Over the last handful of years, we have seen high-level recruits shun power programs and go where they can make an immediate impact. That is the cause and effect of what college basketball is today. Power Five coaches are more inclined to take a transfer with collegiate experience than a decorated high school recruit. Obviously, it is a case-by-case basis, but overall, this has been the way college basketball has trended since NIL and the new transfer rules.
Benefitting from these new changes are players from the lower division. Since the switch in roster construction by coaches, there has been an influx of interest in getting older, proven production. While not all proven production is equal, sometimes looking in unfamiliar places can land you a high-caliber player.
The CAA has ample players who fit that description. These are five players who I expect to have immediate impacts on their team and the potential to land on All-CAA teams when it is all said and done.
Victory Onuetu, Center, Hofstra
First off, let’s acknowledge this is one of the best names in college basketball. Onuetu comes to Hofstra after averaging about 10 points and six rebounds in the Segunda FEB. The first trait that jumps off the page is his size. Listed at 6-foot-11, but coach Speedy Claxton will tell you that he’s slightly above 7 feet. Regardless of the height, Onuetu projects to be a force in the CAA with his ability to protect the rim and rebound. Pairing him with big man Silas Sunday forms one of the best defensive front courts in the conference.
Hofstra ranked first in the country when it came to two-point percentage defense. They were also top 70 in defensive block percentage. Adding a physical defensive presence like Onuetu gives them more versatility and rim protection.
Offensively, he is a bit raw but profiles as a vertical lob threat and prolific screener. He has a relentless motor on both ends, but the offensive glass is where he could make the most significant impact. The Pride ranked outside the top 300 in offensive rebound percentage, but expect that to change with Onuetu being a catalyst behind that.
During CAA Media Day, Claxton was high on his front-court tandem and their versatility. It will be interesting to see if both big men play together in a way similar to how the Houston Rockets did in the NBA Playoffs last year. As Onuetu gets accustomed to the game flow and his offense catches up, expect him to be a force defensively. From a scheme fit, this is as good as it gets for Hofstra, which leans more on defense to win games.
Lureon “Lo” Walker, Guard, North Carolina A&T
The Aggies held off some solid programs to get Walker in Greensboro, North Carolina. Nothing is ever perfect or a sure thing, but this pairing just feels right. Walker is a prolific guard who can score at all three levels. He averaged just under 18 points on around 50% shooting. Aggie fans can expect Walker to bring high-level scoring at every level, and when things are cloudy offensively, he can get you a basket.
Last year, the Aggie guards were prolific in the Monte Ross system. Walker can be that for an offense that lost a ton of production. The pace and space the Aggies play with blend well into how Walker loves to get out in transition and score. Would love to see more playmaking and the ability to impact games without the ball in his hands, but the Mt. Olive system did not call for that. He had the ability to create for others in high school, so we could see that come back under the Ross system.
The A&T system didn’t have a ton of ball movement early, but as the season progressed, they improved. Not allowing teams to load up on Walker and getting him easy looks should be the coaching staff’s top priority. Although the offense will be the main talking point (rightfully so), the defensive upside is there. The length, instincts, and good hands are all traits Walker possesses and should be on display more this year. The Aggies are picked to finish last in the CAA but if Walker can emerge as one of the better guards in the conference, they could outperform those preconceived notions.
Kendall Taylor, Wing, Charleston
Taylor was the only player in NCAA Division II basketball to average over 24 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field. The term three-level scorer is sometimes overused, but he truly embodies it as well as anyone. The numbers paint a clear picture of how well he shot (37% from 3 and 45% overall from the field). Not to mention his ability to get to the free-throw line at a high level, finishing with over 200 free-throw makes.
That big season led to him being named an All-American and the opportunity to play in the CAA. In Chris Mack’s system, it is hard to envision how Taylor is not productive. The tempo, spacing, and fluidity of Mack’s team’s play mesh perfectly with Taylor’s skill set. Offensive versatility is what comes to mind when looking at this Charleston roster. There are numerous versatile wings on the roster, but none that can score at every level like Taylor.
Although we spoke glowingly about the scoring, Taylor has a well-rounded game. He rebounds extremely well (8 per game) and can initiate offense to get his teammates involved. In a scaled-down role with better spacing and fewer double teams, Taylor has the chance to become an All-CAA player in this system. Expect immediate contributions from Taylor to help the Cougars fight for a CAA title.
Eli Beard, Guard, Drexel
Among these five players, Beard enters one of the rarer situations for a transfer. The Dragons returned quality pieces and were only in the portal for a few players. Ironically enough, a position of need was at the guard spot. After going through the film and interviews, it is not hard to see why the staff believes Beard was the missing piece.
At just under 6 feet, Beard possesses a nice blend of speed and shiftiness. Drexel typically plays one of the slower tempos in the conference, which caters to Beard’s ability to navigate pick-and-rolls in half-court sets. He can score at every level and is an elite shooter from deep, taking a high volume of shots. The playmaking needs to improve and should with the elevated talent around him. However, his ability to score the ball is why Drexel brought him in, and that should be what the offense caters to.
Due to his size, teams will likely target him on defense. That should not be an issue as this staff typically is at the top of the league defensively. Beard is not a bad defender by any means, but there are CAA teams with bigger guards who could pose some challenges. Now those same guards must defend him as well, so the tradeoff could be well worth it. The step up from D-III does not bother me with how dominant Beard was. That type of production typically translates at the mid-major level. Drexel fans will find out quickly how good a guard they have, which could elevate their team above their projected finish.
Ja’Juan Carr, Guard, Elon
Losing the Simpkins twins leaves big holes in Elon’s roster, especially on offense. Coach Billy Taylor did a good job in the portal, filling out a roster after losing so much production. The addition that will be felt the most is with Carr at the point guard spot. Guard play is essential at every level, but even more so at the mid-major ranks. Having someone who serves as an extension of the coach on the floor makes life better for the team and staff.
Carr is a veteran guard and proven winner. He returns to the CAA after spending a redshirt season (Covid Year) at UNCW. After a pit stop at a Community College, he spent his last three seasons at UNC-Pembroke. Each year, the numbers got better along with his level of play. Initially, he was boxed in as a scorer but grew into a willing passer and solid rebounder at his position.
Not only did the numbers look good but it equated to winning. Carr led the Braves to back-to-back conference championships and won the MVP of the conference tournament last year. The bigger the stage, the better he performed, increasing his scoring average by four points in the conference tournament. The impact of Carr has already taken shape as he was alongside Coach Taylor at CAA Media Day and was spoken highly of by his coach. That level of character and the on-court success is why Carr and Elon will be a sleeper team in the CAA.
