The football coach at Virginia Union, Alvin Parker, threaded the needle during an August conversation. He spoke of what schools expect from incoming transfers, so prevalent in this portal era.
“He has to be an impact guy. He can’t be a guy that shows up and plays in a back-up role,” said Parker. “He has to kind of be an add-and-stir guy.”
Transfers, rather than returning players, now often determine a program’s flavor.
University of Richmond basketball was a big winner while leaning on transfers two seasons ago (A-10 regular-season champ) and not a big winner while leaning on transfers last season (10 wins was fewest for Spiders since 2007).
This season, Richmond will again lean on transfers, four of them.
“Obviously a new time in college basketball where this many new guys is fairly normal,” said Chris Mooney, UR’s coach since 2005.
The Spiders held their first official practice Thursday, though they’ve been going at it on and off since June. In addition to the four transfers, UR activates three redshirt freshmen who did not play last season and adds four true freshmen. Only five of the 16 Spiders have played in a game for Richmond.
“We’ve had the guys here all summer … I really, really enjoy these guys and I like a lot of things about them,” said Mooney. “Competitiveness, sense for the game, athleticism, speed. So a lot of things, I think, to like, and we’re anxious to get started.”
The Spiders could end up being like that 2023-24 team that went 15-3 in the A-10 (23-10 overall) while winning the league’s regular-season title. Five of that team’s top seven scorers were transfers.
Or they could end up being like last season’s 10-22 team (5-13 A-10). Six of that team’s top eight scorers were transfers.
These days, it seems all about finding the right “add-and-stir” guys.
“I think that’s just a little bit part of the new way that it works,” said Mooney. “The recruiting window in the spring is pretty hectic. You have to really be prepared and go into it with the exact idea of what’s going on, who’s available, when these guys become available, the spots that you have, certainly the compensation you can reward guys.”
Most programs need to negotiate and agree to terms with transfers expected to be leading characters six months later. That instant responsibility at Richmond falls on 6-foot-7 Jaden Daughtry (Indiana State), 6-5 A.J. Lopez (Maine), 6-2 David Thomas (DePaul) and 6-3 Will Johnston (Loyola Marymount), players acquired during the offseason. UR is the third college for Thomas (also Mercer), Lopez (also New Hampshire), and Johnston (also Texas-Rio Grande Valley).
“They will have learned a different way, and maybe multiple different ways,” said Mooney. “How can you get them to do this as quickly as you can without being too impatient with them?”
‘Strength in numbers’
Mooney mentioned “strength in numbers,” referring to what he believes will be valuable Spiders’ depth primarily formed by returning players, those who have been in games, and those who have not.
On many teams, it’s simple to pick out the players who will be top scorers. Not so with this Richmond team.
“There’s a lot of guys who can put the ball in the hoop,” said senior center Mike Walz.
Fans just don’t know them yet, for the most part.
While this portal era proceeds, Mooney wants some stability. That probably won’t be in players. In culture, there’s a shot.
“You don’t want to lose who we are as a program,” said Mooney. “We work really hard on having a particular way we do things, play, the way we practice, the way we meet, the way we lift weights, everything. So you don’t want to compromise too much.”
Daughtry’s official return
Daughtry was officially cleared to return to practice after being held out for several weeks because of concerns raised by cardiac testing Richmond conducted.
Daughtry, who played at L.C. Bird High, Benedictine and Hargrave Military Academy, spent the last two years at Indiana State, averaging 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore.
“Great news about Jaden and he’s really handled himself amazingly well,” said Mooney. “As much as that would be disconcerting to someone, he stayed as a great teammate. He was always here. He didn’t take personal days to deal with the issues he was having.”
The coach said he was “very concerned” about what Daughtry’s status would be by the time practice officially began.
Daughtry Thursday began a return-to-play schedule to catch up to where the Spiders are physically.
“He can really have an impact,” said Mooney.
RICHMOND SCHEDULE
Oct.: 25, James Madison (exhibition)
Nov.: 5, Southern Virginia; 8, East Carolina; 11, William & Mary; 19, VMI; 22, Gardner-Webb; 27, Furman*; 28, Charlotte/Illinois State*
Dec.: 3, at Belmont; 6, Old Dominion; 13, Southern Illinois; 17, at Elon; 20, The Citadel; 28, Charleston Southern; 31, George Washington
Jan.: 4, at Fordham; 7, at St. Bonaventure; 11, Saint Joseph’s; 14, La Salle; 17, at Saint Louis; 21, Rhode Island; 24, at George Washington; 27, at VCU**; 31, Davidson
Feb.: 7, at Rhode Island; 10, George Mason; 14, VCU**; 18, at Davidson; 21, St. Bonaventure; 28, at Loyola Chicago
March: 3, Dayton; 7, at Duquesne; 11-15: Atlantic 10 tournament, Pittsburgh
*-Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational (Orlando, Fla.)
**-Capital City Classic Presented by Richmond Area Honda Dealers