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With the transfer portal popping off like a shirt button after a Thanksgiving meal, I had an idea for a thought exercise…
Does anyone recall the old Bill Simmons “trade value” columns? (It’s still a thing, I suppose, but feels less relevant now than it did 10 or 15 years ago.) It’s where Simmons would list NBA players according to how much value they would hold in a trade. Salaries & age were factored in and would inform players’ placement. So rather than a simple list of “who’s the best player?”, the trade value column would ask the question, “When you consider all relevant factors, would you trade Guy A for Guy B straight-up?” If the answer to that question is yes, then Guy A would be ranked higher than Guy B.
As I reflected on these old columns, I wondered if a similar thing could be done for college athletes. Instead of salary & age, their remaining eligibility would serve as the additional factor to be included. While the “currency” of a student-athlete’s remaining years to play has always been valuable, it’s potentially noticed more now that the portal makes it more likely that a player could move teams.
So I wanted to take a crack at making an NSIC “Transfer Value” list. Simply put, it’s a ranking of the players in the NSIC according to how much value they would have in the transfer portal, based on their playing ability + remaining eligibility. The question to be answered here would be, “Would you rather have Guy A for 1 year or Guy B for 2 years?”
Below is the list that I would make coming off the 2023-24 season. Similar to Simmons’ lists, I put players in groups according to what broad category they would fit in. In some cases, I might actually prefer a guy in a lower group to a guy placed just above him, but the categories make things a little more neat & tidy. I shortened the list to just the “impact” guys (or could-someday-be-impact-guys). Finally, I only included dudes who have actually played; it’s hard to pin down how good a redshirting freshman will be when he’s just sitting there, and not all HS studs acclimate to the college game.
So here’s my list! Critique it, fine-tune it, tear it apart, do what you’d like! It was a fun thing to think through, so I got my fill out of it.
Group G – “I See Something There, But It’s Early”
These guys showed something in their freshman year that says they could become at least a quality starter in the conference, and have years to grow into that.
42. Anish Ramlall – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 8.9 PTS, 36.6% FG, 34.3% 3PT
41. Wyatt Hawks – forward, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 6.8 PTS, 5.8 REB, 50.6% FG
40. Kyle Ingwerson – guard/forward, Sioux Falls – 3 years left/returning – 8.2 PTS, 39.8% FG, 34.7% 3PT
39. Jamir Allen – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 10.2 PTS, 1.2 STL, 40.4% FG, 30.6% 3PT
38. JJ Ferrin – guard, Wayne – 3 years left/returning – 7.6 PTS, 47.9% FG, 42.1% 3PT
37. Mekhi Shaw – guard, SMSU – 3 years left/returning – 4.9 PTS, 1.2 STL, 46.7% FG
36. Caleb Siwek – guard, Duluth – 3 years left/returning – 2.5 PTS, 38.5% FG, 36.6% 3PT
35. Ben Kopetzki – guard, Concordia SP – 3 years left/returning – 10.6 PTS, 43.2% FG, 37.7% 3PT
34. Lucas Morgan – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/ returning – 10.0 PTS, 5.7 REB, 44.3% FG, 38.2% 3PT
Group F – One Last Ride: Solid Role Players
These guys don’t have as high of ceilings as the next groups, but there’s more certainty of contributing something positive than the last group.
33. Shawn Warrior – guard, Sioux Falls – 1 year left/returning – 10.5 PTS, 5.3 REB, 45.0% FG
32. Jaxon Gunville – guard, Minot – 1 year left/returning – 10.1 PTS, 38.5% FG, 35.8% 3PT
31. Gerald Gittens – guard, UMary – 1 year left/in the portal – 13.8 PTS, 3.1 AST, 1.2 STL, 42.6% FG, 35.3% 3PT
30. Reid Grant – guard, Crookston – 1 year left/returning – 14.1 PTS, 3.3 AST, 47.7% FG, 43.0% 3PT
29. Noah Puetz – guard/forward, Sioux Falls – 1 year left/returning – 11.4 PTS, 4.5 REB, 44.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT
Group E – Solid Role Players w/ Years Left
This quartet of role players have shown enough that I’d want them on my team to fill a role, and if things go right could blossom into something more.
