The Top Ten Most Impactful Transfers in the Big East for the 2022-23 Season
It is Big East week here at On3, as we keep the content rolling with the 2023-24 basketball season previews. Over 1,800 players entered the men’s college basketball transfer portal this off-season. Ten of the 11 teams in the Big East brought in players from the portal this offseason. Marquette was the only team who did not.
In all Big East teams brought in 41 transfers, many of which are looking at significant roles on their teams. St. John’s led with way, bringing in ten new players via the transfer portal. Georgetown and Butler were next in line, each bringing in five transfers. There are a lot of variables that take place when transitioning schools, systems, and leagues. But, many times, a transfer is brought in for a specific need, and both parties are on the same page when the commitment is made.
Here, I take a look at the transfers in the Big East this season. This list is not of the best player or the highest upside player; it is based on the potential impact of the player. A big factor I looked at is how big of an impact the player will have on his program’s season. Could the player be an x-factor in a program finishing in the bottom third or top third? Will this player playing up to expectations make the difference in a program finishing with a winning record? A player’s impact on the league, on their team, their talent, and more were taken into account.
The talent of the transfers in the Big East is deep this season. Players like Quincy Olivari (Xavier), Elijah Fisher (DePaul), Chris Ledlum (St. John’s), and Hakim Hart (Villanova) are sure to have varying degrees of impact this season, but they were on the outside looking in on this exercise.
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Let’s take a look at the ten impact transfers in the Big East for the upcoming season.
1. Sr. TJ Bamba, Villanova
From: Washington State
Height/Weight: 6-5/215
2022-23 Stats: 15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 37.2% 3P
The Buzz: Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune went to work in the transfer portal, adding four new players to his rotation including multi-year starters Justin Moore and Eric Dixon returning to full health. TJ Bamba enters Villanova after finishing eighth in the Pac-12 in scoring last season. He has a reputation as a tough-nosed defender and has knocked down 38.5 percent of his career threes with 3.0 attempts per game. The spacing he provides as well as his two-way prowess on the wing will be vital pieces for Villanova this season.
2. GR Jordan Dingle, St. John’s
From: Penn
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
2022-23: 23.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 35.6% 3P
The Buzz: Jordan Dingle earned Ivy League Player of the Year last season after finishing second in Division 1 basketball in scoring at 23.4 per contest. Dingle has been a consistent producer in his college career. After earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors, he was named first-team All-Ivy each of his past two seasons. Dingle did not play the 2020-21 season because the Ivy League canceled their season. Dingle comes to St. John’s scoring 1,537 points in his three collegiate seasons. He is the son of former UMass forward Dana Dingle, who played for John Calipari’s team that made a run to the Final Four in 1995-96. For Rick Pitino to meet preseason expectations in year one at St. John’s he will need health and production from Dingle.
3. GR Cam Spencer, UConn
From: Rutgers
Height/Weight: 6-4/205
2022-23: 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists 2.0 steals, 43.4% 3P
The Buzz: You immediately see the shooting with Cam Spencer. He shot 43.4 percent for Rutgers on 4.9 attempts last season and is 40.5 percent on 4.8 attempts per game throughout his four-year career. Spencer enters his graduate transfer year at UConn knocking down 170 career threes. He spaces the floor. Spencer is also an adept passer. He is able to quickly process in the half-court and deliver passes on time to teammates. He is also a gritty defender, playing physically understanding angles, and help side rotations. After losing three starters off last year’s team, UConn carries lofty expectations into this season. The Huskies will need Spencer to perform to live up to those expectations.
4. Sr. Daniss Jenkins, St. John’s
From: Iona
Height/Weight: 6-4/180
2022-23 Stats: 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds. 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 36.1% 3P
The Buzz: Rick Pitino brought his point guard to St. John’s with him, Daniss Jenkins. He is capable of playing on or off the ball, setting up teammates, or getting to his spots and knocking down shots. Jenkins has good size with a lengthy frame. He will play alongside Jordan Dingle, in what should give the Red Storm multiple looks out of the backcourt. Jenkins cleaned up his shooting form last season, knocking down a career-high 36.1 percent from beyond the arc on 4.4 attempts per game. This St. John’s team has a lot of depth, Jenkins brings system familiarity with him from Iona and leadership.
