Last summer we identified some of the top D2 transfers moving up to D1 during the 2022 portal cycle. In the past, we have studied some of the successful division movements among players to try to gain a better understanding and learn for our transfer rankings. There have been many examples like Ryan Hawkins (D2), Duncan Robinson (D3), Max Strus (D2), and Derrick White (D2) that have successfully made the move.
There have also been some pretty accomplished D2 players like Bryan Griffin, Robbie Heath, Dale Bonner, and Cam Martin who failed to make a major impact. In a couple of cases, they transferred to a level too high in talent and couldn’t get on the court. One example like Qua Grant struggled at Wichita State but transferred again to Sam Houston State and lead a very good them there to the NIT. Situations still matter. JT Shumate at Toledo is another example of a recent still-active D2 success story.
There is a level of variance in trying to rank players moving up from division to division that seems greater than that from even low major conferences to the P5. I think overall in general if you shoot or rebound well those seem to translate the best and as more have moved up D1 coaches are getting better at identifying the more capable players.
In recent years the number of non-D1 players, especially All-American players, have started taking the opportunity to move up. It’s skyrocketed. Just this past season College of Charleston built much of their 31-4 success t on 3 former D2 All-American players in Dalton Bolon, Ante Brzovic, and Pat Robinson. They also had an NAIA All-American as well. All three were double-digit scorers.
D2 Transfers to D1
Isaiah Moore
5-11, 163
22.6ppg, 5.4apg (D2 AA)
Franklin Pierce
South Alabama
Phillip Alston
6-6, 225
21.0ppg, 10.8rpg (D2)
CUP
Loyola Chicago
Jamari Smith
6-8, 220
17.6ppg, 7.1rpg (D2)
Queens
Murray State
Quincy Anderson
6-4, 200
17.8ppg, 6.4rpg (D2)
Minn State
Murray State
Ante Brzovic
6-9, 230
17.8ppg, 11.0rpg (D2)
SEOU
C of Charleston
Owen White
6-6, 215
17.6ppg, 5.9rpg (D2 AA)
Michigan Tech
South Alabama
Pat Robinson
6-3, 185
20.3ppg 4.6rpg (D2)
West Liberty
C of Charleston
Cade McKnight
6-9, 225
18ppg 5.4rpg(D2 AA)
Truman St
Indiana State
Trenton Gibson
6-4, 200
17.2ppg, 5.0apg (D2)
Tusclum
Indiana State
Bernard Pelote
6-8, 205
14.5ppg, 7.7rpg(D2)
Catwaba
Western Carolina
Patrick Cartier
6-8, 250
22ppg 6rpg (D2 AA)
Hillsdale
Colorado State
Masen Miller
6-2, 180
14.1ppg, 3.0apg (D2)
Truman St
Indiana State
Armoni Foster
6-4, 170
17.8ppg 6.5apg 5rpg (D2 AA)
IUP
Buffalo
Sekou Sylla
6-5, 200
22ppg 10.4rpg (D2 AA)
Nova Southeastern
Towson
Demetre Roberts
5-8, 165
17.6ppg, 5.2apg
St. T Aquinas
Fairleigh Dickin
Caleb Robinson
6-5, 200
18.4ppg, 6.6rpg
Catwaba
Gardner Webb
Elijah Ormiston
6-8, 210
16.9ppg, 6.3rpg(D2)
CSP
South Alabama
Nick Edwards
6-1, 170
17ppg 6rpg 8apg
Glennville State
Valpo
Quinton Green
6-7, 180
13ppg 4rpg
Cederville
Valpo
Colton Lawrence
6-3, 200
16ppg 44% 3’s
Bently
UMBC
Aamer Muhammad
6-1, 190
15ppg, 5rpg
Lubbick Christian
Troy
Crosby James
6-0, 185
18ppg 42% 3’s
Anderson
Presbyterian
Brock Mackenzie
6-2, 185
15ppg
Point Loma Nazarene
Idaho St
NAIA
Zach Wrightsil
6-7, 200
18.7ppg, 8.8rpg, 3.6apg (NAIA POY)
Loyola -New Orleans
Marquette
Miles Burns
6-6, 210
15.3ppg, 8.8rpg, 3.0spg (NAIA)
Loyola -New Orleans
Ole Miss
Jaylon Scott
6-5, 200
19.2ppg, 11.2rpg (NAIA)
Bethel
C of Charleston
Results.
Min
Pts
Reb
Ast
Isaiah Moore
South Alabama
33.5
18.9
3.3
4.6
Phillip Alston
Loyola Chicago
–
–
–
–
Jamari Smith
Murray State
26.9
11.8
4.2
0.8
Quincy Anderson
Murray State
18.6
7
3
0.7
Ante Brzovic
C of Charleston
19.1
11.6
5.9
0.9
Owen White
South Alabama
31.6
9.3
3.9
0.9
Pat Robinson
C of Charleston
19.2
10.3
3.1
1
Cade McKnight
Indiana State
11.1
4.3
2.1
0.7
Trenton Gibson
Indiana State
16.3
5.7
3.2
1.8
Bernard Pelote
Western Carolina
15.3
5.5
3.2
0.4
Patrick Cartier
Colorado State
21.9
12.3
3.1
1.1
Masen Miller
Indiana State
4.8
1.5
0.2
0.2
Armoni Foster
Buffalo
28.3
8.4
1.8
3.9
Sekou Sylla
Towson
15.8
5.9
4.4
0.5
Demetre Roberts
Fairleigh Dickin
34.4
16.5
3
4.3
Caleb Robinson
Gardner Webb
18.3
8.5
4.3
0.5
Elijah Ormiston
South Alabama
7.9
2.8
1.6
0.4
Nick Edwards
Valpo
27.1
7.6
3.9
5
Quinton Green
Valpo
30
10.7
4.6
1
Colton Lawrence
UMBC
28.3
12.2
3.4
1.6
Aamer Muhammad
Troy
26.3
10.3
1.8
2.4
Crosby James
Presbyterian
24.7
9.3
1.8
0.8
Brock Mackenzie
Idaho St
30.8
13.5
2.6
1.8
Zach Wrightsil
Marquette
8.7
1.3
1.7
0.7
Miles Burns
Ole Miss
27
8
5.9
1.5
Jaylon Scott
C of Charleston
27.3
4.3
5.3
2.7
It all seems to come down to transferring up to the appropriate level. Hopefully, this gives us a continued better understanding of how to rank D2 transfers in the future.