NCAA Basketball: Analyzing all 13 teams invovled with Rhode Island transfer Fatts Russell
Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Bulldogs will be looking for a few new pieces once several expected departures occur. From the backcourt specifically, top-3 projected NBA Draft pick Jalen Suggs will be gone, along with potentially junior Joel Ayayi. And Southern Illinois transfer Aaron Cook will likely move on as well.
Florida transfer Andrew Nembhard will likely return, while also having former top-60 recruit Hunter Sallis on the team. And there’s a good chance that five-star prospect Hunter Sallis will pick the Bulldogs in a few days. If Nembhard moves on, this would make more sense for Russell to join. But unless he’s willing to play a similar role as Cook did this season, I simply can’t see it.
Odds: Low
Maryland Terrapins
With senior point guard and team leader Darryl Morsell moving on, there’s a hole at the lead ball-handler situation that Maryland needs to address. And that doesn’t even include the fates of junior guards Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins, each of who could be possible early NBA Draft entrants.
Either way, the Terrapins didn’t have anyone who averaged more than 2.8 apg this past season. And even though Russell is a bit ball-dominant, having a better supporting cast will allow him to facilitate the ball more than he did at Rhode Island. And his scoring talent should be able to translate at the Big Ten level as well.