Transfer of the Year

[Vowelguy]

I know there is no such award but if there were — for someone’s FIRST year at their new school — here are some nominees:

Van Lith (LSU -> TCU)
Cooper (SC -> Tenn)
Amoore (VT -> Ky)
Iriafen (Stan -> USC)
Beers (OreSt -> Okla)

Looking at Cremes rankings, had forgotten about LegerWalker who is out for the season as of early Dec — big loss for UCLA .

Women's transfer rankings: There's a new No. 1 (and No. 2)

More than 1,300 women's college basketball players entered the transfer portal. Who are the top players looking for a new school next season?

www.espn.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

Might throw Clara Strack on this list too. Kentucky already has one on OPs list, but she's been really big for them as well.

 

[BRS24]

Way way way back last April (seriously), The Athletic ranked transfers. Here's the list with last year's stats:

1. Raegan Beers, Oregon State sophomore forward, 17.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 66 FG%
2. Taliah Scott, Arkansas freshman guard, 22.1 PPG, 3.3 rebounds per game RPG, 41 FG %
3. Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton senior guard, 15.8 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.5 RPG, 49 FG%
4. Talia von Oelhoffen, Oregon State junior guard, 10.7 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.1 RPG, 39 FG%
5. Saylor Poffenbarger, Arkansas redshirt sophomore guard, 10.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG (9.4 defensive RPG), 36 FG%
6. Timea Gardiner, Oregon State sophomore forward, 11.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 45 FG%, 40 3 PT FG%
7 . Janiah Barker, Texas A&M sophomore forward, 12.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 48 FG%
8. Lucy Olsen, Villanova junior guard, 23.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG
9. Hailey Van Lith, LSU senior guard, 11.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 38 FG%
10. Jordan Obi, Penn junior guard, 14.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 39 3PT%
11. Ajae Petty, Kentucky senior forward, 14.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 51 FG%
12. Deja Kelly, North Carolina senior guard, 16.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3.9 RPG, 35 FG%
13. Alyssa Latham, Syracuse freshman forward, 8.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 46 FG%
14. Laila Phelia, Michigan junior guard, 16.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG
15. Shay Ciezki, Penn State sophomore guard, 11.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 42 FG%
16. Maddie Scherr, Kentucky senior guard, 12.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 34 FG%

This being said, let's await the end of the season in April, and then have a robust discussion of projections vs reality.

 

[nwhoopfan]

A lot of worthy players, but I think I'm leaning Van Lith. Shows up at TCU and easily the best season in school history ensues. I don't think any of the other transfers can claim that.

 

[BRS24]

And yes, I may just update the stats for all of these players after (waving hands wildly) all of this is done.

 

[bballnut90]

I’d vote for Amoore or Van Lith. Both have completely transformed their new programs.

 

[faninwisc]

I have to go with Van Lith at TCU. Last year, she was the laughingstock of the NCAA. She got benched over and over again at LSU and could have very easily lost confidence and given up on ever being successful. She was named Big 12 player of the year and has helped lead TCU to their best season EVER and I think they have a legit shot of at least making the elite 8, if not being a dark horse for a final four run.

 

[The deacon]

I’d vote for Amoore or Van Lith. Both have completely transformed their new programs.

Lucy Olsen took on perhaps the greatest challenge, replacing Caitlin Clark at Iowa, and has done a darned good job. She's first-team all-Big Ten and led the Hawkeyes to a 22-10 record, including an upset of USC and nearly an upset of UCLA, and two wins in the Big Ten tournament, losing in the quarterfinals by a single point to Ohio State.

So respected is Lucy within the Big Ten realm that she was one of five players named to the all-tournament team, even though the Hawkeyes bowed out before the semifinals. We don't see that very often!

Iowa is not at the elite level of teams but can play with those elite teams, and it's largely attributable to Lucy's leadership and diversity of skills. With the Hawkeyes projected to be a six seed, I'll bet those 3 seeds wouldn't look forward to facing Lucy and Co. in a second-round game.

I wouldn't put her at the top of the transfer list, but I'd have Lucy on my top five transfers team.

