5.) Trey Fort – Samford
Starting his freshman season at UT-Martin and making just 11 appearances, Fort later went the JUCO route and in 2022/23 was touted as one of the nation’s top JUCO transfers after averaging 25.0 PPG at Howard College.
With offers from top-tier programs all across the country, Fort opted to attend Mississippi State and as the Bulldogs fought to a ninth place finish in the SEC, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged just 5.0 PPG on 20 appearances.
A step down to a program like Samford seems the ideal next spot for Fort as the SU Bulldogs look to build on the success of last season’s SoCon title and subsequent NCAA Tournament bid.
First and foremost, Fort is a primary scorer who can contribute from just about anywhere on the floor having shot 52% from the field and 45% from behind the arc as a junior in the JUCO ranks.
Of course, Samford head coach Bucky McMillan has become known for his trademark “Bucky Ball”; a fast paced style of play that forces turnovers and promotes a high percentage of three-point shooting.
Ultimately, that’s a scheme which Fort’s skill set will fit into perfectly and should see him lead this Bulldogs backcourt as McMillan and Co. look to mount a SoCon title defense in 2024/25.
6.) Corey Washington – Wichita State
Following Saint Peter’s historic run to the Elite Eight at the 2022 NCAA Tournament, Washington has been next to carry the torch for the Peacocks in a rebuild transition under head coach Bashir Mason. Despite being thrust into a starting role, Washington has found success and quickly improved after being selected to the 2022/23 MAAC All-Freshman team and later, the 2023/24 All-Conference First Team.
As a sophomore, Washington averaged 15.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 1.2 STLPG with a unique combination of size, scoring and defensive tenacity that made him a menace in the MAAC this past season.
While Washington will have to improve as a shooter to compete in the ever-growing AAC. he’s undoubtedly ready for a step up to the next level and will look to return the Shockers to consistent NCAA Tournament contention.
7.) Jalin Anderson – Incarnate Word
After three seasons at Loyola Marymount of never averaging more than 9.8 PPG, Anderson emerged as one of the premier scoring and passing threats at the mid-major level this past season. Under second-year head coach Michael Lewis, he veraged 15.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.5 APG and 1.6 STLPG while starting all 31 games for Ball State.
Not only was Anderson Ball State’s second-leading scorer, shooting 44% on field goals and a solid 36% from three-point range, but he also finished top-115 nationally in both total assists and assist rate according to kenpom.com.
For a player that was effectively a bench contributor coming out of the transfer portal, that’s insane production and speaks to Anderson’s abilities to provide scoring and still create space for his teammates.
On the back of McNeese State’s dominance last season, the rest of the Southland is gearing up to compete and Incarnate Word have secured a potential All-Conference pick in Anderson to lead that effort.
