Where did some of your favorite players end up?
In short the AAC, AEC, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Big West C-USA, Division 2 & 3, Horizon, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, MVC, NAIA, NJCAA, PAC-12, RMAC, SEC, Southland, Summit, SWAC, WAC
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What are past Mountain West Players up to this season?
College basketball’s allure comes with its many different facets and components. Things like recruiting, geographic rivalries and a tournament that produces Cinderella-like stories for underdog schools in the nooks and crannies of this great country, it’s all so great.
But there are also some things we would consider changing if left up to us, like maybe an expanded tournament field (maybe), better metrics for grading tournament teams, hardship waivers have been an issue and NCAA rulings when it comes to eligibility. Sometimes you take what you can get, but an aspect of college basketball that always comes with mixed emotions is the transferring of players. This is something that can go either way for fans as we get excited when our teams bring guys in but wish others would have stayed (for the most part).
Now guys transfer for a multitude of reasons and fans should never hold grudges against 18-24-year-old individuals who at the end of the day have the right to look for the best opportunity for themselves. Some guys get buried on the bench by increased depth, move to be closer to home or find opportunities at larger institutions where they can play against a higher level of talent on television on a weekly basis. It’s okay, and remember these things happen.
There are also coaching changes that occur in every conference across the country, which bring a level of turnover inside a program that can only be matched by corporate takeovers. Never the less if you are like me and glance at box scores, check-in on the occasional American East game, notice offers to familiar names on JUCO sites or find yourself genuinely curious asking yourself questions like, “what happened to that guy?” or “I wonder how he is doing?”, then this list is for you.
There are other former Mountain West players out their with college eligibility but this list aims at finding the guys with a nice internet trail and letting you know how they’re doing on their new team.
Things to note:
- There may be a few transfers out there sitting out the 2019-2020 season due to transfer rules. These guys won’t be reflected here, that’s a topic for another day.
- If a player still has college eligibility but maybe stopped playing college basketball all together or their trail ran cold, they aren’t listed below.
- If a player is still playing but was dismissed from a team and didn’t transfer, they were also left off of this list.
- Lastly you won’t see guys who left teams to turn pro with college eligibility still remaining either.
Now let’s get to it.
Air Force
Danny Hummer–Redshirt Senior G at Ohio State (Big Ten) Walk on
The former Falcon has found his way to the Big Ten as a walk-on for No. 21 ranked Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been ranked as high as No. 2 this season but are riding a three game losing streak in conference play. Hummer as you’d expect hasn’t seen much action, playing in 8 games averaging about 4.0 MPG and 0.9 PPG. He did score three points in two games against Morgan State and Purdue-Fort Wayne (both three pointers).
Jason Anderson– Redshirt Senior C at Colorado State-Pueblo (NCAA Div. II-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Anderson didn’t travel far to find his new home in Pueblo, CO just 45 minutes south of Colorado Springs. The Colorado native is averaging 7.8 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 13 games for the Thunderwolves who are 7-8 and 5-4 in the RMAC.
Trey Smith– Junior G at South Dakota School of Mines 2016 (NCAA Div. II-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Smith never saw action for the Falcons and transferred to the South Dakota School of Mines in the RMAC. Here he hasn’t found much success averaging 1.6 PPG in six minutes a game last season, and appearing in just two games this season averaging 2.0 PPG for a 7-8 (4-5 RMAC).
Kobi Betts- Redshirt Junior G Colorado School of Mines (NCAA Div. II-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Betts saw action in game as a Falcon in three minutes before transferring to Golden to be an Oredigger. Mines was a top-25 ranked force to be reckoned with last season and are currently 11-5 (7-2 RMAC) with Betts contributing 7.1 PPG in 16 games with one start.
Marcus Hill-G St. Edward’s (TX) (NCAA Div. II-Lone Star Conference)
The Hilltoppers have Hill signed to a NLI for the upcoming season after spending a year in prep school at Jesuit Prep of Dallas. St. Edward’s is currently 14-1 and ranked No. 6 in the nation.
