NCAA Basketball: 10 biggest transfer winners of 2021 offseason so far
By Matt Melton
6. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners really emerged within the last week when they added forward Tanner Groves from Eastern Washington. Groves averaged 17.2 PPG and 8 RPG while starting every game for the Eagles in 2020-21, while also being named the Big Sky Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big Sky. Groves will also feature a key role in the Sooners’ frontcourt next season, likely playing a similar role to what Brady Manek did in Norman.
Oklahoma and new head coach Porter Moser backed that up by adding to the backcourt with Jacob Groves from Eastern Washington and Jordan Goldwire from Duke. Groves averaged 9.3 PPG during the 2020-21 season, while Goldwire is one of the best pure defensive guards in the country. The Sooners have had success within the past week in the transfer portal, and are a team to keep an eye on as their 2021-22 roster begin’s to take shape.
5. Maryland Terrapins
One of the more underrated teams that have had two very nice pickups in the transfer portal so far this offseason is Maryland. This is headlined by Georgetown transfer center Qudus Wahab who averaged 12.7 PPG and 8.2 RPG during his sophomore season and will provide the Terrapins with a badly needed dominant interior presence.
The Terrapins also landed a veteran presence in their backcourt with Rhode Island transfer guard Fatts Russell. Russell, a 4-year player and 3-year starter with the Rams, is a career 13.4 PPG scorer, and will not only provide instant offensive production, but also a veteran point guard capable of creating shots for himself and others. Maryland still has work to do, but the Terrapins look to be an improved team in the Big Ten next season.