[jwplayer 18QegcJn-sNi3MVSU]
Departures around the conference and possible destinations.
It is that time again, maybe a little earlier than normal but the off season is here and so the transfers begin.
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Keep track of all basketball movement in and out of the conference.
Updated as of 08/24/2020
College basketball’s end this past week is still a bit surreal, but as many players are already doing across the country we must plan for the future and continue coverage of the Mountain West with the current situation at hand.
So, with any tournament action or updates at a bit of a standstill, we look towards the players in this vacuum of basketball. And for those with eligibility left, this is the time to evaluate their current situations and make decisions.
[lawrence-related id=26998]
Still a point of conversation among the NCAA and player advocates, players themselves aren’t waiting around for any kind of new legislation or changes regarding their rights to transfer. As players around the country are already entering their names in the transfer portal as the 2019-2020 season comes to an end.
So we will have an ongoing transfer tracker of players leaving and entering the Mountain West going forward. So make sure to revisit this page all off season for updates as they happen.
Air Force
In: Kind of rare actually
Out:
A.J. Walker, Sophomore Guard-San Antonio, TX
Years of Eligibility: 2
19-20 Stats: 11.2 PPG 3.5 RPG & 3.0 APG in 32 games (29 starts)
Best Performance: 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals against Fresno State on March. 4th
UPDATE: Walker has decided to remain at Air Force as of June 5th
This one is going to hurt, Walker became one of the top young players in the Mountain West with a stellar sophomore season. He saw increases in every statistical category and with the players who were lost due to graduation, he was destined for a major role upgrade in 2020-2021.
This was Walker’s Air Force team to lead next season but like many talented Falcon guards before him, he leaves to look for maybe a different role outside of the confines of playing for a service academy or maybe just a different level to play at, who knows. I know one thing, he should draw some major interest after the season he had.
Boise State
In: 1
Donovan Ivory, Freshman Guard-Appleton, WI
Previous Stop: UMass-Lowell (AEC)
Years of Eligibility: 3.5
19-20 Stats: 0.7 PPG 1.7 RPG & 0.3 APG in 3 games (0 starts)
Best Performance: 2 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist against Massachusetts-Boston on Nov. 12th
Ivory joined the Broncos as a walk-on at semester break from UMass-Lowell in the American East conference where he played very minimally in his first semester with the Riverhawks, about 5.7 MPG in just three games played. He played his best game against NCAA Div. III Massachusetts-Boston back in November where he grabbed five rebounds, scored two points and had one assist.
Out: 2
Chenbin ‘Bing’ Huang, Redshirt Freshman-Westlake Village, CA
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 1.2 PPG 0.6 RPG & 0.6 APG in 5 games (0 starts)
Best Performance: 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists against Life Pacific on Nov. 5th
Possible Destinations: No rumored interest at the time of this publication. Huang didn’t have any documented offers out of high school besides what looks like an offer from the Colorado School of Mines (Div. II RMAC).
Huang was a walk-on to the Bronco program two seasons ago after spending a post-graduate season at the prestigious Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He saw the court in minimal time this season but had his best game against NAIA Life Pacific, which was a 77-point blowout in the season opener back in early November. Maybe going a step down in competition to a division II or NAIA school is in the cards for Huang, with an influx of talented backcourt transfers next season, playing timed seemed even further away for the redshirt freshman.
Riley Abercrombie, Redshirt Freshman Forward-Wollongong, Australia
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 1.4 PPG 0.7 RPG & 0.2 APG in 17 games (no starts)
Best Performance: 6 points, 2 rebounds on 2/3 shooting from deep against Alabama State on Dec. 14th
Next Stop: Committed to Rice (C-USA) on 4/8/2020
Abercrombie’s departure makes sense given the depth the program is expected to have in the frontcourt next season. But still, after a redshirt season he showed promise with length and an outside game to stretch the floor. But maybe he didn’t see his progress on the court manifesting into more minutes on it anytime soon. Abercrombie is from Australia but attended high school in Houston, TX and held offers from all over the United States before committing to the Broncos.
