Fansided

NCAA basketball: Predicting where the top 10 college basketball transfers land

By Mike Phillips

COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 29: Carlik Jones #1 of the Radford Highlanders handles the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 29, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 29: Carlik Jones #1 of the Radford Highlanders handles the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 29, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
College basketball transfer predictions
Mike Smith #21 of the Columbia Lions (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

7. G Mike Smith – Columbia to Arizona

This year has seen a high number of potential impact transfers from the Ivy League enter the portal. Penn’s Ryan Betley, Columbia’s Patrick Tape and Harvard’s Seth Towns are among the many Ivy Leaguers that will play in new programs next season. Another intriguing Ive Leaguer is Tape’s teammate, guard Mike Smith.

The 5-foot-11 Smith is a bit undersized but fits the bill of the modern point guard to a T. Smith averaged 22.8 points per game as a senior at Columbia, adding in 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest for good measure.

The best fit for Smith would be a team in need of some offensive pop in the backcourt and someone who can handle the point if necessary. One team that uniquely fits both of those needs is Arizona which could use another option at the point for next season.

Freshman Nico Mannion was solid as the Wildcats’ facilitator this season but is still weighing whether to declare for the NBA Draft. Adding Smith would give Arizona insurance if Mannion does go pro and some scoring pop off the bench if he comes back for his sophomore season.