How Has TCU's 2021 Loaded Transfer Class Fared in the 2022-2023 Season so Far
Of the seven players, six are having a large impact on the 2022-2023 team. In fact, 58.9% of the teams total scoring has come from players brought in through the transfer portal prior to the 2021-2022 season (before tip-off of the matchup at Kansas State). Six of the team’s top nine scorers are also from the transfer class.
Prior to the 2020-2021 season, the NCAA temporarily waived their rule that forced transfer students to sit out a season prior to suiting up for their new squad. They permanently waived the rule prior to the 2021-2022 season, and since then the transfer portal has never been more active.
In his 17 years as the head coach at Pittsburgh, Jamie Dixon only brought in one student as a transfer. However, during his press conference at 2021 Big 12 Media Day, Dixon responded to a question about the changes to the NCAA’s transfer system. His first three words being: “I’ve embraced it.”
So, how have those six players fared during the 2022-2023 season?
Emanual Miller (Texas A&M)
Miller has been a key part of TCU’s squad both years he’s been in Fort Worth.
The six-foot-seven forward from Scarborough, Ontario came in with high expectations when he transferred in from Texas A&M. Although he only played in 16 games, he led the Aggies in scoring averaging 16.2 points per game.
This season, Miller has become a threat from beyond the arc. He is shooting 48.4 percent from deep, almost double his previous career-high of 24.4 percent a year ago. When he led Texas A&M in scoring in 2020-2021, he only attempted 0.4 threes a game not hitting one all season. This year he’s up to attempting 1.4 three-point shots a game.
Damion Baugh (Memphis)
Another key member of the Frogs the last two seasons, Baugh had to sit out the first six games of this season due to a suspension. Since coming back, he’s been a force on both ends.
In 17 games this season, the six-foot-four guard from Nashville is averaging career-highs in minutes per game, points per game, assists per game and steals per game.
After initially declaring for the NBA draft last season, it will be difficult to imagine him not throwing his hat in the mix after this season concludes.
Micah Peavy (Texas Tech)
Widely regarded as TCU’s best defender, Peavy has been a key piece to the Frogs closing out teams coming off the bench.
While averaging a career-high 21.5 minutes per game, Peavy has been a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end of the floor. His 0.9 steals per game and 0.8 blocks per game are both career highs. However, he is averaging a career-low 35.6 percent from the floor.
The six-foot-seven guard from Cibolo, Texas is starting to look like himself again on the court after missing some time with a back injury. His presence on the defensive end will be key as the Frogs head into the thick of their conference schedule.
Xavier Cork (Western Carolina)
In his two seasons with the Frogs, Cork has done well in playing the role of backup center to Eddie Lampkin Jr.
His numbers over the last two seasons are nearly identical. Only difference that stands out is that he’s averaging 4.4 points per game, up from last season’s 3.3 points per game.
With Lampkin ailing from an ankle injury, the junior from Sulphur Springs, Texas has seen more playing time recently.
In his start against West Virginia, he put together a great performance scoring a season-high 15 points, blocking two shots, and producing one of the highlights of the season with an emphatic dunk over a Mountaineer defender.
JaKobe Coles (Butler)
Coles has been one of the most improved players on TCU’s squad from a year ago.
Last season, he only averaged 2.7 points per game in 34 games played. This season, his scoring average is up to 8.1 points per game.
Against West Virginia last week, Coles led the Frogs in scoring, putting up 17 points off the bench en route to a 76-72 win over the Mountaineers.
With Mike Miles Jr. missing time with his knee injury, the six-foot-seven forward from Denton will be key in the Frogs scoring attack.
Shahada Wells (UT Arlington)
After his 23-point performance in Lawrence, Jamie Dixon called Shahada Wells’s playing time “sporadic.”
Wells was only able to play in seven games last season due to a knee injury, so he had to take some time to adjust being back on the court at the beginning of this season.
In TCU’s shocking home loss to Northwestern State, Wells was in the starting lineup with Miles unable to go. In that contest, he only scored four points on two of nine shooting from the field. However, in his last three games he has averaged 14 points per game and 3 assists per game, largely in the absence of Miles.
The six-foot guard from Amarillo will continue to be an important part of the Frogs offense as Miles looks to come back from his knee injury.
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