With March Madness beginning today, here are former MAAC players who will play in this year’s NCAA Tournament for new schools that they have transferred to.
Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
Clayton Jr. blossomed into an All-American player after two years at Iona with current St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino. As a sophomore in 2023, he won MAAC Player of the Year, averaging 16.8 points per game on 45/43/95% shooting. The Gaels won the MAAC but lost to UConn in the NCAA Tournament.
https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1900696760160325936
Clayton Jr. transferred to play in his home state and is a no-doubt top-three guard in the country. He’s averaged 17 points the last two seasons as a Gator, and Florida is a national title contender with him as the point guard. The SEC player of the tournament can make it rain from deep and is physical on both ends of the floor as a pure do-it-all guard.
Nelly Junior Joseph, New Mexico
Junior Joseph played with Clayton at Iona but played one extra year in 2021. Named MAAC Rookie of the Year and then All-MAAC first team the next two years he dominated the paint as a skilled post-player and menace on the glass.
https://twitter.com/UNMLoboMBB/status/1875434679626821806
Rick Pitino’s son, Richard Pitino, is the head coach of New Mexico, continuing Junior Joseph’s career under a Pitino-led program. The big man is currently the third-best rebounder in the country, averaging 11.2 per game for the Lobos in the Mountain West.
Dakota Leffew, Georgia
Leffew played four years at Mount St. Mary’s, developing into an elite two-way guard in his last two. This culminated in his selection to the All-MAAC first team, where he averaged 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game. At 6 foot 5 inches, Leffew can handle the ball and operate ball screens while knocking down 3-pointers and getting into the paint.
https://twitter.com/TMarkwith14/status/1878260277705150623
He transferred to Georgia as a graduate student and immediately found a role off the bench to average 9.5 points per game. Leffew stayed the course at the Mount and is now reaping the fruits of his labor playing in his home state for an SEC program.
Jaylen Murray, Ole Miss
Murray, a senior, spent his first two years at St. Peter’s and helped the Peacocks make a historic run to the Elite 8 in 2022 as the sixth man. In 2022, Murray took on a larger role, averaging 12.5 points per game.
https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life/status/1887032064731385993
The 5-foot 11-inch guard from Brooklyn transferred to Ole Miss of the SEC, making a massive jump and thriving in Oxford. Murray has averaged double figures scoring the last two years shooting 37% from behind the arc. Ole Miss is firmly in the NCAA tournament this year, leaving Murray with another chance to make some magic in March.
De’Shayne Montgomery, Georgia
Montgomery played his freshman season at Mount St. Mary’s along with Leffew in 2023-24 and transferred to Georgia with him. He missed time this year because of academic ineligibility due to lack of credits. Montgomery has not played since Feb. 15 and only has 16 games under his belt in his sophomore year. Regardless, he is an explosive player who can get out in transition and punish opponents attacking the rim.
He earned MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, scoring 13 points per game on 53/41/73% shooting playing 28 minutes per game. Once the off-court issues are resolved, Montgomery has SEC athleticism at 6 feet 5 inches to compete at a high level moving forward.
Brycen Goodine, Oklahoma
Goodine has had a long career; he is currently at his fourth school in six seasons. He played at Fairfield for two seasons in 2023 and 2024, breaking out to average 14 points as the Stags’ sixth-man in 2024. Goodie shot 46% from 3-point range, good enough for top-15 nationally.
Goodine is a knockdown shooter and is posting a career-best 120 offensive rating for the Sooners, averaging eight points per game. He has made 50+ 3-pointers in the last two seasons.
Supreme Cook, Oregon
Cook played at Fairfield for three seasons from 2021-2023, cementing himself as an effective big in the conference. He averaged double figures and eight rebounds in his sophomore and junior seasons, turning that into a transfer to Georgetown. He produced the same numbers in one year in DC and transferred again to the Oregon Ducks.
https://twitter.com/OregonMBB/status/1858312598045028694
This year with Dana Altman, Cook averages 4.7 points per game on 11 minutes a night, serving as the backup center to Nate Bittle. Every year, Oregon poses a danger in the tournament and this season is no different with the team they have.
