WKU Basketball: Recent Transfers Are No Cause for Worry
On Monday, the Hilltoppers lost their second player (and guard, oddly enough) to #TransferSZN, as the kids would say, when Jake Ohmer…
On Monday, the Hilltoppers lost their second player (and guard, oddly enough) to #TransferSZN, as the kids would say, when Jake Ohmer announced he is leaving the Hill to pursue opportunities elsewhere (we can only assume somewhere that’ll mean more playing time).
Ohmer was a fan-favorite and rightfully so. He’s a local product, kind of the epitome of a meteoric rise to D1 hoops (at least, major D1 hoops) and has enough legendary three-pointers to write a short novel with.
I totally get being bummed Ohmer won't be in the red and white next year (though I may not share that sentiment). However, while not rampantly vocal, I did see some reaction that was something along the lines of “this is a bad trend.”
That is a sentiment I don’t 100% agree with.
As it stands, WKU will be without six players from last year’s squad to this coming year’s team:
Lamonte Bearden — Graduation
Charles Bassey — NBA Draft (He has until the end of the month to decide to return to school)
Matthew Horton — Transfer to Pittsburg State
Dalano Banton — Transfer to Nebraska
Matthew Horton- Transfer to Pittsburg State (Division 2)
Ohmer — Transfer to…???
While two of those names were known commodities (despite how unknown it is what Bassey will chose to do regarding the Draft), none of the transfers could be seen as key cogs in the Toppers machine come 2019/20.
Returning are your spark plug([s], in the case of Taveion Hollingsworth and Josh Anderson), second-third-and-fourth leading scorers as well as a host of experience; this is no longer a young team — everyone of the afore alluded to players will be at least a junior and will know what is expected of them in Rick Stansbury’s system.
With that, the Hilltoppers have also reaped the benefits of transfer season, adding IUPUI transfer Cam Justice (who is eligible immediately) and Lipscomb transfer Kenny Cooper (who is believed to be eligible immediately).
All-in-all, the swap of the players result in a net-positive for WKU of 23.4 points. Just with two players.
There’s always the chance the Tops will be hit with at least one more transfer before next season starts (or, in the case of DeSean Murray, during the season) but as it stands, the moves made surrounding the Tops have all been, on paper, for the better. For just about every party involved.
Banton will have the chance to make an impact at Nebraska. Ohmer should land somewhere he’ll be able to make an impact, too.
Just as Justice and Cooper will make impacts on the Hill.
Until a front-bench or starter leaves, there’s no need to panic. Just enjoy watching the pieces fall into place.