After last season’s disaster at Miami, all of the players on the roster with eligibility had opted to leave for different college basketball homes. Most have found new landing spots, with Divine Ugochukwu being the last one available. He’s a 6’3 combo guard and former four-star prospect, who as a freshman, averaged 5.3 ppg and 2.3 apg in 16 starts at around 20 mpg.
Some of Ugochukwu’s best performances include 15 points against FDU and six points and 10 rebounds against Louisville in ACC play. He shot just 6/34 from deep (18% 3PT), so his offensive game still needs work, but he is a good individual defender.
Reportedly, three programs are in the mix to land Ugochukwu, with visits being in the mix. Here’s a closer look at how he’d fit with each contender.
Michigan State Spartans
It’s widely expected that star freshman guard Jase Richardson will stay in the NBA Draft, while having already lost Tre Holloman to NC State via the transfer portal. Michigan State still has starting point guard Jeremy Fears on the roster, but there isn’t another true ball-handler at the moment. Ugochukwu would get the backup minutes with the Spartans, and as the team showed this past season, can still work well without guards who can space the floor.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Raiders lost their lead guard, Elijah Hawkins, this offseason, and another ball-handler, Chance McMillian. This leaves All-Freshman guard Christian Anderson Jr. to be the next lead guard, while Washington State transfer LeJuan Watts is another capable passer from the wings. They still could use another guard in the rotation, and Ugochukwu would fit the team’s defensive scheme well.
USC Trojans
Assuming Auburn transfer Chad Baker-Mazara gets the minutes at the three-spot, USC still only has two veteran guards on the roster in former Maryland SG Rodney Rice, as well as UNC Asheville transfer Jordan Marsh. Without knowing what kind of role that freshman guard Jerry Easter II will play, there’s a pathway for Ugochukwu to get a sizeable role or even start at PG, or be out of the rotation completely. That’s usually how it works for most transfers on Coach Eric Musselman’s teams, and this option presents both the highest risk and reward for the former Miami guard.