The game of basketball is evolving at such a rapid pace. It's become bigger and better at every level. We now are privy of more information regarding players and their abilities to perform in any environment at any level. A massive change in the sport (for the 1000th time) is the transfer portal and how it's impacted roster construction. Recruiting does not mean what it used to, and staffs are leaning more on proven production more than high school or AAU success.
Over the last handful of years, we've seen high level recruits shun power programs and go where they can be impactful immediately. That is the cause and effect of what college basketball is today. Coaches are more inclined to take a transfer who has collegiate experience versus a decorated high school recruit. Obviously, it is a case-by-case basis of school and player but overall, this the direction college basketball has gone since NIL and the new transfer rules were implemented.
Benefitting off these new changes are players from the lower divisions. Coaches are looking for older players with proven production and while not all production is equal, sometimes looking in unfamiliar places can land you a high caliber player.
Junior College and Division II programs are filled with players who can take their game to the next level. Look no further than players like Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward and Dalton Knecht. All three started on lower levels and not only performed well in college, but were drafted and are playing in the NBA.
This year is no different as there are numerous lower division players taking a step up to showcase why they belong on this level. Let’s discuss some of those players and how they will transition.
Elyjah Freeman – Wing, Auburn
Scouting Report
Because of his coaching background in the lower divisions, Bruce Pearl was excellent at finding gems at those levels. Freeman was a focal point for Pearl prior to his exit and the buy-in remains as Freeman maintained his commitment to Auburn. Tiger fans are getting one of the better athletes in the portal regardless of where they played prior.
Elyjah’s ability to attack the rim off the dribble and finish above the rim is to the level of an SEC wing. Measuring at around 6’8", he has great length and positional size, which will not be an issue when matching up against bigger and physical wings in the SEC.
In his freshman season, he nearly averaged a double-double on efficient (58/46/81) shooting splits. While expectations are high for Freeman, asking him to duplicate those numbers is a tall task. Although, with the roster turnover and youth throughout, he will have the opportunity to replicate that production. It would just be unfair to put such lofty expectations on him right away. Allow him to grow and get better regardless of what the stats show.
Having Tahaad Pettiford back to run the show raises Freeman's ceiling. Why? Well, Freeman is an elite cutter and off-ball mover. Per Synergy, he finished at the rim above a 60% rate and many of those were dunks. While the shot creation is solid for Freeman, nothing beats getting easy baskets in the halfcourt or in transition.
Looking at percentages does not paint the full picture when looking at certain statistics. For example, the numbers say he shot above 40%, but the attempts were low. The film also shows his unwillingness to trust his shooting, which leads to forcing shots at the rim or turning the ball over rather often.
Defensively, he has great instincts and recovery speed, but often relies too much on his athleticism instead of being consistent with his techniques. Typically, the biggest adjustment when coming up a level is at the defensive end. While he has the tools to be a two-way player, there must be a commitment to sitting down and defending with discipline.
The concerns can be ironed out at a lower usage rate, but it will not be easy with the level of competition. However, he does have the skillset and pedigree to be an asset for the Tigers despite those weaknesses. The motor and willingness to improve game after game are positive and Tiger fans should be excited about another potential lower-level player that will contribute at a high level.
Impact & Expectations
Of the players we will discuss today, Freeman is taking the biggest jump. Going up a division has its challenges, but going from Lincoln Memorial to the SEC is as big of a jump as any player in the portal can make. The positional size and athleticism are up to par, but there is some room for improvement. Under a new scheme and new coaching, the learning curve is that much more difficult.
There is uncertainty about how the Steven Pearl era will go, especially from the beginning. Because of his fathers late departure, there is minimal time to implement some of his core principles. It's fair to assume the offense will run similar to what it looked like during Bruce's tenure.
Last year the Tigers were an older team who played inside-out with Broome and Cardwell. With those two gone, there's concern the front line may take a step back. This is where Freeman and his skillset should thrive. The offensive strength of the Tigers will be with their backcourt and wings. Freeman’s versatility should provide multiple avenues for him to impact the game on both sides.
Size and speed at the SEC level is as good as any conference. How fast Freeman adjusts to that will dictate his success in this system. Playing some small ball lineups where he is at the power forward position could cause matchup issues for opposing teams. Freeman's ability to rebound and guard multiple positions allows Pearl to get creative in ways that he uses him.
All the opportunities will be there for Freeman to thrive. We have seen players come to Auburn from lower divisions and be successful, not to mention others around the country who went from Division II all the way to the NBA. Freeman has the type of upside and youth (19 years old) that could intrigue NBA scouts and showing he can compete and be impactful with elite level athletes could land him in some NBA first round discussions.
