Eli Boettger | @boettger_eli | 04/24/20
Welcome back to Three Things!
The intention of Three Things is simple: Keeping you informed. The offseason can be a busy time and college basketball isn’t always on everyone’s radars from April to October.
Here’s how it will work: Every morning, Monday through Friday, we will provide you with three things that you need to know from the previous day. Pretty simple, right? You’ll be amazed by your new college basketball wisdom!
Here are the three things you need to know for April 24.
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Matt Haarms makes choice
Former Purdue big man and grad transfer Matt Haarms picked BYU over Kentucky and Texas Tech on Thursday. The 7-3 center cited a connection with Cougars head coach Mark Pope as the main reason he chose the WCC squad.
Haarms opted to transfer out of the Boilermaker program earlier this month after starting 40 of his 102 appearances over the previous three seasons, averaging 7.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. The Netherlands native is efficient with the ball and is a high-end paint presence who brings plenty of energy and hustle.
UNC loses guard
Jeremiah Francis‘ time in a North Carolina uniform has come to an end. The freshman guard announced Thursday that he will be entering the transfer portal and will find a new home for the remainder of his college eligibility.
Francis appeared in 16 games this past season for the Tar Heels, averaging 13.6 minutes and 3.3 points per contest while starting on three occasions. His ongoing battle with injuries provided a major obstacle, missing his final two seasons of high school basketball after knee surgeries and sitting out the first month of the ’19-20 season in recovery. When healthy, Francis can provide solid minutes to just about any team around the country. With UNC bringing in star freshmen guards Caleb Love and R.J. Davis, Francis’ playing time would have taken a hit this coming season.
Corey Kispert declares
One of the big mysteries this offseason is how many contributors Gonzaga will wind up returning to campus for the ’20-21 campaign. On Thursday, Bulldogs forward Corey Kispert declared for the NBA Draft without an agent.
Kispert started each of Gonzaga’s 33 games this past season, averaging 13.9 points per contest while shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range. The 6-7, 220-pound junior has gained considerable interest from NBA scouts, appearing on most top 100 boards. If he opts to return, Gonzaga will be in the mix for the No. 1 position in the preseason AP poll.
Eli Boettger is a college basketball writer and founder of HeatCheckCBB.com. He has previously worked for Sporting News, DAZN and USA TODAY SMG.
Boettger’s content has been featured by Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, FiveThirtyEight, Yahoo Sports, Athletic Director University, Washington Post, Illinois Law Review and Notre Dame Law Review, among other publications. Boettger is also a current USBWA member and Rockin’ 25 voter.