Midseason Transfers

[MuMark]

https://twitter.com/jorcubsdan/status/677641944487604226

[Tugg Speedman]

His father is pretty blunt and honest below.

Oh, and he just had a kid too ... sounds like he's really good with the Grandstaff.



http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2015/12/freshman_guard_austin_grandsta.html

Freshman guard Austin Grandstaff will transfer from Ohio State basketball program

Ohio State freshman guard Austin Grandstaff will transfer from the Buckeyes basketball program. Wes Grandstaff, Austin's father, confirmed the news to cleveland.com on Thursday.

Grandstaff's transfer was first reported by CBS Sports reporter Jon Rothstein. Ohio State later confirmed Grandstaff's transfer in a news release. There was no comment from Thad Matta.

"He loved Ohio State, he loved his teammates, but it's been kind of a roller coaster with him and minutes," Wes Grandstaff said. "Some games it's 17, 18 minutes. Against UConn, he gets beat on the baseline and gets taken out."

Grandstaff played in all 10 games this season. He played a season-high 18 minutes in a win over Grambling State in the second game of the season. He scored a season-high nine points in a loss to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 24.

He played nine minutes in Saturday's loss to UConn, finishing with six points on 2-for-5 shooting. He played four minutes in a win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday night.

"He's a scorer. He's a shooter. It's hard to play like that when you never know if you miss what's going to happen. It's a tough thing," Wes Grandstaff said. "We just didn't see next year getting any better. When you have guys playing 30-something minutes, there's not a lot of minutes to go around."

Grandstaff was averaging 4.4 points and shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. Wes said they felt Austin was buried behind Marc Loving, JaQuan Lyle and Keita Bates-Diop. With none of those players being seniors, it didn't seem like Grandstaff's lack of minutes was going to change.

"We'll be smarter in our decision," Wes Grandstaff said. "I didn't watch Ohio State play enough before we committed. If I knew that Loving and Bates-Diop were gonna be the two and three, we probably wouldn't have went there. Do I think Austin can score the ball like they can? Absolutely. But they do a lot of things like blocking shots and rebounding that Austin doesn't do."

He signed as part of Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class, along with good friend and fellow Texas native Mickey Mitchell. Mitchell has not yet been cleared to play by the NCAA, but that had nothing to do with Grandstaff's decision to transfer.

Grandstaff was a four-star prospect from Rockwall, Texas, billed as a sharpshooter. Both he and Matta agreed that the defensive side of things was going to be an adjustment this season, which contributed to Grandstaff's lack of minutes.

Wes Grandstaff, who spoke on the phone from Dallas, said Austin was still in Columbus, and they'd be looking to get him home this weekend. The Grandstaffs had purchased 15 tickets for Ohio State's game against Kentucky in New York on Saturday.

Distance from home, and the fact that Austin had a son born just before the season began also played into the decision, Wes said. He added that does not mean Austin will limit himself to a school in Texas if a good opportunity presents itself somewhere else.

Grandstaff was originally committed to Oklahoma State before signing with Ohio State. He also had offers from Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama and others.

"(Ohio State) taught him a lot on and off the court," Wes Grandstaff said. "They demanded that he play defense, and he became a much better player. I really believe Coach Matta and his staff made him a lot better of a player than he was when he got there. But guys want to play."

[Tugg Speedman]

Last updated three hours ago ...

Anyone interest you?

Didn't Goodluck Okonoboh gives us a close look?  He's below (leaving UNLV)

Midseason transfer list

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14390188/midseason-transfer-list

The midseason transfer list is here. We've already got 45 names, and it's certain to grow over the next couple weeks. Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy has already said goodbye to two players including one who was a key part of his stellar recruiting class.

