Arizona’s three transfers receive high marks from ESPN

James Akinjo | Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Nice recognition for Terrell Brown, Jordan Brown and James Akinjo

Hundreds of players entered the transfer portal this offseason and the Arizona Wildcats extracted two of the best, according to ESPN.

The Worldwide Leader ranked former Seattle U guard Terrell Brown as the No. 6 grad transfer in the country and former Georgetown point guard James Akinjo as the No. 1 midyear transfer in the nation. (Former UA guard Devonaire Doutrive, now at Boise State, is No. 7.)

ESPN did not give much of an explanation as to why it ranked these players the way it did, just citing their stats at their previous schools and some basic accolades.

In Brown’s case, he was first-team All-WAC last season after averaging 20.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

Akinjo was the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2018-19, and averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 assists in seven games as a sophomore before leaving the Georgetown program and enrolling at Arizona midseason.

ESPN also ranked UA forward Jordan Brown as the No. 6 sit-out transfer who will be eligible in 2020-21. He joined the program in 2019-20 after spending his true freshman season at Nevada.

All three transfers should have major roles next season—and maybe start. A former McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brown seems like a lock to start at one of the frontcourt spots after the Wildcats lost Zeke Nnaji to the NBA and Stone Gettings and Chase Jeter to graduation. He is known for his defense and rebounding but Arizona will need him to provide a scoring punch as well.

Akinjo will likely start at point guard...if he is eligible to play immediately. He may have to wait until the spring semester to suit up since he played some games as a sophomore.

Terrell Brown may come off the bench but could start at the 1 or 2 depending on Akinjo’s eligibility and Brandon Williams’ health. Either way, his versatility and scoring should boost the backcourt.

A big question mark, again, will be if Arizona can develop continuity despite having so many new players. It is also adding (at least) five freshmen, four of whom are international recruits.

Here are some other Pac-12 (incoming) transfers recognized by ESPN:

• Amauri Hardy (UNLV to Oregon) ranked 14th among grad transfers
• Jeriah Horne (Tulsa to Colorado) ranked 18th among grad transfers
• Isaiah White (Utah Valley to USC) ranked 23rd among grad transfers
• Chevez Goodwin (Wofford to USC) ranked 24th among grad transfers
• Tahj Eaddy (Santa Clara to USC) ranked 30th among grad transfers
• Ryan Betley (Penn to Cal) ranked 44th among grad transfers
• Johnny Juzang (Kentucky to UCLA) ranked 8th among sit-out transfers
• Luther Muhammad (Ohio State to ASU) ranked 12th among sit-out transfers
• Erik Stevenson (Wichita State to Washington) ranked 14th among sit-out transfers
• Holland Woods (Portland State to ASU) ranked 17th among sit-out transfers
• Joshua Morgan (Long Beach State to USC) ranked 21st among sit-out transfers
• Aaron Estrada (Saint Peter’s to Oregon) ranked 42nd among sit-out transfers

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