NCAA Roundup: Transfers, transfers and more transfers!
By Mike Peden
After a one-day hiatus, a trio of transfers lit up the NCAA news cycle on Friday. At least two of them could render a significant influence in the college basketball landscape.
Gondrezick becomes a Mountaineer
Starting things off is Kysre Gondrezick. Despite an outstanding freshman season at Michigan, she left the team in the midst of their WNIT post-season run. The Wolverines still won the WNIT title, but that wasn’t enough to dissuade Gondrezick from relocating. Trading one dark shade of blue for another, she will continue her college career at West Virginia.
“Kysre has the capability of playing several positions because of basketball IQ and her scoring abilities. She’s capable of making everyone around her better. Kysre’s passing abilities, along with her scoring prowess, make her a big-time threat,” West Virginia head coach Mike Carey said in a statement published by the university.
Gondrezick’s decision to change schools is a bit surprising, considering the potential she could have built with the Wolverines. The 5-foot-9-inch guard was the Big Ten’s highest scorer among freshmen, averaging 14.9 points per game. Her three-point field goal percentage of 42.9 ranked third in the conference. Gondrezick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week six times and was voted by coaches and media to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Of course, Gondrezick won’t lose an opportunity to excel just by switching teams, but her departure from Michigan leaves a noticeable void.
Overcash returns to her homeland
Another Big Ten athlete changing scenery is Sarah Overcash. After a freshman season at Illinois where she played sparingly, Overcash has now transferred to George Washington. The 6-foot-1-inch forward grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a town that is close to the George Washington campus.
“I couldn’t be happier with my decision to become a part of the George Washington community,” Overcash said in a statement. “I wanted to come home, so the location combined with a GW degree and the basketball program could not be a better fit.”
If performance is an indicator, few would blame Overcash’s new arrangement. She averaged just 6.2 minutes per game in her freshman season, and her Illinois team sputtered to a 9-22 record.
Overcash also expressed her eagerness to work with Jennifer Rizzotti, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member who recently completed her first season as head coach of the Colonials. In the team’s press release, Rizzotti complimented Overcash’s tireless work ethic.
“The improvement she made over the past year while playing at Illinois proves that she is willing to do what it takes to develop her game and help contribute to a program that has consistent success at the top of the Atlantic 10,” Rizzotti said.
Indiana wises up
Indiana was another Big Ten school affected by Thursday’s transfers, but unlike their conference counterparts, they found a gain. The Hoosiers announced the arrival of Brenna Wise, who joins the program after two seasons at Pittsburgh.
“She will be a tremendous presence with her ability to play inside and out. Her versatility makes her a really tough match-up,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said in a statement.
Wise can carry instant impact credibility. She started every game in her two years at Pitt, leading the team in scoring and rebounds. As a sophomore, Wise averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The 6-foot forward also led Pitt in free throw shooting at 89.5 percent, and her 13 free throw makes in a game against Virginia Tech is the best single-game mark in school history.
However, Wise’s success couldn’t be replicated by the Panthers. Their combined record in Wise’s two seasons was 26-35, including an 8-24 mark in the ACC.
All three transfers will not be available to play next season. When they do return, Gondrezick and Overcash will have three years of eligibility left, and Wise will have two years remaining.