Three key transfers near decisions

Things are heating up in Tucson, Arizona — and I’m not talking about the triple-digit temperature. But Wildcats fans shouldn’t be the only ones getting excited. In today’s newsletter, three of the top remaining transfer targets get closer to deciding on their college destination, we talk to San Jose State coach Tim Miles, and break down the trips you should be planning for the 2022-23 season.

Let’s check out Thursday’s news!

STARTING FIVE

1. Ramey, Baker, Grandison closing in on schools

Courtney Ramey chopped his list this week to West Virginia and Arizona. Only 24 hours later, on3.com reported that Ramey looks Arizona bound.

Arizona desperately needs proven guard options, and Ramey scored 1,275 points and started 106 games in four years with Texas. The guard trio of Ramey, Kerr Kriisa, and Pelle Larson would give Tommy Lloyd three competent playmakers and shooters to open up the interior for Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. Adding Ramey would put the Wildcats back among the top 25.

As Joey Baker recovers from offseason surgery, he made pit stops in Ann Arbor and Athens for official visits. Michigan could use a wing (having missed out on Terrence Shannon and Caleb Houston going pro), and the 6-6 graduate transfer would step in nicely with his shooting. But he’d also fit with what Mike White’s building at Georgia. I'm a huge fan of Kario Oquendo and Terry Roberts, but neither are sharpshooters.

Meanwhile, Bakers’ former program, Duke, has two important issues: Minimal experience, and most of the roster can't shoot. That’s where Jacob Grandison comes in. The 24-year-old averaged 9.6 points and shot 41 percent from deep for Illinois. He would start at the 3 or 4 with Duke, allowing one of the talented freshman to come off the bench to begin the season. Sure, it's not adding a 20-point scorer, but it makes Duke better in a key area.

2. N.C. State adds a key recruiter

Every staff needs assistants who know the area. N.C. State added one. As Jeff Goodman reported, Arizona State’s Joel Justus joins Kevin Keatts’ staff. Justus played an instrumental role in Kentucky's quest to add blue-chip recruits during his six years in Lexington before spending last year at ASU. He's from North Carolina, and those local ties should help bring an influx of talent to N.C. State.

Perhaps the biggest benefactor of Justus's arrival is Terquavion Smith. He announced his return last week and Justus coached some high-level NBA players while at Kentucky. He’ll help Smith add more NBA skills.

3. A U18 update on Team USA

Here's the skinny from the first few days of the FIBA U18 Tournament. Team USA beat Puerto Rico, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic by 195 points.

Villanova’s Mark Armstrong and Cam Whitmore's displayed some highlight-reel plays. Both figure to play prominent roles this coming season, with a little more flair than Collin Gillespie posting up guards 15 times per game. Whitmore scored 24 points on 11-13 shooting in Wednesday's win over Puerto Rico.

Oregon's Kel'el Ware emerged as the best player, averaging 16.7 points, and 7.7 rebounds, shooting 71 percent. If the U.S. wins the gold, he's the likely MVP front-runner.

The quarterfinals begin Friday.

4. Marquette legend George Thompson dies

When Al McGuire spent the ‘60s building Marquette into a college hoops power, George Thompson was one of his first notable recruits from New York. And Thompson, who died Wednesday at the age of 74, certainly left his mark on the program.

He scored 1,773 points — the school scoring record until 2009 — played professionally for a few seasons, then served as the regular analyst on Marquette radio and TV broadcast for 27 years. His jersey hangs from the rafters at Fiserv Forum.

5. Rice, Yesefu shine at Kansas scrimmage

Never read too much into an offseason scrimmage. But as the reigning champs try to navigate a roster with 11 players who could see time this year, it appears freshman M.J. Rice and rising sophomore Joseph Yesefu stated their cases early.

Yesefu dropped 30 points, including six 3-pointers. Rice scored 18 on a variety of drives through contact, pull-up jumpers and 3-pointers. It was an ideal time to step up with incoming transfer Kevin McCullar not yet in Lawrence; both Yesefu and Rice will be vying for time at off-guard.

2022 EVENTS & TOURNAMENTS

Plan your November college hoops travel now

If you're a diehard college hoops fans looking to see some live hoops during the annual holiday tournaments, I'll break down the five best ones to consider attending. With the exceedingly high cost of travel in 2022, it's potentially worth planning to try getting the best bang for your buck and indulge your hunger for live basketball.

To see all the event schedules look here:

Phil Knight Legacy & Phil Knight Invitational (Nov. 24-27)

It's the 85th birthday of Nike founder Phil Knight. There's no better way to celebrate the momentous occasion than putting college basketball powerhouses in two tournaments, both of which are in Portland. Find a vacation home in Oregon, see 'Washington Park' before it all starts, then enjoy wall-to-wall hoops.

