By R.L. Bynum
Destiny Adams, Dawson Garcia and Caleb Love are having the best seasons of the 19 former Carolina players playing at other schools heading into the holiday break, with Dontrez Styles a consistent factor for N.C. State.
One of the biggest surprises has been Oregon point guard Deja Kelly’s perimeter shooting struggles in her first season with the Ducks (9–3, 0–1 Big Ten).
After shooting 31.2% from outside the arc during her four seasons at Carolina and averaging 15.4 points, Kelly has made only 4 of 31 3-point attempts (12.9%) and is averaging 10.5 points, both career-lows.
She’s had good games, though, including 21 points on Nov. 6 vs. Nevada and eight assists on Nov. 4 against California Baptist.
Adams has dropped off a torrid pace to start the season but is still averaging 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds for Rutgers (8–4, 0–1 Big Ten). She was battling an injury and only played five minutes of Saturday’s 72–65 win over Lafayette.
Garcia has been Minnesota’s leading scorer and rebounder since he joined the program, and that’s continued this season for the Gophers (7–5, 0–2 Big Ten), with 19.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Love poured in a season-high 24 points in Arizona’s 94–41 Saturday romp over Central Michigan, matching his point total Nov. 29 against West Virginia. Love leads the Wildcats (6–5) in scoring at 15.2 points per game heading into their Big 12 opener Monday against TCU.
Styles has started 11 of 12 games for N.C. State (8–4, 1–0 ACC), is averaging 9.7 points and shooting 35.6% from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 21 points in the Wolfpack’s 84–74 overtime home victory on Dec. 7 in their ACC opener against Florida State.
Kennedy Todd-Williams has put up consistent numbers for No. 25 Ole Miss (8–3), averaging 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds. She’s had big games, including 17 points on Nov. 25 against Boston College, four 3-pointers on Nov. 27 against UConn and 10 rebounds on Nov. 20 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. She had 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the Rebels’ 78–44 blowout Saturday of Mississippi State.
Kerwin Walton has started every game for Texas Tech (9–2), averaging 5.9 points per game but shooting 40.8% from 3-point range. He had 21 points and seven 3-pointers on Nov. 5 against Bethune-Cookman.
Puff Johnson and D’Marco Dunn’s second seasons at Penn State (10–2, 1–1 Big Ten) have been dramatically different.
Johnson has started all 12 games, averaging 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 54% from the floor and 31.3% from 3-point range. He scored 20 points against Saint Francis (Pa.).
Dunn has come off the bench for every game, averaging only 6.3 points. His best game was 16 points on Nov. 8 against UMBC.
Three players having solid seasons in their first years at schools are Vanderbilt’s Tyler Nickel, Kentucky’s Teonni Key and Arizona’s Paulina Paris. All three have started every game.
Nickel, who poured in 24 points and six 3-pointers on Nov. 22 against Seton Hall, averages 10.0 points per game and is shooting 35.3% from outside the arc for the Commodores (11–1).
Key is averaging 11.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.3 assists for No. 16 Kentucky (10–1), which suffered its only loss, 72–53, at No. 17 UNC on Dec. 5. She had 17 points on Nov. 16 against Louisville, 13 rebounds on Nov. 12 vs. Wofford and six blocks on Nov. 26 against Arizona State.
Paris is scoring 10.4 points per game with 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals for the Wildcats (10–4, 1–0 Big 12). She collected 22 points and eight assists on Dec. 2 against Seattle.
Three other transfers in their first seasons at schools — James Okonkwo, Anya Poole and RyLee Grays — have had less-than-ideal starts.
Okonkwo has started only six games for Akron (7–4), averaging 7.6 points and 8.4 rebounds. His best games were 17 points on Dec. 3 against Northern Kentucky and 16 rebounds on Dec. 7 against Brockport.
Grays has only started once and has 29 points in 176 minutes for the Cavaliers (8–5, 0–1 ACC). Her best game was six points and six rebounds on Nov. 29 against Washington State.