28. Mason Lund – guard, SMSU – 2 years left/returning – 7.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 47.1% FG, 36.6% 3PT
27. Brayden Williams – guard, Bemidji – 2 years left/returning – 8.7 PTS, 3.0 AST, 41.8% FG, 36.9% 3PT
26. Jakob Braaten – guard, SMSU – 2 years left/returning – 5.9 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.2 STL, 42.2% FG
25. Caden Hinker – forward, Augustana – 2 years left/returning – 7.9 PTS, 4.9 REB, 51.6% FG
Group D – One Last Ride: All-Conference Starters
Proven commodities, you can rely on them to be an impact player for your team… but only for one more year.
24. Ja’Kair Sanchez – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 12.5 PTS, 4.3 REB, 42.0% FG, 42.2% 3PT
23. Connor Hollenbeck – forward, Minot – 1 year left/returning – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 11.8 PTS, 7.0 REB, 46.2% FG
22. Dunwa Omot – guard, SMSU – 1 year left/returning – 22-23 All-NSIC 2nd Team; 11.0 PTS, 1.1 STL, 45.5% FG, 39.0% 3PT
21. Trey Deveaux – forward, Wayne – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 15.4 PTS, 6.2 REB, 47.1% FG, 37.3% 3PT
20. Olumide Adelodun – guard, Winona – 1 year left/in the portal – 13.6 PTS, 6.8 REB, 43.2% FG, 39.4% 3PT
19. Antwan Kimmons – guard, Concordia SP – 1 year left/returning – 22-23 All-NSIC 1st Team; 15.5 PTS, 4.5 REB, 3.9 AST, 50.0% FG
Group C – Could Grow into All-Conference Level
With varying degrees of certainty, these are the guys who’ve shown the potential to become an all-conference talent with an increased role (especially those two Augie youngsters).
18. David Harmon – guard, Wayne – 2 years left/in the portal – 10.6 PTS, 44.9% FG, 36.3% 3PT
17. Alec Millender – guard, Wayne – 2 years left/in the portal – 13.2 PTS, 1.2 STL, 43.9% FG, 36.4% 3PT
16. Mattie Thompson – forward, Duluth – 2 years left/returning – 6.3 PTS, 3.2 REB, 49.1% FG
15. Logan Kinsey – forward, MSUM – 2 years left/returning – 11.1 PTS, 5.5 REB, 49.8% FG
14. Marcus Skeete – guard/forward, Concordia SP – 2 years left/returning – 15.0 PTS, 6.8 REB, 3.1 AST, 48.6% FG
13. Arhman Lewis – guard, Augustana – 3 years left/in the portal – 8.8 PTS, 3.6 AST, 44.3% FG
12. Caden Kirkman – forward, Augustana – 3 years left/in the portal – 8.3 PTS, 56.1% FG
Group B – One Last Ride: Known Studs
These guys are good & have one more year to back it up. The top end of this group could maybe even move up a division for their final ride if they wanted.
11. Blaize Sagna – guard, Crookston – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 20.8 PTS, 4.5 REB, 42.6% FG, 38.4% 3PT
10. JaMir Price – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 1st Team; 14.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 1.5 STL, 41.8% FG
9. Justin Eagins – guard, Mankato – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC Team; 12.6 PTS, 1.1 STL, 44.5% FG, 41.3% 3PT
8. Jacob Beeninga – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC 1st Team; 16.5 PTS, 1.1 STL, 34.6% FG, 28.0% 3PT
7. Connor Dillon – guard, Winona – 1 year left/in the portal – 2x All-NSIC Team; 21.6 PTS, 48.1% FG, 39.0% 3PT
6. Charlie Katona – forward, Duluth – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC Team; 12.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.0 STL, 53.5% FG
5. John Sutherland – forward, Bemidji – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC 1st Team; 20.0 PTS, 7.9 REB, 4.0 AST, 57.3% FG
4. Josh Dilling – guard, Northern – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 18.7 PTS, 4.3 AST, 52.3% FG, 46.1% 3PT
3. Jacksen Moni – forward, Northern – 1 year left/in the portal – 3x All-NSIC Team; 21.3 PTS, 8.1 REB, 47.4% FG, 32.9% 3PT
2. Kyreese Willingham – guard, Mankato – 1 year left/returning – All-NSIC 1st Team; 14.5 PTS, 5.3 REB, 55.6% FG, 41.1% 3PT
Group A – “Oh God, Please Don’t Leave Us”
The true freshman that already handled a large role and could’ve been an All-Conference pick this year. With 3 years left to develop his game, I think he’s got more transfer value than any other guy in the NSIC (that we’ve seen).
