MVC transfers and players lost

[Da Coach]

Fans shouldn't get concerned. Changes occur nearly every off-season.

[egib52]

Is there any possibility there could still be another change?

Are you hearing something? I feel like with everything going on that recruiting as a whole has just hit the pause button.

[Da Coach]

There are always rumors, but nothing I can report for sure.

[egib52]

There are always rumors, but nothing I can report for sure.

I hope not, I really like the squad that Wardle has put together.

[BUfan39]

There are always rumors, but nothing I can report for sure.

The fact that you even brought it up makes me nervous lol.

[Da Coach]

As noted elsewhere, former Bradley player Sean Houpt transfers to Florida Tech, a D2 school in Melbourne, Florida.

Here is the latest list of players who are graduating or transferring (transfers in bold)-
Bradley- Koch Bar, Darrell Brown, and Nate Kennell graduated. Freshmen Stephan Gabriel transferred to Hutchinson CC, and freshman Sean Houpt transferred to Florida Tech.

Drake- Anthony Murphy, and Brady Ernst graduated. Redshirt Juniors Samm Jones and Antonio Pilipovic transferred as grad-transfers, Sophomore Liam Robbins is transferring to Minnesota

Evansville- K.J. Riley graduated. Freshman Marcus Henderson transferred to Flagler, redshirt-junior Artur Labinowicz transferred, redshirt-junior John Hall transferred to Portland State, redshirt freshman DeAndre Williams transferred to Memphis.

Illinois State- Zach Copeland, Ricky Torres, and Jaycee Hillsman graduated. Sophomore Rey Idowu transferred to Tulsa, redshirt-junior Matt Chastain and redshirt-sophomore Taylor Bruninga will end their basketball careers due to injuries; Ilijah Donnelly is transferring.

Indiana State- Jordan Barnes, Bronson Kessinger, and Christian Williams graduated. Redshirt Sophomore Tyeshon Martin transferred, sophomore guard De'Avion Washington, junior center Christopher Agbo transferred, and sophomore forward Blake Brinkmeyer transferred to Kirkwood CC.

Loyola- Bruno Skokna, and Jake Baughman (walk-on) graduated. Junior Jaylon Pipkins transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne.

Missouri State - Keandre Cook, Tulio Da Silva, Lamont West, Ross Owens, and Kabir Mohammad graduated. Redshirt Junior Josh Hall transferred as grad-transfer to Cal State Fullerton, Freshman Tyem Freeman transferred to Indian Hills CC, junior Tyrik Dixon transferred to Coastal Carolina, freshman Ford Cooper transferred.

Northern Iowa- Spencer Haldeman, Isaiah Brown, Luke McDonnell, Justin Dahl, and Lincoln Conrey graduated. Redshirt-Senior Shandon Goldman transferred to Tennessee Tech as grad-transfer.

SIU- Ronnie Suggs, Barret Benson, and Eric McGill graduated. Redshirt junior Aaron Cook transferred as a grad-transfer to Gonzaga, Redshirt junior Brendan Gooch transferred as a grad-transfer to McKendree, junior Harwin Francois transferred to McNeese State, Redshirt freshman Karrington Davis is transferring; Stevan Jeremic was reported to be transferring, but not confirmed.

Valparaiso- John Kiser and Ryan Fazekas graduated. Sophomore Javon Freeman-Liberty has transferred to DePaul.

[Da Coach]

One other interesting development-
The MVC's leading scorer, A.J. Green of Northern Iowa, has entered his name into the NBA Draft. He has not hired an agent, which allows him to retain his college eligibility. And I feel confident he will eventually return to Northern Iowa.

https://kiwaradio.com/sports/unis-green-to-test-nba-draft/

As expected, A.J. Green has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft and will return to UNI for his junior season.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/sta...29638411636736

[Da Coach]

...
Missouri State - Keandre Cook, Tulio Da Silva, Lamont West, Ross Owens, and Kabir Mohammad graduated. Redshirt Junior Josh Hall transferred as grad-transfer to Cal State Fullerton, Freshman Tyem Freeman transferred to Indian Hills CC, junior Tyrik Dixon transferred to Coastal Carolina, freshman Ford Cooper transferred.

