NCAA Basketball: 50 under-the-radar mid-major transfers for 2021-22 season
C Kevin Samuel – Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)
2020-21 stats: 8.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg
The 6’11 and 250-pound big man started 95 games in three years at TCU and was as solid a player as it comes. Samuel isn’t very consistent in terms of his offensive production and shouldn’t be projected as a 20 and 10 guy even though he’s moved down a level.
What he does add to the Eagles is size and elite rebounding to a team that had to replace Eli Abaev, who averaged over seven boards a game last season. Liberty should still be viewed as the favorite in the ASUN but Samuel can help have FGCU in the field of top contenders.
G Jahlil Jenkins – Stony Brook Seawolves (America East)
2020-21 stats: 16.8 ppg and 3.2 apg
Jenkins was a star at Fairleigh Dickinson and was one of the best in the Northeast Conference. He’s transferring over to a league in the America East that is fairly wide open now that Vermont is vulnerable. Stony Brook has been one of the biggest losers in the transfer portal wars but was a big winner this offseason with this 6’0 point guard.
Jenkins is an elite scorer and can distribute the ball as well. He can be a bit streaky from deep but did make 38% of his three-point attempts last season. He and the return of Elijah Olaniyi could give the Seawolves the best duo in the conference.
G Ray Salnave – UMBC Retrievers (America East)
2020-21 stats: 6.3 ppg and 3.0 apg
Although he managed to start 12 of 19 games at DePaul last season, it was clear that Salnave went above his level in the Big East. So the former Monmouth star is now at UMBC, set to be the replacement for double-digit scoring guard R.J. Eytle-Rock, who is now at Utah State.
Salnave is a 6’3 combo guard that averaged 14.5 ppg in the year prior so we know he can be an elite scorer. He’s a solid defender as well and gives the Retrievers a veteran backcourt player that can create for himself and others.
F Tre Williams – Duquesne Dukes (Altantic 10)
2020-21 stats: 9.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg
The 6’7 forward started 55 games in two seasons at Indiana State, where he was named All-Defense in the Missouri Valley, impressive for a somewhat undersized big man, at least in terms of height. Although inconsistent in terms of usage, Williams is capable of being an offensive threat, with multiple past games of at least 15 points.
Williams will try to do his part of replacing the frontcourt duo of Marcus Weathers and Michael Hughes, who combined to average 26.1 ppg and 15.4 rpg for Duquesne. But even more important, the Sycamore transfer will be tasked with defending the best bigs in the Atlantic 10, including Grant Golden and Osun Osunniyi.
F Michael Steadman – UMass Minutemen (Atlantic 10)
2020-21 stats: 9.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg
It’s the 4th college stop for the super senior, as Steadman has played at JUCO (City of College of San Francisco), as well as San Jose State and Montana. He’s a good athlete and capable double-digit scorer and is a great one-year rental for a team like UMass who desperately needed a starting-caliber big man for next season.
Steadman won’t be as good as the outgoing Tre Mitchell, now at Texas, and could be an All-American this year. But Steadman has the size and skillset to be a featured frontcourt piece for the Minutemen, who have good guards to work with. If Steadman can be really impactful, this team could surprise some in the A-10.