Marcus Watson is one of the top scorers left in the NCAA Basketball transfer portal. Which teams are in the running to land him?
One of the more well-traveled players currently in the NCAA Basketball transfer portal is Marcus Watson. He’s a former top-100 prospect in the 2019 recruiting class and originally committed to Oklahoma State. It didn’t work out there and he went to New Mexico State, playing just 12 games.
Watson’s third stop became his best, going to North Caroling A&T for the past two years. After averaging 12.6 ppg as a junior, the 6’6 guard/wing produced a career-high 14.2 ppg this past season, shooting 42% from the field and 29% from three-point range. That includes a 28-point and 7-assist performance vs William & Mary.
NC A&T (D1) transfer Marcus Watson told @ThePortalReport that he is visiting Seton Hall today.
— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) June 4, 2023
Watson recently trimmed his list to three:
Towson
High Point
Seton Hall
Decision coming Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/4xEB2gTqpz
With a decision coming soon, which of those programs makes the most sense? Here’s a closer at Watson’s options.
High Point
After going 14-17 this past season, the Panthers have been very busy this offseason, landing seven transfers. The most notable names include former Maryland forward Pavlo Dziuba and Troy guard, Trae Benham. They’re a team that could use another proven scorer and the SoCon level would be fine for Watson. With him, High Point could very well be a preseason contender.
Seton Hall
The Pirates have lost several key contributors this offseason, including Femi Odukale and Tae Davis. With the frontcourt (Tyrese Samuel and KC Ndefo) also gone, there’s going to be more of an emphasis on the backcourt providing more of a scoring load. Watson has the talent to play at the Big East level but Seton Hall’s offense leaves a bit to be desired and there’s a chance that the former Aggie ends up being a role player compared to the other two spots. But it’s also the biggest name and best chance to be on a national stage as well.
Towson
Watson is familiar with the Tigers since both they and NC A&T reside in the CAA. Towson was one of the top teams but lost star guard Nicolas Timberlake to the Kansas Jayhawks. And starting wing Cameron Holden has also moved on, leaving Charles Thompson as the lone returning double-digit scorer.
College of Charleston is going to be the preseason favorite in the CAA once again but with someone like Watson, Towson wouldn’t be too far behind. He’d be able to play in this league and have a key role, while also playing for a consistent mid-major program.