NCAA Basketball: Analyzing all 13 teams invovled with Rhode Island transfer Fatts Russell
Arizona State Sun Devils
It was a dreadful past season for the Sun Devils, finishing under .500 and near the bottom of the Pac-12 despite having elite perimeter guards. That includes senior leading scorers Alonzo Verge Jr. and Remy Martin, along with projected first-round pick Joshua Christopher. Assuming all three departs this offseason, that leaves another current senior in Holland Woods (6.7 ppg), although he’s more likely to stay.
Even though it was his brother Dan Hurley who originally recruited Russell, Bobby Hurley could certainly use his presence for Arizona State in their quest to get back into contention. But whether or not he’s willing to travel out west for a team not guaranteed to make the dance is another question altogether.
Odds: Low
Auburn Tigers
With the assumption that star point guard Sharife Cooper is going pro and Justin Powell already gone, the Tigers will be spending this offseason rebuilding the backcourt. The good news is that they already landed one transfer from the portal in Zep Jasper, who averaged 15.6 ppg and 2.6 apg at College of Charleston this past season.
He’s 6’1 and more of a two-guard who shoots and scores off the ball, so he and Russell could play together. But does Auburn really want its starting backcourt to be both former mid-major stars with a combined height of 5’11 and 6’1 for SEC competition? Look out for former Missouri guard Xavier Pinson as being a possible better fit for the program.