Colorado State
In: N/A
Out: 2
Teyvion Kirk, Redshirt Junior Guard-Joliet, IL
Years of Eligibility: 2
19-20 Stats: 14.1 PPG 5.5 RPG 2.5 APG & 1.3 SPG in 31 games (30 starts) in 18-19 at Ohio
Best Performance: 24 points, 10 rebounds & 4 assists against Austin Peay on Nov. 24th 2018
Next Stop: UIC Flames (Horizon League), reported 3/30/20 by Jeff Goodman
Teyvion Kirk never played a minute for the Rams, outside of practice of course. Kirk transferred into the program last summer from Ohio in the MAC where he had excelled on a middle of the pack Bobcats program. He was expected to come in and compete for a starting role in 2020-2021 after sitting out this past season. But the Colorado State backcourt will be packed next season with four returning starters, incoming freshmen and other sit out transfers becoming eligible to play this fall. Kirk can do a bit of everything as a 6-4 guard and even given the depth I just touched on his departure still hurts a Rams program looking to keep the momentum they started this season going.
Kyle Lukasiewicz, Junior Guard-Centennial, CO
Years of Eligibility: 1
19-20 stats: 0.9 PPG 0.1 APG & 0.1 SPG in 8 games (no starts)
Best Performance: 3 points against Utah Valley on Dec.1st
Lukasiewicz was a walk-on to the Ram’s program after transferring in from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before last season. He saw minimal minutes in just eight games for a guard heavy Niko Medved squad.
Fresno State
In: 4
Isaiah Hill, Freshman Guard-Bakersfield, CA
Previous stop: Tulsa (AAC)
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 4.2 PPG 2.2 APG & 1.7 APG in 31 games (7 starts)
Best performance: 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals against Boise State on Dec. 11th
Hill is a local product who headed East to the American Conference to play under Frank Haith at Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes had one of their best seasons under Haith in Hill’s freshman season, finishing 1st in a three-way tied with Cincinnati and Houston. Hill had a key role in that season and looked to be the future at PG in Tulsa down the line. Instead he has opted to return home and should be an impact player in 2021-2022.
Deon Stroud, Freshman Guard-Fresno, CA
Previous stops: UTEP (C-USA)
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 4.3 PPG 1.0 RPG & 0.2 APG in 24 games (2 starts)
Best Performance: 14 points, 4 rebounds & 1 block against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 15th
Stroud is another local product who was recruited by former head coach Rodney Terry back at Fresno State and who ultimately ended following him to El Paso. Stroud was a member of the 2020 class and reclassified but saw minimal action on what was supposed to be a strong campaign for Terry in his second season at UTEP. Either way he is heading home and should have an impact as a player who can play the 2 or 3 with some nice bounce.
Devin Gage, Junior Guard-Chicago, IL
Years of Eligibility: 1
Previous Stop: DePaul (Big East)
19-20 Stats: 4.5 PPG 1.7 APG & 1.0 RPG in 12 games (no starts)
Best Performance: 13 points, 4 assists & 3 steals against Iowa on Nov. 11th
Gage should bring some depth to Fresno State’s backcourt next season given the departure of starting guard Jarred this week. Gage played a key role on what seemed like DePaul’s best squad in a decade before conference play put an end to that idea. The main thing is, he’s immediately eligible next season as a couple other incoming backcourt transfers may have to sit out next season.
Junior Ballard, Sophomore Guard- Stockton, CA
Years of Eligibility: 2
Previous Stop: Cal Poly (Big West)
19-20 Stats: 13.1 PPG 3.7 RPG & 1.4 APG in 30 games (24 starts)
Best Performance: 32 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against Cal State Fullerton on January 30th
Ballard brings a much needed scoring punch to the Bulldogs backcourt, but given his current status as a junior, he would need a waiver to make any sort of much needed immediate impact for Fresno State next season. Still, Ballard can really score it, only failing to reach double digits in eight contest last season for Cal Poly. He is a bulldozer of a combo guard at 6-3 200 and may find himself paired with another ball handling guard in many rotations as we have seem that work so well for the Bulldogs these past couple of years.
