NCAA Basketball: 10 teams that should target Creighton transfer Arthur Kaluma
By Joey Loose
Houston
In recent years we’ve seen the rise of the Houston basketball program. They aren’t quite at the levels of Phi Slama Jama of the 1980’s, but Kelvin Sampson’s squad did spend several weeks at #1 last season. Losing All-American Marcus Sasser already hurts, but the team will also shed Jarace Walker and Tramon Mark from the starting rotation.
Sampson added former Baylor guard LJ Cryer to fix the backcourt and adding Kaluma could be a major fix in the frontcourt. The Cougars have a pair of intriguing center prospects in Joseph Tugler and Jacob McFarland, but they’re mostly leaning heavily on J’Wan Roberts and for Ja’Vier Francis to take a big step forward. They need a new addition in the frontcourt and this could do wonders for Kaluma, especially if he takes his game to the next level.
Illinois
Brad Underwood’s squad seems to be in a major flux the last few seasons, though they’re just a couple years removed from a Big Ten title and a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They relied heavily on transfers last season and will do that again this year and will have to replace the productivity of Terrence Shannon Jr., Matthew Mayer and a few other pieces, though Underwood hasn’t sat on his hands.
The Illini have already added Marcus Domask and Quincy Guerrier, but they might need Kaluma even more than those two weapons. They are still waiting for a decision from Coleman Hawkins, who entered his name for NBA Draft but may still return to college. Kaluma would plug in as an instant fix in the lineup and pair well with Guerrier and Dain Dainja to anchor this frontcourt. Right now, the Illini are not looking like a major contender but a piece like Kaluma could change that trajectory.