NCAA Basketball: 10 teams who should target transfer Elijah Olaniyi
UCLA Bruins
Whether he stays in the NBA Draft or comes back for one more season, the Bruins are going to have to produce leading scoring wing Chris Smith. With five-star point guard Dashien Nix deciding to forego college and play in the G League, head coach Mick Cronin needs to add additional talent either via the portal or recruits that actually end up coming to UCLA.
The team did add former top-30 recruit and Kentucky guard Johnny Juzang and has four-star incoming guard Jaylen Clark joining the roster. But I have a feeling that multiple players are going to leave the team via the draft or portal after next year and Olaniyi and his defense is a good fit for the Bruins program and culture. Him being a senior also helps age the team as well.
Xavier Musketeers
With All-Big East star Naji Marshall staying in the NBA Draft, there’s a big hole in the middle of the lineup that has to be filled. The Musketeers are hoping that Gardner-Webb grad transfer Nate Johnson can provide enough shooting to boost the team but will need a replacement for him afterward.
Xavier has a trio of top-120 perimeter recruits in the 2020 class and will have big man Zach Freemantle for a couple more years. That combo forward position will be open, giving Olaniyi a major opportunity for minutes and a role for the 2021-22 squad and his game fits Marshall and previous similar players that have played for the Musketeers.
Next. Early ACC power rankings for 2020-21. dark
With Stony Brook’s best player on the market, look for there to be teams not listed in this piece to be after Olaniyi. He’ll have a big impact on whichever program he lands at, though we’ll all have to wait 18 months to see him again.