In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Esayas Gebrekidan highlights who he deems as the top transfers in college basketball after pouring through countless hours of film throughout the 2021-22 NCAA season:
In the last installment of Film Study, Esayas identified some of the top returners in college basketball as our focus shifts toward the 2023 NBA draft.
In the same spirit with this next installment, we will be taking a look at some of the most valuable transfers on college rosters this season. With the NCAA season freshly underway, there will be plenty of opportunity to get an updated live look at the following names who jumped off the screen while we were analyzing their games from this past season.
With that, here are seven transfers to keep a close eye on throughout the 2022-23 college basketball season:
Souley Boum
6’3” Guard | Xavier | Senior
There are a few reasons Xavier is being talked about as a team that has the potential to make a deep tournament run and Souley Boum is one of them. Boum will bring scoring, playmaking and defense to the Musketeers. Over the last three seasons at UTEP, Boum has averaged 17.1ppg (34.7% from 3), 2.4apg, 3.9rpg and 1.3spg, posting a C-RAM of 9.4 and DSI (Defensive Statistical Impact) of 84. The Big East will present its challenges for Boum, but the film suggests he will carve out his role as a tough player who can impact the game in multiple ways.
Kendric Davis
6’0” Guard | Memphis | Senior
Davis is an undoubtedly big time addition for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers. An elite offensive talent, Davis possesses speed, creates separation off the dribble and the ability to create offense for himself and his teammates. A three-level scorer, Davis has led the AAC in points the last two seasons (19.4, 19.0) but also creates at a high level, having ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in assists twice during his career. Staying within the AAC provides Davis with familiarity but also an opportunity to help Memphis contend for a conference title.
Jayveous McKinnis
6’7” Big | Ole Miss | Senior
He may not be known nationally, but McKinnis was dominant during his time in the SWAC. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 12.4ppg, 11.8rpg, 2.5bpg and 1spg. A high energy big, McKinnis doesn’t need plays run for him, but he scores off dump-offs, put-backs (3OREB/game) and lobs. He checks out analytically, having finished last season ranked fourth (third among returners) in Cerebro’s DSI metric, and posted an 86 ATR (Around the Rim), as well. Named SWAC DPOY back-to-back years, McKinnis does a great job blocking and altering shots but can also defend multiple positions. His energy and his activity on the glass will give Ole Miss a great role player to complement their other recent additions.
Pete Nance
6’11” Big | North Carolina | Senior
At 6'11” with a 7'3” wingspan, Pete Nance is a mobile and skilled big who has improved his three-point shooting every season at Northwestern (from 26.3% his freshman season to 45% during the 2021-2022 season). Over the course of his career, Nance has improved as a finisher around the rim but also displayed an ability to comfortably knock down shots from mid-range, as well. One aspect of his game that doesn't get much attention is his ability to create, evidenced by his 2.7apg, last season. At North Carolina, he will thrive as a pick-and-pop threat and spot-up shooter and prove to scouts that he can be a stretch-4 at the next level.
Nijel Pack
6’0” Guard | Miami | Junior
Nijel Pack has been one of the top shooters/scorers in the nation over the course of two seasons at K-State. According to Cerebro, Pack posted a 95 3PE (3-Point Efficiency) last season after shooting 43.6% from 3. Overall, he has shot 42.3% from deep for his career, but also gets it done from mid-range, shooting 45% from that area. With his transfer to Miami, he will be paired with another big time scorer in Isaiah Wong, giving the Hurricanes another opportunity to make a deep tournament run.
Baylor Scheierman
6’7” Guard | Creighton | Senior
Creighton has been one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation over the last handful of seasons but had one of its down years shooting behind the arc in 2021-2022. When measuring his performance from a season ago, Scheierman ranks sixth among returners with an 11.6 C-RAM, single-handedly making him one of the top transfers in the country. With the addition of Scheierman, Creighton is getting a career 41% shooter from 3, who also averaged 16.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 4.5apg and 1.3spg last season. Not only does he provide shooting, but his ability to create off the dribble gives Creighton another playmaker and his knack for rebounding will help secure extra possessions, a blend of tangible skills that should pay dividends early and often for the Bluejays.
Grant Sherfield
6’2” Guard | Oklahoma | Senior
Sherfield is an underrated get for Coach Porter Moser and the Sooners. In his second and final season at Nevada, Sherfield averaged 19ppg (#25 in nation), 6.4apg (#8 in nation) and 4.2rpg. The ultimate leader on the floor, Sherfield is more than just a scorer and ranked second among returners in FGS (Floor General Skills) with an 82. With Oklahoma losing three of their top-four scorers from last season, expect Sherfield to be the primary catalyst in Oklahoma's success.
