By Sam Federman
Eddie Lampkin: Colorado -> Syracuse
Lampkin is a big body center who provides Syracuse with a post scoring presence that it hasn’t had. He’s immediately going to contribute on the stat sheet with scoring and rebounding, helping in the latter category that the Orange have struggled with for years. He provides solid ancillary playmaking, but it’s more timed cutting stuff than short-roll decision-making. Lampkin struggled badly when doubled in the post, leading Colorado in turnovers and bringing lots of sloppy possessions to an end. He struggled to hit shooters on the perimeter when doubled, but Syracuse doesn’t even have the shooters (aside from Bell) for him to hit at this point. Additionally, the pick-and-roll defense that Lampkin anchored at CU ranked 11th in the Pac 12, and you can’t hedge or switch him onto the perimeter. Given how fast Syracuse liked to play last year, forcing turnovers on the defensive end, this represents a change in identity with less aggressive ball screen defense.
Dug McDaniel: Michigan -> Kansas State
This one just makes sense, doesn’t it? Dug is definitely better suited to playing fast than Tylor Perry was, and he has the potential to be even better over the next two seasons. McDaniel isn’t the playmaker that Markquis Nowell was, but he’s one of the quickest guards in all of college basketball and can get to his spots at will. As long as he goes to class and stays on the floor, McDaniel is a difference maker, and a probable All-Big 12 player in Jerome Tang’s PG friendly system. It’s no secret why Tang has made point guards his priority over the past three offseasons, first retaining Nowell, then bringing in Perry and McDaniel. His system requires confidence on the ball and somebody able to make high-leverage passes all over the floor. While his defense lacks, it’s not like Nowell was a terrific defender, and K-State just needs to find the right pieces around him.
Terrence Edwards Jr.: James Madison -> Louisville
Edwards was legitimately the best player on the floor in JMU’s NCAA Tournament win over Wisconsin, and it felt obvious how easily he was imposing his will during that game. It’s what he did al year, hitting shots and getting to the line with no questions asked. He was a quiet superstar, in that it felt like nobody ever talked about him, but he put up huge numbers all year long. From 24 points on opening night in a win against Michigan State to averaging nearly 6 assists per game during the Sun Belt Tournament, he did it in a variety of ways. Even though he only has one year of eligibility left, Edwards will be a foundational player for Pat Kelsey at Louisville, ushering in a new era of Cardinal basketball. Kelsey’s infectious energy will sweep up the fanbase, and there will be a tremendous wave of hype around this team in the preseason, and for good reason. Already a great start with Edwards, Reyne Smith, and talented rising sophomore James Scott.