NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 6 teams for Washington transfer Keyon Menifield
![Mar 8, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies guard Keyon Menifield (23) dribbles against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports Mar 8, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies guard Keyon Menifield (23) dribbles against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/71f9631df3a51d6ae50e4490ded6cde8be0d6ac634966d479a8afb8b03947655.jpg)
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes had a rough past season and lost a pair of veteran guards in Isaac Likekele and Sean McNeil. So it would make sense that they’d look for a perimeter player in the portal. However, I would think that an upperclassman would be better considering who is on the roster.
The team is bringing back Bruce Thornton, who is primed to be a lead guard. And top-50 freshman Taison Chatman is another ball-handler joining the team. And Roddy Gayle is a top-30 shooting guard freshman. It’s not that Menifield wouldn’t get playing time but he and Thornton wouldn’t be a great fit as a sophomore backcourt in the Big Ten and the returning ball-handler is set to run the offense.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
This option is interesting because the Vols’ offense has been needing a spark and if leading scorer Santiago Vesovi isn’t back for another year, could use Menifield for sure. He can play at the SEC level and would be an okay fit with guard Zakai Zeigler. The issue is that they likely can’t play together because that would be an awfully small backcourt.
On the positive end, Zeigler is recovering from a season-ending injury and may not be 100% by the start of next season. Also, Coach Rick Barnes has sometimes wanted him to come off the bench instead of starting. So Menifield could actually start here to make that work, though I’m not sure how he’ll be on defense for Tennessee.