NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing grad transfer Matt Haarms 10 teams
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders have been in the transfer market for both guards and wings but Haarms is the first high-profile big man they’ve been in the picture for. The team missed having a true center last season, using 6’8 TJ Holyfield and small lineups overall. Texas Tech would love to pair both Haarms and UNLV sit-out transfer forward Joel Ntambwe.
Coach Beard has done a great job with transfers since arriving in Lubbock, working with guys perceived to having limited skillsets and maximizing their overall talent potential. If Haarms felt that the Boilermaker staff were underutilized him, Texas Tech would be the perfect situation to prove them wrong. The only slight concern is that between Davide Moretti, Kyler Edwards, top-30 freshman Nimari Burnett and the possible return of Jahmi’us Ramsey, Haarms may be the 4th or 5th option on the court at all times.
UNC Greensboro Spartans
BYU and Gonzaga aren’t really viewed as natural “mid-majors”, so the Spartans really stick out on this list. But for those who aren’t familiar with Wes Miller and UNC Greensboro, they’ve been one of the best overall programs in the country, winning 23+ games in each of the past four seasons. And assuming Southern Conference Player of the Year Isaiah Miller does return for his season, the Spartans will likely win another 23+ games and contend for an NCAA Tournament bid.
UNC Greensboro returns three of their top four scorers but has to replace big man James Dickey, who led the team with 9.2 rpg. Haarms would get the most minutes with this option, going for 30 mpg and being a featured piece in the Spartans offense. He’d be able to play for a quality head coach and develop his overall game with plenty of opportunities, where at Kentucky or Gonzaga, there’s a possibility that he gets buried on the depth chart.
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Expect a shorter list of finalists going forward for Haarms but there seems to be a group that stands out more than others. I don’t see him going to Gonzaga (Petrusev decision), Minnesota, Arkansas, BYU or UNC Greensboro due to roster issues. Memphis and Boston College are wildcards and in the second-tier, while Arizona, Kentucky and Texas Tech sticks out as places that can check all of his boxes. I have no inside info but if I was a betting man, I’d pick one of those three as landing spots for Matt Haarms.