Austin Ajukwa, SF, Jr., Clemson
Carlton Allen Jr., C, Jr., Manhattan
Aarias Austin, SG, Jr., Northern Iowa
Ivan Benkovic, SF, RS Jr., Charlotte
Cory Calvert, SG, Soph., BYU
Ladarius Coleman, F, Soph., SE Missouri State
David Collette, PF, Soph., Utah State
Chris Crawford, PG, Fr., Oral Roberts
Riley Dearring, SG, RS Soph., Wisconsin
Khadim Dieng, C, Soph., Western Michigan
Nick Dixon, 6-2, SG, RS Jr., Texas Rio-Grande Valley
Mike Donaldson, SF, Jr., South Carolina State
Damian Goodwin, F, RS Jr., USC Upstate
Austin Grandstaff, SG, Fr., Ohio State
Malik Gray, G, Soph., Norfolk State
P.J. Hardwick, PG, Arkansas State (will graduate)
DeAndre Harris, SG, Jr., North Texas (will graduate)
Brandon Hatton, PG, Soph., Vermont -- KENTUCKY WESLEYAN
Tony Hicks, SG, Sr., Penn (will graduate)
Gemil Holbrook, SG, Fr., Rider - PHILLY UNIVERSITY
Demetrius Houston, F, Soph., Mississippi State
Lindsey Hunter IV, PG, Fr., Jackson State (walk-on)
Taishaun Johnson, G, Soph., South Alabama
Theo Johnson, F, Jr., Liberty
Josh Jones, SG, Jr., Richmond
J.T. Jones, SG, SE Missouri State (walk-on)
Justin Jordan, PG, Soph., Milwaukee
Isaiah Manderson, C, Soph., Texas Tech
Jabari McGhee, SF, RS Fr., Tennessee -- WESTERN KENTUCKY
Larry McKnight Jr., SG, Fr., Wofford -- PALM BEACH STATE CC
Trey Miller, F, Fr., North Dakota State
Raquan Mitchell, PG, Fr., Memphis
Ambrose Mosley, G, Jr., Old Dominion
Goodluck Okonoboh, PF/C, Soph., UNLV
Ifeanyi Onyekaba, PF, Sr., Rhode Island
Nate Pollard, C, Soph., Rice
Kevin Portillo, SF, Jr., Mississippi Valley State
Alex Robinson, PG, Soph., Texas A&M
Tevon Saddler, PG, Jr., UNC-Greensboro
Payton Stephens, G, Fr., Stephen F. Austin (walk-on)
Leo Svete, SG, Soph., IUPUI
Elijah Thomas, C, Fr., Texas A&M
Marcus Wallace, PG, Soph., SE Missouri State
Brandon Williams, C, Jr., UT Arlington
Cameron Williams, PG, Jr., Eastern Kentucky
Ellis Williams, PF/C, Jr., Bryant
Ryan Woolridge, PG, Fr., San Diego

[Anti-Dentite]

His father is pretty blunt and honest below.

Oh, and he just had a kid too ... sounds like he's really good with the Grandstaff.



http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2015/12/freshman_guard_austin_grandsta.html

Freshman guard Austin Grandstaff will transfer from Ohio State basketball program

Ohio State freshman guard Austin Grandstaff will transfer from the Buckeyes basketball program. Wes Grandstaff, Austin's father, confirmed the news to cleveland.com on Thursday.

Grandstaff's transfer was first reported by CBS Sports reporter Jon Rothstein. Ohio State later confirmed Grandstaff's transfer in a news release. There was no comment from Thad Matta.

"He loved Ohio State, he loved his teammates, but it's been kind of a roller coaster with him and minutes," Wes Grandstaff said. "Some games it's 17, 18 minutes. Against UConn, he gets beat on the baseline and gets taken out."

Grandstaff played in all 10 games this season. He played a season-high 18 minutes in a win over Grambling State in the second game of the season. He scored a season-high nine points in a loss to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 24.

He played nine minutes in Saturday's loss to UConn, finishing with six points on 2-for-5 shooting. He played four minutes in a win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday night.

"He's a scorer. He's a shooter. It's hard to play like that when you never know if you miss what's going to happen. It's a tough thing," Wes Grandstaff said. "We just didn't see next year getting any better. When you have guys playing 30-something minutes, there's not a lot of minutes to go around."

Grandstaff was averaging 4.4 points and shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. Wes said they felt Austin was buried behind Marc Loving, JaQuan Lyle and Keita Bates-Diop. With none of those players being seniors, it didn't seem like Grandstaff's lack of minutes was going to change.

"We'll be smarter in our decision," Wes Grandstaff said. "I didn't watch Ohio State play enough before we committed. If I knew that Loving and Bates-Diop were gonna be the two and three, we probably wouldn't have went there. Do I think Austin can score the ball like they can? Absolutely. But they do a lot of things like blocking shots and rebounding that Austin doesn't do."

He signed as part of Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class, along with good friend and fellow Texas native Mickey Mitchell. Mitchell has not yet been cleared to play by the NCAA, but that had nothing to do with Grandstaff's decision to transfer.

Grandstaff was a four-star prospect from Rockwall, Texas, billed as a sharpshooter. Both he and Matta agreed that the defensive side of things was going to be an adjustment this season, which contributed to Grandstaff's lack of minutes.

