NCAA Basketball: 50 under-the-radar mid-major transfers for 2021-22 season
F Pavel Zakharov – Cal Baptist Lancers (WAC)
2020-21 stats: 0.8 ppg and 0.4 rpg
The former top-60 prospect has not played at all in the past two years at Gonzaga. Yet in fairness to Zakharov, he was playing behind WCC Player of the Year big man Filip Petrusev, along with last year’s All-American center Drew Timme. He’s a near 7-0 center that can spread the floor and shoot the ball and could thrive in the WAC for the Lancers.
Cal Baptist is hoping that Zakharov looks like Gorjok Gak, a center that averaged a double-double last season for them after not playing much in three years at Florida. If this team can get some frontcourt production, they return four double-digit scorers which should keep them in contention at the top of the league.
G Holland Woods – Grand Canyon Antelopes (WAC)
2020-21 stats: 6.7 ppg and 1.9 apg
It’s actually impressive the Woods even had a spot in the rotation, considering that the backcourt featured a lottery pick (Joshua Christopher) and two quality scorers in Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr. But before Arizona State, Woods was an All-Big Sky star at Portland State, averaging around 14.0 ppg and 5.2 apg in three seasons. He’s not a great shooter but can score in bunches and is a great passer as well.
I could’ve pick one of the multiple incoming frontcourt transfers but if Grand Canyon is going to win the WAC, they’ll need the backcourt to do its job. And they have 5’11 point guard Jovan Blacksher back, while Woods will be an upgrade over Mikey Dixon as the starting two-guard. If Woods can give the Lopes Portland State production, they’ll have a shot to win the league back-to-back years.
G Jordyn Adams – Lamar Cardinals (WAC)
2020-21 stats: 9.4 ppg and 2.2 apg
After averaging over 17 ppg as a freshman and winning OVC Rookie of the Year at Austin Peay, Adams took a big step back due to injuries and covid issues. Lamar is hoping to get the freshman version, where the 6’3 guard was one of the best pure scorers among mid-majors, including a career-high 37-point outing against Tennessee State.
The Cardinals are going to need all the production they can get from Adams, as they move from the Southland to the WAC, where the competition will take a big leap. The good news for the program is that they bring back their top three scorers, including Davion Buster and Kasen Harrison. Adams won’t be relied upon to do much but if he can get back to being efficient, Lamar will have the scoring talent to keep pace in the new league.
G Cameron Shelton – LMU Lions (WCC)
2020-21 stats: 19.2 ppg and 4.2 apg
Shelton is a three-year starter and two-time All-Big Sky player at Northern Arizona, who was largely responsible for any offense the team had this past year. The 6’2 guard had a 14-game stretch where he was averaging around 22 ppg, including a career-high 30-point effort against Idaho. He even had 20 points and nine rebounds against Gonzaga.
Shelton isn’t going to need to have a high usage rate with the Lions, as point/forward Eli Scott is the guy that has the ball in his hands. But the guard can give LMU the scoring boost they need to be a real threat towards the top of the WCC. And without the pressure of having to do it all, this new spot could allow Shelton to be even more efficient and productive.
F Zane Meeks – San Francisco Dons (WCC)
2020-21 stats: 9.0 ppg and 5.9 rpg
The 6’9 forward was elevated into the starting lineup for Nevada last season and had some impressive performances, including against the same Dons team he’s set to play in 2021-22. Meeks had 15 points and eight rebounds versus San Fran in non-conference play and had a double-double against Pacific in the game before.
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Meeks is also a three-point threat and his spacing will be extremely important for the analytic-friendly program. Guards Jamaree Bouyea and Khalil Shabazz are good enough to keep the Dons within range of the WCC but need good frontcourt play to be a real contender for a top-3 spot. Of the forward newcomers on the roster, Meeks has the highest ceiling talent-wise and can boost the offense the most as well.