NCAA Basketball: Analyzing finalists for Monmouth grad transfer Ray Salnave
Grad transfer Ray Salnave is down to a final group of NCAA Basketball teams for next season. Which of them is the best fit for the guard?
It’s a big blow for the Monmouth Hawks, losing All-MAAC guard Ray Salnave to the NCAA Basketball transfer portal. The 6’3 playmaker averaged 14.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.2 apg, each good for second on the team overall. His overall shooting efficiency isn’t elite but Salnave is a good defender and can make three-point shots.
Recently, the grad transfer has limited his potential list of options to three teams; DePaul, LMU and St. John’s. For the New York native, he projects to be a rotation piece/potential starter for each of them, looking to help boost one of them up their respective conference ladder. Here’s a look at Salnave’s potential fit with each program.
LMU Lions
The hiring of Marquette assistant Stan Johnson opens the Lions up to the east coast in recruiting, including potentially Salnave. He already recruited big man Mattias Markusson to come back after entering the transfer portal and will have All-WCC forward Eli Scott to work with as well. Salnave would be a starter for LMU next season, replacing Erik Johansson on the perimeter and adding a desperately needed ball-handler. With Dameane Douglas also coming back from injury, adding the Monmouth transfer could propel this team to a top-half spot in the WCC.
DePaul Blue Demons
Departures have left DePaul with just leading scorer Charlie Moore and incoming D-II transfer Courvoisier McCauley as rotation players for next season. They did land All-MVC guard Javon Freeman-Liberty a week ago but he’s likely to sit out next season. The Blue Demons would have a role for Salnave, who would serve as the primary backup ballhandler to Moore while also playing off the ball when he’s on the court. They also are going after UNLV grad transfer Jonah Antonio, more of a shooter than and a ball-handler.
St. John’s Red Storm
Unless they’re ready to have incoming three-star guard Posh Alexander start at point guard next season, the Red Storm is in bad need of another ball-handler. And with leading scorer LJ Figueroa still in the NBA Draft process, they could use another scorer to join the program as well. That’s why they’ve been after Salnave so hard, also having the advantage of being the “local” option of the list.
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All three programs have a role to offer Ray Salnave but from just judging the rosters, St. John’s Basketball just makes the most sense. Even if Figueroa comes back, they still need another ball-handler to be competitive in the Big East next season. My guess would be the Red Storm but don’t overlook the Lions or Blue Demons from the list.