Welcome back to our continuing look at one key question in this transfer-obsessed era: Just how important have transfers been — whether due to addition or subtraction — to each program in Division I’s top seven conferences?
Last week, we considered the Big 12. Before that, it was the Big 12 and Big East. Today we turn our attention to the Pac-12.
Note that we define a “transfer in” as someone who actually played minutes previously at a different four-year program. Conversely, a “transfer out” is simply a player who saw time at the Pac-12 program in question.
That’s all straightforward enough, right? Here are the most significant Pac-12 transfers of the modern era.
Best transfer in: Ryan Anderson, 2015-16
Anderson might seem like an upset pick here over T.J. McConnell and, more recently, James Akinjo. Then again, Anderson, a former Boston College star, had one of the better offensive seasons any Arizona player has recorded when he was the Wildcats’ leading scorer in 2015-16. Like McConnell and Akinjo, Anderson was named first-team All-Pac 12. He just happened to do all of the above during a relatively so-so year by Arizona standards, one in which the Wildcats went 25-9 and earned a No. 6 seed.
Most significant transfer out: James Akinjo, 2020-21
Akinjo has now achieved a rare distinction in this recurring series on transfers, having already been tapped as Georgetown’s most significant player to exit the program. He also holds that title with regard to Arizona. After two seasons with the Hoyas and then one with the Wildcats, Akinjo moved on to Baylor and averaged 13 points for a team that earned a No. 1 seed in the 2022 tournament.
Best transfer in: Shannon Evans, 2016-18
Evans followed the example set by his head coach Bobby Hurley and arrived at Arizona State after a two-year…
Source : espn
