I’ve been covering Philadelphia’s “Big 5” for almost six years now and it seems with the addition of Drexel to the group as well as the recently renovated series format, there’s a new buzz surrounding college basketball in the city.
However, from Villanova and Temple looking to return to prominence amongst college basketball powerhouses, to St. Joe’s battle with maintaining the Big 5 crown, to La Salle, Penn and Drexel’s rebuilt rosters, each program currently finds itself on a unique path.
Nonetheless, similarities remain as each of Philly’s major programs welcome in highly-touted recruits from the portal in hopes of swaying the Big 5 title toward their respective campus for the 2024/25 season.
Here’s my ranking on the transfer additions of the Big 5 programs so far this offseason and a breakdown on what role each can play looking ahead to the upcoming campaign.
6.) Drexel
After finishing second in the CAA this past season, the Dragons lost a ton of talent this offseason including the program’s top-four scorers in Amari Williams, Justin Moore, Luke House and Lucas Monore.
Yet, head coach Zach Spiker and Co. didn’t do much to recoup that lost talent or add any veteran pieces into the mix. However, the Dragons will be joined by three additions from the JUCO level, two of which have some experience playing for a DI program.
Victor Panov, a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 13.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG this past season, arrives from Dayton State after making 11 appearances for CSU Fullerton as a freshman.
Aiding the Drexel backcourt will be 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Kevon Vanderhorst after averaging 13.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.4 APG and 1.1 STLPG at Brunswick Community College.
Lastly, Deuce Drake who spent this past season at Butler Community College in Kansas averaging 9.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 3.7 APG. As a freshman, the 6-foot-2 guard made 16 appearances for Cleveland State.
With the Dragons returning essentially no starters from this past season, all three will be relied upon to play a variety of minutes to keep Drexel competitive in the CAA and Big 5 next season.
5.) Penn
Due to academic requirements we almost never see transfers join the Ivy League but with all the growth surrounding the portal even the country’s premier academic conference will have to evolve.
At the helm at that development is the Quakers, securing three offseason transfer additions to replace the departing Tyler Perkins and Clark Slajchert; the programs two leading-scorers.
In desperate need of offensive production, redshirt sophomore wing Ethan Roberts joins having won the 2022/23 Patriot League Rookie of the Year at Army before transferring to Drake ahead of this past season.
As a freshman with the Black Knights, Roberts was the programs second-leading scorer averaging 12.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 1.2 APG while shooting at a 48% clip. He’ll have no problems plying his offensive trade in the Ivy League.
Additionally arriving from the DI ranks will be Mercer transfer Michael Zanoni, who averaged 6.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG as a freshman before fracturing his foot and receiving a medical redshirt for the 2023/24 campaign.
Undoubtedly the lack of on court minutes makes Zanoni difficult to project but at 6-foot-5 he’s a proven three-point shooting threat and brings head coach Steve Donahue another talented wing to use at his disposal.
Rounding out Penn’s offseason transfer additions is Dylan Williams, a JUCO recruit who spent his freshman season at Missouri’s Mineral Area College before a move to Triton College in Illinois.
Starting 37/37 appearances for the Trojans in 2023/24, Williams averaged 15.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 5.6 APG to help lead seventh seeded Triton to the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Championship game.
Although the Quakers will be looking for key returns to make improved contributions, both Roberts and Zanoni will bring high-level three-point shooting while Williams slots in as an additional ball handler.
