9 Prim averaged 20.7 ppg and 11.5 rpg on an impressive 65% shooting from the filed. He’s a very skilled big man who operates primarily inside but can hit a three-pointer or two to keep the defense honest. In a recent run of recruiting successes for head coach Dana Ford, landing the coveted Prim might be the best yet.
From a skill perspective, Prim should be higher on the list. However, I think we’ll have to wait a year to fully see his potential. Missouri Valley Conference contender Tulio Da Silva will be the starting center, while West Virginia grad transfer Lamont West is the perfect complement as a stretch-four. Prim will be an effective 6th man off the bench for the Bears next season and give them one of the best mid-major frontcourts. But don’t forget Prim’s name for the following year where he’ll be the man for Missouri State.
13. James Rojas – Alabama
JUCO school: Hutchinson Community College
A first-team JUCO All-American forward, Rojas averaged nearly 20 ppg while displaying supreme versatility on offense. He originally committed to Buffalo a year ago but decided to follow head coach Nate Oats to Alabama. He’s part of a really good recruiting class for the new Crimson Tide leader.
Rojas’ ability to score will be needed for the SEC program, as they don’t return any frontcourt players who averaged more than 6.3 ppg last season. He reminds me of an even more athletic version Jeremy Harris, a former star for Coach Oats at Buffalo. He’ll have an impact without question and will be a complimentary piece for Kira Lewis and the other guards.