On March 11th, 2020 the world was tilt on its head as the COVID-19 started to make its impact in the sports world. As crucial college conference tournament basketball games were being played at neutral sites across the country, athletes, gamblers, and fans were all gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year, March Madness. As the dreams of shining on the world’s biggest stage was about to become a reality for over 68 NCAA Division 1 basketball programs, everyone’s hopes, dreams, and brackets were busted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The saying, “the show must go on” is something that we as sports fan wished we heard while we saw every single conference tournament come to a screeching holt, leaving one of the most unpredictable college basketball seasons no chance to play its course. However, one thing that these student-athletes do have control over throughout the midst of this pandemic is which university they want to suit up for.
As the NCAA basketball season has come to an end, something that is just heating up and worth keeping an eye on is the transfer portal. For those who don’t know, according to the NCAA, roughly 40 percent of student athletes leave their first school by the end of Sophomore year. As a result, some of the nation’s best talent decide to leave their original university and it is another crack for schools to obtain some of the nation’s best student athletes.
Another case that happens often too is that when student athletes take a redshirt in their early college careers, it allows them the opportunity to remain a student athlete while finishing up courses at the graduate level. As a result, many Power 5 schools’ pry on mid majors with celebrated careers to play at a higher level while attending their graduate program.
Here is an update on how the transfer portal is affecting the MAAC conference
QUINNIPIAC: For Baker Dunleavy and his Quinnipiac Bobcats, to quote Kanye West, “it was all good just a week ago.” Dunleavy and his squad were gearing up for a first round MAAC tournament game against the Monmouth Hawks in Atlantic City and did not have a chance to even take the floor in AC due to COVID-19. Not only did they not get the chance to show the conference they could make it to March, they are gearing up for 2020-2021 without two of their best Bobcats. Nations leading rebounder Kevin Marfo, and Guard Rich Kelly have started their departing process from QU. Marfo averaged 13.3 rebounds per game despite only being 6’8, while the redshirt Sophomore averaged 16 ppg as well.
RIDER: Another team that easily could’ve been crowned MAAC champions if these games played out in Atlantic City. This team was very senior heavy and it is a shame that guys like Willie Nunez Jr., Tyere Marshall, and Stevie Jordan did not have a chance as the #2 seed to roll the dice at Boardwalk Hall in efforts of bringing Rider an NCAA tournament birth. However for the Broncs, for any year this could have been the year with back to back to back to back champs Iona getting bounced out by St. Peter’s in the opening round. Now the Broncs not only have to deal with the loses of their Seniors mentioned previously, they also have to deal with Frederick Scott, and Dimencio Vaughn putting their names into the transfer portal. Vaughn, a redshirt Junior will be immediately eligible at whatever his next destination is. The MAAC first team selection back in 2017-18 averaged over 10 points and 5 rebounds for the Broncs in the 19-20 season. While Scott, once MAAC 6th Man of the Year averaged 12 ppg while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
ST. PETER’S: For the St. Peter’s Peacocks, 2019-2020 year was an amazing campaign in the eyes of their faithful. The Peacocks have always played hard under reigning MAAC Coach of the Year Shaheen Holloway and now as he is starting to get his own players in there the results have been coming. The Peacocks finished as the second best team in the conference, finishing 14-6 in MAAC play and an impressive 13-3 record in Jersey City’s Yanotelli Center. Despite Holloways team being very young, one player that is looking for a new University is reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Aaron Estrada. Despite the 6’4 guard only averaging 8 ppg. there were some signs that Estrada could score the ball at ease putting up double digits in 12 games for the Peacocks, while having a career high of 20 against Fairfield. It was a successful lone season for Estrada in Jersey City as he looks for a new home it is going to be interesting to see where he choses before sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.
MANHATTAN: For Steve Maciello’s Jasper team, it only seems like one player will be looking to continue his playing career elsewhere. Christian Hinckson is the player who supposedly entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. The 6’7 forward gave Steve’s a good scoring lift averaging around 7 ppg for the Jaspers while starting in 25 games for the Jaspers in a up and down season for Manhattan. For Hinckson, I assume either a move to another mid-major seems likely, and I can see him really making an impact at his next school due to his length.
With all these players leaving the MAAC, plus the insert of former Louisville head coach Rick Pitino into the mix by getting the job at Iona, the always competitive conference is gearing up for another great season of basketball come next Winter. Hopefully for all us sports fans, we hope we can see MAAC hoops for a little bit longer next season with a complete conference tournament.
SCHOOLS WITH NO PLAYERS TRANSFERRING AS OF 3/28/20: MONMOUTH, MARIST, IONA, SIENA, FAIRFIELD, CANISIUS, FAIRFIELD
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