2018 Grad Transfer Thread, Updated 4/19/2018

[jsglow]

https://www.diehards.com/louisville/chris-mack-challenge-louisville

I hope Mack falls flat on his face.

[wojoswarrior]

If he does fall on his face, his fat bank account will soften the landing!

[onepost]

If he does fall on his face, his fat bank account will soften the landing!

His "new and unique challenges" will soften the landing

[brewcity77]

I hope Mack falls flat on his face.

I think Travis Steele will fall flat on his face this year. They are adding too many grad transfers to their roster. Castlin will likely be looking to start while Welage and Hankins are used to being the go-to options on their teams. When bringing in a grad transfer, I think you need to see where you have a hole and fill in with a guy, not build a team around them. It will be harder to create cohesion and keep everyone happy, especially when you already have guys like Goodin and Gates that have been waiting years for their chance only to see these guys brought in. It wouldn't surprise me to see mid-season transfers and a lot of confusion around the program.

Going into next season, I thought that Xavier returning five guys that looked like solid starters (Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, Gates, Jones) was going to be a surefire NCAA team as guys stepped into opportunity. Instead, you have 8 guys that won't know who's supposed to lead them and no established order. Had they brought in one grad transfer, I could see it working, but this is just too much. Maybe even 2. But I don't see 3 working when you have 5 guys coming back that played 15+ mpg each and have patiently waited their turn.

[Nukem2]

I think Travis Steele will fall flat on his face this year. They are adding too many grad transfers to their roster. Castlin will likely be looking to start while Welage and Hankins are used to being the go-to options on their teams. When bringing in a grad transfer, I think you need to see where you have a hole and fill in with a guy, not build a team around them. It will be harder to create cohesion and keep everyone happy, especially when you already have guys like Goodin and Gates that have been waiting years for their chance only to see these guys brought in. It wouldn't surprise me to see mid-season transfers and a lot of confusion around the program.

Going into next season, I thought that Xavier returning five guys that looked like solid starters (Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, Gates, Jones) was going to be a surefire NCAA team as guys stepped into opportunity. Instead, you have 8 guys that won't know who's supposed to lead them and no established order. Had they brought in one grad transfer, I could see it working, but this is just too much. Maybe even 2. But I don't see 3 working when you have 5 guys coming back that played 15+ mpg each and have patiently waited their turn.

These three are probably going to be coming off the bench.  Can they handle that as grad transfers?

[MU82]

brew and Nuke, if Steele was up-front with the grad transfers, and if most of those guys are good team players, isn't there plenty of time to let them develop chemistry and friendship together?

[Nukem2]

brew and Nuke, if Steele was up-front with the grad transfers, and if most of those guys are good team players, isn't there plenty of time to let them develop chemistry and friendship together?

Sure, but when the games  start and the minutes are much lower, things start to change. 

[MuMark]

I hope Mack falls flat on his face.

"Mack might not need to win a national title or even the ACC in his first year"

Well I'm sure Mack finds this good to hear......

[brewcity77]

brew and Nuke, if Steele was up-front with the grad transfers, and if most of those guys are good team players, isn't there plenty of time to let them develop chemistry and friendship together?

I agree with Nuke. Think of teams that suddenly go free agent heavy, not just in basketball, but in any sports. Or those Kentucky teams that seem to gel later in the season. Sometimes it works, but even the one-and-done schools that do win it either have ridiculous talent (Kentucky with Anthony Davis & Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in 2012) or important veterans (Duke with Quinn Cook & Amile Jefferson in 2015). And you could argue those teams had a bit of both (Darius Miller on Kentucky, Jahlil Okafor on Duke).

I'm not saying it can't work, but I think for a team like that to work, you need leaders already in place or a talent level that is simply overwhelming. I don't think Xavier has either of those things. My guess is most people will pick them for 2nd in the league again, but I'm guessing they are closer to the 5th-7th range and a bubble team at best. Just my opinion based on how they are constructing the roster.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think Xavier will be fine. All three grad transfers that they picked up strike me as bench players for them. But because they are coming from schools that had zero hope of making the Big Dance (or at least the D1 Big Dance) they will be happy just to have a role on a competitor. The three they got don't strike me as guys looking to showcase themselves but more to win at the highest level.

