In a Champions Classic featuring No.1 recruit and 17-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg, transfer portal acquisitions stole the spotlight, leading to massive early season victories for Kansas and Kentucky.
This year’s Champions Classic, held at the State Farm Center, home of the Atlanta Hawks, provided college hoop sickos with early season, high intensity ball.
Game 1: No.1 Kansas 77 over Michigan State 69
Former Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson started the game on a tear for the Jayhawks, scoring 15 of the team’s first 21. Dickinson finished the night with 28 points on an efficient 13-21 from the field and added 12 rebounds.
As the game progressed, the Spartans began to key in on Dickinson, and transfer portal moves from this offseason started to pay off for Jayhawks coach Bill Self, who became the winningest coach in Kansas history with the victory last night.
Zeke Mayo transferred from South Dakota State after averaging 18 points per game with the Jackrabbits the past two seasons. Although he struggled from the floor in the first half, Mayo contributed consistently with four rebounds.
Mayo found his stroke after the break. The 6’4” senior from Lawrence started the second half scoring for the Jayhawks, before adding four crunch time points with under two to go to help secure the win.
In addition, Rylan Griffen scored ten points while shooting 2-6 from deep for Kansas. The Alabama transfer, who shined in crucial March minutes for the Tide last season, showed his experience in big moments at the Champions Classic.
However, Michigan State stayed within striking distance throughout the second half. Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler poured in 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans despite shooting struggles.
Big man Szymon Zapala, a 7’ center who transferred from Longwood this offseason after starting his career at Utah State, added four points, three boards and a blocked shot in 19 solid minutes for Coach Izzo.
Despite the comeback efforts from MSU, the experience and skill of Kansas prevailed. Highly touted Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr drilled a deep one with under eight minutes to go to extend the Jayhawks lead to five. Coach Self and his group remained steady throughout and earned a key non-conference win early in the season.
Game 2: No.19 Kentucky 77 over No.6 Duke 72
A full-court in-bounds pass from transfer to transfer started the icing of an electric finish to the 2024 Champions Classic. With 5.1 seconds left, Dayton transfer Koby Brea cocked back his arm and launched a dime into the breadbasket of San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler.
After Butler hit just one of two free throws to push the lead to three, Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh flew in on the missed second shot, securing the rebound and effectively the win for Big Blue.
Oweh, who averaged 11.4 points per contest as a Sooner last season, swiped Cooper Flagg with 12 seconds to go in the game and nailed both free throws after being fouled. With another chance to show up big for his team a few plays later, Oweh put the dagger in the Blue Devils with two free throws to push the lead to five right before time expired.
Flagg scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Flagg helped the Blue Devils maintain the lead for much of the contest, despite an 11-38 shooting effort from Duke’s trio of starting guards.
Additionally, Tulane transfer Sion James left the game with a shoulder injury after playing just 13 minutes in the game. Purdue transfer Mason Gillis provided his usual prowess on defense, but was unable to get anything going on the offensive end, going just 1-3 from the field.
Despite the talented freshman from Duke, the experience from a loaded transfer portal class secured the win at the Champions Classic for Kentucky.
Andrew Carr looked in control throughout the game for the Wildcats, adding 17 points and five rebounds while scoring from every spot on the floor, including two three pointers. The Wake transfer has picked up where he left off after averaging double figures for the Demon Deacons the last two seasons.
Fellow big men Amari Williams (Drexel) and Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State) added ten and eight points, respectively. Kerr Kriisa, who never hesitates to launch from deep in a big moment, splashed a deep three with under six to go to cut Duke’s lead to one.
Mark Pope secured a signature win at the Champions Classic early in his tenure as head coach at Kentucky. His Wildcats have incredible depth in their portal class and they showcased their chemistry on the floor last night.