Colby Rogers, Memphis
The third guard in Penny Hardaway’s trio at Memphis played one season at Siena in 2022. Rogers averaged a team-high 14 points per game and earned All-MAAC second-team honors. Rogers shot 43% from deep before breaking a school record at Wichita State two years later in 2024, making 99 3-pointers in a single season.
https://twitter.com/American_Conf/status/1901365693741744536
He sat out 2023 due to transfer requirements and played one season for the Shockers, putting up 16 points and three rebounds a night on heavy minutes. Rogers now complements Tyrese Hunter and PJ Haggerty on the wing, scoring 10 points per game for the AAC-champion Tigers as a redshirt senior.
Christian Ings, Norfolk State
A graduate student guard from Philadelphia, Ings began his career in a Rider uniform in 2020 and 2021. His role grew in year two, starting in 20 of 22 games for the Broncs, averaging 7.7 points. Ings then moved to Norfolk State and helped the Spartans make the NCAA tournament in 2022.
https://twitter.com/NSU_BBALL/status/1894224646163026238
His next season got cut short due to injury, but for the last two years, he’s played full seasons, averaging 10 points per game this year. Ings is shooting a scorching 46% from 3-point range in his sixth season of college basketball, and will now return to the dance with the Spartans, who’ve won the MEAC for the third time in five seasons.
Harlan Obioha, UNCW
The seven-footer played at Niagara for two seasons before transferring to North Carolina Wilmington for the 2024-25 season. Obiaha functioned as the defensive anchor to Greg Paulus’ four-guard lineup in Buffalo. In 2024, Obiaha averaged 10 points and seven rebounds for the Purple Eagles, posting efficient scoring in the MAAC while controlling the glass.
This season, Obiaha averaged nine points and five rebounds per game with a 122 offensive rating in conference play. The Seahawks won their first conference championship since 2017 and are a solid mid-major threat in March.
Sadiku Ibine Ayo, St. John’s
Ayo followed Pitino to St. John’s after his freshman season at Iona in 2023. He’s played spotty minutes over the last three seasons and plays just eight minutes per game this year while captaining the Johnnies. In games he’s played over 10 minutes he has proved effective, stepping in for injured teammates or those getting in foul trouble. The 6-foot-6-inch wing plays with high energy and effort, a staple in Pitino’s philosophy.
Noah Waterman, Louisville
The 6-foot-11-inch big man from Savannah, NY began his career at Niagara in 2020 but only featured in eight games due to injury. He then transferred to two schools, Detroit Mercy and BYU before his final stop at Louisville for the 2024-25 season. Waterman is a floor-spacer as a deep shooter, standing at 6-11. He shoots 36% from behind the arc for his career and is one 3-pointer away from 200 total.
Daemar Kelly, St. Francis PA
Kelly transferred out of Quinnipiac after his freshman year to play for the Red Flash of the NEC. The sophomore found a home, playing 30 minutes per game and averaging eight points and three rebounds.
Kelly scored six points in St. Francis’ upset win over Central Connecticut for their first NEC championship since 1991. St. Francis has to tackle Alabama State in a play-in game, where the winner will face overall 1-seed Auburn.
Kam Farris, Bryant
Farris played two seasons at Marist as an off-ball shooter at 6-3. He averaged 4.8 points per game in 2023 on low volume but high efficiency (40% from deep). Before Marist, Farris spent two years at Robert Morris and played well, averaging over eight points and his career-best efficiency.
Now at Bryant, Farris’ role has lessened to 12 minutes per game for the America East champions.
Devean Williams, Bryant
Like Farris, Williams left a MAAC school, this time Canisius, to play for Bryant. Williams has played just once this season. In two years with the Golden Griffins, Williams played 35 games, averaging 7.7 points in his sophomore season.
Edited by Dan Aulbach
Graphic from Quinn Difiore; photos from Iona, Quinnipiac, Siena, Fairfield, Mount St. Mary’s and Marist Athletics
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Bluesky. Sign up to receive daily alerts here.
