What JUCO Transfer Will Make Impact

Jamie Lloreda, Jeff Graves, Tim Pickett, Jackson Vroman and Rafael Araujo are just a few names that have gone from the junior college ranks to Division I programs and made immediate impacts. Who is going to be in 2004-05? There are handful of candidates to choose from and Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson has two of them on his roster.

Taj Gray, a two-time junior college All-American from Redlands (Okla.) Community College, was born to play the type basketball found in the Big 12, particularly at Oklahoma. He’s big (6-foot-8, 240-pounds). He’s nasty (18 points, 11 rebounds per game on 68% shooting from the floor). He’s a winner (Redlands CC went 35-2 last year). Yeah, Gray is ready.

Look for Gray to solidify the Sooners’ frontline of Kevin Bookout, Larry Turner and Johnnie Gilbert. Gray might be the best suited player for quality minutes inside the paint and paired with Bookout, OU has a nasty duo inside. Gray has the skills to step out and knock down the midrange shot.

The Sooners landed another impact JUCO player in Terrell Everett, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound shooting guard from Southwest Missouri State-West Plains Junior College. Everett loves to attack the basket with a dribble drive and gets a lot of his points at the rim. He averaged 19 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5,1 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

Cincinnati reeled in one of the best junior college point guards in the country when Jihad Muhammad, a 6-foot floor general from San Jacinto (Texas) College, signed with the Bearcats. Muhammad is a simplistic but solid player that doesn’t force the issue or turn the ball over. He’s a nice combination of scoring (16.8 points per game last year) and passing (5.6 assists). With a number of scorers at his disposal, Muhammad has a chance to become one of the top junior college transfers in the country.

Oklahoma State rode their Final Four run deep into a number of tight recruiting races and their biggest prize, Aaron Pettway might be their most important. The 6-foot-10 center from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College gives the Cowboys a defensive minded center with great size. He’ll have two years of eligibility and could make the same kind of impact Jeff Graves did for Kansas.

Alabama made a run deep into the NCAA tournament and with their incoming recruiting class, the Crimson Tide faithful are looking forward to an even better year. One of the reasons why is Jean Felix. The 6-foot-7 Paris, France native is one of the most athletic junior college transfers in the country and he’s just what the SEC program needs.

Felix is a highlight reel player with a solid midrange game to boot. He’s an aggressor on the offensive end and with the right personnel on the floor, he’s a difficult player to guard. Numbers-wise, Felix may not be the best incoming player but he’ll contribute at key times.

Hardcore college basketball fans have problem never heard of Waki Williams, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound athlete from Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) College via Columbus, Ohio. Williams has signed with Memphis and should be one of the top players for John Calipari next season.

Williams finished the season early last year due to a knee injury but he was effective when healthy. The versatile forward averaged 19.4 points and 9.1 rebounds a game as sophomore. Williams is still raw but those in the Memphis program believe his ability to play multiple positions will fit well in their offense.

Quietly, Purdue landed one of the best junior college players in the country last fall. 6-foot-7, 225-pound power forward Carl Landry. The four-star prospect will be the Boilermakers top big man on the roster next season and he should contribute from day one. Landry was a highly-sought prospect that had offers from Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. Don’t be surprised to see Landry considered for Newcomer of the Year honors in the Big 10 next year.

Nebraska needed a prolific scorer in the worst way and they got that in Marcus Perry, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound shooting guard from Southern Union (Ala.) Community College.

The Huskers averaged 69.7 points a contest last season and lose three of their top five scorers. They get a nice upgrade in the backcourt with Perry. The shooter was one of the deadliest deep range scorers in the country last season. His 25.4 points per game average was fifth best in the nation.

There are a number of players, scattered from coast to coast, coming into Division I programs. The players we listed aren't the best of tbe best but merely those that can make the most impact right away.