NCAA Basketball: Examing potential options of grad transfer Seth Towns

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks were arguably the best overall team in the country last season, led by elite center Udoka Azubuike and star sophomore point guard Devon Dotson. Wings Marcus Garrett and Ochai Agbaji provided the defense to make Kansas so great but they were missing in the power forward department, using either fellow center David McCormack or undersized forwards such as Christian Braun.

It worked this past season but the two All-American caliber players won’t be around. Five-star guard Bryce Thompson is coming in, along with top JUCO wing Tyon Grant-Foster but the 2020 class doesn’t feature a top frontcourt prospect. That leaves Mitch Lightfoot, who redshirted this past season, Silvio De Sousa, who was suspended after the ugly incident against Kansas State, Jalen Wilson, who was injured last season, and sophomore Tristan Enaruna, who struggled this past season.

It would be a great opportunity for Towns to come in and start as a grad transfer at the four-spot and would be surrounded by a great level of talent. But will he be able to contribute at a high level in the Big 12 or could it be too big a step?

Maryland Terrapins

Assuming the likely loss of Jalen Smith to the NBA Draft (along with losing the Mitchell twins earlier in the season), Maryland will have a huge need for frontcourt scoring. Only Donta Scott (5.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg) and Ricky Lindo are currently set to return, with the guard trio of Darryl Morsell, Eric Ayaya, and Aaron Wiggins leading the way for the 2020-21 Terrapins.

While the perimeter won’t be a question, finding production from the frontcourt will be a key for head coach Mark Turgeon. Towns would absolutely help in the scoring department and would be inserted as a starter. And ultimately, he would only need to contribute 10-15 ppg for the team to help Maryland remain as a viable Big Ten team next season.