Florida Gulf Coast Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for Eagles
Incoming transfers to the roster
The Eagles added five transfers this offseason, all of which could see substantial minutes in their first season in Fort Myers. The most notable addition for Fly and the staff could be fifth-year Kevin Samuel, who started all 26 games this past season at TCU. Samuel’s frame and experience add a much-needed boost for an Eagle’s team that ranked below the NCAA average in experience and average height last season, according to KenPom.
Samuel led the Big 12 in blocks at 1.7 a game aided by an impressive seven denials in a win against Oklahoma State on December 16th. Also joining the team will be graduate transfer Matt Holvorsen. The SoCon’s leader in minutes played a season ago, not only brings another veteran presence to the floor but also the ability to score the basketball.
Holvorsen became Western Carolina’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals last year and ranks in the top 10 in Southern Conference history. Holvorsen will force defenses to respect his ability to shoot it, potentially creating opportunities for Samuel and others down low.
Another beneficiary on the low block could be McNeese State transfer Carlos Rosario. Rosario posted a 63% field goal percentage and shot nearly 80% from the charity stripe this past season for the Cowboys. After transferring in from Pensacola State, Rosario posted a double-digit scoring performance in his first game of division I play last season in a loss to Nebraska.
Furthermore, Rosario posted continual improvement finishing the season with six straight games as a double figurer scorer averaging 16 points over that final stretch. The Eagles added more guards to their roster by way of the transfer portal in Tavian Dunn-Martin and Austin Richie. Both look to find their niche in Fort Myers being on their 3rd and 4th schools respectively.
Dunn-Martin, a Duquesne transfer, will likely be a calming presence when things get rocky offensively for FGCU. The Huntington, West Virginia native has possessed the ball on many occasions over his 116 game career and has ranked in the top 20 in assist rate the past three seasons of A-10 play, his first of which helped him earn Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Austin Richie comes over from Tulsa, where he too has seen his fair share of basketball. Richie also owns the ability to shoot from long range as he ranked first for the Golden Hurricanes in that category last year. This comes after shooting just 24% from beyond the arc in his freshman season at Northern Illinois, a sigh that Richie is keen on making improvements to his game.
It is yet to be seen how these five players will mesh in Coach Fly’s system, but they certainly bring experience to a Florida Gulf Coast squad who used five different starting lineups a season ago.