July marks the start of a new season of college athletics, with conference realignment becoming official on the first. It’s also a slow period for the college basketball transfer portal, with the majority of teams attempting to finalize their rosters in time to have summer workouts with all players accounted for.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be more moves to come, however, with hundreds of players still available in the portal.
Among the most notable names still on the market is former Washington and Arkansas guard Keyon Menifield. Menifield, initially from Flint, MI, played high school basketball in Arizona before committing to the Huskies for the 2022-23 season.
The 6’1 guard earned Pac-12 All Freshman honors after averaging 10 points, 3.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 33% from beyond the arc. He then hit the portal and landed with Eric Musselman at Arkansas, one of many transfer portal guards to head to Fayetteville last offseason.
Things didn’t go as well for Menifield in year two, as he only managed to appear in 14 games thanks to a groin injury which kept him off the floor in the latter half of the season. When playing Menifield averaged 7.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 31.7% shooting from deep.
The rising junior is back in the portal and looking for his third home in three years. The talent is there, but with many programs already filling out their rotations his options are dwindling.
Below is a look at five teams that have spots and could use a player like Menifield for the upcoming 2024-25 season:
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Northwestern lost a significant amount of talent in the guard room, none more impactful than two-time All Big Ten star Boo Buie, who wrapped up an incredible five year career in Evanston by averaging 19 points per game, giving him 2,187 career points in a Wildcats uniform.
The team did add a veteran guard in the transfer portal in Jalen Leach out of Fairfield, but Chris Collins could use more scoring punch in the backcourt in order to keep up with the new look Big Ten – now up to 18 members.
Menifield is from the Midwest and could thrive under coach Collins after an up-and-down first two collegiate seasons.
Syndication: Arizona Republic
Bryce Drew and Grand Canyon got excellent news with the surprise return of Tyon Grant-Foster, a 6’7 guard who averaged over 20 points per game last season.
Grant-Foster and Ray Harrison both returning, along with the addition of UT-Arlington transfer Makaih Williams, gives the ‘Lopes a trio of excellent guards heading into their final year in the WAC.
However, the team lost veteran Jovan Blacksher in the transfer portal to Cal, and after St. John’s transfer Glenn Taylor decided not to come to Grand Canyon after all, the team could use another guard in the mix.
Menifield played high school ball in Arizona and could be the next ‘down transfer’ to find success in coach Drew’s system.
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Only one of Eastern Michigan’s rotational guards from last season, Arne Osojnik, is returning for the Eagles. Tyson Acuff, who averaged nearly 22 points per game last year, is out the door having transferred to Rutgers, leaving this program in need of some reinforcements.
They did bring in a pair of guards via the portal, Jalen Terry from DePaul and Julian Lewis from Miami (OH), but landing a big fish like Menifield would give them a big advantage in the MAC this season. For Menifield, Eastern Michigan is close to his home in Flint, and a chance to play in a less pressure filled environment and have the ball in his hands quite a bit might be appealing heading into his junior year.
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Doug Gottlieb has yet to make a big splash after taking over as head coach for Green Bay, but landing Menifield would certainly signal to the Horizon League – and the great college basketball landscape – that he means business.
The Phoenix lost star guard Noah Reynolds to TCU and promising shooting guard David Douglas to Fresno State. They did keep a pair of rising juniors in Preston Ruedinger and Foster Wonders, but Menifield would no doubt slot into a huge role right away.
Plus, the team’s only incoming freshman is 3-star point guard Jeremiah Johnson, who played at PHHoenix Prep in Arizona…the same high school as Menifield.
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Florida State saw nine players depart via the transfer portal this offseason, and so far have only added two transfers themselves – a pair of forwards in Bostyn Holt (South Dakota) and Jerry Deng (Hampton).
The return of Jamir Watkins is crucial for Leonard Hamilton’s team, but outside of him and Chandler Jackson this team is lacking backcourt depth.
Menifield could be convinced to go play in the ACC and alongside a talented running mate in Watkins, and would add some veteran experience to a ‘Noles team that – as currently constructed – is likely going to rely heavily on incoming freshman Daquan Davis.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/transfer-portal-keyon-menifield-arkansas-basketball/