Missouri Valley Basketball: Impact of recent transfers on the league

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Jake LaRavia #0 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons dribbles against Brevin Galloway #51 of the Boston College Eagles during the second half in the 2022 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament - Second Round at Barclays Center on March 09, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Eagles won 82-77. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Jake LaRavia Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Past Missouri Valley Basketball transfers

Seven different transferring players averaged nine or better points per game. At least five had received some kind of league-wide honor, but they left. Bradley lost Terry Nolan Jr (11.2 ppg) and leading assist man Sean East (9.0 ppg). Drake’s rising star, Joseph Yesufu (12.8 ppg) landed on the Valley’s all-bench and most improved teams and bolted for Kansas. Another all-bench performer Samari Curtis (Evansville) averaged over ten points per game and headed for Bowling Green.

After a coaching change at Indiana State, second-team All-Valley forward Jake LaRavia headed for Wake Forest. LaRavia averaged 12.3 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game. Teammate Tre Williams averaged nine and six and was part of the MVC’s all-defense team, but left for Duquesne.

Six other Sycamores departed after Greg Lansing was let go. First-year coach Josh Schertz was left with a major rebuilding job.

A pair of seven-point-per-game contributors (Dedcic Boyd and Dusan Mahorcic) left Illinois State. Mahorcic was an ever-improving player during his freshman season and his departure left a huge hole in the Redbird frontcourt.

Valparaiso’s defections were crippling. Second leading scorer and leading rebounder Donovan Clay left for league member Missouri State. Veteran guard and leading assist man Daniel Sackey left for New Orleans and promising freshmen Jacob Ognacevic and Goodnew Kpegeol left after just one season.