I see a rotation of:

PG: Quentin Goodin
SG: Paul Scruggs
SF: Naji Marshall
PF: Kaiser Gates
C: Tyrique Jones
B1: Ryan Welage
B2: Kyle Castlin
B3: Zach Hankins

I think that's a group that could finish in second in the Big East. The three grad transfers off the bench also give their 3 star 2017 recruits a year to get experience and stronger without having to rely on them....without forcing some of their core guys like Scruggs and Jones to the bench.

[MuMark]

Wojo covering his bases in case we miss on Chartoney

https://twitter.com/coreyevans_10/status/984515519792500737?s=21

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wojo covering his bases in case we miss on Chartoney

https://twitter.com/coreyevans_10/status/984515519792500737?s=21

Interesting. He's a former top 100 recruit. He was a starter for a meh Alabama team. Transferred to Samford where he was a elite distributor before transferring again. He would answer our questions on offense but he's another midget who can't play defense. He's a high major player but I question the fit. Hope we land Chartouney so this is a non issue.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Interesting. He's a former top 100 recruit. He was a starter for a meh Alabama team. Transferred to Samford where he was a elite distributor before transferring again. He would answer our questions on offense but he's another midget who can't play defense. He's a high major player but I question the fit. Hope we land Chartouney so this is a non issue.

Fit may not be great, but having backup plans is important.  We need another PG.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Coleman looks like a 10-15 mpg backup/ insurance plan.  Better than nothing but I'd much rather have Chartouny.

[muguru]

I think Xavier will be fine. All three grad transfers that they picked up strike me as bench players for them. But because they are coming from schools that had zero hope of making the Big Dance (or at least the D1 Big Dance) they will be happy just to have a role on a competitor. The three they got don't strike me as guys looking to showcase themselves but more to win at the highest level.

I see a rotation of:

PG: Quentin Goodin
SG: Paul Scruggs
SF: Naji Marshall
PF: Kaiser Gates
C: Tyrique Jones
B1: Ryan Welage
B2: Kyle Castlin
B3: Zach Hankins

I think that's a group that could finish in second in the Big East. The three grad transfers off the bench also give their 3 star 2017 recruits a year to get experience and stronger without having to rely on them....without forcing some of their core guys like Scruggs and Jones to the bench.

This is it exactly...I think these guys will all just be happy to be on a team that is in a much higher level conference, and probably realize they won't need to be "the man" like they were on their old teams. Not all grad transfers are created equal and I think if they understand the deal ahead of time, it will work out fine.

[Herman Cain]

I think Xavier will be fine. All three grad transfers that they picked up strike me as bench players for them. But because they are coming from schools that had zero hope of making the Big Dance (or at least the D1 Big Dance) they will be happy just to have a role on a competitor. The three they got don't strike me as guys looking to showcase themselves but more to win at the highest level.

I see a rotation of:

PG: Quentin Goodin
SG: Paul Scruggs
SF: Naji Marshall
PF: Kaiser Gates
C: Tyrique Jones
B1: Ryan Welage
B2: Kyle Castlin
B3: Zach Hankins

I think that's a group that could finish in second in the Big East. The three grad transfers off the bench also give their 3 star 2017 recruits a year to get experience and stronger without having to rely on them....without forcing some of their core guys like Scruggs and Jones to the bench.

Welage said he was transferring because he wanted to be part of a winning program. He already did his showcasing . He will be fine coming off the bench as a sixth man as you outlined.

[rocky_warrior]

These three are probably going to be coming off the bench.  Can they handle that as grad transfers?

As grad transfers, they don't have a choice!  They don't get another magic year of eligibility or another chance to transfer.

