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Sixteen transfers who will make the biggest impact this season

Sixteen transfers who will make the biggest impact this season

Our 2015-16 season preview continues with a look at transfers most likely to make an immediate impact next season. Check back the next five weeks for more college hoops preview content.

1. Damion Lee, Louisville (from Drexel): The most prized graduate transfer on the market this offseason joined a program that desperately needed a wing scorer of his caliber. Lee, the nation's fifth-leading scorer at 21.4 points per game a year ago, will provide a jolt of offense for a Cardinals team that must overcome the loss of Terry Rozier, Chris Jones, Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear.

2. Sterling Gibbs, UConn (from Seton Hall): UConn's ceiling next season rose considerably in May when Gibbs chose the Huskies over Ohio State, Pittsburgh and a handful of other suitors. The 6-foot-2 graduate transfer averaged 16.3 points and 3.8 assists and shot 43.6 percent from behind the arc last season at Seton Hall. He'll likely replace graduated star Ryan Boatright as UConn's primary playmaker.

3. Ryan Anderson, Arizona (from Boston College): One of the few near certainties about Arizona's rotation this season is that Anderson will likely claim the team's starting power forward job. The skilled 6-foot-8 senior was a three-year starter for Boston College who averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior and also ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage as a sophomore.

4. Eron Harris, Michigan State (from West Virginia): If Tom Izzo didn't seem especially concerned by the graduation of leading scorer Travis Trice this spring, it's probably because he knew he had Harris ready to replace him at shooting guard. The 6-foot-3 junior averaged 17.2 points per game his final season at West Virginia and has the potential to be an elite shooter and defender for the Spartans.

5. Rasheed Sulaimon, Maryland (from Duke): One year after watching from home as his ex-Duke teammates celebrated capturing the national title, Sulaimon will have a chance to experience that same joy with his new team. Big Ten favorite Maryland will count on the graduate transfer to replace some of Dez Wells' scoring and to emerge as the team's premier perimeter stopper on defense.

6. Cole Huff, Creighton (from Nevada): If Creighton ascends in the Big East pecking order this winter after last year's last-place finish, it's likely that Huff will be one of the primary reasons. The 6-foot-8 junior averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in his final season at Nevada and led Creighton in scoring during its tour of Italy this summer. He played mostly power forward at Nevada but could see time at either forward spot for the Bluejays.

7. Robert Carter, Maryland (from Georgia Tech): On a loaded Maryland team that features an elite point guard, a highly touted Duke transfer and an incoming McDonald's All-American, Carter tends to be more overlooked than he should be. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in his final 10 games at Georgia Tech and has shed weight and added muscle since joining the Terps.

8. Anton Grady, Wichita State (from Cleveland State): Though multiple knee surgeries robbed Grady of the explosiveness he had in high school, the 6-foot-8 forward remains a double-double threat because of his sound fundamentals. His array of post moves and consistent mid-range jump shot will help a Wichita State team that is loaded on the perimeter but must replace standout Darius Carter in the frontcourt.

9. Seth Allen, Virginia Tech (from Maryland): Allen's arrival provides a glimmer of optimism for a Virginia Tech program that has finished last in the ACC each of the past four years. The 6-foot-1 junior averaged 13.4 points and 3.0 assists per game as a sophomore at Maryland and was often the Hokies' best player in practice while sitting out all of last season.

10. Terry Henderson, NC State (from West Virginia): With Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner both gone from last year's Sweet 16 team, Henderson's arrival is perfectly timed. The 6-foot-4 junior should provide much-needed wing scoring for NC State after averaging 11.7 points during his final season at West Virginia and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range in his two years with the Mountaineers.

11. Maurice Watson, Creighton (from Boston University): The other Creighton transfer generating buzz entering the new season is Watson, a 5-foot-10 point guard who was too good for Patriot League competition even as a freshman. Watson averaged 13.3 points and 7.1 assists for the Terriers and he had a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio during Creighton's tour of Italy this summer while also showing off an improved outside shot.

12. Tre' Coggins, Cal State Fullerton (from Air Force): Unhappy at Air Force despite thriving on the basketball floor, Coggins opted to transfer in April 2014. The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter averaged 16.3 points per game his final season under Dave Pilipovich and should emerge as a contender for Big West player of the year this season now that he's free from the rigors of a service academy.

13. Damyean Dotson, Houston (from Oregon): Eager to upgrade his program's talent level so that it can compete in the American Athletic Conference, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson took a risk on a hometown product whose career at Oregon ended amid rape allegations. Dotson started 70 games in two seasons for the Ducks and averaged 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds for a pair of NCAA tournament teams.

14. Tyler Lewis, Butler (from NC State): The marriage of Butler and Lewis could turn out to be a perfect fit. Lewis is a pure point guard whose exceptional vision and pinpoint passes earned him McDonald's All-American honors in high school. He'll inherit the starting job for a Bulldogs team whose offense often got stagnant last season despite the presence of elite shooter Kellen Dunham, versatile slasher Roosevelt Jones and promising forward Andrew Chrabascz.

15. Kareem Canty, Auburn (from Marshall): This seems like a good match between a talented but volatile volume shooter and a coach capable of harnessing his abilities and helping him mature. Canty averaged 16.3 points and 5.5 assists two years ago on a Marshall team that asked him to do too much, but he also shot below 40 percent from the field and committed 3.7 turnovers per game.

16. John Egbunu, Florida (from South Florida): Florida's chances of an upper-echelon finish in the SEC in Mike White's debut season rest in part on Egbunu's broad shoulders. The 6-foot-11 sophomore showed promise in his lone season at South Florida when he averaged 7.4 points, 6.4 boards and 1.3 blocks. He'll step into the Gators' lineup from day one and be expected to be a presence at both ends of the floor.

Sixteen other transfers to watch: Dylan Ennis (Oregon), Durand Johnson (St. John's), Jordan Tolbert (SMU), Dominic Artis (UTEP), Conner Frankamp (Wichita State), Semi Ojeleye (SMU), Ricky Tarrant (Memphis), Hallice Cooke (Iowa State), Kuran Iverson (Rhode Island), Andrew White (Nebraska), Shonn Miller (UConn), Mike Thorne (Illinois), Tyler Cavanagh (George Washington), Joe Rahon (Saint Mary's), Sean Obi (Duke), Mark Tollefson (Arizona)

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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!