MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Jose Perez hearing from top schools amid transfer controversy

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•10/25/22•

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Manhattan was just two weeks away from their 2022-2023 season getting underway, with an NCAA Tournament bid being the goal. The Jaspers were voted second in the MAAC preseason poll under the guidance of head coach Steve Masiello — until they fired him on Tuesday.

Now, a majority, if not all, of the Manhattan squad is expected to leave the program. The crown jewel of the bunch will be Jose Perez, who was voted the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. Now, some of the top programs in the country are reaching out, as Perez has entered the transfer portal.

According to Adam Zagoria, eight schools have reached out to Perez as of Tuesday evening. Alabama, Kansas State, Memphis, Mississippi State, Oregon, Rhode Island, San Diego, and Wake Forest are interested in the fifth-year guard.

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Wherever Perez ends up, it will mark his fourth college basketball program. He began at Gardner Webb before moving on to Marquette. After Steve Wojciechowski was let go, Perez left in favor of Manhattan. Now, another coach has been fired, causing another transfer out of the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year.

If Perez does want to begin the season on time with his new program, a decision will have to be made quickly. Monday, Nov. 7 is when a majority of college basketball teams see their season tip-off, giving him less than two weeks. Coaches involved with the transfer would be reshaping their roster as well in order to acquire Perez’s services.

Those services might be worth it thanks to the performances Perez has put up throughout his career. He has averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in four seasons. Perez was coming off a career-best 18.9 points per game with Manhattan a season ago and was looking to improve this year.

However, he will attempt to do so elsewhere. It’s early in his transfer recruitment but Perez will have plenty of options after a wild situation with the Jaspers.