Farm Team U: College Basketball Feeder Programs

We frequently discuss inbound transfers, but what about the institutions adept at unearthing hidden talents and consistently farming and exporting them to other programs? There are many teams that are farm teams today. Even Kansas went to Michigan and got an All American. In this analysis, our attention shifts predominantly to schools situated outside the realm of power conferences, for discernible reasons. These are institutions that, despite limited success on their own, have been instrumental in nurturing top-tier talent that eventually ascends to higher echelons of collegiate athletics. We contemplate the missed opportunities of recent years, pondering the potential outcomes had these programs managed to retain their prized recruits.

It’s a narrative fraught with “what could have beens,” where the departure of key players leaves fans wistfully speculating on the possibilities left unexplored. Notably, we’ll refrain from examining teams such as Murray State, Iona, Wright State, or St. Bonaventure, which have tasted NCAA success before witnessing mass exoduses of high end talent. While the return of departed players might have bolstered their fortunes, these programs still enjoyed commendable success. This article focuses on the programs that helped produce the players but tasted none of their success.

Rice

Quincy Olivari is currently showcasing remarkable statistics, boasting an average of 19.1 points per game along with 5.1 rebounds per game for Xavier. Notably, he was part of a team that also featured Max Fiedler and Travis Evee. Despite their collective talent, this squad concluded its season. Interestingly, in the preceding season, Mylyjael Poteat was among their ranks before transitioning to become a valuable rotation player at Virginia Tech, where he currently maintains an impressive stat line of 5.7 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game, complemented by a noteworthy 20.8 PER.

Reflecting on the trajectory of talent, it’s intriguing to note that Olivari and Fiedler commenced their collegiate journey alongside Trey Murphy and Drew Peterson during their freshman year. However, both Murphy and Peterson made significant moves, transitioning to programs like Virginia and USC, subsequently making waves in the NBA. Murphy, in particular, ascended to the professional ranks as a lottery pick in 2021, drafted 17th after a standout season at Virginia. Peterson, on the other hand, continued to excel at USC, boasting impressive averages of 13.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists per game as recently as the 2022-23 season. With accolades including two-time 1st team All Pac 12 honors and recognition on the Naismith watchlist, Peterson’s presence could have significantly bolstered the aforementioned talent pool.

This accumulation of exceptional talent passing through Rice University’s program under Scott Pera’s guidance is undoubtedly remarkable. However, it is accompanied by a sense of lamentation, considering the limited tangible success attained by the team despite the influx of such prodigious individuals.

East Carolina

Tristen Newton the standout player for the #1 team in the nation and reigning national champions, currently has a strong likelihood of securing an All-American status. His prowess was particularly evident in the previous NCAA All-Tournament, where he clinched a spot on the 1st team, notably emerging as the top scorer in the National title game with an impressive performance of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. As a freshmen for ECU, Newton had put 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assist vs Dan Hurley’s UConn team in a sign of things to come.

During his tenure at East Carolina, Newton shared the court for two seasons with Jayden Gardner, an esteemed 1st team All AAC performer. Gardner later transferred to Virginia, where he garnered recognition as an All-ACC 3rd team member and secured a spot on the Wooden preseason watch list, ultimately contributing significantly to his team’s impressive 14th place finish in the AP poll. Despite their collaboration, their collective efforts yielded modest results, as evidenced by ECU’s respective records of 11-20 (5-13) AAC and 8-11 (2-10) during their tenure together.

Additionally, there exists the possibility that Newton, as a freshman, could have overlapped with Elijah Hughes had Hughes opted to remain at ECU. Hughes, despite a lackluster performance during his freshman year at ECU, successfully transferred to Syracuse, where he underwent a remarkable transformation, culminating in his recognition as a 1st team All-ACC player and subsequent selection as the 39th overall pick in the NBA draft.

