NCAA Basketball: Top 25 impact transfers midway through 2022-23 season
2. Terrence Shannon Jr. – Illinois Fighting Illini
2022-23 stats: 18.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.9 apg
At Texas Tech, Shannon had flashes of being a star player but the results and playing time were inconsistent. He goes to Illinois, who was losing a ton of scoring production from the season prior and with questions at point guard. The senior guard started off playing at an All-American level, scoring 24+ points in 3 of the first 4 games, including 30 in a win over UCLA.
Outside of a rough game against Penn State, Shannon has been a consistent leading scorer and overall offensive player for the Illini. The team may have some issues elsewhere on the roster and overall chemistry but in terms of preseason expectations, the former Big 12 player has been everything the team could’ve hoped for as a leading option.
1. Kendric Davis – Memphis Tigers
2022-23 stats: 19.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.8 apg
As a former AAC Player of the Year at SMU, Davis was the near-consensus viewed top transfer this offseason. He stayed in the same league, going to a Memphis squad that was in need of a true point guard and table-setter for the offense. The results has been as expected, with the senior guard having 14+ points in all but one game, along with a 12-assist performance against Alabama State a week ago.
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Davis has stepped up in every big game, going for 26 points and seven assists versus VCU, and 30 points in a near-upset against Alabama. Marcus Sasser of Houston may be viewed as the best player in the conference but if the Tigers once again make the NCAA Tournament, it’ll be hard to see how Davis doesn’t make it back-to-back AAC Player of the Year awards.