Wes Grandstaff, who spoke on the phone from Dallas, said Austin was still in Columbus, and they'd be looking to get him home this weekend. The Grandstaffs had purchased 15 tickets for Ohio State's game against Kentucky in New York on Saturday.

Distance from home, and the fact that Austin had a son born just before the season began also played into the decision, Wes said. He added that does not mean Austin will limit himself to a school in Texas if a good opportunity presents itself somewhere else.

Grandstaff was originally committed to Oklahoma State before signing with Ohio State. He also had offers from Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama and others.

"(Ohio State) taught him a lot on and off the court," Wes Grandstaff said. "They demanded that he play defense, and he became a much better player. I really believe Coach Matta and his staff made him a lot better of a player than he was when he got there. But guys want to play."

Refreshing honesty.

[CountryRoads]

Refreshing honesty.

What exactly was he expecting coming in to a high major program ? Not someone I want MU to pursue.

[Anti-Dentite]

Do I think Austin can score the ball like they can? Absolutely. But they do a lot of things like blocking shots and rebounding that Austin doesn't do."
He pretty much admits they over reached.

[Nevada233]

Awesome.  Kick some butt.

John scored 15 and had 5 assists tonite... Liberty lost by 5 to Princeton... Good to see him back on the court.

[keefe]

Grandstaff's likely to transfer to USC and be a Trojan, ai na?

I don't think so, Doc. I heard that when Grandstaff plays pick up games he is always skins and never shirts.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I don't think so, Doc. I heard that when Grandstaff plays pick up games he is always skins and never shirts.

Sounds like he is a natural fit.

[Galway Eagle]

Sounds like he is a natural fit.

Assuming nobody rubs him the wrong way.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Reading that list a guy went from UVM (Vermont) to Kentucky Wesleyan?  Pretty diverse differences there?

[NickelDimer]

What exactly was he expecting coming in to a high major program ? Not someone I want MU to pursue.

Exactly...may be honest but hardly refreshing. Entitled is the word that comes to mind.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Leo Svete of UIPUI, it was great hearing the BC announcer call out Svete last month

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Last updated three hours ago ...

Anyone interest you?

Didn't Goodluck Okonoboh gives us a close look?  He's below (leaving UNLV)

Yeah, he did.  Another interesting name.  We could really use another post for 17-18 season. I am sure Heldt will be much better by then, but he's all we got.

[Golden Avalanche]

Exactly...may be honest but hardly refreshing. Entitled is the word that comes to mind.

I thought the same. Dad admits he didn't know what he was getting into with the Ohio State commitment and then admits that Matta and staff made his son a better player but, in essence, that's not enough. They really just want the 30 mintues/game regardless of scenery.

[warriorchick]

There's not much left of your athlete stipend after you fork over the child support.

[MU82]

I thought the same. Dad admits he didn't know what he was getting into with the Ohio State commitment and then admits that Matta and staff made his son a better player but, in essence, that's not enough. They really just want the 30 mintues/game regardless of scenery.

A prima donna with a helicopter dad who wants guaranteed minutes despite being a lousy defensive player.

If ever a guy screamed AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! it's this one.

[GooooMarquette]

I thought the same. Dad admits he didn't know what he was getting into with the Ohio State commitment and then admits that Matta and staff made his son a better player but, in essence, that's not enough. They really just want the 30 mintues/game regardless of scenery.

Might be a great kid and dad...but when I read that, I kept thinking "That sounds like Tim Maymon."

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Assuming nobody rubs him the wrong way.

Given the right situation and gentle handling, he could explode.

[Oldgym]

Might be a great kid and dad...but when I read that, I kept thinking "That sounds like Tim Maymon."

+1

[keefe]

Given the right situation and gentle handling, he could explode.

Sounds like Grandstaff was finally able to come to a decision

[GGGG]

Given the right situation and gentle handling, he could explode.

The problem is that he may have peaked early.  Ultimately that will leave a lot of people unsatisfied. 

[keefe]

The problem is that he may have peaked early.  Ultimately that will leave a lot of people unsatisfied.

Are you saying that he was hasty and premature in all of this? How selfish.

[Lennys Tap]

Good long range shooter if paired with skilled ball handler.

[moomoo]

His dad's just a working stiff.

The kid is not a soft defender at all. It's actually hard for him to refrain from wacking at his opponents, so he rarely gets beaten off   the dribble.

But he still rubs people the wrong way.