Boise State
Jayscon Bereal–Freshman F at Odessa College (NJCAA-Region 5)
Jayscon Bereal is still the fifth highest rated recruit in Boise State history per 247 sports. But the 6-7 wing is spending the season in junior college after redshirting at Boise State last season. The Wranglers are 8-9 on the season and play in one of the more competitive conferences in the country in Region 5. Bereal is averaging 3.0 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 12 games.
Patrick Dembley–Senior G at Texas-Permian Basin (NCAA D-II Lone Star Conference)
Dembley was a sought after recruit out of Iowa Western but never became a staple of the of the starting lineup in Boise and left transferred out of the program in March. He found his way to Texas-Permian Basin where he is averaging 22.7 PPG in 18 starts for the Falsons who are 11-7 (4-5 in LSC) on the year.
Malek Harwell–Graduate Student G at CAL Poly (Big West)
Harwell was a home state kid who committed to the Broncos as a three star recruit back in 2015. He never found much playing time in Boise and decided to leave the program as a graduate transfer for his last year of eligibility. He ended up at Cal Poly in the Big West and is averaging 9.2 PPG and 21.8 MPG for a 4-12 (1-1 in Big West) Mustangs squad in Obispo, CA.
Cam Christon–Redshirt Sophomore G at Grambling State (SWAC)
Christon has made his way south closer to home (Allen, TX) at Grambling State in Grambling, LA. The Tigers are always a forced to be reckoned with in the SWAC and are currently atop the conference at 9-8 (3-1, 1st in SWAC). Christon became eligible in December and is averaging 10.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 1.0 APG in 7 games so far.
Paris Austin–Senior G at California-Berkley (PAC-12)
Austin looked like the future in Boise alongside Chandler Hutchinson back in 2016-17 but opted to transfer closer to home in Oakland, landing at PAC-12 member California-Berkeley. He has taken a step back this season averaging 7.0 PPG in 16 contests after being third in scoring on last years team with 11.6 PPG. This years CAL Golden Bears team is more competitive though, currently sitting in 3rd place in the conference compared to a 12th place finish the year prior.
Cameron Oluyitan–Redshirt Senior G at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (Big Sky)
Like a couple others on this list, Oluyitan has found his way from the Mountain West to Southern Utah as a Thunderbird. During his time in Cedar City, UT Oluyitan has been a key member of the offense averaging 13.1 PPG in both seasons in the starting lineup. The Thunderbirds are currently 10-5 and tied for 2nd in the Big Sky with No. Colorado at 3-1. Todd Simon is enjoying some success at Southern Utah after leaving UNLV as an interim head coach in 2016 and former Mountain West guys like Oluyitan have been a big part of that.
Casdon Jardine– Redshirt Junior G/F at Utah Valley (WAC)
Jardine another Idaho prospect who found very little playing time at Boise State after spending his freshman year in juco at the College of Southern Idaho. He decided to transfer south to WAC member Utah Valley. With a first year head coach in Mark Madsen Jardine has found a role with the Wolverines starting all 17 games while averaging 11.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG in the process. UVU is 7-11 on the season with a very demanding non-conference schedule, but are 1-2 in the WAC in a three-way tie for fourth.
Mikey Frazier–F Garden City Community College (NJCAA-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference)
The Salt Lake City product has found a new home at Garden City Community College out in Garden City, KS. He has appeared in two games so far with an average of 12 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Garden City is known as more of a football school, competing for National Championships on occasion they are currently 7-9 and 1-6 in conference play.
Colorado State
Deion James–Graduate Student F at Washington State (PAC-12)
James is well traveled, at his third division I institution during his career. But he found little playing time in the five games he played this season averaging 2.6 PPG in just about 6.4 MPG. He has since been diagnosed with a heart infection that will keep him out of play the remainder of the season. I hope this young man a speedy recovery and success in what he plans to do next.
Lorenzo Jenkins–Redshirt Senior F at Grand Canyon (WAC)
The Antelopes of Grand Canyon are sitting at just 5-11 (0-2, 8th in the WAC) in a bit of a down year for a program with such momentum in their first six years of division I play. Jenkins filled a role for Dan Majerle averaging 8.6 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 25 minutes a game with seven starts. The WAC looks a bit more balanced than in recent years but the Lopes should be able to make a run to the top if things come together.
