Every year, standout players from smaller schools get poached by larger schools that can offer more money and a championship run. This year has been no different, with players like Mountain West DPOY Magoon Gwath entering the transfer portal on Monday. More news came out this morning, with Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras entering the transfer portal on Tuesday. After a successful run in his sophomore campaign that led to the NCAA Tournament and a battle against Alabama, Folgueiras did what most people expected. What does he bring to the table? What are some potential options for him as a transfer? Let’s dive in.
Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras Enters Transfer Portal
An All-Around Big
Think about what would constitute a perfect big man. One would think about a player who can do it all: score, rebound, playmaker, and defend. Alvaro Folgueiras is all of that in one transfer. He can play center, but often brings the ball up for the Colonials. He averaged 13.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Whatever you need him to do, he can do it. It’s hard to quantify how that will convert to better competition, but somebody who can do everything that well will make a seamless transition.
Folgueiras can hit shots over any player, sometimes acrobatically. He makes the smart plays for himself and his teammates, only averaging 2.3 turnovers per game. He locks down on the defensive end and fights for every loose ball and rebound. While he may not be averaging 20 points per game, virtually any coach would love to have a player with this much versatility on the roster. He didn’t even average 30 minutes per game, so on full minutes, what could those numbers look like? Folgueiras has the potential to change an entire program’s chances.
What Teams will want Alvaro Folgueiras as a Transfer?
Simply put, all of them. As a standard rule, if teams like Duke and UConn are in the mix like they likely are for a player like Chauncey Wiggins, then virtually every team in college basketball would want him. Now, most teams won’t bother because why would any player take little money to play for a small school when Duke would pay them big money? If you’re already entering the transfer portal, you might as well choose the best situation possible. But in reality, teams like Duke and North Carolina will be salivating at this kind of prospect.
Duke loves long wings that can do it all. Look no further than ACC Player of the Year Cooper Flagg. While nobody is quite like Flagg, that is the kind of impact (to a lesser extent) that a team can expect to get from Folgueiras. I keep bringing up Duke as a possible location, but so many players with that tall and athletic build have entered the portal. North Carolina desperately needed a forward to give them quality play. Kentucky, UConn, and any other blue blood you can name will be right up there on the list.
The Last Word
While this kind of move is leading to the downfall of college basketball in some ways, Folgueiras is a player who will have immense interest. He will likely have NBA interest when all is said and done, so it makes sense to prove yourself at a power conference school. Ultimately, Folgueiras may just be a top-five transfer when the cycle is over, so his destination will likely stir the never-ending transfer portal pot.
Photo credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