1. Aeron Stevens – forward, SMSU – 3 years left/returning – 11.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 46.4% FG
Does anyone recall the old Bill Simmons “trade value” columns? (It’s still a thing, I suppose, but feels less relevant now than it did 10 or 15 years ago.) It’s where Simmons would list NBA players according to how much value they would hold in a trade. Salaries & age were factored in and would inform players’ placement. So rather than a simple list of “who’s the best player?”, the trade value column would ask the question, “When you consider all relevant factors, would you trade Guy A for Guy B straight-up?” If the answer to that question is yes, then Guy A would be ranked higher than Guy B.
As I reflected on these old columns, I wondered if a similar thing could be done for college athletes. Instead of salary & age, their remaining eligibility would serve as the additional factor to be included. While the “currency” of a student-athlete’s remaining years to play has always been valuable, it’s potentially noticed more now that the portal makes it more likely that a player could move teams.
So I wanted to take a crack at making an NSIC “Transfer Value” list. Simply put, it’s a ranking of the players in the NSIC according to how much value they would have in the transfer portal, based on their playing ability + remaining eligibility. The question to be answered here would be, “Would you rather have Guy A for 1 year or Guy B for 2 years?”
Below is the list that I would make coming off the 2023-24 season. Similar to Simmons’ lists, I put players in groups according to what broad category they would fit in. In some cases, I might actually prefer a guy in a lower group to a guy placed just above him, but the categories make things a little more neat & tidy. I shortened the list to just the “impact” guys (or could-someday-be-impact-guys). Finally, I only included dudes who have actually played; it’s hard to pin down how good a redshirting freshman will be when he’s just sitting there, and not all HS studs acclimate to the college game.
So here’s my list! Critique it, fine-tune it, tear it apart, do what you’d like! It was a fun thing to think through, so I got my fill out of it.
Group G – “I See Something There, But It’s Early”
These guys showed something in their freshman year that says they could become at least a quality starter in the conference, and have years to grow into that.
42. Anish Ramlall – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 8.9 PTS, 36.6% FG, 34.3% 3PT
41. Wyatt Hawks – forward, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 6.8 PTS, 5.8 REB, 50.6% FG
40. Kyle Ingwerson – guard/forward, Sioux Falls – 3 years left/returning – 8.2 PTS, 39.8% FG, 34.7% 3PT
39. Jamir Allen – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/returning – 10.2 PTS, 1.2 STL, 40.4% FG, 30.6% 3PT
38. JJ Ferrin – guard, Wayne – 3 years left/returning – 7.6 PTS, 47.9% FG, 42.1% 3PT
37. Mekhi Shaw – guard, SMSU – 3 years left/returning – 4.9 PTS, 1.2 STL, 46.7% FG
36. Caleb Siwek – guard, Duluth – 3 years left/returning – 2.5 PTS, 38.5% FG, 36.6% 3PT
35. Ben Kopetzki – guard, Concordia SP – 3 years left/returning – 10.6 PTS, 43.2% FG, 37.7% 3PT
34. Lucas Morgan – guard, St. Cloud – 3 years left/ returning – 10.0 PTS, 5.7 REB, 44.3% FG, 38.2% 3PT
Group F – One Last Ride: Solid Role Players
These guys don’t have as high of ceilings as the next groups, but there’s more certainty of contributing something positive than the last group.
33. Shawn Warrior – guard, Sioux Falls – 1 year left/returning – 10.5 PTS, 5.3 REB, 45.0% FG
32. Jaxon Gunville – guard, Minot – 1 year left/returning – 10.1 PTS, 38.5% FG, 35.8% 3PT
31. Gerald Gittens – guard, UMary – 1 year left/in the portal – 13.8 PTS, 3.1 AST, 1.2 STL, 42.6% FG, 35.3% 3PT
30. Reid Grant – guard, Crookston – 1 year left/returning – 14.1 PTS, 3.3 AST, 47.7% FG, 43.0% 3PT
29. Noah Puetz – guard/forward, Sioux Falls – 1 year left/returning – 11.4 PTS, 4.5 REB, 44.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT
Group E – Solid Role Players w/ Years Left
This quartet of role players have shown enough that I’d want them on my team to fill a role, and if things go right could blossom into something more.
28. Mason Lund – guard, SMSU – 2 years left/returning – 7.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 47.1% FG, 36.6% 3PT
27. Brayden Williams – guard, Bemidji – 2 years left/returning – 8.7 PTS, 3.0 AST, 41.8% FG, 36.9% 3PT
26. Jakob Braaten – guard, SMSU – 2 years left/returning – 5.9 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.2 STL, 42.2% FG
25. Caden Hinker – forward, Augustana – 2 years left/returning – 7.9 PTS, 4.9 REB, 51.6% FG
Group D – One Last Ride: All-Conference Starters
Proven commodities, you can rely on them to be an impact player for your team… but only for one more year.