Raquan Mitchell–Redshirt Senior G at New Mexico Highlands (NCAA D-II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Mitchell has found a home at division II New Mexico Highlands where last year he helped lead the Cowboys to their first RMAC tournament championship last season and a NCAA tournament berth. This season he is doing much of the same while averaging 22.9 PPG on a 10-4 (5-4, 3rd in RMAC) Cowboys team hoping for a repeat this March.
Alonzo Tyson–Graduate Student F at IUPUI (Horizon)
“Zo” Tyson announced a transfer from Colorado State back in May of 2019 and announced a move to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis soon after. Tyson hasn’t found too many minutes in Indianapolis averaging 13.8 in 17 contests with 8 starts. He is averaging 3.3 PPG for a 5-14 Jaguars team currently in 10th (1-5) in the Horizon League.
Prentiss Nixon–Senior G at Iowa State (Big 12)
Nixon transferred to Big 12 country after leading the last Larry Eustachy team in scoring with 16.1 PPG back in 2017-18. He is averaging 9.1 PPG, 2.3 APG and 1.3 SPG in 15 starts for a 7th place Cyclone team (8-7, 1-2 6th in the Big 12). He is one of only five upperclassman on a very young roster.
Logan Ryan–Junior F at Ferris State (MI) (NCAA Div. II-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference)
Ryan joined the 2018 NCAA Division II champions at semester break this winter and has averaged 4.8 PPG in 14.8 MPG in five games. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 8 nationally and are 17-2 (6-1 in GLIAC)
Jack Schoemann-Sophomore F at Cal State Bakersfield (WAC)
Schoemann was a part of a medium level exodus after Niko Medved’s first season in Fort Collins. Schoemann has seen a small role in Bakersfield which includes 9 games seeing 5.8 MPG contributing 1.7 PPG.
Fresno State
Bryson Williams–Redshirt Junior F UTEP (Conference-USA)
Williams was a part of a group of players who followed head coach Rodney Terry to El Paso back in 2018. Though he had to sit out a year he has been a key reason the Miners are 10-7 (1-3, C-USA) with wins over rivals New Mexico and New Mexico State averaging 18.4 PPG and 6.8 RPG in 17 starts. They have hit a bit of a snag after their Dec. 19 game at Houston, dropping five of their last seven.
Eric Vila–Redshirt Junior F UTEP (Conference-USA)
Villa has had a road well traveled during his time playing American basketball. A brief stop at Texas A&M, then a sit-out year in Terry’s last season in charge in Fresno before spending a productive year in Florida at junior college before landing in El Paso, TX this season. He is averaging a generous 22.3 MPG in 16 games and 7 starts while contributing 3.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 2.3 APG. He seems to be more of a part of the offense than a key scorer for the Miners.
Myles Fitzgerald-Warren-Sophomore G Collin College (TX) (NJCAA-Region 5)
After a stint at prep school that landed him at Fresno State, Fitzgerald-Warren is currently playing a year at Collin College in Plano, TX. Through 17 games he is averaging 11.6 PPG and 4.8 APG for a 12-5 (1-2 in conf.) Cougar squad.
Ountae Campbell–Redshirt Senior F UTEP (Conference-USA)
Campbell is listed as a walk-on by Verbal Commits and it would appear that may be correct seeing he has only seen action in 1 game this season while failing to score against Eastern New Mexico after averaging 3.0 PPG in 22.6 MPG on a very short handed Miners team in Rodney Terry’s first season in El Paso.
Gilles Dekoninck–Junior F UTEP (Conference-USA)
Dekoninck is also a walk-on in El Paso and hasn’t seen anytime on the court this season but played in 20 games last year averaging 2.0 PPG in only 7.3 MPG this season. Including a career high of 14 points against Texas-Permian Basin.
Nevada
Vincent Lee–Redshirt Freshman F at Cal-State Fullerton (Big West)
A part of Musselman’s 2018 recruiting class of big men, Lee left Nevada in January of 2019 and found a home at Cal-State Fullerton with Dedrique Taylor who was on staff with Musselman at Arizona State. The Titans lost their two leading scorers to graduation last season and are currently 5-12 (0-2, in Big West) while Lee is averaging 4.8 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 17.9 MPG with 6 starts. Lee is only a redshirt freshman and may grow into a bigger role as time goes on and more seniors graduate this spring. .
