NCAA Basketball: Top 100 impact transfers for 2022-23 season
40. Rudi Williams – BYU Cougars
2021-22 stats (at Coastal Carolina): 14.7 ppg and 3.2 apg
After leaving Kansas State, the 6’1 guard went to the Sun Belt Conference and became an incredibly efficient player, shooting 51% from the field and 45% from three-point range. Williams will take the place of star guard Alex Barcello in the backcourt for the Cougars in the WCC. It’s a team that doesn’t have many shot-creators so Williams will likely have to pull double duty as both a scorer and passer.
39. Jake Stephens – Chattanooga Mocs
2021-22 stats (at VMI): 19.6 ppg and 9.0 rpg
One of the most efficient and offensively gifted big men in the country, Stephens put up gaudy numbers on nearly a nightly basis, including 39 points on 7/8 shooting from deep in a game versus Samford. The 6’10 center shot 55% from the field and more impressive, 49% from three-point range on five attempts a game. Stephens followed his head coach over to fellow SoCon program Chattanooga, who has completely rebuilt itself. But there’s a good chance that the program could end up having back-to-back SoCon Player of the Year winners.
38. Jalen Bridges – Baylor Bears
2021-22 stats (at West Virginia): 8.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg
The 6’7 combo forward was highly sought after this offseason, with Baylor winning out. He’s not the same kind of shooter as outgoing forward Matthew Mayer but Bridges is highly athletic and fits perfectly with the team’s defensive system. He doesn’t even have to be a great scorer for them due to the guard talent but Bridges still has shown flashes of being a 15+ point performer at times and with better teammates should have his own good outings.
37. Xavier Pinson – New Mexico State Aggies
2021-22 stats (at LSU): 9.8 ppg and 4.8 apg
Pinson has been a double-digit scorer and starter at both Missouri and LSU in the past few years. So imagine the kind of impact he’ll have as he heads down to the WAC and plays for one of the best mid-major programs in NCAA Basketball. With Teddy Allen and many others gone, the offense will be all Pinson. He’s arguably the best player in the conference on paper and should be a favorite to win WAC Player of the Year and lead the Aggies to another NCAA Tournament appearance.
36. Landers Nolley – Cincinnati Bearcats
2021-22 stats (at Memphis): 9.8 ppg and 2.8 apg
The former top-50 prospect looked great at Virginia Tech but the move to Memphis didn’t work out too well. Still, Nolley has always been a quality offensive player and can be a go-to option. He stays in the AAC for a Cincinnati squad that needs more scoring and the odds are good that Nolley will get back to the Hokie version, where he was an all-conference caliber of player.