Big East Basketball: 10 biggest questions for league entering 2023-24 season
By Kyle Craib
Who will be the top transfer in the Big East Basketball?
Each season, the Big East features some of the most promising players in the nation. However, one category often provides an extra layer of intrigue—the transfers. In the upcoming season, there are several notable new faces who could emerge as true superstars within the conference.
One such player to watch this season is Jordan Dingle, a 6’3″ guard joining Rick Pitino’s squad at St. John’s for his senior season. After battling it out in the Big Ten for three years with Penn State, Dingle has the chance to build off yet another productive campaign and lift the Red Storm to the next level.
His 2022-23 season was the best of his young career, leaning into his score-first approach and torching oppositions from everywhere on the court. The former Nittany Lion averaged an astounding 23.4 points per game as a junior with a true shooting percentage nearing 60! If he can carry over his scoring success to Queens this season, Dingle is poised to compete with the conference’s finest.
Also vying for the title of top transfer is Creighton’s Steven Ashworth, the former Utah State product coming off a monster year in 2022-23. Ashworth led his team in scoring, tallying 16.2 points with an insane 43.4 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. More volume? No problem. The former Aggie didn’t hold back from three-point range, launching over seven shots per game to fuel his team’s offence. This, paired with his 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists last year, make Ashworth a prime candidate to take the Big East by storm this season.
Don’t discount Josh Oduro either, a 6’9″ forward who followed his coach Kim English to Providence over the summer. Coming off of a strong season in the A-10 averaging 15.6 points and 7.9 boards per game, Oduro put in work this offseason to add nearly 15 pounds to his 6’9” frame. While his shooting from long-range still needs some fine tuning, the big fella is willing to fire when he has the chance. Back in the 2021-22 season, Oduro racked up a near 30 percent average from long range, and there is potential he can revive those numbers to become a true threat both inside and out.
Then, of course, there’s Villanova’s trio of transfers. Tyler Burton, who made the move from Richmond to Villanova over the offseason, was a star for the Spiders last season averaging 19 points per game during the last season. At 6’7″, he brings size and versatility to the Wildcats’ frontcourt that could prove crucial given the team’s reworked roster.
TJ Bamba also joins Kyle Neptune’s squad with a chance to make a strong impact right out of the gates. During the previous season, his scoring numbers skyrocketed from 7.7 to 15.8 points per game. If Bamba can live up to his offensive potential, watch out for what he can do with space to operate in the Wildcats’ rotation.
Rounding out the group is none other than Hakim Hart, a Maryland product who boasts a 6’6″ frame at the guard position. During his time with the Terrapins, Hart averaged 11 points per game, and will need to bring that same intensity if he hopes to make a meaningful impact at Villanova.
There’s no doubt that this year’s new additions pack a sizable punch. While honourable mentions go out to Daniss Jenkins, Jahmyl Telfort, Jeremiah Oden and Cam Spencer, the crop of players mentioned above all have the opportunity to be the Big East’s top transfer this season. However, only time will tell who’s ready to reach out and grab it.