Triangle basketball players find new homes after transferring from UNC, Duke, NC State
What is quickly becoming an annual event in college basketball, rosters are finally being filled out as players in the transfer portal settle onto new teams. The men’s basketball teams in the Triangle are not immune to these changes.
North Carolina and N.C. State had four players each leave via the portal. Duke only had two transfer as the bulk of its roster exodus was from players turning pro.
Kerwin Walton’s recent announcement that he committed to Texas Tech for next season means just about every transfer from area schools have found new homes.
Here’s a list of where they will suit up next season:
UNC
Kerwin Walton, G, Texas Tech
Walton saw his minutes fall off last season after starting as a freshman. He is still nearly a 40 percent shooter from 3-point range for his career and should be a good fit in new offensive system at Texas Tech that will emphasize perimeter shooting.
Dawson Garcia, F, Minnesota
The 6-foot-11 forward started 12 of 16 games for the Tar Heels before a concussion suffered at Boston College lead to Brady Manek taking his place. He returned home to Minnesota in late January and never rejoined the team due to family medical issues. Garcia averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds and shot 37.5 percent from 3-point range. He will have to apply for a medical waiver to play after already using his one-time transfer when he left Marquette for UNC.
Anthony Harris, G, Rhode Island
Harris seemed to be fully healthy after his first two seasons were hampered while he recovered from torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as a freshman and his right knee as a sophomore. Harris played in just 14 games last and was accepting his role as a defensive specialist, but did not play the second semester due to academic reasons. The 6-foot-4 guard was originally recruited in high school by URI coach Archie Miller while he was the head coach at Indiana.
Ryan McAdoo, F, Undecided
The 6-foot-5 walk-on, who leaves as a graduate transfer, began his career at Florida Gulf Coast before following his his father’s footsteps to play at UNC. NBA Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo was a member of Carolina’s 1972 Final Four team.
Duke
Joey Baker, G, undecided
It’s been a strange career arc for the 6-foot-7 Fayetteville native. He reclassified to arrive at Duke a year early for the 2018-19 season. Then he was all set to sit out as a redshirt when, 26 games into the season, he made his debut after Zion Williamson’s injury to bolster their outside shooting. He played just four games that season. His eligibility would have been up if not for the COVID waiver the NCAA granted from the 2020-21 season. Baker was a late entrant into the transfer portal; he didn’t announce his intentions until May 18. It coincided with former Northern Iowa guard A.J. Green taking a visit to Duke. He averaged 4.5 points and shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range last season. He’s visited Michigan, Georgia and George Washington.
Michael Savarino, G, New York University
The grandson of Mike Krzyzewski stayed long enough to be coached by his poppy. In three seasons, Savarino played in just 13 games total. With Krzyzewski’s retirement, Savarino will play at NYU, which competes in NCAA Division III, next season.
N.C. State
Manny Bates, F, Butler
The 6-foot-11 center had no shortage of interested parties when he entered the portal. Bates played just one minute this season for the Wolfpack, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the first game of the season. He ranks fourth in program history in blocked shots. Bates will join Butler, where 7-footer Greg Oden, the 2007 NBA Draft No. 1 overall pick, joined coach Thad Matta’s staff as director of basketball operations.
Cam Hayes, G, LSU
The 6-foot-3 guard from Greensboro played in all 32 games for the Pack last season and averaged 7.0 points and 2.1 rebounds. He’s being viewed as a key piece in a rebuilding job for new LSU coach Matt McMahon, who took over after Will Wade was fired last season. Hayes will have two years of eligibility left for the Tigers.
Thomas Allen, G, Ball State
Allen left NCSU to reunite with Ball State coach Michael Lewis, who was an assistant at Nebraska during his freshman and sophomore seasons in Lincoln. The 6-foot-1 guard is a career 44.7 percent shooter from 3-point range. He’ll likely get more attempts at BSU than he had the last two seasons for the Pack. Allen joins the Cardinals as a graduate transfer and will have one year remaining.
Jaylon Gibson, F, Winston-Salem State
The 6-foot-10 forward from Zebulon played in 29 games for the Pack last season and started four. He averaged 2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and shot 55 percent from the floor as as sophomore. Gibson could literally be the centerpiece for the Rams while moving down to Division II.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 2:46 PM.