JoJo Anderson–Junior G at Albany (NY) (AEC)
Anderson has found a new home in the American Northeast at Albany (NY) after opting to transfer out of the Wolfpack program before playing a game for Nevada. Anderson is a bit well traveled, at his third school in four years. His most recent stop with the Great Danes has been brief as Anderson has only played in four games with one start averaging 3.0 PPG and 1.8 RPG on a 9-8 (2-0, in AEC) Albany squad. Albany has been to the big dance three times in the previous decade but is playing in a very competitive AEC that doesn’t appear to be as top heavy as in previous seasons.
Devearl Ramsey–Junior G at UC-Santa Barbara (Big West)
Ramsey was a part of Musselman’s first recruiting class in Reno (full season’s worth of recruiting), but even the former top-150 player found trouble finding minutes in Musselman’s transfer heavy system. He opted to transfer later that year and found his way to Santa Barbara, CA to play for new first year head coach Joe Pasternack.
The Gauchos have been competitive under the former Arizona associate Head Coach, reaching twenty wins in each of his previous two seasons. Ramsey has been a key piece to the puzzle but has taken a step back in production this season averaging 8.1 PPG, 3.0 APG and 0.9 SPG in 15 starts. With one more season of eligibility and several key underclassman returning next season the Gauchos look dangerous in the near future.
John Jones–Junior G at Texas Southern (SWAC)
When Jones’ father Johnny Jones excepted the head coaching position at Texas Southern back in 2018 his son would soon follow. Jones was a walk-on during his time in Reno, but he has found a role with the Tigers who always seem to have one of the tougher non-conference schedules in the country and have made the NCAA tournament four times in the last ten years.
The Tigers are 5-11 (2-1, in SWAC) and would need to win 15 of their next 16 games in order to reach twenty wins this season. The Tigers haven’t finished below .500 in conference play since 2009, and won’t this season if Jones and his 9.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG and 1.0 APG have anything to say about it. This years Texas Southern Squad is very new as they lost a lot of production from last years 24 win squad, but look for the Tigers later on in March, they’ll be there.
Josh Hall–Redshirt Junior F at Missouri State (MVC)
Another top-200 talent from the class of 2016, Hall came to Nevada from Houston, TX and had important roles off of the bench for two successful Wolfpack squads in his first two years in Reno. He decided to look for further playing time elsewhere when floods of new talented transfers were signing on to play with the Wolfpack in the near future. He landed at Missouri State where first year head coach Dana Ford brought in Hall and many other talented transfers for a run in the Missouri Valley.
Things are going a bit rougher than expected for the bears who are 8-9 (2-2, MVC) at the moment. And in his first season with the Bears Hall is averaging 4.2 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 17 games with two starts. It’s not that easy to bring in a lot of talent and make it all mesh, not everyone is Eric Musselman you know, let’s see what Ford and the Bears do the rest of the year though before we make our final verdict.
Jalen Townsell–F Arizona Western College (NJCAA-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference)
The Reno, NV native who walked on to a Nevada Wolfpack team at it’s peak, Townsell didn’t get any court time on a NCAA tournament caliber team. But he has found some success in junior college for an 12-5 Matadors team while averaging 14.0 PPG in 17 starts.
New Mexico
Anthony Mathis–Graduate Transfer G at Oregon (PAC-12)
One of the more stunning transfers of the off season as many if not all folks following the Mountain West expected Mathis to be out of eligibility at this point being a class of 2015 recruit and all, but anyway he’s still around and still knocking down threes in college basketball. Upon learning of Mathis’ newly granted eligibility in back in April, I hope too many folks weren’t shocked that he decided to take full advantage of his last year of college basketball playing for a home crowd a long side former high school teammate and Duck leader Payton Pritchard back at Oregon.
Mathis has been just what Dana Altman has needed alongside Pritchard in the back court, spreading out defenses with the threat of his three point shot going in and making sure those three point shots go in when he has them. Mathis had a 9/11 performance from deep against a familiar foe in Boise State back in early November and a 6/10 performance against Michigan in mid December. He is fourth on the team in scoring with 9.3 PPG, shooting 44% from three but looks like he fully knows his role and intends to help Oregon get to the tourney for the 7th time in ten years.
