Transfers looking to flourish in 09/10

Rivals.com has an extensive list out of many of the players who sat out in 07/08 because of their decisions to transfer. Looking through this list I found some guys who I almost forgot about, guys like 6’11 Shaq-like Kareem Cooper (played for Memphis in 06/07), Chris Lutz (played for Purdue in 06/07) and Reginald Delk (played for two seasons at Mississippi St.).

Rivals.com also has a list out of the players who decided to transfer after last year and will have to sit out this upcoming 08/09 season. There are some quality players on the list.

Scott Martin (Purdue)- Played a nice role for the deep Boilermaker team last year, averaging 8.5 ppg, good for fourth best on the team. It’s strange that he’s leaving such a good situation. It will be a loss, but Purdue can overcome it because of the depth they already have. Martin might look to transfer to a Horizon League or MAC school (rumors have it maybe Indiana too), but those conferences are a far cry from the Big Ten. Did he not like playing behind Robbie Hummell?

Vernon Macklin (Georgetown)- Vernon will be hopping on board at Florida in 09/10. He played two years at Georgetown, but never substantially improved from freshman to sophomore year. Part of that reason could have been because of the limited minutes he saw playing behind Roy Hibbert. Plus now with highly rated 6’10 recruit Greg Monroe joining the Hoyas in 08, Vernon felt best leaving and starting out new.

Ekpe Udoh (Michigan)- The Big Ten’s leading shot swatter did not want to have anything more to do with John Beilein’s perimeter oriented offense. Ekpe did not get many chances to post up this last year and while he’s not what many would call offensively competent, there’s definitely a lot of ability and potential for Ekpe in that department. Many times during his freshman year, when Tommy Amaker led the Michigan program, Ekpe showed glimpses of confidence on the offensive end, making good post moves and showing that he could finish, but those glimpses were few and far between this year. Every time I read Beilein say that Ekpe improved so much on the offensive end last year, I cringe, knowing the only thing Ekpe improved was his jump shot, and just slightly. For a 6’10 long armed player such as Ekpe, an offensive improvement should only qualify if its post or footwork oriented, not some jump shot Beilein feels he should throw up there from time to time. I’m sure the next coach Epke has, whether it‘s at Oklahoma or Oklahoma St., will use him wisely on the offensive end where his length could really give a lot of teams some trouble.

Ben Hansbrough (Mississippi St.)- Ben will transfer to an already stacked Notre Dame team, but one who will not likely have Luke Harangody by the time Ben becomes eligible in 09/10. Miss. St. will miss Ben’s three point shooting prowess and veteran presence a lot next year especially considering the other multiple departures State faces.

Purdue and Georgetown will adapt quickly to the losses stated above, but that will not be the case for Michigan and Mississippi State.

Michigan goes into next year as an extremely weak team with no real defensive presence inside. Not having Udoh’s length to block and alter shots will surely become obvious against the better opponents of the Big Ten.

As for Miss. St., well, if Jamont Gordon comes back for his senior year, they will be fine, but if not, that means three of their top four scorers will have either graduated, gone pro or transferred.