College basketball transfers are the name of the game these days, an efficient way to add some quality depth to your lineup as a coach or even to replace a departed star, filling the void left over.
But who are the transfers that you, the enthusiastic college basketball fan, must be aware of moving forward? We’ve got the list of the top committed college basketball transfers coming to a program near you:
Tony Hicks, Penn — Louisville
Rick Pitino loses just about all of his upperclassman leadership and production, though returning his two best freshmen is key. Still, finding a way to add a third option was going to be paramount for him this offseason as he tried to stem the negative tide from being banned from last season’s NCAA Tournament. Hicks scored 13.2 points per game last year for Penn, projecting to be another ball dominant, gunner type of guard for Pitino.
Grant Mullins, Columbia — California
Averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting nearly 44-percent from deep a year ago, Mullins could give Cuonzo Martin the kind of stop gap he needs in a transition year, after losing Tyrone Wallace. Mullins will have shooters around him, like Jordan Mathews and Jabari Bird, along with one of the best returning big men in the country, Ivan Rabb.
Akeem Springs, Milwaukee — Minnesota
Springs being eligible immediately is huge for the younger Pitino in Minnesota, bringing an all around game badly needed in a Gophers program that is just trying to stay afloat talent wise. Averaging 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game a year ago, Springs has a chance to help UM rebound from one of their worst conference seasons ever.
Katin Reinhardt, USC — Marquette
This is usually where we insert a joke about a Mater Dei High School product once again spending his college career at multiple institutions, but Reinhardt’s role at USC was so inconsistent that it’s understandable why he’d want to transfer. One of the best spot up shooters available, this is a big get for the Golden Eagles.
Rodney Pryor, Robert Morris — Georgetown
You think JTIII is excited about bringing in a guy who put up 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds per game last year? Yeah, we think so too. It’s a big year for the head coach next season and bringing in someone with that ability to produce is monumental.
Cullen Neal, New Mexico — Ole Miss
Daddy ball is done in Albuquerque, with Cullen leaving town and heading down South for an opportunity with the Rebs. Neal is a crafty ball handler, capable of getting to his spots and knocking down shots off the catch or dribble. Will be be physical enough for an SEC schedule? That’s the question.
Justin Simon, Arizona — St. John’s
Simon isn’t available immediately and someone would wonder about a guy who didn’t see the floor for Arizona being labeled as one of the best transfers on the market. However, Simon was a consensus top 50 recruit coming out of high school, a guy that was extremely raw but had a ceiling few others did. He’s insanely athletic, has the capability to be a lock down defender, and sees nothing on the court as being beneath him. He could still have a nice career in Queens.
