The Halfcourt Trap Vol. I, No. 4

While packing for San Francisco and ruminating about lunch at Big Nate’s BBQ tomorrow, I started thinking about travel. That led me to ponder which transfers are most important to their team’s fate this season. Here, in no particular order, are the six that came to mind;

1. David Huertas-Ole Miss. After washing out at Florida, this highly regarded prospect tries to resurrect his career in Oxford. Andy Kennedy’s team has the horses up front to compete in the SEC West, but their guard play is sketchy. Huertas living up to his high school reputation would go a long way towards solving the Rebs’ backcourt question.

2. Tyler Smith-Tennessee. In Tennessee’s magical ride the last two seasons, the missing ingredient has been a versatile 6′6″-6′8″ player. Smith fills that bill perfectly. If he can blend his substantial talents, without upsetting the tremendous on floor chemistry the Vols have exhibited, Smith may be the final piece to the Final Four puzzle for Tennessee.

3. Devan Downey-South Carolina. Dave Odom needs a big season. Now. Downey, a bigtime player at Cincinnati his freshman year, may help deliver one. If the Gamecocks are to be competitive in the brutal SEC East, Downey will have to play at an all conference level.

4. CJ Anderson-Xavier. The Musketeers are loaded in the backcourt. If Anderson, a dominant force at Manhattan, can help make up for X’s frontcourt losses Sean Miller’s club should be the class of the A-10 and a top 25 squad.

5. Shawn Taggart-Memphis. John Calipari’s frustrating attempt to get Kareem Cooper in shape is over. Not to worry. Taggart will give the Tigers more versatility behind Joey Dorsey.

6. Mike Williams-Cincinnati. Mick Cronin inherited an almost completely bare roster in the Queen City. He has feverishly recruited to bring the Bearcat talent level up to Big East standards. Williams, a former McDonald’s All American and Texas signee, is one of the fruits of that labor.

From sunny South Florida, this is your humble hoops correspondent signing off til next week.