Big East Transfers In, so far...

[Dawson Rental]

UConn
R.J. Evans, G, Holy Cross*

Marquette
Trent Lockett, G, Arizona State*

Pitt
Trey Zeigler, G, Central Michigan*

Providence
Carson Desrosiers, C, Wake Forest

St. John's
Max Hooper, G, Harvard

Seton Hall
Sterling Gibbs, G, Texas
Kyle Smyth, G, Iona

Syracuse
Michael Gbinije, F, Duke

Villanova
Tony Chennault, G, Wake Forest
Dylan Ennis, G, Rice

* immediately eligible

The Big East bags two from Dino Gaudio's well regarded last recruiting class at Wake Forest.

Sterling Gibbs at Seton Hall has applied for a waiver of the one year sit transfer rule, but the NCAA hasn't responded as of yet.

Michael Gbinije, Trent Lockett, and Trey Zeigler look to be the big gets to me.

Pitt should be a different team next year after adding Zeigler and a very well thought of center from New Zealand next year.

[chapman]

I still don't get R.J. Evans.  Your last year of eligibility and you go to the school that can't even play in the postseason?  Guess he's assuming a lot of playing time and doesn't care about the team...in that case UConn is a great fit, carry on.

[brewcity77]

I still don't get R.J. Evans.  Your last year of eligibility and you go to the school that can't even play in the postseason?  Guess he's assuming a lot of playing time and doesn't care about the team...in that case UConn is a great fit, carry on.

My only thought is he expects there will be playing time because of all the guys declaring or transferring out and he wasn't going to the NCAAs with Holy Cross anyway. He's from the area, and his dream was to play for UConn. If you're a guy who isn't good enough to play for UConn, and your dream is to play for UConn, this is the year to go to UConn.

[mileskishnish72]

Now I'm confused. I had thought that Lockett had eligibility left (because he'd played 3 years at ASU) and was eligible immediately because he had graduated. R.J. Evans played FOUR years at HC, and scored 1200 points.
Has he graduated? And is the basic time period for eligibility 5 years, even if you change schools, and not 4??

[brewcity77]

I believe because Evans had a year cut short by injury. He only played 8 games in 2010-11.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I still don't get R.J. Evans.  Your last year of eligibility and you go to the school that can't even play in the postseason?  Guess he's assuming a lot of playing time and doesn't care about the team...in that case UConn is a great fit, carry on.

Full story from the Hartford Courant

http://articles.courant.com/2012-04-13/sports/hc-rj-evans-uconn-20120413_1_ryan-boatright-shabazz-napier-omar-calhoun

R.J. Evans Commits To UConnMichael Bradley Leaving
April 13, 2012|By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

UConn has a player coming in. R.J. Evans, from Salem and Norwich Free Academy, who is graduating from Holy Cross, will transfer to UConn to pursue a master's degree and play his last year of eligibility.

"Growing up in Connecticut, it's every kid's dream to play for UConn," said Evans, who will be counted on for maturity and leadership as much as production. "I've been given this opportunity and I want to make the most of it. ... Just try to help win some games."

Evans, 6 feet 3, averaged 11.5 points last season. He hit 7 of 15 shots and scored 15 points in Holy Cross' loss to UConn at the XL Center. He missed much of the 2010-11 season with an injury, which gives him this extra year of eligibility.

Meanwhile, Michel Bradley, 6-9 sophomore who never played a minute for the Huskies, requested and received his release to transfer, school officials said.

Bradley redshirted as a freshman and missed all last season after fracturing his ankle. If he transfers he will have to sit a year, but could have three years eligibility left. Bradley made news earlier in the season when he said he was willing to give up his scholarship for Andre Drummond last September. He ended up staying on scholarship as Drummond played as a walk-on.

Last season, UConn had no seniors on scholarship and only one junior, Alex Oriakhi, who is transferring. The Huskies have also lost Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond to the NBA, so there will be opportunities for playing time. Right now, UConn's scholarship players next season include Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, DeAndre Daniels, Omar Calhoun, Enosch Wolf, Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith along with Evans. They will continue to be a young team.

"The coaches told me that what I bring to the table is what they need," Evans said. "Intangibles, toughness, leadership."

The Huskies figure to have of 12 scholarships, so that means they should have three more available.

"There will be a feeling-out period. I'm glad I will be starting out this summer. I will try to lead by example."

Evans has committed and will sign his letter of intent soon, he said.