NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking all 5 options for transfer Erik Stevenson
2. San Diego State Aztecs
There isn’t a program who benefitted more than transfers this season than San Deigo State, who had Yanni Wetzell (Vandy), KJ Feagin (Santa Clara) and Mountain West Player of the Year Malachi Flynn (Washington State) all play great to lead the team to a historic 30-2 season. Head coach Brian Dutcher’s system isn’t too different from what Stevenson played at Wichita State, and the Mountain West Conference is comparable in terms of talent.
The Aztecs will certainly look different in two years but it’s an opportunity for Stevenson to play on a nationally relevant program and not have to worry about playing time or being recruiting over during the year off. And if paired with another talented transfer, who knows, maybe San Diego State can get a similar result as this year.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
If head coach Mark Few and Gonzaga are serious about a particular transfer, it’s hard not to have them as the best landing spot. I mentioned how great transfers had been for San Diego State this year but they’ve been great for the Bulldogs for the past couple of decades. Ryan Woolridge and Admon Gilder are the latest examples, seemingly fitting with the team in their lone season as a Bulldog.
With Corey Kispert and likely Joel Ayayi gone after next year, there is a need for a shooting guard for Gonzaga. And with how they play through their bigs and create room for their guards, Stevenson’s shooting percentages will certainly shoot up if he plays for Gonzaga. The concern though is whether or not even better guards will play for this team in 2021-22. Top-50 combo Dominick Harris is already around, while top-30 guard Hunter Sallis has the Bulldogs among his initial list of suitors. And let’s be honest, in each offseason, Gonzaga will always have the ears for any top-tier grad transfer who wants to play for an NCAA Tournament team.
Next. 10 tournament games in history we never got to see. dark
That being said, Gonzaga will be in need of some upperclassmen talent and leadership two years from now and Stevenson doesn’t even have to start. If Gilder can move to being a sixth man for the benefit of the team, there’s no reason why the Wichita State transfer won’t be willing to do the same if he opts for the Bulldogs. If he decides to sit next season and not go for a waiver, then the Bulldogs would be the ideal destination for him. But if Stevenson does try to play next season, then I’d say go to San Deigo State.