Atlantic 10 Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal

The NCAA transfer portal and NIL have revolutionized the landscape of college basketball, providing student-athletes with freedom and flexibility within their academic and playing careers. The portal has allowed college athletes to explore new opportunities better suited to a specific coach or program.

By entering the portal, players signal their intention to other schools and coaches across the nation to recruit them, which has allowed an increase in transfer activity over the last few years. This year, more than 170 Division I men’s basketball players entered their names into the portal on day one of its opening.

The Atlantic 10 Conference is considered one of the best mid-majors in college basketball. The league’s competitiveness continues to improve, with new talent entering through the transfer portal year after year.

It will be interesting to see how head coaches Tony Skinn (George Mason) and Ryan Odom (VCU) succeed in their first year at the helm of their programs. Six head coaches are also entering their second season this year since taking over at their schools. With several Atlantic 10 Basketball teams rebuilding, the portal can make or break a team’s roster.

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, each of the A-10’s teams has acquired new talent through the portal, except for the La Salle Explorers, Richmond Spiders, and Saint Joseph’s Hawks. Let’s look at each of the twelve programs’ best addition from the NCAA transfer portal this offseason.

Charles Pride – 6’4 Guard – St Bonaventure Bonnies

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies added two guards via the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, including Bryant transfer Charles Pride.

He enters his fifth year at the collegiate level after spending the last four seasons in Smithfield, RI, with the Bulldogs. During his tenure at Bryant, Pride scored 1,528 points, averaging 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in 112 games and 97 starts. The 6-foot-4 guard also holds the all-time leading steals record (144) in program history. Lastly, Pride was crucial to leading Bryant to a Northeast Conference title and the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 2022.

Last season, he averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and shot 45.3 percent from the field. Pride posted a season-high 28 points twice against Florida Atlantic in the Paradise Invitational Tournament and a home victory on Jan. 11th against Albany.

Charles Pride will join Mark Schmidt’s St. Bonaventure Bonnies, who will look to build off a disappointing 14-18 campaign last season and become contenders again in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The program also added Cincinnati combo guard Mika Adams-Woods to help bolster the Bonnies’ backcourt. They will play alongside returning guards Daryl Banks III and Kyrell Luc, who played well in 2022-23.

We can expect both Adams-Woods and Pride to succeed with St Bonaventure and the program to turn things around next season.

 Josh Cohen – 6’10 Forward – Massachusetts Minutemen

With forwards Wildens Leveque, Dyondre Dominguez, and Tafara Gapare transferring out of UMass, head coach Frank Martin and his staff prioritized recruiting a dominant big man this offseason.

The Minutemen’s most significant transfer portal addition would be Saint Francis (PA) redshirt junior forward Josh Cohen. He chose Massachusetts over Penn State, Iowa, and Florida.

Last season, the 6-foot-10 New Jersey native was considered one of the best players in college basketball. He averaged 21.8 points, the tenth-best at the Divison I level, 8.3 rebounds per game, and posted seven double-doubles with the Red Flash. Cohen’s performance during conference play earned him the Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Year.

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UMass is coming off a frustrating 15-16 campaign. The Minutemen will have a different look to their roster in 2023-24 as several key contributors have transferred out of the program this offseason, including point guard Noah Fernandes heading to Rutgers.

While the program lost a lot of talent, UMass fans can be optimistic about an improved second season of the Frank Martin era in Amherst with Josh Cohen’s arrival on campus this Fall.

Luis Kortright – 6’3 Guard – Rhode Island Rams

In April, Quinnipiac junior guard Luis Kortright announced that he would transfer to the University of Rhode Island next Fall. The addition significantly improves the Rams’ backcourt for the 2023-24 season.

Last season, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and shot 38.9 percent with the Bobcats. Kortright led Quinnipiac to a season-opener road victory against Rhode Island with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Who would’ve thought a little under a year after that game, he would soon call the Ryan Center his new home?

“All my contacts were coming from Archie Miller himself — everywhere else there were assistant coaches, and you want to hear from the person who makes the calls,” Kortright said on the Rhody Rumble podcast when asked why he chose the Rams.