 

[bballnut90]

Lucy Olsen took on perhaps the greatest challenge, replacing Caitlin Clark at Iowa, and has done a darned good job. She's first-team all-Big Ten and led the Hawkeyes to a 22-10 record, including an upset of USC and nearly an upset of UCLA, and two wins in the Big Ten tournament, losing in the quarterfinals by a single point to Ohio State.

So respected is Lucy within the Big Ten realm that she was one of five players named to the all-tournament team, even though the Hawkeyes bowed out before the semifinals. We don't see that very often!

Iowa is not at the elite level of teams but can play with those elite teams, and it's largely attributable to Lucy's leadership and diversity of skills. With the Hawkeyes projected to be a six seed, I'll bet those 3 seeds wouldn't look forward to facing Lucy and Co. in a second-round game.

I wouldn't put her at the top of the transfer list, but I'd have Lucy on my top five transfers team.

Love Lucy Olsen and agree with her being top 5. I think she's been absolutely brilliant since Iowa's 5 game losing streak and is playing like an All American right now.

 

[packwrap]

I have to go with Van Lith at TCU. Last year, she was the laughingstock of the NCAA. She got benched over and over again at LSU and could have very easily lost confidence and given up on ever being successful.

Van Lith benched at LSU? She started 33 games and averaged 31min per game at LSU! Sure there were plenty of challenges at LSU, but they didn't involved being benched.

Confidence and success? She made elite 8 vs Iowa with LSU, and the went to Olympics on 3x3 team.

TCU certainly worked better. It was a coach she knew well, who built the offense around her and gave her the keys. Very similar to Amoore and Olsen, and even how Hailey Van Lith was used at Louisville.

 

[Blueballer]

I'm going with Iriafen (Stan -> USC). As good as Watkins is, her addition has been enormous. Despite today's loss I'm predicting they will get further in the Tourney than any of the other original 5 teams in the first post.

 

[faninwisc]

Van Lith benched at LSU? She started 33 games and averaged 31min per game at LSU! Sure there were plenty of challenges at LSU, but they didn't involved being benched.

Confidence and success? She made elite 8 vs Iowa with LSU, and the went to Olympics on 3x3 team.

TCU certainly worked better. It was a coach she knew well, who built the offense around her and gave her the keys. Very similar to Amoore and Olsen, and even how Hailey Van Lith was used at Louisville.

There were multiple times throughout last season that she got benched IN GAME and Last-Tear Poa got put in, in her place. Her points per game and shooting percentage were also significantly lower than in the previous season at Louisville. I never said that she didn't have success before Louisville, I am well aware of her previous accomplishments. I said, she could have lost confidence and given up but didn't. Was it really necessary to reply to me with that level of condescension, as if I know nothing about women's college basketball?

 

[GamecockFam]

Van Lith benched at LSU? She started 33 games and averaged 31min per game at LSU! Sure there were plenty of challenges at LSU, but they didn't involved being benched.

Confidence and success? She made elite 8 vs Iowa with LSU, and the went to Olympics on 3x3 team.

TCU certainly worked better. It was a coach she knew well, who built the offense around her and gave her the keys. Very similar to Amoore and Olsen, and even how Hailey Van Lith was used at Louisville.

From a macro perspective you are correct. I don't know her personally so I don't know what her confidence was like but it was pretty easy to tell that something was off from a chemistry standpoint with her teammates and coaches. She was publicly mocked for her defense on Caitlin Clark and the punching bag for a lot of LSU critics.

 

[bballnut90]

There were multiple times throughout last season that she got benched IN GAME and Last-Tear Poa got put in, in her place. Her points per game and shooting percentage were also significantly lower than in the previous season at Louisville. I never said that she didn't have success before Louisville, I am well aware of her previous accomplishments. I said, she could have lost confidence and given up but didn't. Was it really necessary to reply to me with that level of condescension, as if I know nothing about women's college basketball?

