NCAA Basketball: Top mid-major players in 2022 offseason transfer portal
By Shea Irish
Ben Vander Plas – Ohio
6’8″ Senior Forward
2021-22 Season: 14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 67 3-PT
Career Accolades: 2022 1st Team All-MAC, 2x 3rd Team All-MAC, 2019 MAC Freshman of the Year
If you’re a team looking for a stretch 4, Ben Vander Plas is certainly your guy. ‘BVP’ as they call him in Athens, OH, is a 6’8″ playmaker with the ability to stretch the floor way beyond the 3-point line. With 67 made 3-pointers on the season (and over 200 in his career), BVP is a tough guard because he has the range to splash a logo three while also possessing the handle to get to the rim and the strength to finish through contact.
Adding a player like Vander Plas could be a critical piece to a successful 2022-23 season. He has over 1,500 career points, but he does much more than provide scoring. He has an extremely high basketball IQ and could give you 10+ boards on any night, plus he is great at getting the offense flowing through the high post with his passing ability.
BVP had 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in a game against Miami (OH) this season and recorded a triple-double vs Central Michigan. He proved he can play against high-major competition in the 2021 NCAA Tournament with 17 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists in a 13-4 upset of Virginia. BVP followed that up with 19 points at Kentucky this year.
Vander Plas will have one year of eligibility left granted through the extra covid year. Although there are currently no official reports on which teams have reached out to Vander Plas, if I had to take a guess; the Big Ten would be an ideal fit for a player of his caliber. Look for Wisconsin, Ohio State, or even Michigan State to have their eyes on him during the recruiting process.