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College basketball transfer portal: How prized Wofford transfer B.J. Mack fits with 10 finalists – 247Sports
It did not take long for Wofford transfer B.J. Mack to rack up a boatload of interest from high majors all across the country. The graduate transfer is fresh off a dominant 2022-23 season where he averaged 16.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Mack was named first-team All-SoCon.
The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward is one of the top available big men in the transfer portal, and he proved he can hoop against high-level competition. Mack had 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists against LSU star KJ Williams. He totaled 19 points, four rebounds and four assists against SEC Defensive Player of the Year Liam Robbins and Vanderbilt.
“I built a relationship with those coaches and made sure I felt comfortable being able to play for the staff,” Mack told 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins after unveiling his top 10 schools. “I made sure each team had a goal in mind of being able to make the NCAA Tournament and having a chance of being able to make a run in it. These ten schools gave me the opportunity to be able to put my game on a platform and do that.”
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Here’s how Mack would fit with each of the 10 schools that made the cut.
The fit: Vanderbilt’s roster could be in a state of flux, but there’s no denying Jerry Stackhouse is one of college basketball’s elite offensive masterminds. Stackhouse would have no issues building a competent offense around Mack’s strengths. Mack legitimately has become a deadeye 3-point shooter, but he’s able to get into the lane and hit some fadeaways effortlessly. Mack mixes that silky-smooth skill with plenty of raw power. There are still major questions about if Mack can be a super impactful defender in the SEC, but Mack would have no issues getting buckets for Vanderbilt immediately. Especially with some of the talented guards and shooting Stackhouse could surround Mack with.
The quote: “I know Jerry Stackhouse. He played at North Carolina with a close friend of mine in Jeff McInnis who trains me. I have that connection and we also played against them this year. I have seen a lot of how they play and how they are intricate with their bigs. They use their bigs to be impactful to the game. They are still playing in the NIT. I have been able to sit back and watch how they play. That has been a good thing for me. I am seeing how I can put myself with their team and seeing how I can be an impact player.”
The fit: Xavier could have a huge hole to fill in its frontcourt if both Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle do not return. Xavier coach Sean Miller will undoubtedly be a major player for guard talent after the success of Souley Boum and Colby Jones. Des Claude looks like a potential rising star, so Mack wouldn’t have to worry about playing with elite guards. Xavier gave both Nunge and Freemantle heavy usage this season. Mack would be in line for much of the same for one of the best X’s and O’s coaches in the country.
The quote: “They have a legendary coach in Sean Miller. Watching them throughout this tournament made me realize how their play style is really intriguing. They play through their frontcourt players. I only have eight to ten months to finish out my last year and being able to be an impact player on a team like theirs is very intriguing.”
The fit: If Mack wants to be a star at the Power Six level, South Carolina has the easiest path to a hefty usage rate. Mack would instantaneously become one of South Carolina’s most talented players on the 2023-24 roster. Off the court, South Carolina would be an easy transition for Mack. On the court, South Carolina has a lot of work to do to build a roster capable of making the 2024 NCAA Tournament. But Mack would go a long way to fixing that problem. Mack would be a top-two option for South Carolina’s offense the moment he stepped foot on the floor.
The quote: “The school is pretty much close to my home. It is 90 minutes away from my house. I have a family bond with them and have been playing against Lamont Paris for the last two years. Their coaching staff knows my game and they are very impactful. My family would be there at all of my home games. I would be able to play at a high level in the SEC and be able to compete and make a run in the conference tournament.”
The fit: If Mack believes playing the 4 could be his best way to the pros, Mississippi State could be a very good fit if star center Tolu Smith opts to run it back and use his extra COVID year. Mississippi State coach Chris Jans could be cooking with gas with a Smith-Mack frontcourt pairing, and it would allow Mack to showcase his perimeter skills even more. If Smith opts to pursue professional opportunities, Mack would be set up for a monster role.
The quote: “Patrice Days is from Charlotte and played in Charlotte. That is how we have a connection. He has seen me grow up since I first started playing. We have a good personal connection. Chris Jans is one of the young winningest coaches so far. He is bringing their program up. I know Shakeel Moore and DJ Jeffries. Being able to talk to them has been very helpful.”
The fit: Iowa is on the prowl for frontcourt help with Kris Murray likely off to the 2023 NBA Draft and Filip Rebraca out of eligibility. Mack doesn’t play above the rim (zero dunks last season), but he’s extremely skilled both on the block. Fran McCaffery’s offense is always stocked with shooters, so efficient post-up big men (like Mack) have oodles of space to work with and plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities in the paint. Mack’s pick-and-pop 3s would add a unique element to Iowa’s offense that has been lacking the last few years. But he’s also super capable as a downhill driver and creator. Iowa’s big wings could help cover up Mack’s deficiencies as a rim protector. It’s not like Iowa figures to be elite on the defensive end, so if McCaffery doubles down on just trying to be the No. 1 offense in the country, Mack makes a ton of sense.