Damien Jefferson–Redshirt Junior G/F at Creighton (Big East)
Jefferson was a legacy recruit at New Mexico and saw some playing time as a true freshman in his one and only season in Albuquerque. He returned back home to the Midwest and found a landing spot in the Big East at Creighton. He is averaging 8.4 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 15 starts for a 13-4 (2-2 Big East) Bluejays team. Creighton is hoping to make the NCAA tournament but a poor start in conference play against two top-25 ranked teams recently wasn’t exactly a resume booster.
Jalen Harris–Redshirt Junior G at Arkansas (SEC)
Like Jefferson Harris’ time in Albuquerque was short lived, but Harris found his way to the SEC and has enjoyed a successful 13-2 (2-1, SEC) season under first year head coach Eric Musselman. He hasn’t found his way into the starting lineup yet on this successful Razorbacks squad but is averaging 4.5 PPG and 2.4 APG in 23.9 MPG. The Musselman effect seems to be taking place in Arkansas and Harris was wise to stick around and be a part of it.
Aher Uguak–Redshirt Junior G/F at Loyola (IL) (Missouri Valley)
Uguak came to New Mexico in Craig Neal’s last season in Albuquerque, I thought he would stay hailing from Paul Weir’s homeland (Canada) but that same season he transferred. Uguak found a landing spot closer to his home in Edmonton, Alberta at Loyola (IL). In a smaller lineup Uguak has gotten plenty of playing time at 23.8 MPG averaging 5.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG in seventeen starts for the Ramblers who are 11-6 (3-1, MVC 1st)
Troy Simmons–Redshirt Senior G at Kent State (MAC)
Simmons became a fan favorite after a playing a key roll in New Mexico’s conference tournament run in Weir’s first year in Albuquerque. He opted to transfer closer to home and found a place at Kent State in Ohio. He sat out the 18-19 season but has been a key contributor on a 13-3 (3-0, 1st in MAC East) Golden Flashes team looking to make an undefeated run in conference play. Simmons is one of five Golden Flashes averaging double figures with 12.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.4 SPG in 16 starts for Kent State.
Chris McNeal–Redshirt Senior G at Cincinnati (American)
McNeal may be in the running for most stops by a player in their career (players on this list) with a total of five different institutions if you count his time at Indian Hills (Juco) back in 2016-2017. But after a brief stop at Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley conference where he sat out the 2018-2019 season, he landed at Cincinnati under first year head coach John Brannen.
As at New Mexico McNeal has been the kind of point guard you can just plug into your starting lineup with 10 starts in 16 games for a 10-6 (3-1, 2nd in AAC) Bearcats squad. McNeal is averaging just 4.3 PPG in 21.5 MPG with majority of his best performances coming in the first half of the season, including a season high 17 points in a loss to Bowling Green back in November. The Bearcats took a step back with Mick Cronin’s departure but McNeal has been a nice addition to this Cincinnati squad staying competitive in a transition year.
San Diego State
Ben Perez–Senior G at Iona (MAAC)
Perez was a walk-on at San Diego State finding action in 26 games averaging 9.6 MPG. He transferred to South Plains College for his sophomore year before finding a landing spot at Iona in Rochelle, NY. Perez is averaging 2.1 PPG in 10 games for a 3-8 (1-3, 9th in MAAC) Gaels team.
Ed Chang–Sophomore F at Salt Lake Community College (NJCAA Scenic West Athletic Conference)
Chang saw limited action in his freshman season in San Diego. The Bruins are 17-4 (3-0) and currently ranked 20th in this week’s NJCAA top-25 poll, Chang is averaging 8.0 PPG 3.4 RPG in 18 games.
San Jose State
Keith Fisher III–Redshirt Sophomore F at Illinois State (Missouri Valley)
The ongoing transfers out of the Spartan program are still one of the tougher aspects of one of the tougher jobs in the Mountain West. Fisher III who transferred out of the program back in 2018 redshirted the 2018-2019 season and is now a part of a 6-10 (1-3, 9th in MVC) Illinois State Redbirds team with fellow former Spartan Jaycee Hillsman. Fisher III is currently averaging 7.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 13 starts for a Redbirds team that is fighting for .500 as they did last year.
