Michigan State's not messing around

The most recent job numbers were strong, but that doesn’t apply to college basketball coaches. That market (barring any surprises firings) is usually settled by late May. Any exceptions are rare — and can be brutal for coaches who are scrambling to find a gig right now.

Like Martin Bahar and Jose Martinez. Both were told last month they wouldn’t be on staff, despite ensuring San Diego’s program continued to recruit and sign players before new coach Steve Lavin was hired in late April. Lavin elected to let them go … after most every program had filled its assistant spots.

Coaching is hard enough on good days. It doesn’t need to be made more difficult.

Let’s get to the news.

STARTING FIVE

1. Spartans continue prospect binge

Tom Izzo doesn’t like the transfer portal. At this rate, he’ll never need it.

Michigan State added its third high-level 2023 recruit in the last 10 days, as Coen Carr, a 6-7 wing, announced his commitment on Tuesday. The Spartans are loaded with their best class since 2016. Guess everyone does want to be part of the Big Ten.

Carr’s not a polished offensive player (not yet, at least), but that’s not a huge problem when he can play with Booker and have Fears create opportunities. As one of the best athletes in 2023, Carr’s initial benefits are defensive disruption — and more than a few highlight-reel dunks.

So, to recap, Michigan State has its point guard (Fears), a floor-stretching big man (Booker), a sharpshooter (Normand) and a high-flyer (Carr). It’s like Izzo created this combo in a lab for the express purpose of another Final Four run.

2. Teams who make the most out of transfers

Tom Izzo may not want transfers, but other many programs are thriving with them.

John Gasaway did a deep dive into the 2021-22 transfer impact for ESPN, noting that “Transfers accounted for fully 40% of the minutes played at major-conference programs last season, up from 25% the year before.”

The three schools that played transfers the most — Florida (89% of minutes), Minnesota (84%) and Wake Forest (73%) — didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, but that’s not indicative of others who made it work like Arkansas (70% of minutes), Providence (67%), Kentucky (65%), Texas Tech (65%) and TCU (63%). All five of those schools made the Big Dance and will be primed to do so again this year.

Interestingly enough, Arkansas, Providence and Tech all added at least five transfers for 2022-23.

Perhaps the most notable aspect was Gasaway’s findings for teams that relied the most on transfers over the last four years at schools that didn’t have a coaching change. That was highlighted by Baylor, which played transfers 36% of the time. Hey, if I had Davion Mitchell, Adam Flagler or James Akinjo on the roster, I’d be playing them too.

TOGETHER WITH FAST MODEL SPORTS

Tracking transfers shouldn’t be a chore

If you’re a college basketball coach, you already know about FastRecruit. And if not, well, you still have time to catch up. Especially when it comes to the transfer portal.

FastRecruit not only features an easy-to-use interface where you can view player stats, and add info or film to a player profile, but it also lets coaches and staffs monitor transfers. Add any player to a transfer watch list or database from FastScout, and adjust them on your draft board whenever needed. (Told you it was easy.)

And, of course, use the FastRecruit mobile app to view the information anywhere.

Learn more about FastRecruit.

3. Fast risers during the summer heat

OK, the heat’s got nothing to do with it. Just hard for me to focus.

ANYWAY, Travis Branham from 247 Sports detailed 10 players who thrived during the spring and summer months and would most likely see their 2023 prospect ranking rise as a result. The best news for interested programs? Among them, only Caleb Foster’s a hard commit.

Also interesting? Most of these guys are guards. I can think of worse things than adding a player who might still add a few inches before college.

• Foster (6-5 point guard)

• AJ Johnson (6-5 combo guard)

• Jamari McDowell (6-4 CG)

• Elijah Gertrude (6-3 CG)

• Silas Demary (6-3 CG)

• Ty-Laur Johnson (6-0 PG)

• Jaland Lowe (6-1 PG)

4. Doug Edert perfected NIL

Perhaps the lasting image of Saint Peter’s run to the 2022 Elite Eight is Doug Edert, tongue out, mustache in full glory, enjoying the ride. His singular appearance ensured recognizability — and immediate Name, Image and Likeness deals.

It’s a lasting impression. Edert’s still at it.

Edert, who transferred to Bryant (after Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway went to Seton Hall), will almost certainly remain one of the more visible figures during the 2022-23 season, even if Bryant doesn’t make the Big Dance. Edert, to his credit, is making the most of it.

As he told Front Office Sports, he now has “a feel for how NIL works” and signed deals with Cameo, Volo Sports and Campus Ink, among others. (If he doesn’t play professional hoops, he could probably work as an NIL advisor.) It’s an encouraging sign for those with NIL deals; the deals aren’t just a one-time thing and should be sustainable, no matter what the Iowa Athletic Director thinks.

As for Edert, he’s still got one more deal out there, but it is probably a one-time thing: “I’m still looking to get a deal with one of these razor companies.”

5. Two A-10 schools each add an athlete

Tuesday was apparently the day schools added high-energy, upside players.

Rhode Island added Adrian Meyers, a 6-7 wing who blossomed during the spring as a do-it-all, athletic player. He’s eyeing offensive development under new coach Archie Miller — with just a bit of confidence. “I'm going to bring a lot, 100 percent. Points, scoring, rebounding,” he told 247.

New Massachusetts coach Frank Martin got his first 2023 commit in Jayden Ndjigue, a 6-4 wing who plays in Weston, Mass. Ndjigue earned praise in the spring for his aggressive play and strong on-ball defense but didn’t receive much overall interest until the summer. Now, he’s headed to UMass.

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you dump out that stored rainwater from your water bottle.

• ESPN tapped out on Big Ten rights. Probably. CBS and NBC deals aren’t fully done (but that sounds like the streaming options just need to be finalized).

• Pairings for the 2022 Sunshine Slam. It’s an early primer for Feast Week.

• Butler’s Chuck Harris is filling it up during their foreign tour.

• We’ll have a hard time not calling it “The Dunk.”

• Fan of D-II athletics? You need to subscribe to FloSports.*

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OFF THE CAROUSEL

Maryland got its man

Kevin Willard’s had a nice week, snagging a commitment from 4-star prospect Jamie Kaiser, the second player in Maryland’s 2023 class.

But that figures to be just the start for Willard, who just made the move to Maryland after 12 seasons at Seton Hall. Listen as he talks with Jeff Goodman about his plan to elevate the Terps back to a college hoops power.

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