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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Samari Curtis Bowling Green Falcons (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Not all transfers have worked out

Several Valley transfers were uniquely successful in their new environments. Thirteen MVC defectors failed to land a Division 1 spot.

Obviously, Yesufu won a national championship at Kansas, but his contributions were minimal. The 6’ sophomore played just over nine minutes per game and averaged 2.1 points per contest.

Three of five Bradley transfers ended up outside of Division 1 basketball. Terry Nolan’s Towson team lost to LaRavia’s Wake Forest squad in the NCAA Tournament. Nolan fell to a 9.7 points-per-game average.

LaRavia became an All-SEC performer and has since declared for the NBA draft. Former Sycamore teammate, Tre Williams stood out (10.8 – 5.7) for a six-win Duquesne team.

Curtis averaged 9.3 points per game for a 13-win Bowling Green team.

Valpo’s transfers ranged from Western Carolina’s leading scorer, Nick Robinson, MVC all-defensive team member Donovan Clay and Lipscomb’s second-leading scorer, Jacob Ognacevic to several players falling out of D1.

Joining Robinson at Western Carolina was Indiana State’s Cam Bacote, who tallied season averages of 8.1 points and three assists.

East and Indiana State’s Cobie Barnes each played for John A. Logan (junior college) and are ranked in jucorecruiting’s top 100 players for this year’s recruiting cycle. Barnes’ is 32nd and East is second.