Transfer portal: Five things to know about talented point guard Noah Fernandes before Rutgers basketball visit
Rutgers basketball will be hosting Noah Fernandes this week for an official visit as they recruit one of the top point guards in the transfer portal.
A complete point guard who can score, distribute and play defense, Fernandes showed last season for UMass that he has all the tools to step in and be a starter for the Big Ten program. Adding Fernandes would help complete the Scarlet Knights starting five, giving them some versatility to run different looks offensively.
An accomplished scorer, Fernandes averaged 13.4 points per game last season. He posted a career-high 48.0 field goal percentage last season.
Rutgers has made the postseason each of the last three years and has four straight winning seasons in the ultra-tight Big Ten. He is a big potential piece for Rutgers as they return a strong projected lineup next season.
The visit from Fernandes is a big piece of news for the Scarlet Knights as they look to retool this offseason.
Scroll down the check out a quick primer on Noah Fernandes as the transfer portal point guard visits Rutgers basketball this week for an official visit!
Rutgers basketball knows Noah Fernandes all too well
Remember this moment from 2021?
NOAH FERNANDES FOR THE WIN 😱😱😱 UMASS AT THE BUZZER 85-83 pic.twitter.com/odZ1nNQbLA
— A10 Talk (@A10Talk) November 27, 2021
Noah Fernandes was a solid mid-major recruit out of high school
A three-star recruit out of Woodstock Academy (Woodstock, CT), Fernandes was a pretty solid recruit. He committed to Wichita State as part of the 2019 recruiting class while holding offers from programs such as Depaul, Fordham, UMass, Old Dominion, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Louis and Temple among others.
He would transfer to UMass after one season with Wichita State.
Noah Fernandes saw his season end early with an injury
On track for what was arguably the best all-around season of his collegiate career, Fernandes injured his ankle in mid-January and never returned last season. It was a blow for UMass as he was coming off a hot stretch where he had five consecutive double-digit scoring games prior to the injury.
During those five games, he shot 54.7 percent and 43.4 percent from 3-point range. His shooting percentage from last year was a career high.
The Myrtle Beach Invitational MVP
In guiding UMass to the Myrtle Beach Invitational championship, Fernandes was named the tournament’s MVP.
He averaged 15 points in the tournament’s three games, including 22 points against Colorado in the Minutemen’s opening game. It was a strong performance from Fernandes in all three games of the invitational as UMass beat Colorado, Murray State and Charlotte.
NOAH FERNANDES FOR THE WIN!!!!
UMass is through to the finals after knocking off Murray State, 71-69. Frank Martin. Nice. pic.twitter.com/O20iRRzZud
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 18, 2022
Out of the transfer portal, Noah Fernandes is registering strong offers
Noah Fernandes is certainly gaining some strong traction since entering the transfer portal. Rutgers is joined by Butler as getting visits from the talented and versatile point guard.
He is one of the top players to enter the portal, being ranked the No. 26 point guard by On3.
Considering he is a career-double digit scoring during his three seasons in the Atlantic 10, is a solid defender and limits turnovers while running the offense, Fernandes might actually be ranked too low.
