Having at least one transfer on a roster is common for most Division I programs.
And for many schools, one isn’t enough.
The number of transfers has risen to such an extent that many schools are relying on multiple players who came from other Division I programs. Here’s a look at some programs that feature at least two Division I transfers who begin playing for their new teams this season:
GONZAGA
Gonzaga has added a pair of former Pac-12 guards in Jordan Mathews (California) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington) and also brought in forward Johnathan Williams from Missouri. Mathews, a 6-foot-4 graduate transfer, has scored at least 13.5 points per game each of the last two seasons. He made a team-high 89 3-pointers for Cal last year. Williams-Goss sat out last season after averaging 15.6 points and 5.9 assists for Washington in 2014-15. Williams also didn’t play last season, but the 6-9 forward had 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 2014-15 to lead Missouri in both categories.
MARQUETTE
Marquette’s newcomers include former UNLV and Southern California guard Katin Reinhardt and former UNC Asheville guard Andrew Rowsey. Reinhardt, a 6-6 graduate transfer, began his college career at UNLV and averaged 11.4 points for Southern California last season. Rowsey, who sat out last season, led the Big South with 20.3 points per game in 2013-14 and finished third in the conference with 19.2 points per game in 2014-15. Rowsey, who is 5-10, ranked third among all Division I players in free-throw percentage (.921) and sank 102 3-pointers in 2014-15.
MISSISSIPPI
The Rebels’ backcourt features Deandre Burnett from Miami and Cullen Neal from New Mexico. Burnett, who sat out last season, averaged 7 points per game in a reserve role for Miami in 2014-15. Neal, a graduate transfer, had 12.3 points and 3.7 assists per game last season while playing for his father. Neal is the son of New Mexico coach Craig Neal. Burnett is 6-2 and Neal is 6-4.
SYRACUSE
Syracuse’s roster includes former Arkansas-Little Rock and Colorado State guard John Gillon as well as former Kansas and Nebraska guard Andrew White III. Both are graduate transfers. Gillon, who is 6 foot, had 13.2 points and 3.8 assists per game for Colorado State last season. He spent two years at Colorado State after playing one season at Arkansas-Little Rock. White, who is 6-7, averaged 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds for Nebraska last season after spending two years at Kansas.
TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech has three graduate transfers with forward Thomas Brandsma coming over from Arkansas-Little Rock, forward Anthony Livingston arriving from Arkansas State and guard Giovanni McLean coming from Quinnipiac. Livingston ranked seventh in the Sun Belt in scoring (15.5) and second in rebounds (9.4) last season. McLean averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 assists for Quinnipiac in 2015-16. Brandsma redshirted last season at Arkansas-Little Rock, where he played for new Texas Tech coach Chris Beard.
XAVIER
Xavier has added forward RaShid Gaston from Norfolk State and guard Malcolm Bernard from Florida A&M. Gaston, who is 6-9, sat out last season after averaging 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 2014-15. His rebounding average ranked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Bernard, a 6-6 graduate transfer, had 2.3 steals per game last season to rank 10th among all Division I players. He also ranked 14th in the MEAC in scoring (14.4), second in assists (4.3) and sixth in rebounds (7.1). Bernard played two seasons at Charleston Southern before coming to Florida A&M.
—
More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org
25% Bonus via Western Union
