NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 5 teams for Niagara transfer guard Noah Thomasson
2. Pittsburgh Panthers
The Panthers had a breakthrough year after seven years of missing the postseason, making it to the Round of 32. All four guards that played a role in that are gone but the team already has a good core to replace them. 16 ppg transfer Ish Leggett is coming over from Rhode Island while Dior Johnson, a former top-40 prospect, is coming off a redshirt year.
Assuming that he can beat out Leggett, Thomasson could be a starting two-guard for Pittsburgh next to Johnson. And with leading scorer Blake Hinson back along with other key frontcourt pieces, this team has the best chance of all five programs to make the Big Dance next year. However, if Johnson becomes the clear-cut lead guard and Leggett or one of the two freshmen guards (Carlton Carrington and Jaland Lowe) breaks out, minutes could be hard to come by for the veteran free agent.
1. St. John’s Red Storm
Thomasson is already well-acquainted with new St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino since he’s been at MAAC program Iona for the past few years. The former Niagara guard averaged 17 ppg in the three meetings this past season, including 15 points in the MAAC Tournament title game loss. He wouldn’t have to travel far to go to the Red Storm and would have the ability to play at Madison Square Garden in NYC next year.
There’s still some room in the backcourt for Thomasson as well. 17 ppg scorer Daniss Jenkins joined Pitino over from Iona but unless he graduates this Summer, may not be eligible next season. UConn transfer Nahiem Alleyne is there but he’s not an elite scorer either.
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Playing for a Hall of Fame head coach in a situation where there’s playing time available will be a big sell, and the national spotlight will be there too. And assuming that a couple more pieces are added, I could see the Red Storm being in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, especially if they add Thomasson.