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Kortright joins a program coming off a 9-22 campaign and won just five games in the Atlantic 10 in year one of the Archie Miller era in Kingston. The Rams will look ahead to next season, welcoming several fresh faces and hoping to push toward another conference title and NCAA tournament appearance soon.

Max Shulga – 6’4 Guard – VCU Rams

Utah State guards Max Shulga and Sean Bairstow are following their head coach, Ryan Odom, to Virginia Commonwealth University. Shulga and Bairstow had career years last season as both were starters and considerable assets to Odom’s Aggies team that finished 26-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, Shulga averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and shot 42.8 percent. The 6-foot-4 junior out of Kyiv, Ukraine, posted a career-high 29 points and seven rebounds in an 80-65 victory over the Air Force Falcons.

Bairstow also significantly contributed to the Aggies’ success during their 2022-23 campaign. The 6-foot-8 senior guard averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 47.3 percent. He enters next season as a graduate student with VCU, and we can expect the veteran to perform well with plenty of experience under his belt.

While I believe that Shulga will be VCU’s main threat on both sides of the ball and will ultimately serve as the team’s primary floor general, I wouldn’t count Bairstow out for another breakout season. Lastly, with their previous chemistry on and off the court and their preexisting relationship with head coach Ryan Odom, VCU’s backcourt should be set up for success in 2023-24.

Enoch Cheeks – 6’3 Guard – Dayton Flyers

Robert Morris transfer Enoch Cheeks has found a new home and will join head coach Anthony Grant and the Dayton Flyers for the 2023-24 season.

The 6-foot-3 guard out of Providence, Rhode Island, averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and shot 44.6 percent in 31 games with the Colonials last season. Cheeks also posted 19 points and ten rebounds at Mount St Mary’s during RMU’s non-conference slate.

Although Robert Morris would finish 10-10 in conference play and 16-17 overall, Cheeks was a consistent scorer during this stretch. He opened the first 17 games of Robert Morris’ season, including their first six games in the Horizon League, scoring in double figures. A major reason for his early success could be his percentage from behind the arc. Cheeks averaged 35.8 percent from three-point range on the season.

Enoch Cheeks comes to Dayton after the program’s impressive run last season. The Flyers finished third in the Atlantic 10 with an overall record of 22-12. It was a tight race for the second seed between Dayton, Fordham, and Saint Louis, but in the end, there was no stopping the dominance of Ace Baldwin and the VCU Rams.

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While the Flyers did lose talent to the portal in Mustapha Amzil and Mike Sharavjamts, they did manage to retain Kobe Elvis, Daron Holmes II, and Malachi Smith. Regardless with the addition of Cheeks, we can expect the Flyers to have continued success next season.

Tim Dalger – 6’7 Forward – Saint Louis Billikens

The Saint Louis Billikens may have gotten a steal in the portal this offseason, and his name is Tim Dalger. If you don’t know who I am talking about, you should check out his highlight reel from last season at Tulsa.

Last season, the junior forward out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 35 percent from three-point range. He posted 24 points on 5-for-7 shooting from behind the arc in an 86-75 loss to Wichita State.

Dalger has a smooth jump shot from range but excels in transition to quickly create space inside the paint. He will fit into the Billikens rotation nicely after losing several players last season to graduation, including point guard Yuri Collins and big man Francis Okoro.

Saint Louis did manage to retain guard Gibson Jimerson, who will pair nicely with Dalger in the backcourt and fit head coach Travis Ford’s system perfectly. The Billikens are also bringing in a large group of freshmen this Fall which will be exciting for the program’s future.

Greg Dolan – 6’3 Guard – Loyola Chicago Ramblers

The Loyola Chicago Ramblers got a warm “wake-up call” to the Atlantic 10 last season after finishing in last place with a disappointing 4-14 record in conference play and 10-21 overall.

While it was a frustrating performance for Drew Valentine’s Ramblers last season, the program retains its star talent, Philip Alston and Braden Norris. Last season, Alston led the team in points (14.6), rebounds (5.6), and blocks (1.1). Despite the team’s 72-67 first-round loss to Saint Joe’s in the A-10 Championship, he posted 18 points and ten rebounds.

