The Longwood Lancers stunned the Big South and mid-major college basketball by taking the Big South automatic bid as the fifth seed in the conference tournament last year. Head coach Griff Aldrich has not only built a proven winner in Longwood, but he has taken them to heights the Central Virginia school has never seen before. Part of this success comes down to transfers and recruiting, where the Lancers have flourished since Aldrich took over the program.
Here are the new players who look to light up the Joan Perry Brock Center this year.
Guards
Colby Garland, 6-1, Sophomore, Drake
Colby Garland was a key rotation player for the Drake Bulldogs in their quest for March Madness. He leaves Des Moines, Iowa, for Farmville, Virginia, with experience and three crucial years of eligibility remaining. He made the Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench team and scored double-digit points in four games. The Arkansas native is slightly undersized at 6-foot-1, but since that didn’t hinder him much at Drake, it probably won’t bother him much in the Big South.
Kyrell Luc, 5-11, Senior, St. Bonaventure / Holy Cross
Kyrell Luc brings lots to the table for the Lancers, with the main thing being experience. Luc averaged 7.4 points for St. Bonaventure as a starter in the Atlantic 10 last season. As a freshman at Holy Cross, he averaged 13 points per game and won Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Luc is undersized but that won’t be an issue for an Aldrich-coached team.
KJ McClurg, 6-3, Junior, California (PA)
McClurg transferred in from Division II California (PA), where he lit up the scoresheet. Not only did he average 22.6 points per game last year, but he also was a D-II All-American and led his team to a 28-5 record and a berth to the D-II national tournament. There is no doubt that the jump from D-II to D-I is massive, but he fits right into what Aldrich is trying to build at Longwood. Using him as a bench player to start off might be a good idea to get him used to Division I and the Big South.
Angelo Brizzi, 6-3, Junior, Davidson / Villanova
A former three-star high school recruit, Angelo Brizzi originally committed to Villanova. After spending a season there, he transferred to Davidson and averaged 5.6 points per game. Brizzi has yet to break out in the collegiate game after dominating at Highland High School in Warrenton, Virginia. He still has plenty of time on his side and bet on him to succeed based on the record of transfers that have come in recently.
Dom Payne, 6-2, Freshman
Dom Payne comes from Trinity High School in North Carolina, where he averaged around 30 points per game. He was named to the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game as a later addition. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, also playing tennis and football.
Stark Jones, 6-3, Freshman
Stark Jones is a taller two-way guard from Roanoke, Virginia. As a senior, he led Cave Spring High School to a 23-6 record.
Forwards
DJ Jefferson, 6-5, Sophomore, Tennessee
A former four-star recruit, Jefferson committed to Tennessee two years ago. He only played in one game last season for the Volunteers and subsequently entered the portal. Jefferson brings so much to the Lancers, the first being elite athleticism. His shot-making skills, combined with immense physical strength, should make him the powerful presence he was in high school. He has all the tools to succeed in the Big South.
Precious Idiaru, 6-9, Sophomore, UMKC
German international forward Precious Idiaru comes to Farmville with size and athleticism, but he did not play a single game last season for UMKC. Despite redshirting last year, Idiaru showed promise at the D-I level after playing in 27 games. He averaged 2.3 points per game two years ago as a true freshman. Most of his impact on the court comes on the defensive end and on the glass.
Kris Mickens, 6-4, Sophomore, Tuskegee
Mickens is a versatile wing who comes from D-II HBCU Tuskegee.
Notable Departures
Szymon Zapala
Seven-footer transferred to Michigan State.
John-John Massie
Athletic wing player transferred to North Texas.
DA Houston
Sharp-shooting guard transferred to Coastal Carolina.
[…] Since the mid-major level has a high number of player turnover, coaches must be very savvy with transfers and recruiting. Nine new players are a lot to add to a team. […]