Jaycee Hillsman–Redshirt Senior G at Illinois State (Missouri Valley)
Hillsman is a native of Illinois and opted for a transfer closer to home after a rough 4-26 (1-17, in MWC) finish in San Jose back in 2017-2018. After sitting out last season due to transfer rules, Hillsman is averaging 7.2 PPG and 4.2 RPG in 13 starts for a a 6-10 (1-3, 9th in MVC)
Brian Rodriguez-Flores–Senior F at Chadron State (NE) (NCAA D-II-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Rodriguez-Flores was a former walk-on at San Jose State who has found a home and some playing time at Chadron State in Chadron, NE. Averaging 16.6 PPG and 5.3 RPG for a 3-12 (2-7, RMAC) Eagle squad in 10 starts this season.
Cody Schwartz–Redshirt Senior G at Wisconsin-Green Bay (Horizon League)
With Dave Wojcik’s departure in 2017 we saw a trend begin in San Jose of players looking for opportunities at other schools. Though these have usually been player’s who are in the top-3 in scoring for the Spartan’s, Schwartz was a part of the original group that left back in 2017 that is primarily associated with now Memphis Grizzly Brandon Clarke’s departure.
He found a home back in his home state of Wisconsin at Green Bay where he has started in 37/54 games for the Phoenix, averaging 7.9 PPG and 4.1 RPG this season for a 7-11 (2-3, 6th in Horizon) squad.
Nai Carlisle–Junior G at Cal State East Bay (NCAA D-II California Collegiate Athletic Association)
Carlisle didn’t travel far from California like most on this San Jose transfer list. Carlisle who is from Indiana chose to stick it out on the west coast and found a home new home at Cal-State East Bay in Hayward, CA. The 40 minute drive from San Jose didn’t weigh too heavy on Carlisle who transferred back in 2018 has started in 44 games for the Pioneers, averaging 11.6 PPG and 2.6 APG this season. The Pioneers are 9-7 (5-5, in CCAA) so far but Carlisle only played one minute in their most recent loss to Cal-State Monterrey Bay with no indication of an injury on the teams website or twitter so far, let’s see what they can do with their second leading scorer playing minimal minutes.
Walter “Quincy” Urbina–Sophomore G At City College of San Francisco (NJCAA-California Community College Athletic Association)
Urbina has found his way North to the City College of San Francisco where he is a part of a 16-0 (2-0, Coast Conference) Rams squad that is ranked first in the CCCAA and an ongoing powerhouse on the west coast. Urbina is third on the team in scoring with 10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 1.0 SPG in four starts. The Rams lost to Fullerton in last years CCCAA championship and is looking to take their undefeated streak all the way to Lemoore this year.
*Urbina has signed a NLI with Grand Canyon (WAC) for the 2020-2021 season.
UNLV
Shakur Juiston–Redshirt Senior F at Oregon (PAC-12)
The former junior college All-American and double-double machine in the Mountain West found his new home in Eugene, OR this year on an 8th ranked Ducks team currently sitting at 14-3 (3-1, 2nd PAC-12). Juiston has become a key role player in Oregon averaging 8.0 PPG and 6.3 RPG in 11 starts for a Ducks team that has been searching for stability in it’s shallow front court all season. It obviously hasn’t slowed them down with a top-10 ranking and a goal to make the NCAA tournament for the 7th time in the last ten years.
Louis Bangai–Redshirt Junior C at GCU (WAC) Scholarship
A former walk-on at UNLV Bangai has opted to follow former head coach Marvin Menzies south to Grand Canyon in Phoenix, AZ. The Lopes are in a bit of a down year, currently sitting at 5-11 (0-2, 8th in WAC) after four straight years of 20-win seasons. Bangai shouldn’t be to blame too much as he is only averaging 2.9 MPG in only 7 appearances for GCU, but bound to see more minutes as one of two players standing above 6-8 seeing minutes this season.