Missouri State's freshman point guard Ford Cooper, who announced he was leaving MSU after last season, is transferring to South Carolina where he will be a walkon-

http://verbalcommits.com/players/ford-cooper-jr

Ford Cooper was a highly rated 4-star recruit for MSU coach Dana Ford, but seemed to always be in the coach's doghouse and never played much despite the fact the team didn't really have a point guard after Tyrik Dixon went out with a shoulder injury half way through the season.

[Da Coach]

Another tough break for Todd Lickliter and Evansville, but one that many expected, though it took longer than expected for him to announce it.
Star redshirt freshman DeAndre Williams, who averaged 15 ppg and 7 rpg in the 18 games he played before a back injury ended his season has announced he is transferring. He also says he will enter the 2020 NBA Draft.
https://www.courierpress.com/story/s...al/5167253002/

Williams was one of Walter McCarty's first recruits in the spring of 2018 just after he was hired. He had several other good offers, including a couple high-majors (SMU, Houston, Oklahoma State, Baylor).

Interesting story regarding one-time Evansville player DeAndre Williams. He left high school in Houston in 2016, but found out he was academically ineligible to play D1 basketball. So he did a year of online courses (2016-17) with a home school organization to try to improve his academics and get a scholarship. That didn't work, so he did a year at a new prep school, Nation Wide Academy in Oklahoma City (2017-18 ). Then he enrolled at Evansville in 2018. However, the NCAA ruled him academically ineligible his first year at Evansville (2018-19- Walter McCarty's first year), and he sat the season out. Finally, he played his second year at Evansville (2019-20), even though McCarty was fired a couple months into the season. Then he transferred, and played the last 3 seasons for Memphis (2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23).
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...andre-williams

He was informed by the NCAA that he is out of eligibility because of the 4 years he played (3 at Memphis and 1 at Evansville) plus the one year he was academically ineligible in 2018-19.
He was the oldest player in NCAA basketball last season. He turned 26 years old prior to last season, and will be 27 before next season starts. He apparently tested the NBA draft waters, but learned that NBA teams were not likely to draft a 27 year old. So now he wants to return to Memphis and play another season. He has hired a sports attorney, and is trying to get the NCAA to issue a waiver for special circumstances that would allow him another year of eligibility.
https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...l/70275232007/

More about the "new information" his lawyer is citing to request an NCAA waiver-
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa...vd39ss8c8f7e4i

[KillerB]

Mosley leaving Missouri to pursue a pro career

[Da Coach]

Mosley leaving Missouri to pursue a pro career

I'm not surprised he is leaving Missouri, but I thought he might want to resurrect his career at another school before going pro. There were some who thought he'd be an NBA caliber player, but there is no chance of him getting drafted, IMO.
He had personal issues and never seemed to get out of the coach's doghouse in his one season at Missouri.
After leading the MVC in scoring in 2021-22 with 20.4 ppg, and 43% accuracy from three, Mosley played very little at Missouri this past season. He appeared in only 14 games, mostly off the bench, averaged 9.6 ppg, and shot just 31% from three.
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba.../isiaih-mosley

[PhiAlphaBoy]

I'm not surprised he is leaving Missouri, but I thought he might want to resurrect his career at another school before going pro. There were some who thought he'd be an NBA caliber player, but there is no chance of him getting drafted, IMO.
He had personal issues and never seemed to get out of the coach's doghouse in his one season at Missouri.
After leading the MVC in scoring in 2021-22 with 20.4 ppg, and 43% accuracy from three, Mosley played very little at Missouri this past season. He appeared in only 14 games, mostly off the bench, averaged 9.6 ppg, and shot just 31% from three.
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba.../isiaih-mosley

It's been reported that Mosley had no problems with Mizzou or Coach Gates, and vice versa. Mizzou respected Mosley and his privacy enough to only say he was missing playing time for personal and private reasons, though Mosley practiced with and supported his teammates during games. In addition Coach Gates escorted Mosley to center court and stood by him to support him during senior day since he had no parent present. And, Gates had nothing but good things to say about Mosley and made it a point to say this was not a disciplinary issue. If I was told speculate I would guess Mosely was dealing with some very serious mental or family issues and was advised to focus on getting his head and life straight. Hopefully he has now been able to do that because it is extremely athletic and talented when he's focused on basketball. I'm hoping we see him on an NBA roster soon.