Kendall Taylor – Wing, Charleston
Scouting Report
Kendall Taylor was the only player in NCAA Division II that averaged over 24 points and 8 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field. The term three-level scorer can be overused at times, but Taylor embodies that term. The numbers paint the perfect picture of how well he shot it (37%) from three and overall, from the field. Not to mention his ability to get to the free throw line at a high level, finishing with over 200 free-throw makes and shooting above 85% from the stripe.
That big season led to All-American honors and the opportunity to play in the CAA. In Chris Mack’s system, it is hard to envision how Taylor is not productive. The tempo, spacing and fluidity of how Mack’s team play mesh perfectly with Taylor’s skillset. Offensive versatility is what comes to mind when looking at this Charleston roster. There are numerous versatile wings on the roster, but none that can score at every level like Taylor.
Scoring at any level should always be taken seriously. It doesn't automatically translate for every player, but in Taylor's case, he possesses certain qualities that have proven to work in Mack’s system. Impact without the ball is critical when stepping up because of a decreased usage rate. In a 6th man type of role, Taylor should be instant offense for the Cougars. Mack can also blend him with starters to add additional spacing and scoring.
Impact & Expectations
Questions about competition level and if he can produce in a solid mid-major conference are fair. The rebuttal would be that the skillset and two-way upside are translatable skills regardless of the division being played. This is not a player who had a decent season. He progressed each year and dominated, becoming the focal point of the Wingate offense. Averaging those numbers (24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) at the top of the scouting report is not easy.
The Cougars have flipped their entire roster and will be looking to refill loads of lost production. Taylor is a prime candidate to make major contributions. Chris Mack spoke highly of his ability to score, but also how he defends. He has good positional size that allows him to guard multiple positions, and in a conference that has solid offensive wings, Taylor’s two-way versatility should be on full display.
Although we spoke glowingly about the scoring, Taylor has a well-rounded game. He rebounds the ball extremely well (8 rebounds per game) and can initiate offense (4.6 assists per game) to get his teammates involved. In a scaled down role with better spacing and less double teams, Taylor has the chance to become a first team All-CAA player in this system. Expect immediate contributions to help the Cougars fight for a CAA title.
Alex Steen – Forward, Florida State
Scouting Report
New Florida State head coach Luke Loucks spoke glowingly of Alex Steen at ACC Media Day. He was asked several times about his roster and used the word “special” when describing Steen. A direct quote from Loucks: “When Steen is on the floor, good stuff just happens." He also praised him for his versatility, high IQ, and tenacious effort. Before playing a game as a Seminole, the expectations are high for Steen.
The best thing about his game is that he does not need the ball or any plays run for him to impact the game. His screens free up guards and his offensive rebounding leads to kick out threes, which is one of the more high-quality shots in basketball. Pairing him with Chauncey Wiggins, who can stretch the floor, gives the Seminoles a nice front court rotation. The depth behind them is questionable, so Loucks is likely to lean more on Wiggins and Steen until others prove themselves.
Low-usage big men who know their role are hard to find. The versatility Steen provides allows Loucks to play a “4 out” scheme without having to worry about getting killed on the glass. The spacing of that scheme frees up shooters like Kobe MaGee or downhill drivers like Rob McCray V.
Offensively, Steen has some work to do as far as being more aggressive in his low post scoring, but he battled a lot of double teams at Florida Southern. With the spacing that Loucks' offense would provide, we could see him take a jump on the offensive end. He showcased more offensive low post scoring in high school with jump hooks and drop step layups, so the ability is there.
Not forcing things on that end of the floor also shows maturity and the ability to adapt in any role. Jumping up to the ACC will provide its challenges, but the effort and motor that Steen provides will help ease the process. Seminole fans should be elated for what Steen and this offense could be in year one of the Loucks era.
Impact & Expectations
From hearing Coach Loucks and teammates talk during ACC Media Day, the Steen hype is real. They feel he is an immediate contributor and will be a big piece in the trajectory of the Seminoles going forward. The roster and staff are brand new, but the principles are the same regarding how they want to play. Identifying highly skilled players like Steen was priority number one for Loucks and his staff.
Steen plays with physicality and a tenacity that translates at any level, but the way he rebounds is something that would help any team immediately. Averaging nearly 11 boards is no small feat regardless of division, especially being the primary big man on the roster.
He also excels on the defensive end, which is why he is the two-time Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Defense and rebounding will forever be traits that catch coaches’ attention. Having both is rare, but Steen is a player who has shown potential that he can do both at a high level.
When he is not getting put-back dunks or converting on the short roll, he runs the floor hard to provide easy transition baskets. There were times that even on a made basket, that you see Steen beat his man down the floor, seal him off and get an easy bucket. With that motor and how well he understands the nuances of the game, the transition should be rather doable.
