NCAA Basketball: Analyzing all 13 teams invovled with Rhode Island transfer Fatts Russell
Penn State Nittany Lions
After another coaching change, the Nittany Lions have lost all of their key rotational pieces, including their top four scoring contributors. They have just six scholarship players left, including guard Sam Sessoms and Myles Dread.
So on one hand, this would be a tremendous opportunity for Russell to have a giant role on a Big Ten team next season. But it makes no sense for him to commit this early and not see who the new coaching staff also has brought in from the portal. I can’t see a player who has played in the NCAA Tournament before picking what may end up being the worst roster among power conferences.
Odds: Next to none
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns were led by their backcourt this past season, including senior Matt Coleman. Courtney Ramey and Andrew Jones are both juniors and could return, while senior Jase Febres spent all of this past year dealing with injuries and could use the extra year given to return.
Texas already lost Kai Jones to the NBA Draft and a couple of reserve forwards to the portal, so the team would be best suited to find frontcourt help right now. But if they happen to lose one more of their upperclassmen guards, then this becomes a real option for Russell to consider.