Cal's Basketball Transfer Class Ranked in Top 10 Nationally
New Cal basketball coach Mark Madsen has elevated expectations in Berkeley with the addition of five transfers that, as a group, rank among the top transfer classes in the country, according to two sites that rank such things – 247 Sports and On3.com. More significant perhaps is that two of the incoming Golden Bears transfers -- Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq -- are ranked among the top transfers in the country, according to CBS Sports and ESPN.com.
More transfers are expected to commit to new schools over the next few months, but this is where Cal's transfer class ranks at the moment.
On3.com ranks Cal’s group of transfers as the seventh-best transfer class in the country and the best among Pac-12 schools. It rated the schools based on their incoming transfers relative to the players who transferred out.
The 247 Sports site did not rank Cal’s transfer class quite as high, putting it at No. 18 nationally, although it placed the Bears at No. 1 among Pac-12 schools with a grade considerably higher than any other team in the conference.
All five of the incoming Cal transfers – Mike Meadows, Jalen Cone, Keonte Kennedy, Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq – figure to contribute immediately, but it is the two transfers from Texas Tech – Tyson and Aimaq – who provide the most excitement.
CBS Sports ranked Tyson No. 9 in its list of this year’s top 50 transfers, with this comment:
9. Jaylon Tyson
Old school: Texas Tech | New school: California
Tyson is the epitome of an all-around player and one of the most underrated two-way wings in the sport after averaging 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds on 53.8% 2-point shooting and 40.2% 3-point shooting during the 2022-23 season. He also ranked as Texas Tech's best defender, according to evanmiya.com, while collecting 1.4 steals per contest. The former top-40 prospect will play a key role in helping first-year coach Mark Madsen rebuild a Cal program that won just three games in the 2022-23 season.
CBS Sports placed Aidaq at No. 28, with this description:
28. Fardaws Aimaq
Old school: Texas Tech | New school: California
Aimaq is the former WAC Player of the Year at Utah Vally who transferred to Texas Tech last season but played in just 11 games because of injuries. In that limited action, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds, which demonstrated that he can be productive in a rugged league. Aimaq is a serviceable rim protector and has shown the ability to step out and make 3-pointers over the past two seasons. At Cal, he is reuniting with former Utah Valley coach Mark Madsen after the two enjoyed success together in the past.
ESPN.com’s ranking of the top 100 transfers placed Tyson at No. 26, with this note:
26. Jaylon Tyson, 6-6, SF, Soph., Texas Tech Red Raiders
Committed to California
Started his career at Texas before leaving after just a few months. Showed this past season why he was considered a top-50 recruit, averaging 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting better than 40% from 3.
ESPN.com had Aidaq just few slots lower at No. 33, with this message:
33. Fardaws Aimaq, 6-11, PF, Sr., Texas Tech Red Raiders
Committed to California
Because of injury, Aimaq never quite got going during his lone season in Lubbock. But he was the 2021 WAC Player of the Year and a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year in his previous stop at Utah Valley. Still managed to put up 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds at Texas Tech.
Madsen might add one more transfer this year before the roster overhaul is complete. But can these additions make a sizable difference for a Cal team that went 3-29 this past season?
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Cover photo of Jaylon Tyson by Alonzo Adams, USA TODAY Sports
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