Chase Dawson – Guard, Morehead State
Scouting Report
If you have never seen or watched Chase Dawson play, there is one word to describe his game - scorer. He comes in after leading Mount Olive (D-II) in points and field goals made. He scored the 3rd most points (642) in a single season in Mount Olive history. Not to mention, all these accomplishments were done as a 5'10" freshman.
The size is the biggest concern when stepping up to this level, but Chase has not had any issues scoring regardless of the competition. The defensive end will be the biggest adjustment, as teams will likely put him in a ton of high pick and rolls. Schematically, there should be ways the staff can hide him and make him less vulnerable in those situations. The effort level is not an issue, which is half the battle. Chase competes regardless of his size.
Even as a freshman, Chase was the player his teammates looked to when they needed a basket. From a usage rate perspective, his shooting splits (51/35/83) show his ability to be efficient while handling a heavy workload. Typically, smaller guards do not get to the paint as much, but Chase touches the paint well, while scoring with an array of under-the-rim finishes.
Playmaking and off-ball offense need to improve, and it should in this system. The offense at Mount Olive was catered to his strength, which is having the ball in his hands, so he had few off-ball opportunities. We could see more three-guard lineups from the Eagles this year and that would increase the playmaking opportunities for Chase. He will have to adjust to a new role, but the tools are there and the biggest tool of them all (scoring) should translate well.
Impact & Expectations
Morehead State has typically been a 20-win program in the Ohio Valley Conference. Last year was the first time they did not reach 20 wins in five seasons. Although Jonathan Mattox spent nearly ten years as an assistant, it was his first year as a head coach. Mattox dealt with some bumps and bruises, but like player improvement, coaches also take huge leaps from year one to year two.
Chase should impact the team right away. The Eagles roster returns roughly 15 combined points per game to a team that was offensively challenged. They were at or near the bottom of the conference in critical offensive metrics like three-point shooting and offensive efficiency. As currently constructed, Chase’s points per game is seven points higher than any player on the roster.
Obviously, all production is not the same, but with the offensive issues the Eagles had, Chase’s scoring prowess should be on full display. Mattox played his bench at one of the higher rates in the country and with all the moving pieces, there will be ample opportunities for Chase.
Last year, the Eagles started off strong with a 14-8 record but struggled down the stretch finishing 1-9. During that ten-game stretch, they exceeded 65 points only one time. The staff put an emphasis on getting scoring in the portal and Chase should come in and impact the Eagles at a high level from the guard spot.
Adrian McIntyre – Guard, San Diego
Scouting Report
If you asked someone who led all of college basketball (Division I through III) in scoring, how many guesses would it take to come to Adrian McIntyre? Big time scoring guards are often (not always) synonymous with three-point shooting. In Adrian’s case, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite his 27.9 points per game, he only shot 31.5% from deep. Being able to score at that level without a high volume of three-point makes is absurd!
Adrian is a downhill driver who can finish through contact with either hand. He's an intelligent player who understands his strengths and weaknesses while playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor. At Westmont, he primarily played on the ball where he utilized high pick and roll sets to get him downhill. Working in a scaled down role with the Toreros could amplify his impact despite his scoring numbers going down.
Scoring is the obvious superpower, but Adrian rebounds the ball well (5.3 rebounds per game) for his position and averages nearly 5 assists per game. The decision making off pick and roll is something that stood out when watching his film. He is very decisive in knowing when to attack or create for others. Opposing scouting reports would mix up coverages as far as blitzing or doubling, but the more he saw it, the better the results were for him.
Impact & Expectations
Adrian is not coming in to lead the nation in scoring this year. Although that would be celebrated, his role should be to impact the game within Coach Lavin’s system. San Diego is coming off its worst offensive season under Lavin and one of the worst overall since 2020. Putting an offensively gifted player like Adrian on the floor instantly improves your offensive floor.
San Diego rosters nine new players (including Adrian) and finished last in the WCC with only two conference wins. There was a two month stretch where the Toreros did not win a game. Expect Adrian to come in and make immediate contributions on both sides of the ball. The on-ball defense needs to improve, but he plays passing lanes well and is excellent at digging on post ups to create havoc. Showing more discipline on ball and being consistent is an improvement that he will look to make.
Lavin teams typically play fast, but the offense is inefficient. Adrian’s Westmont teams ran on a selective basis, but were more effective in the half-court. It will be interesting to see how Lavin deals with that dichotomy as well as the lineup versatility he has. This is not to say that the keys should be handed to Adrian, but as talented as he is with the ball in his hands, you want to cater to his strengths to raise your ceiling on offense.