Jaylan Ballou–Junior G at Howard Payne (NCAA D-III American Southwest Conference)
Ballou left UNLV as a walk-on in the first year of the Menzies tenure, and after stops in Juco at Angelina College where he only appeared in five games (2.4 PPG) he found his way to D-III Howard Payne in Brownwood, TX. Averaging 5.5 PPG in 13 games with 8 starts, Ballou and the Yellow Jackets are 1-13 (0-5, ASC) and looking for a win, they’ve got East Texas Baptist Univ. and Letourneau Univ. on the schedule this week to achieve that.
Dwayne Morgan–Graduate Student F at Southern Utah (Big Sky) class of 2015
Dwayne Morgan is currently enjoying a sixth year of eligibility in Ceday City, UT as a member of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds team as a graduate student. Morgan left UNLV back in 2017 and followed former UNLV interim head coach Todd Simon to the Big Sky. Morgan has had an injury plagued career that has allowed the former top-50 combo forward to find continue his college basketball career in pursuit of a masters degree.
Morgan was the start of an influx of talented players into the Thunderbirds program by Todd Simon and has averaged double figures in each of his three seasons with Southern Utah so far, including 11.2 PPG and 3.7 RPG this season. Southern Utah is 10-5 (3-1, 2nd in Big Sky) this season and is enjoying a level of success that Morgan and others helped lay the foundation for several years ago.
Troy Baxter Jr.-Redshirt Junior F at Morgan State (MEAC)
Another former top-100 prospect from a UNLV recruiting class, Baxter Jr. never found his way into the Runnin’ Rebel rotation in his lone season in the desert. He transferred closer to his home in Tallahassee to Florida Gulf Coast of the A-Sun and sat out the 2017-2018 season. He played a smaller role than maybe expected with the Eagles and transferred to Morgan State this past season and is a part of a 8-11 (2-2, 6th in MEAC) squad averaging 11.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 2.1 APG in 19 games (17 starts). Baxter Jr. declared for the NBA draft last year but opted to return to college basketball and is trying to rejuvenate his draft stock with a successful season in Baltimore.
Tervell Beck–Redshirt Junior F at Kent State (MAC)
Beck found his way to Las Vegas as a member of Menzies first class at UNLV but like most from that class never saw a growing role with the Rebels so for the upcoming 2019-2020 season he opted to transfer closer to home in Ohio to Kent State. Kent State is enjoying some success this year at 13-3 (3-0, 1st in MAC East) on the season. While Beck has seen about the same amount of court time in Kent as he was in Las Vegas before his departure (about twelve MPG), he seems to have found his role on this Golden Flashes squad looking to go back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017.
Ben Coupet Jr.–Redshirt Junior G at Arkansas-Little Rock (Sun Belt)
The trend of first year Menzies recruits who transferred out of the program doesn’t end here, but at least Coupet Jr. has found a home that is giving him more playing time with a 30.2 MPG bump from his last stop. At Little Rock Coupet Jr. is enjoying that increase in playing time while also chipping in 12.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 18 starts for a 11-7 (5-2, 1st in Sun Belt) Trojans team. This Little Rock team is pretty good and doesn’t have a senior logging minutes so far, they should carry this momentum straight on through to next season after a run at the NCAA tournament this year after being picked to finish 10th in the Sunbelt preseason poll.
Zion Morgan–Redshirt Junior G at Valparaiso (Missouri Valley)
Almost the last of the Menzie recruits to appear on the list for UNLV, Morgan opted to return to the Midwest for a successful stint in Juco at Wabash Valley College (IL) before finding his way to Valparaiso of the Missouri Valley. Morgan has struggled to find much playing time with the Crusaders this season averaging just 1.4 PPG in 8.2 MPG in 14 games so far.
The former Horizon league juggernauts have had a tough transition into the Missouri Valley, failing to finish above .500 overall and in conference play since joining in 2017. Valparaiso is 9-8 (2-2, 4th in MVC) with a shot at staying in the top-5 after being predicted to finish 9th in preseason.
Trey Woodbury–Sophomore G at Utah Valley (WAC)
Woodbury was a fringe top-150 recruit in in Marvin Menzies last season in charge but saw only 6.3 MPG in 22 games as a freshman. Woodbury opted to transfer to Utah Valley and was granted a waiver to play right away for first year head coach Mark Madsen. The Wolverines are in a bit of a rebuilding mode, currently sitting at 7-11 (1-2, 7th in WAC).