[MuMark]

Katin handled it fine here......everybody wants to start but as long as they get meaningful minutes I doubt it will be a problem.

[auburnmarquette]

Chartouney making a campus visit on 4/17.

Can't wait. i had Cremo rated higher - the third highest rated player still available from among freshman, transfers, JUCOS etc. However, i saw BrewCity77 seemed higher on Joseph Chartouny, and then sorted www.valueaddbasketball.com by defense and realized he is actually the best defensive returning GUARD IN THE COUNTRY. Watching his video, I actually believe he would be even more valuable than Cremo to us, and believe his ability to drive and finish with our three-point shooters spreading the court - especially coming from the 4th WORST three-point shooting team in the country in Fordham.

Note: Major typo from my phone in the original post - he is actually the best defensive GUARD in the country - I had typed grad.

• • Justin Simon #5   St. John's   6.62   BE   6-foot-5   3 Jr   3.52   -3.79   7.31   32 Gms   2019 Proj
    Ethan Happ #22   Wisconsin /could go NBA   8.76      6-foot-10   4 Sr   6.38   -3.77   10.14   All-Amer HM^ 33 Gms   2019 Proj
    Elijah Thomas #14   Clemson   6.76   ACC   6-foot-9   4 Sr   3.51   -3.64   7.15   35 Gms   2019 Proj
    Keita Bates-Diop #33   Ohio St. /could go NBA   10.66      6-foot-7   3 Jr   8.25   -3.46   11.70   NBA Projected 35 (no agent)^All-Amer 3rd Team PF-4^ 34 Gms   2019 Proj
    Ed Polite #24   Radford   6.82   BSth   6-foot-5   4 Sr   5.51   -3.33   8.84   34 Gms   2019 Proj
    Oshae Brissett #11   Syracuse /could go NBA   7.69      6-foot-8   1 Fr   4.71   -3.29   8.00   Possible NBA Draft^37 Gms   2019 Proj
    Joseph Chartouny #12   Available   2.75      6-foot-3   4 Sr   0.49   -3.24   3.73   Sr. Grad transfer from Fordham   2019 Proj
    Moe Wagner #13   Michigan   8.58   B10   6-foot-11   3 Jr   5.98   -3.19   9.17   

[NorthernDancerColt]

Wojo covering his bases in case we miss on Chartoney

https://twitter.com/coreyevans_10/status/984515519792500737?s=21

I changed my Profile name in honor of Canada's all-time greatest equine (both as a runner and a sire) and Joe Chartouney.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Can't wait. i had Cremo rated higher - third highest rated player still available from among freshman, transfers, JUCOS etc. However, i saw BrewCity77 seemed higher on Joseph Chartouny, and then sorted www.valueaddbasketball.com by defense and realized he is actually the best defensive returning grad IN THE COUNTRY. Watching his video, I actually believe he would be even more valuable than Cremo to us, and believe his ability to drive and finish with our three-point shooters spreading the court - especially coming from the 4th WORST three point shooting team in the country in Fordham.

This is great, really hope he sees the obvious fit while on campus

[Windyplayer]

Can't wait. i had Cremo rated higher - third highest rated player still available from among freshman, transfers, JUCOS etc. However, i saw BrewCity77 seemed higher on Joseph Chartouny, and then sorted www.valueaddbasketball.com by defense and realized he is actually the best defensive returning grad IN THE COUNTRY. Watching his video, I actually believe he would be even more valuable than Cremo to us, and believe his ability to drive and finish with our three-point shooters spreading the court - especially coming from the 4th WORST three point shooting team in the country in Fordham.

What’s left to ponder, amigo? Your table is set, JC.

[jsglow]

I have zero information but I honestly believe that we get him.

[GGGG]

I have zero information but I honestly believe that we get him.

The fact that he has only announced one visit makes me happy.  Hopefully he's not impressed by Louisville's in-home.

[Silkk the Shaka]

What’s left to ponder, amigo? Your table is set, JC.

This ain't no slashy, folks. This is a pure breed point guard.