Not only is the 6-foot-6 forward returning to the program healthy next season, Loyola Chicago will be welcoming an impressive incoming class. The Ramblers will welcome four transfers who all provide veteran leadership and years of experience from their previous school.

Last season, 6-foot-8 senior forward Dame Adelekun averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and shot 56.3 percent for the Dartmouth Big Green. While Adelekun could immediately impact and provide a massive upgrade within the Ramblers’ frontcourt, we can expect Cornell guard Greg Dolan to exceed expectations.

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The 6-foot-3 senior guard averaged 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and shot 42.5 percent from three in 28 games with the Cornell Big Red last season. He scored in double figures in Cornell’s first five games but posted a career-high 29 points in a road loss to Penn on Feb. 4th.

Davidson guard Desmond Watson and Oral Roberts forward Patrick Mwamba will join Dolan and Adelekun to complete Loyola Chicago’s incoming class. The Ramblers’ impressive offseason recruiting-wise makes a strong case to be considered a contender in the Atlantic 10 as early as next season, showing they are hungry to make an NCAA tournament appearance soon.

Japhet Medor – 6’0 Guard – Fordham Rams

After an impressive first year under head coach Keith Urgo last season, Fordham is looking to build off its success. The Rams’ push toward an Atlantic 10 title with the home-court advantage atmosphere at the Barclays Center was special. The packed student section, also known as the “shirtless herd,” and the school’s alumni sold out the venue, making it a moment to remember.

Although they didn’t accomplish what they hoped, the 2022-23 Fordham Rams will still be considered one of the best teams in program history. They finished with a 12-6 record in conference play which tied for second in the Atlantic 10 standings with the Dayton Flyers and Saint Louis Billikens.

This magical run, better known as “Rose Thrill,” would not have been possible without the help of guard Darius Quisenberry and forward Khalid Moore. While Quisenberry and Moore were crucial to the Rams’ success, the program would lose both to graduation this past May, which meant coach Urgo and his staff would have to fill those missing pieces.

Fordham brought in two transfers this offseason, Lafayette forward Joshua Rivera and UTSA guard Japhet Medor. We can expect both to start and play a significant role for the Rams next season. While I believe Rivera will be a nice addition to the squad, Medor seems like the perfect fit for the Rams’ backcourt.

Last season, Medor averaged 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and shot 41 percent. The six-foot point guard out of Wellington, Florida, put up 30 points on two-of-three shooting behind the arc in a regular season overtime loss to Rice. While UTSA finished last in the C-USA standings with a 10-22 overall record, Medor consistently excelled as an elite scorer and passer.

He joins a program coming off its best season since the early 1990s. If Japhet Medor can stay healthy and post similar numbers to last season, we can expect the Fordham Rams to make a serious push to play into March.

Jared Billups – 6’4 Guard – George Mason Patriots

After a recent coaching change and several players hitting the transfer portal this offseason, the George Mason Patriots should be an interesting team to follow next season.

With head coach Ed Cooley leaving Providence to coach Georgetown, the Friars would name George Mason’s Kim English as their next head coach. Former Patriots Josh Oduro, Davonte Gaines, and Justyn Fernandez would ultimately follow their head coach to Friartown.

With several changes following last season, George Mason would go into a rebuilding process to restructure the program. The Patriots promoted assistant coach Tony Skinn as their next head coach, and his staff got to work recruiting.

George Mason will welcome three transfers this Fall, including Oklahoma State forward Woody Netwon, Virginia Tech guard Darius Maddox, and Siena guard Jared Billups. While all three provide needs for the Patriots, I believe Billups can make the most significant impact.

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Last season, he averaged 8.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and shot 33.6 percent in 31 games played with the Saints as a sophomore. Billups posted a career-high 24 points and seven rebounds in a road victory over Marist.

When he arrives on campus this Fall, Jared Billups will officially trade in the Siena green and gold for the George Mason green and gold threads. The 6-foot-4 guard from Waldorf, Maryland, and Patriots fans can be excited about his return to the DMV when he makes his debut at EagleBank Arena.

