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ACC Basketball: Ranking the top 10 impact transfers of 2021-22 season

By Cooper Watson

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 15: Alondes Williams #31 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons holds the ball during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 15, 2022 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 15: Alondes Williams #31 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons holds the ball during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 15, 2022 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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ACC Basketball Caleb Mills Florida State Seminoles (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
ACC Basketball Caleb Mills Florida State Seminoles (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

7. Caleb Mills – Florida State

Mills was the 2020-21 Preseason American Athletic Conference Player of the Year at Houston but played just four games before being sidelined with an ankle injury. The decision to transfer to Florida State has worked out so far as he’s been arguably their best player this season, leading the team in points and steals and ranking second in assists.

The 6-5 guard plays the majority of FSU’s minutes at point guard, giving Leonard Hamilton’s squad tons of size and length on the perimeter. Mills played some point guard at Houston but was also frequently used in more of a wing role. That said, he has embraced his role as Florida State’s point guard this season, which is reflected in his assist percentage.

Over 35 career games played at Houston, Mills had an assist percentage of 10.8%. That number has almost doubled to 20.4% this season. In other words, Mills assists on one of every five of FSU’s made baskets when he’s on the court. Indispensable for the Seminoles.

6. Jayden Gardner – Virginia

It’s rare that a mid-major to high-major transfer immediately becomes the best player on his new team, but that’s exactly what has happened with Jayden Gardner this season. The East Carolina transfer leads Virginia in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Gardner averaged 18.3 points at ECU last season, but on a team that averaged 68.7 possessions per game, according to KenPom. That works out to 26.6 points per 100 possessions. Virginia averages just 59.1 possessions per game this season, which works out to 24.3 points per 100 possessions. In other words, his individual numbers at Virginia are incredibly similar to what he was doing at ECU, which is impressive considering the step up in talent and competition.