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Ranking the Final Four players
On a day when the transfer portal occupied most of the news cycle -- nice job Louisville! -- we also spent some time determining the best players still playing in the Big Dance, and looked at the NIT title game.
Tristan Freeman
April 04, 2024
Everyone’s headed to Phoenix for the Final Four. But not everyone had a smooth ride. Mechanical issues, then logistics delayed UConn’s arrival until early this morning.
I can only imagine how Dan Hurley will use this as motivation.
Let's get to the rest of Wednesday’s news.
1. Louisville lands Sun Belt POY Terrence Edwards
James Madison won 32 games and beat Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament, helping coach Mark Byington jump to the SEC for the Vanderbilt job.
One of his best Dukes isn’t making the same jump.
Frequently when a coach leaves for a new job, the top players with eligibility follow them to the new spot. That was potentially the case with Terrence Edwards Jr., who led the Dukes with 17.2 ppg and 3.4 apg, earning Sun Belt Player of the Year honors. Didn’t happen.
Louisville has landed JMU transfer Terrence Edwards Jr., source told @TheFieldOf68.
Edwards averaged 17.2 points this past season.
Big pickup for new coach Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals in the rebuild.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops)
Apr 3, 2024
Louisville has its own program turnover as former Charleston coach Pat Kelsey takes over. He’s brought two Cougars in forward James Scott and sharpshooter Reyne Smith.
Landing Edwards gives Louisville a go-to option. The 6-6 guard/wing should be just fine making the jump from the Sun Belt to the ACC. The Cardinals will need that if they want to get out the ACC cellar.
L’s Up. The ReviVILLE.
— Pat Kelsey (@patkelsey)
Apr 3, 2024
Kelsey,” is throwing up “L’s” in fan videos and “W’s” on the recruiting trail. There are still plenty of roster spots left to fill on the Louisville roster but his recruiting ability is already showing at his new spot.
Other notable transfer commitments
Brandon Johnson (ECU to Miami): 14.0 ppg and 8.6 rpg
Makhi Mason (Rice to Washington): 14.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg
Kylan Blackmon (Coastal Carolina to Charlotte): 11.4 ppg and 3.1 rpg
Dug McDaniel (Michigan to Kansas State): 16.3 ppg and 4.7 apg
Zach Martini (Princeton to Rutgers): 8.4 ppg and 3.3 rpg
Skyy Clark (Louisville to UCLA): 13.2 ppg and 3.0 apg
Also of note: Big man Ante Brzovic (12.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg) will return to Charleston for next season.
2. Two elite bigs enter the portal
Wednesday was another big day of notable portal entries, including a couple of guys who’ll be on everyone’s top available rankings of transfers.