5. GR Tyler Burton, Villanova
From: Richmond
Height/Weight: 6-7/215
2022-23 Stats: 19.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.9% FG
The Buzz: Tyler Burton is a connective forward, maybe not great in any one category but able to contribute across the board. Burton has a strong frame with good length. He is a solid positional defender, understanding angles and getting into the passing lanes. He is a good area rebounder and has a nice touch. Burton’s three-point shooting dropped significantly last season, down to 29.3 percent. The hope is he will be able to approach the 36.5 percent from the previous year; he should have more clean looks with his feet set this season. Burton’s best attribute might be his ability to fit in and help things run smoothly, Villanova will need his experience this season for the Wildcats to jump back from their 500 season last year.
6. Sr. Steven Ashworth, Creighton
From: Utah State
Height/Weight: 6-1/170
2022-23 Stats: 16.2 points. 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 43.4% 3P
The Buzz: Steven Ashworth steps into the spot vacated by Ryan Nembhard who transferred to Gonzaga in the off-season. Nebhard was a two-year starter for the Bluejays, leading them to 47 wins and two NCAA Tournament births. Those are tall shoes for Ashworth to fill, but he will not be alone. Creighton returns starter Trey Alexander and sixth-man guard Francisco Farabello who will help with the ball-handling duties. Creighton is known for his floor spacing and shooting. Ashworth brings the ball movement and ability to knock down shots with him. He has averaged 3.6 assists and knocked down 204 threes through his three collegiate seasons. Creighton will need Ashworth’s contributions this season, to make a run to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament.
7. So. Jayden Epps, Georgetown
From: Illinois
Height/Weight: 6-2/185
2022-23 Stats: 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
The Buzz: Jayden Epps should enter Georgetown as the starting guard. He is a score-first lead guard, who showed capable of putting up numbers at Illinois averaging 9.5 points in 11 starts and 24.6 minutes throughout his freshman year. Epps is a sturdy guard who has a quick first step. He is confident on the ball and a very confident shooter with range. Reports out of his initial secret scrimmage where he had 46 against Wake Forest. Ed Cooley re-tooled his roster for this season, his first as the head coach. He has been very good in the portal in the past, and this season he brings in five new transfers. Georgetown has won two Big East games, and 13 games overall, over the past two seasons. Epps will have the ball in his hands, and he carries the confidence to make plays.
8. Sr. Dayvion McKnight, Xavier
From: Western Kentucky
Height/Weight: 6-0/195
2022-23 Stats: 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 45.6% FG
The Buzz: Sean Miller’s teams are at their best when he has a point guard he can trust running the show. Dayvion McKnight has earned All-Conference USA first or second-team honors each of the past two seasons. He finished top ten in Conference USA in points (16.5), assists (3.8), and steals (1.8) last season. He has scored 1,229 points and dished out 412 assists in his three-year career at Western Kentucky. McKnight is a paint-touch lead guard who does his most damage when heading toward the rim. With recent injuries to Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter, Xavier will need their backcourt to step up.
9. Sr. Posh Alexander, Butler
From: St. John’s
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
2022-23 Stats: 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 steals
The Buzz: Posh Alexander is one of the top point-of-attack defenders in the Big East. The strong-framed and quick-twitch point guard has led the conference in steals each of the past three seasons, including twice finishing in the top ten in Division 1. Alexander plays an aggressive style where he routinely touches the paint and distributes the ball. While last season was a down year, the former Big East Defensive Player of the Year has averaged 11.7 points and 4.9 assists for his career. He will be a central piece in any hopes Butler has in climbing up from their ninth-place finish last season.
10. GR Josh Oduro, Providence
From: George Mason
Height/Weight: 6-9/240
2022-23 Stats: 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds. 2.6 assists, 55.1% FG
The Buzz: Josh Oduro comes to the Big East with a lot of experience (94 career starts) and an understanding of Kim English’s system. Oduro earned back-to-back first-team All-A10 honors over the past two seasons. He finished top ten last season in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage in his conference and has scored 1,371 points throughout his four-year college career. It is year one of the Kim English era at Providence and Oduro will be the man in the middle for the Friars.
Other Big East Transfers to Watch
6-7 So. Elijah Fisther (DePaul), 6-4 Sr. Dylan Addae-Wusu (Seton Hall), 6-6 GR Chris Ledlum (St. John’s), 6-7 So. RJ Luis (St John’s), 6-6 GR. Glenn Taylor (St. John’s), 6-8 Sr. Hakim Hart (Villanova), 6-9 Sr. Supreme Cook (Georgetown), 6-2 GR Chico Carter (DePaul), 6-2 Sr. Quincy Olivari (Xavier)