With five scholarships available, here’s who Wichita State basketball is recruiting
After Grant Sherfield on Monday became the fifth scholarship player at Wichita State to enter his name into the transfer portal, Gregg Marshall and his coaching staff turn their focus to recruiting to replenish a now-depleted roster for next season.
Making things a little more difficult is the inability to bring recruits to Wichita for recruiting visits, which the NCAA has suspended until at least April 15. Coaches are still permitted to contact prospects via text message, phone calls and social media.
It’s still extremely early in the spring recruiting cycle, but here is a glimpse at who Wichita State has shown interest in. The Shockers extended a scholarship offer to a pair of high school prospects over the weekend, while also showing interest in three college basketball transfers as well.
WSU will be in the market for a point guard, as all three of the team’s point guards (Jamarius Burton, Sherfield and Noah Fernandes) are all departing. The only guards returning on WSU’s roster are sophomore Tyson Etienne and junior Dexter Dennis.
Here’s a look at who WSU is now recruiting:
Transfer market
Kevin Marfo, Quinniapiac graduate transfer (6-8, 245 center)
Marfo was the best rebounder in college basketball last season. He ranked first in the country in defensive rebounding rate (34.2%) and second nationally in offensive rebounding rate (18.5%), as he averaged a nation-leading 13.3 rebounds (4.5 offensive) per game this past season at Quinnipiac. That tenacity on the boards helped Marfo post the second-best foul rate in the country, as he shot 176 free throws compared to 186 field goals.
It should be noted that Quinnipiac was a below-average team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which ranked 21st out of 32 conferences this season on KenPom. But Marfo’s per-minute production was staggering. He also averaged 10.2 points, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks as Quinnipiac’s starting center in 28.1 minutes per game. Marfo only shot 48.4% from the field, didn’t shoot threes and made 71% of his free throws. He started his career at George Washington before transferring and playing the last two seasons at Quinnipiac. Other schools that have contacted Marfo include Texas Tech, Xavier, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Arkansas, San Diego State, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Penn State, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Louisville, per Rivals’ Corey Evans.
Tahj Eaddy, Santa Clara graduate transfer (6-2, 165, point guard)
Eaddy was a part-time starter at point guard this past season for a Santa Clara team that finished 20-13. He averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 25.2 minutes per game this season, shooting 40.7% from the field, 33.3% on three-pointers and 83% on free throws. Eaddy actually had his career-best year as a redshirt sophomore the season prior, starting all 31 games for Santa Clara and averaging 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Other schools who have offered Eaddy include Iowa State, Seton Hall and Washington State, while Arizona, Georgia Tech and San Diego State are interested, per Stockrisers’ Jake Weingarten.
Darius Perry, Louisville graduate transfer (6-2, 195, point guard)
Perry has played minutes in Louisville’s rotation for the past three seasons and could walk in the door and start immediately at point guard for a lot of programs next season. He has 40 career starts with 26 coming this past season, although Perry only averaged 19.5 minutes and saw his minutes dip toward the end of the season. He’s never posted flashy numbers with averages of 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season, but he did make 38.9% of his three-pointers on 2.3 attempts per game. He announced he was transferring on Monday, Other schools who have contacted Perry are Arizona State, Oregon, Alabama, Oklahoma and Iowa State, per Rivals’ Corey Evans.
Landers Nolley II, Virginia Tech freshman (6-7, 230, wing)
Nolley will be one of the most sought-after transfers in the country as a former top 100 recruit. He averaged a team-best 15.5 points, but it came on 37% shooting from the field and 31.6% shooting on 6.7 three-point attempts per game. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 steals in 30.2 minutes per game for a 16-16 Virginia Tech team. While the efficiency wasn’t there his first season, the talent is and teams are lining up all over the country to talk to him. Virginia Tech played him mostly at power forward and center and Nolley II is apparently in the market for somewhere he can play on the wing, per Stadium’s Jeff Goodman. WSU was also interested in Nolley II coming out of high school. Other schools who have reached out to him include Arkansas, Georgetown, Maryland, TCU, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Florida, per Stockrisers’ Jake Weingarten.
High school seniors
Ricky Council IV, Southern Durham (North Carolina) (6-5, 200, wing)
Council IV, a Durham, North Carolina native, appears to be a good candidate to be a major riser in the spring recruiting period. WSU was the first high-major team to offer Council IV, but it’s unlikely it will be the last. Council IV is a superb athlete and known for his highlight-reel dunks, but he also has improved ball skills and could be a playmaker right away at the college level. Council IV’s other offers include Hofstra, Georgia Southern, Siena, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Rice.
Jamahri Harvey, Moravian Prep (North Carolina) (6-5, 175, guard)
Harvey, a Fayetteville, North Carolina native, played against current WSU 2020 signee JaDun Michael in high school and with him on the summer circuit. He’s considered a combo guard and spent more time on the ball this season at Moravian. He is a well-regarded outside shooter and defender. He has not been scouted by any major recruiting service, as Harvey’s recruiting has gone under the radar with Nebraska being the only other high-major that has offered him. Harvey’s other offers include St. Bonaventure, Hofstra, Rider, Robert Morris, Illinois Chicago, UNC Wilmington and UMBC.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 6:27 PM.
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