Javon Small, who struggled during his freshman year alongside Newton, has since flourished, currently averaging 13.9 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 4.8 assists per game at Oklahoma State. Similarly, Noah Farrakhan, a teammate of both Newton and Gardner, has found success, currently averaging 9.9 points per game at West Virginia. Brandon Suggs, who shared the court with both players for multiple seasons before transferring out, has established himself as a reliable rotation player for NIT team UCF averaging 6.6ppg. The rosters of the past with Gardner also boasted notable talents such as Shawn Williams, the former AAC Freshman of the Year, along with Tae Hardy among others. Despite the influx of individual talent, the program struggled to translate these assets into collective success on the court.

Charlotte

Brice Williams is currently posting an impressive average of 13.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game , and 2.6 assists per game for the Nebraska team, which is poised for NCAA contention. Notably, he contributed to the CBI championship victory last year alongside Aly Khalifa, who currently holds a starting position at BYU, a team currently ranked 21st in the AP poll. During his tenure with Nebraska, Williams demonstrated consistent performance, boasting averages of 5.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg. Jahmir Young, another former teammate, was integral to the team’s previous season, which culminated in a record of 17-14 (10-8) in CUSA. Young has since transitioned to Maryland, where he garnered recognition as a second-team All-Big Ten player, presently excelling with averages of 20.9 ppg and 4.3 apg.

Despite the absence of these formidable players, Charlotte currently leads the American Conference with an impressive 8-1 record. Many of the role players who supported Williams and Khalifa last season remain, bolstered by an interim coach who was previously part of the coaching staff. However, the potential inclusion of Young, Williams, and Khalifa on the current team would undoubtedly present a formidable challenge for opponents. Furthermore, considering the synergy between Young and Williams, coupled with the addition of Jordan Shepherd, an All-CUSA performer who averaged 14.6 ppg at Cal after departing Charlotte, the team’s dynamics would have been notably different. Their collective experience and talent would have significantly impacted the team’s performance, although they encountered challenges during the 9-16 season.

Morehead State

Johni Broome, Ta’Lon Cooper, Tyzhaun Claude, and Skyelar Potter were all underclassmen on a Morehead State team that finished with a commendable 23-11 record but narrowly missed securing berths in both the NCAA and NIT tournaments. Fast forward to the present, and their trajectories have taken them to different collegiate destinations, each making a significant impact.

Broome, now a standout player for the #12-ranked Auburn team, boasts impressive averages of 15.5 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 2.3 blocks per game, accompanied by a remarkable player efficiency rating (PER) of 33. Similarly, Cooper has solidified his role as the starting point guard for the #15-ranked South Carolina squad, contributing 10.3 points per game, 4.4 assists per game, and 4.4 rebounds per game, with an PER of 18.3.

Meanwhile, Claude has found his stride at Georgia Tech, where he maintains averages of 5.3 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game, with a notable PER of 17.8. Potter, on the other hand, has been making waves at Jacksonville State, where he has maintained an impressive scoring average of approximately 14.2 points per game.

Despite Morehead State’s continued success this season, boasting an 18-5 record, one can’t help but speculate on the potential of their former players had they remained with the team. With such talented individuals now fully developed and honing their skills elsewhere, the team’s prospects could have been truly exceptional.

Indiana State 

Jake Laravia and Tyreke Key spearheaded a team that was 15-10 record before the departure of Greg Lansing. Laravia subsequently transitioned to Wake Forest, where his exceptional talent propelled him to a remarkable achievement as a top 20 pick in the NBA draft. Meanwhile, Key assumed a pivotal role as a dependable rotation player for Tennessee, contributing significantly to their journey to the Sweet 16 as a 4 seed. Following Lansing’s exit, Josh Schertz assumed the helm as Indiana State’s coach, accompanied by Cameron Henry. The focus here lies not only on Schertz’s adept coaching abilities but also on the potential he could have unlocked within such talented players, given his illustrious coaching history. Schertz’s current success at Indiana State, boasting an impressive 20-3 record and a coveted position in the top 25 of the NET rankings, might have come sooner had he been able to retain them.