Out: 6
Jarred Hyder, Freshman Guard-San Bernardino, CA
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 9.1 PPG 3.1 APG & 2.1 RPG in 26 games (24 starts)
Best Performance: 26 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals against Winthrop on Nov. 10th
Next Stop: Committed to California (PAC-12) on April 25th
Hyder was going to be a part of a very bright future backcourt in Fresno for years to come as the 2019 Fresno State recruiting class proved to be one of the most college ready in all of the Mountain West. Though there are talented players coming into Justin Hutson’s program via transfer, this one hurts the immediate impact of the team’s backcourt next season. Hyder led the team in scoring for much of the season with several twenty point games early on in non-conference action, he should have no problem finding a landing spot to play out his remaining eligibility.
C.J. Hyder, Junior Guard-San Bernardino, CA
Years of Eligibility: 3
19-20 Stats: 0.5 PPG & 0.3 APG in 4 games (no starts)
Best Performance: 2 points against Cal-State San Bernardino on Nov. 17th
Next Stop: Committed to Central Washington (GNAC-Div. II) May 1st
Hyder is a juco transfer and older brother of phenomenal freshman Jarred Hyder who also announced his attentions to transfer on Monday April 13th. C.J. never really found his role on this Bulldogs team only registering one made field goal in four games played.
Chris Seeley, Redshirt Sophomore-Fresno, CA
Years of Eligiblity: 2, unless awarded a redshirt for a lack of playing time this past season.
19-20 stats: 2.0 PPG 1.6 RPG & 0.2 APG in 5 games (no starts)
Best Performance: 4 points and 2 rebounds against St. Mary’s on Nov. 20th
Next Stop: Signed with Cal State Dominguez Hills (CCAA-NCAA Div. II) May 1st
Seeley never quite found his role on the court this past season in Fresno. He only saw action In 5 games until being hampered with injuries that hindered his time in the court all season. After transferring home to the Central Valley from Utah in the PAC-12 Seeley is looking for a new landing spot, we’ll see where he heads to next.
Lozaro Rojas, Redshirt Junior Forward-Porto Seguro, Brazil
Years of Eligibility: 1
19-20 Stats: 1.0 PPG 1.2 RPG & 0.1 BPG in 10 games (0 starts)
Best Performance: 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist against Cal-State San Bernardino on Nov. 17th
Possible Destinations: No rumored interest at the time of this publication.
Rojas was buried behind a mountain of frontcourt depth this season after playing in twenty-seven games (2 starts) last season as one of only three players standing 6-7 or above on the roster. This season was a different story as there were three players standing 6-10 or above, not to mention three others at 6-7 or above. Stuck on the bench and only seeing action in ten games (5.1 MPG), it was time for a switch. As only senior Nate Grimes‘ graduation was guaranteed to free up minutes and local seven-footer Braxton Meah is set to arrive soon for next season, eating up more minutes.
Aguir Agau, Sophomore Guard-Omaha, NE
Years of Eligibility: 2
19-20 Stats: 4.2 PPG 3.0 RPG & 0.5 BPG in 23 games (10 starts)
Best Performance: 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists against Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 17th
Possible Destinations: No rumored interest at the time of this publication.
Aguir Agau is a talented athlete with an elite size and length at the guard position. He found himself playing a bit more in the post at times in such a talented guard heavy rotation. With many of those talented guards filling the backcourt being freshmen and sophomores, minutes going into his junior year didn’t seem so guaranteed. A return to the Midwest could be in the cards for the Omaha native but given Agau’s athleticism and rebounding ability, he should find a new home in no time.
Mustafa Lawrence, Junior Guard-Newark, NJ
Years of Eligibility: 1
19-20 Stats: 6.4 PPG 2.9 RPG & 1.4 RPG in 18 games (8 starts)
Best Performance: 16 points, 5 assists and 1 rebound against UNLV on Dec. 4th
Next Stop: Committed to Norfolk State (MEAC) on 07/05/2020
Lawrence is set to transfer out of the Bulldog program after just one year in Justin Hutson’s program. He definitely hit the ground running and was Fresno State’s starter out of the gate. But the emergence of several talented freshmen guards around him, he saw his role diminish over the season.
Lawrence is well traveled, with a recent stop at Tallahassee C.C. after beginning his career at Missouri State. He’s a solid player who should find a landing spot sooner rather than later, and as a Newark, NJ native he could end up back on the east coast.