The Legacy field:

• Purdue

• Portland State

• Gonzaga

• Duke

• Florida

• Oregon State

• West Virginia

• Xavier

Four made last year's Sweet 16 (Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Purdue), and three have newly-minted coaches (Xavier, Florida, and Duke.) It's an interesting litmus test for some of the premier programs college hoops offers. I wouldn't hate a Duke/Gonzaga showdown.

The Invitational field

Technically, both Phil Knight tournaments form the PK85, although it's split into two different brackets instead of one mega bracket. Here’s the second field.

• Alabama

• Iowa State

• Villanova

• North Carolina

• Oregon

• Portland

• UConn

• Michigan State

This features 2022 Final Four participants North Carolina and Villanova and potential Top 25 teams in Alabama, Oregon and UConn. If you're looking to watch a rising program, check out Portland, which won 19 games in Shantay Legans’ first season. They’d only won 10 or fewer games in four consecutive seasons before he arrived.

Maui Invitational (Nov. 21-23)

Typically the best basketball during feast week, this field provides plenty of excitement. Six teams can make a legitimate argument for entering the preseason Top 25, and Arkansas, Creighton, and San Diego State are virtual Top-20 locks. It's a good early test for Arkansas and Creighton, who have younger teams capable of making deep March runs.

• Arizona

• San Diego State

• Texas Tech

• Creighton

• Louisville

• Cincinnati

• Ohio State

• Arkansas

I see six tournament locks and three Top-15 caliber teams with Arkansas, Creighton, and San Diego State. How the Aztecs fare against high-level competition will be an indicator for what awaits them in March.

Jumpman Invitational (Dec. 20-21)

It's the inaugural Jumpman Invitation, a Charlotte event that'll feature Jordan Brand schools every season. The first foursome is North Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, and Michigan. It's a good look at the new-look Gators under Todd Golden, who can make real noise this season, and watching Hunter Dickinson destroy opposing bigs never gets old.

Roman Main Event (Nov. 18 and 20)

Arizona knocked off Michigan in last year's main event in Las Vegas, putting them on the national radar as legitimate title contenders. Two of the most recent champions, Virginia and Baylor, will participate this year, and rounding out the field, are UCLA and Illinois.

PREVIEWING THE NBA DRAFT

Who is Shaedon Sharpe, really?

Shaedon Sharpe played exactly ZERO minutes at Kentucky last season. Yet, the 6-6 wing an NBA Draft lottery lock because of his potential.

But can teams really take Sharpe and know what they’re getting? Or is he just a big leap of faith? Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman discuss.

Have you subscribed to The Field of 68 on YouTube?

FOUR QUESTIONS

Tim Miles, basketball coach and wine connoisseur

Most know Tim Miles for his time coaching Colorado State, North Dakota State and Nebraska. But real Field of 68 fans love Tim Miles for the season he spent as a podcaster.

Now? He’s focused on getting San Jose State to its first NCAA Tournament in more than 25 years amid an increasingly competitive Mountain West Conference. He traded texts with Rob Dauster for Four Questions.

Q: The Mountain West looks like it could end up being a 4-5 bid league this season. What’s the key to getting San Jose State into the mix at the top of the conference?Tim Miles: A jump in production from Omari Moore and Ibrahima Dialla.

Q: You’re a Midwest guy living on the West Coast. What has been the most unexpected part of living in California?Tim Miles: How easy it is to get from place to place.

Q: If someone made a movie on the Life of Miles, who would you want to play you, and who do you think would actually end up getting the role?Tim Miles: Want: Rob Dauster. Actually gets the part: Matt Norlander.

Q: You live in wine country now. What’s the best bottle you’ve had this year?Tim Miles: Testarossa Pinot Noir Los Gatos.

Tim Miles is 407–357 in 25 seasons coaching college basketball. 

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you figure out how to solve even one Rubik’s Cube (without juggling!)

• TyTy Washington’s younger uncle (Yes, younger uncle) took the MVP at the Pangos AA Camp.

• Tommy Lloyd’s new contract extension comes with a $1 million raise.

• The Big 12 plans to stay at 18 league games when the conference expands to 14 teams in the 2023-24 season.

• Kentucky officially added K.T. Turner to its staff.

• Bruce Pearl tweeted at Joe Biden yesterday.

• Texas recruit Dillon Mitchell signed with CAA for NIL representation.

• Dartmouth tabbed Mike Harrity as its new Athletic Director.

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