Nevada Basketball Grad Transfer Tracker: Breakdown, Predictions
Analyzing which grad transfers Nevada could target this offseason
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Nevada basketball grad transfer tracker
Now that Nevada basketball has entered the offseason, it’s time to start thinking about next year.
With this coaching staff, you can’t sleep. They have probably already spoken to a handful of grad transfers since the buzzer sounded in the Wolf Pack’s round of 64 loss to Florida on Thursday.
As part of our offseason content, we wanted to dive a bit deeper. Instead of just tracking which players Nevada targets, why not try to predict which route Musselman and his staff takes this spring?
As a result, that’s what I tried to do. I gathered the most notable Nevada transfers that have played for Musselman and company in Reno, listing out each of the player’s measurables, basic per-game stats and percentages, and advanced stats, courtesy of Sports-Reference and KenPom.
Next, I placed the transfers into four categories: perimeter shooters, high-usage guards, position-less wings, and forwards/big men. These categories were based on measurables as well as the aforementioned basic and advanced stats.
Below we have the four categories and criteria set for the Nevada players that fit into said categories. Current grad transfers that are on the market this offseason are listed underneath the criteria and, of course, meet the criteria set forth.
Note: Every player coming from a sub-100 KenPom team must average at least 9.0 points per game in their most recent full season.
Perimeter Shooters
Examples: Kendall Stephens, Hallice Cooke, Caleb Martin
- No more than 6-7, 215 pounds
- Three-point attempt rate greater than 60.0
- Effective field goal percentage greater than 45.0
- Assist rate lower than 12.0
- Turnover rate lower than 25.0
- Free throw rate lower than 35.0
Grad transfers that meet criteria: Daniel Utomi (Akron), Austin Vereen (VMI)
Nevada could really use another knockdown, Kendall Stephens-like perimeter shooter to pair with Jazz Johnson. Ex-Akron Zip Daniel Utomi and ex-VMI Keydet Austin Vereen fit the criteria. Utomi (6-6, 215) is a Nevada-like workhorse at 33.5 minutes per game, averaging 7.5 attempts from deep a game this past season, converting 37.3 percent of his attempts. Vereen doesn’t have quite the size as Utomi at 6-4, 190, but the transfer knocked down 60 of his 175 three-point attempts a year ago and is also solid from the line as well.
High-Usage Guards
Examples: Corey Henson, Jazz Johnson, Nisre Zouzoua, Marcus Marshall, JoJo Anderson, Jalen Harris
- No more than 6-4, 200 pounds
- Minutes per game greater than 25.0
- Usage percentage greater than 22.0
- Shot percentage greater than 22.0
- Points per game greater than 10.0
- Field goal percentage greater than 40.0
- Three-point percentage greater than 35.0
- Three-point attempt rate greater than 30.0
- Assist rate greater than 9.5
- Turnover rate less than 21.0
Grad transfers that meet criteria: Quinton Adlesh (Columbia), Guilien Smith (Dartmouth)
How about another high-usage guard to help make up for the losses of the Martin twins? Former Columbia guard Quinton Adlesh is a solid option, averaging 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He’s also solid defensively, ranking in the top 200 nationally with a 2.8 steal percentage. Dartmouth transfer Guilien Smith also meets the needs, though he’s had just one “full” season over the last three years. In ’16-17, Smith played and started in 27 games, averaging 12 tallies a night to go with 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game, and a solid free throw rate.
Position-Less Wings
Examples: Leland King, Cody Martin
- At least 6-7, 210 pounds
- Minutes per game greater than 25.0
- Effective field goal percentage greater than 47.0
- Rebounds per game greater than 4.0
- Offensive rebounding percentage greater than 7.0
- Defensive rebounding percentage greater than 10.0
- Block percentage greater than 1.5
Grad transfers that meet criteria: T.J. Holyfield (Stephen F. Austin)
Stephen F. Austin’s T.J. Holyfield is the guy to watch here in terms of position-less wings. Holyfield is an Albuquerque native that stands at 6-8, 220 and put up 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in ’17-18. He’s started each of his 101 collegiate appearances through three years with the Lumberjacks.
Forwards/Big Men
Examples: Trey Porter, Jordan Caroline, Tre’Shawn Thurman, Darien Williams
- At least 6-7, 230 pounds
- Shot percentage lower than 24.0
- Field goal percentage greater than 44.0
- Three-point attempt rate lower than 15.0
- Defensive rebounding percentage greater than 16.0
- Block percentage greater than 1.0
- Turnover rate lower than 20.0
- Free throw rate higher than 40.0
Grad transfers that meet criteria: none
There were a handful of guys that were close to meeting the above criteria, but not entirely. We could see some players hit the market soon that are better fits. As of right now, Nevada will lean heavily on Jordan Brown and K.J. Hymes underneath.
Eli Boettger is the lead basketball writer at Mountain West Wire. He’s covered Mountain West basketball since 2015 and his work has been featured on Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, SB Nation, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and other platforms. Boettger is a current USBWA member.