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College basketball transfer portal: How prized ex-Hofstra star Aaron Estrada fits with top suitors – 247Sports
Former Hofstra star Aaron Estrada has quickly become a priority for point guard-needy teams in the transfer portal. Estrada was named the CAA Player of the Year after averaging 20.2 points, 4.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 2022-23.
Estrada is a two-time CAA Player of the Year, but he elevated his overall game to new heights this past season. Estrada shot 38.2% on above-the-break 3s, 42.2% on off-the-dribble jumpers and 68.7% at the rim. Estrada is a true three-level scorer, and he repeatedly showed he was not afraid to stick his nose in the fan to rip down rebounds. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound point guard has one year of eligibility remaining.
Estrada started his career at Saint Peter’s before transferring to Oregon where played sparingly (nine games) in 2020-21. Estrada entered the transfer portal and landed at Hofstra where he shined in each of the last two seasons. Since Estrada is a graduate, the NCAA’s new memo hindering two-time transfers does not apply. Estrada will be immediately eligible and a host of high majors are circling.
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Here is how Estrada would fit with the schools that are in the mix:
Temple: New Temple coach Adam Fisher was instrumental in helping turn around Penn State. Micah Shrewsberry and Fisher empowered Jalen Pickett and helped him turn into an All-American. Temple can sell Estrada on staying home and being a featured star. Temple’s campus is a short 13-mile jaunt from Estrada’s hometown.
Texas Tech: New Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland has a phenomenal history with lead guards. Tylor Perry was an absolute stud for McCasland during his time at North Texas. Umoja Gibson had some productive seasons under McCasland, too. Would Estrada relish the chance to share the lead-guard duties with Pop Isaacs? That’s a factor to consider.
Seton Hall: Shaheen Holloway and Estrada have a real connection. Estrada committed to Holloway and Saint Peter’s out of high school, so it’s no surprise that Holloway wants to reconnect with Estrada at Seton Hall. The Pirates could pair a bucket-getter like Estrada with a defensive wizard like Kadary Richmond for a high-upside backcourt in the loaded Big East. Holloway winning this heated recruitment would be an ultimate flex.
Kansas State: Kansas State’s pitch to lead guards is so easy after the success Markquis Nowell just had. Estrada isn’t quite the long-range assassin Nowell is, but he can score at all three levels and more importantly, draw multiple defenders to collapse the defense. Estrada would have every opportunity to put up big numbers in Jerome Tang’s guard-friendly offense, and he’d elevate breakout candidate Cam Carter.
Cincinnati: Cincinnati just got a taste of how hard it is to stop Estrada. Cincinnati beat Hofstra 79-65 in the NIT, but Estrada had 18 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Both David DeJulius and Rob Phinisee are out of eligibility, so Cincinnati desperately needs a veteran point guard.
Georgetown: If Estrada wants to stay close to home and hoop on the East Coast, Georgetown has plenty of opportunity, and the presence of new coach Ed Cooley –– arguably the nicest leader in college basketball –– only enhances the Hoyas’ sell.
St. John’s: If Rick Pitino is showing interest, it shows just how talented Estrada is. Pitino gutted the St. John’s roster except for stud big man Joel Soriano. Estrada could waltz into Madison Square Garden and have a heavy usage rate for one of college basketball’s best X’s and O’s coaches.
Providence: The Friars are ready to make some noise with Devin Carter Jr. and Bryce Hopkins both announcing they will return to play for new Providence coach Kim English. Pairing a shot-making lead guard like Estrada with a lockdown defender like Carter and a mismatch, bucket-getting forward like Hopkins would be tantalizing.
Washington State: Estrada got a taste of Pac-12 ball when he suited up at Oregon for a year. Washington State desperately needs to add to its overall talent in the backcourt after 15-point scorer TJ Bamba entered the transfer portal and Justin Powell opted to test the NBA Draft waters.
Virginia Tech: The beauty of Mike Young basketball is his ability to get the most out of multiple lead guards at the same time. Young would have no issues finding ways to elevate both Sean Pedulla and Estrada. You need two talented lead guards to win in March, and Virginia Tech would certainly have just that.
Florida State: FSU point guard Caleb Mills entered the transfer portal, so the ‘Noles desperately need to upgrade the backcourt. Estrada would instantly become one of the most talented point guards Florida State has had on the roster in recent history, and he’d pair well with Jalen Warley. Estrada has the talent to be an All-ACC guard at Florida State.
Auburn: Wendell Green Jr.’s departure opens the door for Auburn to be very involved with elite point guards in the transfer portal. Bruce Pearl’s hit rate with point guards is really strong, and Auburn can provide Estrada to be the lead guard for an SEC contender. Estrada has little competition to be the unquestioned lead guard in the Auburn backcourt, and he might be an overall upgrade over the talented-but-inconsistent Green.
NC State: Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith put up enormous numbers in Kevin Keatts’ helter-skelter offense. Estrada is so comfortable making wise decisions in pick-and-rolls, so it wouldn’t be inconceivable for him to flirt with double-double numbers nightly for the Wolfpack.
Ole Miss: Chris Beard is big-game hunting. Estrada has a strong case to be the best all-around point guard in the transfer portal. Ole Miss is desperate for a veteran talent like that who could run the show and initiate everything. Adding a piece like Estrada would kickstart the Ole Miss rebuild in a hurry.
Tennessee: The Vols desperately need more lead guards who are comfortable making decisions on the fly in pick-and-rolls. If Zakai Zeigler’s return from a ACL injury is hindered at all, Tennessee needs a security blanket that a talent like Estrada could provide. Estrada and Zeigler could easily play together, too. Estrada has worked tirelessly to be a dangerous catch-and-shoot sniper, too. He rated in the 80th percentile in catch-and-shoots last year, so playing off the ball is feasible when Zeigler is back in the mix.
LSU: LSU is makin’ money moves. The Tigers landed Vanderbilt transfer Jordan Wright on Wednesday and is trending in the right direction for Tulane transfer Jalen Cook, according to a report by 247Sports’ Eric Bossi. Landing Cook could take LSU out of the Estrada sweepstakes.
Florida: Golden landed New Jersey native Kyle Lofton in the 2022 cycle to run the show for the Gators. Florida is on the prowl for another New Jersey point guard. Estrada would elevate Florida to a completely different level. Estrada, Will Richard and Riley Kugel is a very tantalizing backcourt.
Alabama: Nate Oats’ backcourt could look very different next season. Getting Mark Sears back seems inevitable. Rylan Griffen should also be back. But Jaden Bradley entered the transfer portal, and Jahvon Quinerly could opt to chase the professional route. If that happens, Estrada would be a hand-in-glove fit for Alabama’s ball-screen-heavy attack. A Sears-Estrada backcourt would be old, talented and really tough, too.
Arkansas: If Devo Davis opts to stay in the 2023 NBA Draft, Arkansas will need another veteran lefty to take his spot. Insert Estrada. The Hofstra star’s pick-and-roll navigation would be just what the doctor ordered for Eric Musselman. Arkansas already has Washington transfer Keyon Menifield on board, but Estrada’s veteran poise and explosiveness would be a strong fit with the Razorbacks. But if Davis chooses to return, that could complicate things significantly.
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