NCAA Basketball transfer Landers Nolley is one of the most coveted players in the portal. Which teams are in play to land the shooting guard?
When it comes to who the best NCAA Basketball freshmen were this past season, Landers Nolley of Virginia Tech is right up there at the top. He had a fantastic first year, leading the Hokies with 15.5 ppg, along with 5.8 rpg and 2.4 apg. The redshirt freshman was the big reason for the team finishing with a .500 overall record, which is a decent surprise considering the preseason expectations for them to begin with.
It’s been a journey for Nolley since leaving high school, having to miss all of the 2018-19 season due to academic issues beforehand. But he did a big favor to the new coaching staff by not leaving after Buzz Williams left. The former top-50 recruit was huge in the first half of this past campaign, starting off with a 30-point performance against Clemson. He had 22 points in the season-defining win over Michigan State in the Maui Invitational and reached in double figures in 22 of the first 24 games.
But as ACC play came on, Nolley and Virginia Tech struggled. As defenses focused on the 6’7 guard, the shooting percentages declined vastly. On the year, Nolley shot 37% from the field and 32% from the three-point line. But with a better surrounding cast of players, the sky is the limit for the now-former Hokie.
Nolley entered the transfer portal, immediately viewed as one of the top targets this offseason. He had a number of suitors but has since limited it down to 11 teams. Expect another cut in a week or two but for now, check out how he’ll fit with each potential program.
*Will assume Nolley will sit out a season unless he gets a waiver from the NCAA. Having already sat out a season, it’s anyone’s guess
Alabama Crimson Tide
The roster for Alabama is in flux at the moment, with multiple players (John Petty, Kira Lewis and Herb Jones) having declared for the NBA Draft, while head coach Nate Oats has been all over the transfer portal, currently in the final group for a number of players. There’s also a pair of forward/wings (James Rojas and Juwan Gary) who sat out last season with injuries.
It’s hard to view how Nolley fits with an ever-changing roster and if he has to sit out a season, he could be fighting for playing time in the future. However, the playing style of the Crimson Tide is near-perfect for the 6’7 wing with high-flying offense. Nolley could have a college career just as Buffalo’s C.J. Massinburg did, who was also coached by Oats as well.