As Covid-19 cases soared in 2020, the college basketball season was brought to an abrupt end. The good news? An extra year of eligibility was granted for NCAA winter sport athletes. Many seniors and grad school students are taking advantage of this extra year and the new transfer portal rule. They’re now making big contributions and are changing the game for their teams.
University of Kentucky
Kellan Grady: As a Davidson Wildcat, Grady scored over 2000 points throughout his career. After transferring to UK for the 2021-22 season, he continues to be a playmaker, scoring an average of 12 points per game. Known for frequently knocking down some hard three pointers, Grady’s shot making abilities are an asset to this year’s team.
Davion Mintz: After spending four years at Creighton, Mintz transferred to UK during the 2020-21 season and continually brought veteran leadership to a young Kentucky team. As a sixth-year player, Mintz continues to be an asset to Coach Cal’s lineup, scoring eight points a game and averaging just under two assists. He’s known for his off-the-bench energy and the quickness that he brings to the court.
Villanova
Collin Gillespie: After a season ending injury last year, Gillespie is back better than ever for his fifth year as a Villanova Wildcat. Gillespie averages just over 17 points a game and has made over 90 percent of his free throws throughout this season. He’s also known for his reliability, especially when it comes to his three point shooting abilities.
Providence
Nate Watson: This 6 foot 10 graduate student continues to bring consistency to the Providence Friars. This is Watson’s fifth year with the team, and his fifth year bringing explosive energy as Providence’s center. With over 1600 career points, Watson is averaging over 13 points per game with just under six rebounds.
Arkansas
Chris Lykes: After spending four years playing for the Miami Hurricanes, where he averaged just over 15 points per game in the 2020-21 season, Lykes is taking full advantage of his extra year of eligibility and the new transfer rule. As an Arkansas Razorback, this undersized guard is making almost 37 percent of his field goal attempts in the 20 minutes of playing time he averages each game.
Bonus: Kansas
Mitch Lightfoot, Remy Martin, and Jalen Coleman Lands: Lightfoot is back for his fifth year with the Jayhawks while Martin and Coleman Lands are transfers from Arizona State and Iowa State, respectively. These three super seniors score a combined average of almost 18 points per game and snag seven rebounds per game combined.
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