By Sam Federman
Clark Slajchert: Penn -> USC
Asked to be the primary creator for Penn's offense for the first time this past season, Slajchet did not disappoint, at least with his individual numbers. He averaged 18 points and 3 assists per game on extremely efficient shooting splits, but the team struggled mightily. Paired with Jordan Dingle in 22-23, Slajchert played in a more off-ball role, and while his scoring wasn't as consistent, Penn had a more successful offense with more scoring options. In the Big Ten, his short and skinny frame may be difficult to hide on the defensive end, but he'll give enough on the other end to make him more than playable. The value of this addition comes in whether the Trojans can put other shot-creators around him and not solely rely on him for scoring.
Boden Skunberg: North Dakota State -> Illinois State
Returning guards Dalton Banks and Johnny Kinziger will be joined in the Illinois State backcourt by a high-scoring piece in Skunberg who adds much-needed shooting to a team that needs it. Skunberg shot just 34% from behind the arc last year but is nearly 36% for his four-year career at NDSU. With the emergence of Kinziger and Malachi Poindexter late in the season and the addition of Skunberg, it should be pretty safe to say that ISU will not finish with a 3P% below 30% this season. Head coach Ryan Pedon identified a weakness and found a way to improve the team. Additionally, Skunberg's 6-5, 210-pound frame should allow him to slot in on the wing, giving more versatility to a team that didn't have a ton of it last year.
Braxton Bayless: Niagara -> Western Kentucky
Niagara's leading scorer during conference play, Bayless committed to Western Kentucky to reunite with JUCO coach Hank Plona. Bayless has had elite on-off splits two years running now, leading the team in 23-24, and finishing second in 22-23. While he scores at an efficient rate inside the arc thanks to his ability to score in the paint and draw fouls, he is most impactful on the defensive end. He has good strength for his positional size, and good instincts on the defensive side of the ball. His role is currently uncertain based on how many players can return, but he can certainly be an effective role player in Conference USA.