Transfer portal tales: Big 12 basketball players sought new homes for very different reasons
By early June, many of college basketball's top transfers had found their new homes.
Joe Toussaint was not one of them. After finishing his first year at West Virginia, Toussaint — who began his collegiate career at Iowa — had every intention of returning to Morgantown. He was part of the welcoming committee in bringing along Kerr Kriisa (Arizona) and Jesse Edwards (Syracuse), who were among those spring movers.
But Toussaint's world changed in the summer. Bob Huggins, already in hot water from derogatory comments, was arrested for a DUI. Details of how it went down are disputed — mostly by Huggins — but the bottom line was West Virginia basketball was getting a new coach.
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Josh Eilert, a long-time assistant under Huggins, tried to patch the sinking ship. He had to re-recruit not only the returners like Toussaint, but also guys like Krissa, who went to WVU to play because of Huggins.
"We was going through a hard time," Toussaint said, "when Huggs had that situation going on and just coming to the gym, everybody would be sad. It would be just not a vibe you really want to be in."
Toussaint wanted Eilert to be named the Mountaineers' new head coach, but WVU took about a week to make him the interim. Toussaint couldn't wait that long. With one year of eligibility left, Toussaint put his name into the transfer portal to see what was out there in case Eilert wasn't the chosen man.
"Honestly, I went in there just to see who would take me," Toussaint said. "When I did that, Texas Tech, Coach (Grant) McCasland was the first one to talk to me."
Ultimately, Eilert was named the interim, but Toussaint had already decided he would go elsewhere.
Player and coach were back together for Big 12 basketball media days in the T-Mobile Center a few weeks ago. Toussaint got a chance to see Eilert again. The two built a strong relationship during their short time together and Toussaint was thrilled to see Eilert happy.
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Had WVU not taken as long to name Eilert as Huggins' replacement, Toussaint said he would still be a Mountaineer. However, he has no regrets over his decision.
Toussaint said he's made it clear to Eilert how much he still cares for him, but he's found his new home in Lubbock.
"There's no love lost at all," Toussaint said, "but just things have to happen in a mannerly fashion."
College basketball players are looked at as percentage points when it comes to the transfer portal. Some like to focus on the whole rather than the individual, case-by-case decisions players make when moving to a new school. Toussaint is one such instance where the numbers don't tell the entire story.
Honesty is the best policy
Growing up in Rapid City, the University of South Dakota was never too far from Kyah Watson's view. A standout for Stevens High School, Watson committed to USD, and head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, midway through her junior year of high school.
After two years together with the Coyotes, which included a run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16, Plitzuweit took the job at West Virginia. Watson followed her to Morgantown.
But just one year after hitting the Country Roads, Plitzuweit packed up again, this time to lead the University of Minnesota. Having already used her one-time transfer, Watson wasn't easily able to tag along. She decided to stick with West Virginia rather than have to sit out a year.
"I would say it was difficult," Watson said. "I had known that whole coaching staff for many years, but you know, I'm happy with my decision. It's fun. Enjoying my time. I like the new coaching staff. They're great."
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Watson was productive in her first year in Morgantown, playing 30.3 minutes and averaging 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. New head coach Mark Kellogg said she was one of six players he didn't have to re-recruit too hard to stick around during the transition.
Watson, along with JJ Quinerly and Jayla Hemingway, are part of that group Kellogg has taken over with the Mountaineers. When asked what they were looking for out of their new coach, Quinerly and Hemingway had parallel thinking.
"I feel like there's some coaches out there that may say one thing but not really follow up with actions," Hemingway said. "I feel like Coach (Kellogg) does a really good job of backing up everything he says. That's really important to me."
Outgrowing your surroundings
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang loves the fact Tylor Perry is always smiling as much as he loves the 5-foot-11 guard's shooting ability.
It wasn't long ago Perry, a native of Fort Coffee, Oklahoma, was trying to find a Division I home. Perry began his collegiate career at Coffeyville Community College before Grant McCasland brought him to Denton. Together, they put together one of North Texas' best years ever.
Perry was the Conference USA Player of the Year as he led the Mean Green to the National Invitational Tournament championship, where Perry was named the Most Outstanding Player. The night of that title win, it was revealed that McCasland would be taking over as head coach at Texas Tech. A few days later, Perry announced he was entering the 2023 NBA Draft while also entering his name into the transfer portal.
The Red Raiders were among the finalists for Perry's services before he decided to join conference foe Kansas State. The pair are still close, reconnecting at media days and discussing one another with the assembled media. Each was complimentary of each other.
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"It'll definitely be exciting," Perry said of playing against his former coach later this year. "We know each other very well, of course. And it would be a bit bittersweet moment because he's not the only coach that went with him from North Texas.
"The guy who recruited me, Matthew Braeuer, is also on his staff at Tech, so it'll definitely be fun and I'm excited for that matchup."
Player and coach each made moves to the Power 5 level, a short-term marriage that resulted in big things for both. The breakup was hard, but the admiration persists.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Transfer portal tales: Big 12 basketball players sought new homes for very different reasons