24. Ja’Kair Sanchez – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 12.5 PTS, 4.3 REB, 42.0% FG, 42.2% 3PT
23. Connor Hollenbeck – forward, Minot – 1 year left/returning – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 11.8 PTS, 7.0 REB, 46.2% FG
22. Dunwa Omot – guard, SMSU – 1 year left/returning – 22-23 All-NSIC 2nd Team; 11.0 PTS, 1.1 STL, 45.5% FG, 39.0% 3PT
21. Trey Deveaux – forward, Wayne – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 15.4 PTS, 6.2 REB, 47.1% FG, 37.3% 3PT
20. Olumide Adelodun – guard, Winona – 1 year left/in the portal – 13.6 PTS, 6.8 REB, 43.2% FG, 39.4% 3PT
19. Antwan Kimmons – guard, Concordia SP – 1 year left/returning – 22-23 All-NSIC 1st Team; 15.5 PTS, 4.5 REB, 3.9 AST, 50.0% FG
Group C – Could Grow into All-Conference Level
With varying degrees of certainty, these are the guys who’ve shown the potential to become an all-conference talent with an increased role (especially those two Augie youngsters).
18. David Harmon – guard, Wayne – 2 years left/in the portal – 10.6 PTS, 44.9% FG, 36.3% 3PT
17. Alec Millender – guard, Wayne – 2 years left/in the portal – 13.2 PTS, 1.2 STL, 43.9% FG, 36.4% 3PT
16. Mattie Thompson – forward, Duluth – 2 years left/returning – 6.3 PTS, 3.2 REB, 49.1% FG
15. Logan Kinsey – forward, MSUM – 2 years left/returning – 11.1 PTS, 5.5 REB, 49.8% FG
14. Marcus Skeete – guard/forward, Concordia SP – 2 years left/returning – 15.0 PTS, 6.8 REB, 3.1 AST, 48.6% FG
13. Arhman Lewis – guard, Augustana – 3 years left/in the portal – 8.8 PTS, 3.6 AST, 44.3% FG
12. Caden Kirkman – forward, Augustana – 3 years left/in the portal – 8.3 PTS, 56.1% FG
Group B – One Last Ride: Known Studs
These guys are good & have one more year to back it up. The top end of this group could maybe even move up a division for their final ride if they wanted.
11. Blaize Sagna – guard, Crookston – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 20.8 PTS, 4.5 REB, 42.6% FG, 38.4% 3PT
10. JaMir Price – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 1st Team; 14.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 1.5 STL, 41.8% FG
9. Justin Eagins – guard, Mankato – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC Team; 12.6 PTS, 1.1 STL, 44.5% FG, 41.3% 3PT
8. Jacob Beeninga – guard, MSUM – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC 1st Team; 16.5 PTS, 1.1 STL, 34.6% FG, 28.0% 3PT
7. Connor Dillon – guard, Winona – 1 year left/in the portal – 2x All-NSIC Team; 21.6 PTS, 48.1% FG, 39.0% 3PT
6. Charlie Katona – forward, Duluth – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC Team; 12.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.0 STL, 53.5% FG
5. John Sutherland – forward, Bemidji – 1 year left/returning – 2x All-NSIC 1st Team; 20.0 PTS, 7.9 REB, 4.0 AST, 57.3% FG
4. Josh Dilling – guard, Northern – 1 year left/in the portal – All-NSIC 2nd Team; 18.7 PTS, 4.3 AST, 52.3% FG, 46.1% 3PT
3. Jacksen Moni – forward, Northern – 1 year left/in the portal – 3x All-NSIC Team; 21.3 PTS, 8.1 REB, 47.4% FG, 32.9% 3PT
2. Kyreese Willingham – guard, Mankato – 1 year left/returning – All-NSIC 1st Team; 14.5 PTS, 5.3 REB, 55.6% FG, 41.1% 3PT
Group A – “Oh God, Please Don’t Leave Us”
The true freshman that already handled a large role and could’ve been an All-Conference pick this year. With 3 years left to develop his game, I think he’s got more transfer value than any other guy in the NSIC (that we’ve seen).
1. Aeron Stevens – forward, SMSU – 3 years left/returning – 11.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 46.4% FG
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