Dusan Mahorcic – 6’10 Forward – Duquesne Dukes

The Duquesne Dukes brought in an abundance of talented big men from the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. The program will welcome La Salle forwards Fousseyni and Hassan Drame, Georgia Southern forward Andrei Savrasov, and NC State forward Dusan Mahorcic on campus this Fall. Coach Keith Dambrot will have his hands full with this frontcourt next season.

While Savrasov has the best numbers out of the Dukes’ four transfers, Mahorcic has the potential to succeed the most. The 6-foot-10 senior hails from Belgrade, Serbia, and will join his fourth school in his fifth year at the collegiate level next season. He previously played for Illinois State, Utah, and, most recently, NC State.

Last season, he averaged 8.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and shot 64.3 percent in just ten games with NC State. Mahorcic missed a significant amount of time due to suffering a season-ending injury. He may not start next season at 100 percent, but if he can stay healthy throughout the season, he will significantly boost an already deep Duquesne frontcourt.

Aside from recruiting four forwards in the portal, the Dukes retained several forwards from last year’s roster, including Matúš Hronský, Halil Barre, Tre Williams, and David Dixon. Barre could break out this year, but you can never sleep on Tre Williams, a lockdown defender for Duquesne last season.

Dusan Mahorcic’s prior experience and extensive skillset give Duquesne one of the best frontcourts in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Look out for the big man to make an immediate impact when he hits the floor for the Dukes in 2023-24.

Jarvis Moss – 6’4 Guard – Davidson Wildcats

After losing leading scorers Foster Loyer and Sam Mennenga this offseason to graduation and role player Desmond Watson transferring to A-10 rival Loyola Chicago, head coach Matt McKillop and the Davidson Wildcats needed to make a splash in the portal. The program will bring in two transfers, Villanova guard Angelo Brizzi and Stanford guard Jarvis Moss.

While we can expect Grant Huffman to take over the primary floor general responsibilities in the backcourt, Jarvis Moss should be a great addition. The 6-foot-4 guard already has two previous years of college basketball experience with Stanford.

Last season, he averaged 1.8 points, shot 38.1 percent from the field, and 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range in 12 appearances. Moss posted a career-high ten points on four-of-five shooting in a non-conference 85-40 victory over Green Bay.

Jarvis Moss will be an exceptional fit for Davidson’s rotation, especially in late-game situations when the team will look to unload their depth off the bench. Having extra of any position in close games coming down to the wire is always essential. We often see players fouling out or dealing with low stamina within the final minutes. Moss will shine within that period and be a significant factor in closing out games next season.

While the Wildcats have had a recent track of success in the Atlantic 10 over the last few years, they are coming off an 8-10 season in conference play. The program will look to turn things around in year two of the Matt McKillop era in Davidson. I expect the team to improve this upcoming season, but everyone must step up and take on more prominent roles.

Benny Schroder – 6’7 Guard – George Washington Revolutionaries

While the George Washington Revolutionaries managed to retain star guards James Bishop and Maximus Edwards, they lost a tremendous asset to their frontcourt in Hunter Dean, who is transferring to LSU. The program prioritized bringing in new talent this offseason, and they did exactly that.

George Washington utilized the portal to recruit three transfers for the 2023-24 season. The incoming class includes Virginia Tech redshirt wing Darren Buchanan, Princeton redshirt combo guard Garrett Johnson, and Oklahoma guard/wing Benny Schroder.

While all three are inexperienced at this level, they provide depth and show great potential for head coach Chris Caputo, especially Schroder. The 6-foot-7 wing from Munich, Germany, appeared in six games during his freshman campaign with the Sooners. He averaged 2.3 points and shot 50 percent from field goal range.

Schroder came to the United States and was considered a top international prospect by ESPN following an impressive prep career. He spent 2022 with the Kickz International Basketball Academy Munich U19 team, averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 31.6 minutes per game. Schroder was named the league’s MVP, Player of the Year and received First Team honors.

Benny Schroder offers a high ceiling and a serious potential to succeed in the Atlantic 10 Conference next season with the Revolutionaries. It should be interesting to see how head coach Chris Caputo him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he earns starting minutes at some point.