But with wins against UAB and Wyoming as well as a near upset of Kentucky in Rupp Arena early in the season in a “transition year”, the wolverines don’t look to be in too bad of shape. Woodbury is averaging 8.6 PPG and 4.7 RPG in 18 games (15 starts) so far, the sophomore should only see his role grow with Utah Valley’s top three scorers being seniors this spring.
Utah State
Tauriawn Knight-sophomore at Odessa college (NJCAA Region V)
Knight is one of two former Mountain West players suiting up for the Wranglers this season. Odessa is 8-9 (1-3) on the year while Knight is averaging 9.5 PPG, 2.8 APG 1.4 RPG in 17 GMS.
Koby McEwen–Redshirt Junior G at Marquette (Big East)
McEwen was a part of the last Tim Duryea led Aggie team in Logan back in 2017-2018. The Canadian guard was one Aggie fans may have hoped would have stuck around but he has found a role in the Golden Eagles starting line up at Marquette this season behind the nations leading scorer Markus Howard. Marquette is 11-5 (1-3, 6th in Big East) which is good for 5th place at the moment. McEwen is averaging 9.8 PPG in 15 games in Milwaukee which makes him the team’s third leading scorer.
Daron Henson–F Washington State (PAC-12) Salt Lake CC
Henson spent last season in Juco at Salt Lake Community College and committed to Washington State after averaging 12.3 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 28 games. He has seen little action in just two games this season for the Washington State Cougars (Nov. 7th and Jan. 11th), but with a season ending diagnosis for F Deion James left an already shallow frontcourt even worse off, Henson hopped in against Stanford on Saturday to score 12 points and grab 2 rebounds.
Crew Ainge–Junior G at Babson College Beavers (MA) (NCAA Div. III NEWMAC)
The legacy that Crew Ainge was supposed to live up to playing his college ball in Utah may have been unfair, but after averaging 2.8 PPG with 1.6 APG in 18 games last season for the Aggies, Crew transferred to division-III Babson College to be closer to family. The Beavers are 11-2 (1-1, in NEWMAC) on the season and Ainge is averaging 11.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 4.8 APG in 12 of those games on the year.
John Knight III–Junior G at Southern Utah (Big Sky)
After what seemed like a brief stop in Logan where fans saw Knight III for only 10 games, we find him enjoying second place in the Big Sky at Southern Utah . The Thunderbirds (10-5, 3-1 Big Sky) are enjoying the now red haired Mississippian averaging 13.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.4 APG in 14 games with 8 starts.
John Middleton-Senior G/F at Bridgeport (NCAA D-II East Coast Conference)
Middleton is out in Connecticut these days at division-II Bridgeport University. He had a brief stop at Valparaiso before joining the Purple Knights who are 12-2 and undefeated in conference play at 4-0. He leads the team in scoring with 15.5 PPG in 2 games played this year.
Ngor Barnaba-Senior F at Talladega College (AL) Tornadoes (NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference)
Barnaba has found a home at Talladega College in Alabama, where he is averaging 10.6 PPG and 7.2 RPG in 17 games with 12 starts for a 14-3 (1-0, in GCAC) Tornadoes team.
Wyoming
Cody Kelly–Senior G at South Dakota (Summit)
Kelley has found a home in neighboring South Dakota where he helped the Coyotes to a 5th place finish in the Summit League last year and currently has them sitting in 4th place now, at 11-7 (2-2 Summit) while averaging 10.9 PPG, 2.2 APG and 1.0 SPG.
Sam Averbuck–Senior G at Dominican (CA) (NCAA D-II PAC West Conference)
The former Wyoming walk on is on scholarship at Division II Domincan University of California. The Penguins are 2-13 (2-7 PW) on the season where Averbuck is averaging 9.7 PPG in 15 games (all starts).
Trace Young–Sophomore G/F at John A. Logan (IL) (NJCAA Great River Athletic Conference)
Young is spending his sophomore year in Juco at John A. Logan alongside future Louisville Cardinal Jay Scrubb. He is averaging 8.8 PPG in 16 games with 14 starts 12-4 (7-0) Vols squad.