The quote: “I knew Fran McCaffery through travel basketball and I know Sherman Dillard. I knew Patrick McCaffery playing travel basketball against him a lot. We built a relationship from there. I could see where my game translates coming from Wofford. Both schools have a similar play style of getting up and down and playing a five-out motion type of style. That was very intriguing. They have been to the NCAA Tournament a lot and that is intriguing as well.”
The fit: Butler had a frustrating 14-18 season, but the success of Manny Bates could help Thad Matta and Co. in the transfer portal. The NC State transfer averaged 11.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for the Bulldogs in 26 games. If Bates returns to Butler, Mack could have a high-flying, shot-blocking big man to play with which would alleviate some of the pressure on the defensive end of the floor. Mack’s self-creation would be a big shot in the arm for a Butler offense that had a really frustrating year. The Big East is loaded with elite big men, but Mack fits the profile of a versatile forward who could have plenty of success in one of the best leagues in the country.
The quote: “Thad Matta is a legendary coach. The guys he has coached have wanted to come back and be a part of his coaching staff. He has seen the work with guys in my position like Jared Sullinger and Greg Oden. They have gotten better under him and they have played in the league.”
The fit: Florida coach Todd Golden has to rebuild the Gators’ roster on the fly. Florida’s frontcourt picture is wide open. Jason Jitobah entered the transfer portal, and Colin Castleton Castleton has exhausted five years of eligibility. Adding more guys who can go get a bucket is going to be a big priority for Golden. Mack certainly fits that mantra with his ability to post up on the block or catch at the 3-point stripe and attack the rim with a barrage of crafty moves. Keeping rotation pieces like Alex Fudge, Will Richard and Riley Kugel would be a huge boon and boost Florida’s sell to Mack. That quartet all does something a little different. Fudge has eye-popping athleticism, Richard can be a net-shredder, Kugel has a chance to be a prominent star in 2023-24 and Mack’s a tantalizing talent. Find a playmaking point guard, and Florida would have the bones of a really dangerous squad.
The quote: “Their new coaching staff is young. Kevin Hovde is recruiting me and he coached at Richmond last year. We built a connection and he knows how I play. They have a lot of young guys on the team so I can come in and provide leadership.”
The fit: If he can knock off the rust quickly after a season-ending ACL injury, Trevon Brazile can be an absolute star for Arkansas in 2023-24 and position himself to be a major asset in the wide-open 2024 NBA Draft. Arkansas having one pick-and-pop big man in Brazile would be ideal. But having two in Brazile and Mack? That’s a very intriguing proposition and it would open up a ton of possibilities for Arkansas’ pick-and-roll heavy scheme. Eric Musselman has created a haven for transfers, but Mack would fill a big Arkansas hole and the rest of the roster could cover up some of Mack’s defensive deficiencies. If Mack is just a solid positional defender, Brazile and Jordan Walsh (if both come back), can cover the rest.
The quote: “Eric Musselman, Anthony Ruta, and Ronnie Brewer were recruiting me and made me feel like I was a part of the team right now as they are competing in the Sweet Sixteen. They made sure that I know what is going on throughout the process. I just completed a zoom call with them a couple of days ago and they were making sure that I knew that they had a plan for me. They wanted to make sure my plan fit with theirs of making it back to the Elite Eight again.”
The fit: KJ Williams showed that talented big men can absolutely make the jump from the OVC to the SEC and put up numbers. Williams averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for LSU. Mack has some of the same inside-out tools that made Williams an All-SEC selection. Williams is off to chase professional moola, so Mack could easily slide into his big role in the wide-open LSU frontcourt.
The quote: “With them having Matt McMahon, we played against them this year. I was able to get an in-depth and personal look at them. They played through KJ Williams. I could see our similarities so I could put myself in a position in the SEC. Also, I know I have a lot of high school friends like Cam Hayes that play there. When Coach Matt was at Murray State, they were recruiting me. I have been able to build a relationship with them before.”
The fit: Mack would be the veteran sniper Michigan absolutely needs at the 4. Mack spilled the beans a little bit about the probability of Michigan star big man Hunter Dickinson returning for another season. Dickinson-Mack would have some serious questions on defense, but the offensive skill is undeniable. Mack’s ability to knock down 3s at a high clip would mesh well with Dickinson’s superb passing chops. Juwan Howard could also massage the rotation so that when Dickinson sits for eight-ish minutes, Mack gets some time as the primary 5 in certain matchups. But Mack would have to embrace not being the go-to guy with Dickinson on the roster.
The quote: “Juwan Howard has been recruiting me throughout this process. He is somebody that played my position at the highest level and has reached a goal of mine. He is a legendary coach and a legendary player. I feel being able to play beside an All-American in Hunter Dickinson is a great opportunity. I want to be on that exposure level because there are going to be NBA scouts at every game that you play. Being there with them is highly intriguing.”
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