I don’t think there was any condescension by @packwrap, just adding in good info and helping paint a clearer picture

 

[TheFarmFan]

I'm going with Iriafen (Stan -> USC). As good as Watkins is, her addition has been enormous. Despite today's loss I'm predicting they will get further in the Tourney than any of the other original 5 teams in the first post.

So Van Lith it is. Plus Hailey Van Lith's stats went up this year to some career bests, whereas Kiki's went down, with lower efg%, RBs, and ASTs. I guess I'm amused (but maybe not surprised?) that this is actually Iriafen's worst efg% year of all. But hey, I'll give it to U$C, if they can't train talent, at least they can buy it.

 

[Centerstream]

I’d vote for Amoore or Van Lith. Both have completely transformed their new programs.

I like Amoore but I also think that she did well at Kentucky because she brought along Strack with her.

 

[cancontent]

View attachment 107633
So Van Lith it is. Plus Hailey Van Lith's stats went up this year to some career bests, whereas Kiki's went down, with lower efg%, RBs, and ASTs. I guess I'm amused (but maybe not surprised?) that this is actually Iriafen's worst efg% year of all.

Love the meme.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Love the meme.

Memes are how I cope with the darkness - of which there has been a lot on the Stanford WBB front this season.

 

[Heytherego]

I’d take Hailey Van Lith, Olsen or Kiki over Amoore or Strack. Think it adds an additional element playing for a new coach you’ve never played before as opposed to following your head coach to another school.

 

[Zarathustra]

Love Lucy Olsen and agree with her being top 5. I think she's been absolutely brilliant since Iowa's 5 game losing streak and is playing like an All American right now.

" I LOVE LUCY"

 

[Zarathustra]

Van Lith benched at LSU? She started 33 games and averaged 31min per game at LSU! Sure there were plenty of challenges at LSU, but they didn't involved being benched.

Confidence and success? She made elite 8 vs Iowa with LSU, and the went to Olympics on 3x3 team.

TCU certainly worked better. It was a coach she knew well, who built the offense around her and gave her the keys. Very similar to Amoore and Olsen, and even how Hailey Van Lith was used at Louisville.

I clearly remember Van Lith being "sat down" by Kim Mulkey a year ago.
It may not have been losing a starting slot (but it could have included that?).
Anyway, there was a sort of "pop up" of Hailey being on the bench courtesy of H.C. Kim. When Van Lith was in the (repeat) transfer portal I recall thinking that I
was not surprised! So much for LSU team chemistry. TCU is a very good
match, especially with Sedona Prince coming along for the ride. Does
everybody remember Sedona originally being at U of Texas? Sad story there, but
a reason to cheer Sedona on her return to Texas (from Oregon).

 

[Geew1992]

I like Amoore but I also think that she did well at Kentucky because she brought along Strack with her.

And her coach

 

[Bigboote]

Lucy Olsen took on perhaps the greatest challenge, replacing Caitlin Clark at Iowa, and has done a darned good job. She's first-team all-Big Ten and led the Hawkeyes to a 22-10 record, including an upset of USC and nearly an upset of UCLA, and two wins in the Big Ten tournament, losing in the quarterfinals by a single point to Ohio State.

So respected is Lucy within the Big Ten realm that she was one of five players named to the all-tournament team, even though the Hawkeyes bowed out before the semifinals. We don't see that very often!

Iowa is not at the elite level of teams but can play with those elite teams, and it's largely attributable to Lucy's leadership and diversity of skills. With the Hawkeyes projected to be a six seed, I'll bet those 3 seeds wouldn't look forward to facing Lucy and Co. in a second-round game.

I wouldn't put her at the top of the transfer list, but I'd have Lucy on my top five transfers team.

Heck, Lucy was unanimous first-team B1G for the season. I agree she’s not #1 transfer, but I’d put her top five, and I’d think anyone would have her top 10.

 

[Stagnant]

Van Lith is number one. TCU won the conference. And she was player of the year in the conference. Amoore and Olsen are a notch below that imo.

 

[dws3665]

Izzy Higginbottom at least deserves a mention here, even though she played on an unsuccessful team. She led the SEC in scoring.