College basketball transfer portal: Examining potential fits for prized Florida transfer Kowacie Reeves – 247Sports

For the second time in a year, Kowacie Reeves is in the transfer portal. The talented Florida guard entered the portal last season after then-Florida coach Mike White left for the Georgia gig. But new Gators coach Todd Golden earned an early win by convincing Reeves to return to Florida for a sophomore season. The 2022-23 season was supposed to be a breakout campaign for the bouncy, ballyhooed wing.
It was not. Reeves averaged just 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.1 turnovers per game in 19.3 minutes. He shot 26.2% from 3-point range, 50.4% on 2s and 71% from the free throw line. Reeves entered the portal quickly after Florida’s disappointing 16-17 campaign ended with a loss to UCF in the opening round of the NIT.
The former top-50 prospect in the Class of 2021 has quickly become one of the top options in the portal. 247Sports’ Travis Branham reported Reeves is receiving interest from Stanford, Arkansas, Maryland, Clemson, Cincinnati, Boston College, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Ole Miss, NC State, Louisville, Dayton, Kansas, Georgia State, Tulane, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Reeves is currently the sixth-highest-rated player in the transfer portal.
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Here’s how Reeves would fit with his top suitors:
Stanford: Even after a seventh-straight season without a NCAA Tournament bid, Stanford is choosing to bring back Jerod Haase. Stanford could offer Reeves a featured role with plenty of shots at his disposal, especially if some of Stanford’s top players choose to leave for greener pastures.
Dayton: Changes are needed for Dayton. Anthony Grant and the Flyers missed the NCAA Tournament despite having one of the program’s most-talented rosters in a decade. Dayton big men DaRon Holmes and Toumani Camara are ballers, but the Flyers need improved guard play. Reeves would be a huge talent upgrade.
Maryland: Don Carey is out of eligibility, and both Donta Scott, Hakim Hart and Jahmir Young have decisions to make about returning for another season. As of now, Maryland has at least one vacant spot in the starting lineup for a transfer like Reeves. It could have more. Kevin Willard should have a strong sell after the success of Young, and his ability to unlock a completely new version of Hart this season. Maryland has a chance to be a phenomenal team in Year 2 under Willard. If Reeves wants to have a big role and win big, Maryland could be the spot for him.
Cincinnati: Wes Miller used a boatload of transfers to help the Bearcats win 20-plus games in 2022-23. There could be plenty of shots available for Reeves if guys like Landers Nolley, Mika Adams-Woods and Jeremiah Davenport opt not to use their super-senior, extra COVID year of eligibility.
Boston College: When Boston College finally got healthy late in the season, the Eagles started to make some noise and showed it wasn’t like some of the other teams in the ACC basement. If Reeves buys into that vision, there’s a real chance for Boston College to make a surge in the wide-open ACC. Lots of important decisions await, but there’s a world where Boston College gets most of its rotation back.
Georgia: The Dawgs make a ton of sense for Reeves. He could reconnect with his former coach and go home. The Macon, Ga., native would be walking into a wide-open situation and a shot at being one of the top-2 offensive weapons for White.
Georgia Tech: New Georgia Tech coach Damon Stoudamire has been where Reeves wants to go. The former Boston College assistant could sell a featured role to Reeves in a place that’s close to home.
Iowa State: T.J. Otzelberger is no stranger to the transfer portal. He’s used it in back-to-back years to build a NCAA Tournament squad. Iowa State has to upgrade its talent on the perimeter after Caleb Grill was kicked off the team for violating team rules. Iowa State is in desperate need of a shot-maker. Reeves’ percentages don’t necessarily indicate just how good of a shooter he can be, but Reeves would have to buy into Otzelberger’s defense-first principles.
Ole Miss: Getting talent has never been an issue for Chris Beard, so it’s not surprising that Ole Miss is in contact with one of the top guards in the portal. Ole Miss is facing the reality of plenty of first-year coaches: its roster will look very different in a few months. If Reeves wants a chance to be a featured guy, Ole Miss could give him that opportunity.
NC State: If Terquavion Smith bolts for the NBA like many expect, NC State will be faced with the reality of replacing two bucket-getting guards. Smith will be a huge loss. Jarkel Joiner could be even bigger. But Kevin Keatts can sell Joiner’s huge season in the transfer portal. Reeves could be the next guard to come into Raleigh and produce big numbers in Keatts’ up-tempo offense.
Louisville: Kenny Payne has done quick work to revamp the roster. Illinois transfer Skyy Clark was a former five-star recruit. Five-star Trentyn Flowers is reclassifying to 2023, and flipping top-40 big man Dennis Gates was another big win for Louisville. But it needs more proven, Power 5-made talent. Enter Reeves. Louisville could start seriously considering a big jump in the open ACC if Reeves hops on board.
Arkansas: There’s a lot to like about Reeves’ potential fit with Arkansas. The Razorbacks are expected to have mass changes. Nick Smith Jr. and Anthony Black look like lottery picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. Ricky Council IV could get some NBA sniffs. Reeves has the eye-popping athleticism and the traits to be Eric Musselman’s next menacing wing.
Clemson: Clemson desperately needs more pop on the perimeter, and a guy like Reeves would fit like a glove. Brad Brownell helped Boston College transfer Brevin Galloway have a career-best season. If Chase Hunter and PJ Hall return, Clemson could have a strong nucleus to make noise in the ACC. Adding an eye-popping talent like Reeves could take things to the next level.
Kansas: Bill Self usually gets what he wants in the transfer portal. Kansas will likely have to replace Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick, but Kevin McCullar’s status is up in the air. McCullar could pull a Wilson-like move by running it back at KU after getting more feedback from NBA decision-makers. Regardless of McCullar’s decision, it’s clear that Kansas has minutes to sell to prized transfers on the wing. Point guard Dajuan Harris would be the best lead guard Reeves has played with in his tenure and might be a big reason why a Year 3 breakout could be in the cards.
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