Several Players Transferring From ACC

The Fayetteville Observer, Bret Strelow

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/04/17/1171636?sac=fo.sports

The college basketball season ended two weeks ago with Kentucky hoisting the national championship trophy, and rejections are continuing at an Anthony Davis-like rate.

In the Triangle, it’s been a month characterized by players leaving the three ACC programs and potential newcomers picking other schools.

The latest defection involves Duke’s Michael Gbinije. The school announced Monday that the 6-foot-7 freshman will transfer out of the program. Gbinije, a swingman who played sparingly last season, wasn’t likely to see his role increase dramatically with 6-8 redshirt freshman Alex Murphy entering the mix.

Gbinije’s combination of size and athleticism was unique on a roster filled with traditional guards and tall post players, a makeup that hurt the Blue Devils’ defensive versatility in 2011-12, but his departure is a blow Duke should be able to absorb.

It’s eye-opening because it prolongs a stretch of sour offseason updates.

Duke was in the running to land Central Michigan transfer Trey Zeigler, a talented guard who averaged 16 points a game over his first two seasons, and he chose Pittsburgh.

The Blue Devils were also finalists for Shabazz Muhammad, one of the top players in the prep class of 2012. On a nationally televised special last week, he announced he was going to UCLA.

Duke’s rivals weren’t immune to disappointment. Earlier that day, N.C. State released junior DeShawn Painter and freshman Jaqawn Raymond from their scholarships so they could transfer. Raymond’s request wasn’t surprising given that he was recruited to Raleigh by a different coaching staff and played very little in Mark Gottfried’s debut season, but Painter was a valuable reserve for the Wolfpack. He was happy at N.C. State and is relocating close to home at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., because his great-grandmother isn’t in good health.

North Carolina made its way into the headlines Friday when power forward Alex Oriakhi said he would transfer from Connecticut to Missouri. UNC was a finalist for the rising senior, who will be eligible to play next season, and he could have been part of a formidable inside duo with James Michael McAdoo.

Whenever a transfer lists North Carolina or Duke among his options, local fans tend to consider it a forgone conclusion that he will choose the Tar Heels or Blue Devils based on prestige alone, but geography, connections to coaches, friendships with former AAU teammates and playing time are all important factors in such a decision.

Not all is lost. On the bright side, scholarships are free to be filled.

Maybe forward Andrew Young, a JUCO transfer, commits to N.C. State. Tony Parker, one of the top unsigned high school seniors in the country, will announce his decision Monday, and Duke is one of the front-runners. The Blue Devils and Wolfpack still could add Amile Jefferson, another unsigned McDonald’s All-American, and South Carolina is losing a pair of talented underclassmen in Anthony Gill and Fayetteville’s Damontre Harris. Perhaps they relocate to the Triangle.

Area hoops fans sure could use some positive news.

Several Players Transferring From ACC

The Fayetteville Observer, Bret Strelow

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/04/17/1171636?sac=fo.sports

The college basketball season ended two weeks ago with Kentucky hoisting the national championship trophy, and rejections are continuing at an Anthony Davis-like rate.

In the Triangle, it’s been a month characterized by players leaving the three ACC programs and potential newcomers picking other schools.

The latest defection involves Duke’s Michael Gbinije. The school announced Monday that the 6-foot-7 freshman will transfer out of the program. Gbinije, a swingman who played sparingly last season, wasn’t likely to see his role increase dramatically with 6-8 redshirt freshman Alex Murphy entering the mix.

Gbinije’s combination of size and athleticism was unique on a roster filled with traditional guards and tall post players, a makeup that hurt the Blue Devils’ defensive versatility in 2011-12, but his departure is a blow Duke should be able to absorb.

It’s eye-opening because it prolongs a stretch of sour offseason updates.

Duke was in the running to land Central Michigan transfer Trey Zeigler, a talented guard who averaged 16 points a game over his first two seasons, and he chose Pittsburgh.

The Blue Devils were also finalists for Shabazz Muhammad, one of the top players in the prep class of 2012. On a nationally televised special last week, he announced he was going to UCLA.

Duke’s rivals weren’t immune to disappointment. Earlier that day, N.C. State released junior DeShawn Painter and freshman Jaqawn Raymond from their scholarships so they could transfer. Raymond’s request wasn’t surprising given that he was recruited to Raleigh by a different coaching staff and played very little in Mark Gottfried’s debut season, but Painter was a valuable reserve for the Wolfpack. He was happy at N.C. State and is relocating close to home at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., because his great-grandmother isn’t in good health.

North Carolina made its way into the headlines Friday when power forward Alex Oriakhi said he would transfer from Connecticut to Missouri. UNC was a finalist for the rising senior, who will be eligible to play next season, and he could have been part of a formidable inside duo with James Michael McAdoo.

Whenever a transfer lists North Carolina or Duke among his options, local fans tend to consider it a forgone conclusion that he will choose the Tar Heels or Blue Devils based on prestige alone, but geography, connections to coaches, friendships with former AAU teammates and playing time are all important factors in such a decision.

Not all is lost. On the bright side, scholarships are free to be filled.

Maybe forward Andrew Young, a JUCO transfer, commits to N.C. State. Tony Parker, one of the top unsigned high school seniors in the country, will announce his decision Monday, and Duke is one of the front-runners. The Blue Devils and Wolfpack still could add Amile Jefferson, another unsigned McDonald’s All-American, and South Carolina is losing a pair of talented underclassmen in Anthony Gill and Fayetteville’s Damontre Harris. Perhaps they relocate to the Triangle.

Area hoops fans sure could use some positive news.