[Da Coach]

It's been reported that Mosley had no problems with Mizzou or Coach Gates, and vice versa. Mizzou respected Mosley and his privacy enough to only say he was missing playing time for personal and private reasons, though Mosley practiced with and supported his teammates during games....

Yes, he had reportedly "personal issues" early in the season, and that excuse resurfaced a few more times during the season. But here is why I and most Missouri fans are not buying it.
After playing off the bench in most of their November games, he was benched most of December, despite being at some of the games, dressed, warmed up, but never got into the games. It was especially noticeable in a big game against former rival Kansas, despite Missouri getting blasted 95-67. Mosley was said to look frustrated that he was never put in the game, despite the blowout.
Gates' explanation was-
"We have to look at the big picture. Whenever you're in transition ... transition happens. And the transition that Isiaih's going through, he's gonna get to the other side of it and he's gonna help us win ball games."

That sounds more like a coach's decision not to give him playing time.
Then, after returning to playing in a few games, he didn't make a road trip in early January in a big rivalry game at Arkansas. He posted an odd video of himself on social media on the night of that game, though. He reappeared as a regular contributor in games later in January and early February, but then again was benched in a key game at South Carolina on Feb. 8. Again, Coach Gates comments sound more like a Coach's decision, than the frequently used "personal issues" excuse.
“Isiaih and I had a conversation before the game,” Gates said. “And we both felt that it was great to just, you know, take this one off. Isiaih wants to be out there, but I have to make the decision as a head coach..."

Mosley didn't play again after that Feb. 8 game, despite being dressed and on the bench for several games. But then he disappeared and no longer appeared on the bench late in the season. On Feb. 23, Gates commented to reporters who asked about Mosley's disappearance-
“Isiaih has never left our team,” Gates said. “So I just give him his privacy at this moment and I ask you guys to do the same.”
“I anticipate getting all our guys back,” Gates said. “All our guys back. No different then I have done so at the very beginning of the year, and you guys have definitely been kept in the loop with everything. Pregame decisions are pregame decisions.

A few weeks ago, Coach Gates said he was open to Mosley returning to the team on scholarship. But then he recruited several new players and used up all the available scholarships, apparently closing that option.

So I guess anyone can make what they want of the situation. And it is normal for the coach to give the minimum of information, and not speak poorly of his player. But, IMO, this seems like a classic case of a kid who had certain expectations, and a coach who wanted to make it clear who was in charge. Those expectations probably included NIL money he felt he was promised, but wasn't getting since he was not contributing much.

[Da Coach]

Interesting story regarding one-time Evansville player DeAndre Williams. He left high school in Houston in 2016, but found out he was academically ineligible to play D1 basketball. So he did a year of online courses (2016-17) with a home school organization to try to improve his academics and get a scholarship. That didn't work, so he did a year at a new prep school, Nation Wide Academy in Oklahoma City (2017-18 ). Then he enrolled at Evansville in 2018. However, the NCAA ruled him academically ineligible his first year at Evansville (2018-19- Walter McCarty's first year), and he sat the season out. Finally, he played his second year at Evansville (2019-20), even though McCarty was fired a couple months into the season. Then he transferred, and played the last 3 seasons for Memphis (2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23).

...He was informed by the NCAA that he is out of eligibility because of the 4 years he played (3 at Memphis and 1 at Evansville) plus the one year he was academically ineligible in 2018-19.
He was the oldest player in NCAA basketball last season. He turned 26 years old prior to last season, and will be 27 before next season starts. He apparently tested the NBA draft waters, but learned that NBA teams were not likely to draft a 27 year old. So now he wants to return to Memphis and play another season.

He has hired a sports attorney, and is trying to get the NCAA to issue a waiver for special circumstances that would allow him another year of eligibility.
https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...l/70275232007/

The NCAA has not issued their final ruling, but, there are multiple reports that the NCAA is preparing to deny DeAndre Williams' appeal for a waiver to play another season at Memphis.

https://twitter.com/strike7sports/status/1694764709826760934

[Da Coach]

One time Evansville player DeAndre Williams, who was seeking a waiver for an additional year of eligibility has been denied- https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/sta...49853514674260

Williams was the oldest player in D1 last year at the age of 26. He turned 27 years old a month ago.