Poole, who started 74 games in four seasons at UNC, has come off the bench in all 12 games for Clemson (8–4, 1–0 ACC), averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds. Her best games were 14 points on Nov. 11 against Presbyterian and seven rebounds in two games.
Ali Zelaya has had some good games in her first season at UNCW (6–6), averaging 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. She scored 17 points on Nov. 17 against Apprentice School and had 19 rebounds and five blocks on Nov. 19 against UMass-Lowell.
Will Shaver continues to play sparingly in his second season at UAB (7–6). He’s only played 40 minutes and scored two points with 10 rebounds on the season.
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 9.4 points, 44.1 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 turnovers
Team record: 9–0, 1–0 Big Ten; Rank: No. 2
Monday: No. 2 Michigan 89, Villanova 61 — Started; 24 minutes, 18 points, 7–13 FG, 4–8 3FG (career high 3s), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, +20
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday at Maryland, Fox
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 7.7 points, 43.9 FG%, 43.2 3P%, 91.7 FT%, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Team record: 9–1
Sunday: Mississippi State 89, Charlotte 59 — Started; 31 minutes, 11 points, 3–4 FG, 3–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Southern Miss
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 9 games, 68 minutes, 11 points, 2–5 FG, 7–13 FT, 21 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 6–3
Sunday: Creighton 73, Tulsa 60 — 5 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds
Next game — 6:30 Monday at Oklahoma State, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — In rotation as reserve
Season statistics — 8 games, 1 start, 11.3 points, 47.1 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Team record: 5–3; Rank: No. 22
Saturday: No. 23 St. John’s 63, Ole Miss 58 —Didn’t start; 19 minutes, 7 points, 2–11 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, +4
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Iona, TNT
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 11.5 points, 56.2 FG%, 1–9 3FG, 72.2 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 10–1; Rank: No. 15
Sunday: No. 17 Kentucky 82, Central Michigan 56 — Started, 26:37, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +18
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday at Belmont, ESPN+
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 13.3 points, 67.5 FG%, 3–6 3FG, 70.2 FT%, 7.2 rebounds
Team record: 7–3
Wednesday: N.C. State 85, Liberty 45 — Started; 19 minutes, 13 points, 6–9 FG, 1–3 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 steals, +28
Next game — 5:30 Saturday vs. No. 19 Kansas, ESPN
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 13.3 points, 51.3 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 9–0: Rank: No. 15
Wednesday, Dec. 3: No. 15 Vanderbilt 88, SMU 69 — Started; 23:56, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, +9
Next game — 6:30 Saturday vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 10 games, 4 starts, 7.2 points, 38.3 FG%, 17.6 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 5–6, 0–1 ACC
Sunday: Syracuse 78, SMU 69 — Didn’t start; 29 minutes, 8 points, 4–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Wednesday: SMU 57, Coppin State 49 — Started; 26 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Next game — 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Sam Houston, ESPN+
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 10 games, 75 minutes, 12 points, 5–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–4 FT, 16 rebounds, 6 assists
Team record: 5–6
Sunday: Samford 93, Cornell 90 — 2 minutes, 2 fouls
Next game — noon Monday vs. Bryan, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 21.1 points, 51.3 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 82.7 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 5–5, 1–1 Big Ten
Wednesday: No. 6 Purdue 85, Minnesota 57—Started; 39 minutes, 15 points, 4–11 FG, 0–4 3FG, 7–7 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, -26
Next game — 1 p.m. Saturday vs. Texas Southern, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Competing for starting minutes at center
Season statistics — 9 games, 1 start, 8.7 points, 60.4 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 76.2 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 9–0: Rank: No. 15
Wednesday, Dec. 3: No. 17 Vanderbilt 88, SMU 69 — Didn’t start; 18:24, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 steal, +7
Next game — 6:30 Saturday vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
Photo via @PackMensBball
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