Seton Hall transfer Sterling Gibbs will have a long list of suitors
Another option has emerged for programs in pursuit of an impact transfer guard this spring.
Seton Hall's leading scorer Sterling Gibbs reportedly is leaving the Pirates and should be eligible right away at the school of his choice after his graduation this spring.
The list of marquee suitors should be long for Gibbs, a deadly spot-up shooter with the ability to create for himself off the dribble as well. The 6-foot-2 combo guard averaged 16.3 points and 3.8 assists per game as a junior and shot 43.6 percent from behind the arc, briefly leading Seton Hall into contention for an NCAA bid before injuries and chemistry issues sent the Pirates into a February tailspin.
Ohio State and UConn are potential destinations for Gibbs, the Asbury Park Press reported. It's unclear who else will express interest, but Gonzaga, Maryland and Marquette have been among the name-brand programs in the market for a transfer guard this spring.
Gibbs' decision to transfer is only surprising because he told ZagsBlog.com and SNY.TV he was "definitely coming back" after the Pirates' 78-56 loss to Marquette in the first round of the Big East Tournament. The in-fighting in the Seton Hall locker room and the chance to play for a winner right away surely contributed to his change of heart a month later.
There have been several reports of friction between Seton Hall's upperclassmen and its heralded freshman class over playing time and shot selection. Frustration boiled over when senior Brandon Mobley described Seton Hall as 13 individuals rather than a united team and when Gibbs and freshman Isaiah Whitehead had to be separated by an assistant coach during a timeout late in a February loss to Georgetown.
Gibbs’ close friend Jaren Sina announced his intent to transfer the next day. Gibbs chose to endure the rest of the season, but now he too is leaving.
The departure of Gibbs leaves a huge hole in Seton Hall's lineup and diminishes the chances of the Pirates achieving the breakthrough season coach Kevin Willard may need to quiet his critics. Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington are now Seton Hall's best options at point guard and both are certainly more renowned for their scoring than distributing.
Seton Hall's loss will be someone else's gain. Between Gibbs' productivity and the number of programs in the market for immediate help, his options should be limitless.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
