By Artau Pascual
The 2024/25 CBB offseason has been crazy. The transfer portal has turned into a kind of free agency that has fully reshaped the competition. As well as during the last days, we’ve been putting together the best Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, now it’s also a good moment to take a look at the most impactful European transfers for the upcoming season.
GREAT OSOBOR- Washington, 6'8, Big
Great Osobor entered the history books with one of the biggest NIL Deals after a forceful season at Utah State, where he logged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game under Coach Danny Sprinkle’s orders. The British center was a force for his team during the entire season, and earned a well-deserved agreement with the Washington Huskies for the 2024/25 season. Osobor’s game is mostly about DHO’s and drives in which he can exploit his strength and size to clear the path to the rim, and he ended up also the motor of his team by adjusting the offensive game plan execution to the pace he needed and making plays for his teammates. Osobor will benefit from a strong season for Zoom Diallo and will need to have some smart and reliable floor-spacers by his side, since his game will be mostly about playing low in the paint and getting touches in the restricted area.
A swing skill for Osobor will be developing some sort of shooting range. It’s not like he’s a player who can’t step out to the perimeter, given last season he was able to shoot it at a very reduced volume, and he’s a highly productive asset setting high screens and understanding where his space is, but he will need to have a better jumper for the upcoming stages given that he will need more than size and power to keep making an impact.
DANNY WOLF (Michigan, 7'0, Forward/Big) and VLADISLAV GOLDIN (Michigan, 7'1, Big)
Dusty May had an impressive offseason and got a massive haul in the transfer portal. One of the main names he recruited for the 2024/25 season is Danny Wolf, who enrolls in Michigan after spending two seasons playing for Yale in the IVY League. He also signed Vladislav Goldin, a core piece for FAU in the last years.
Danny Wolf is blended with an uncommon level of skills and game perception for a player of his size. Standing and 7’0, Danny is a tricky athlete who, even though has many ways to go and question marks regarding his defensive capabilities, uses his body attributes perfectly on the offensive end. He can put the ball on the floor with good handles and cadence for a player built like him, his passing vision in high-low connections, from the top of the key and in the post is highly valuable and, on the other hand, his ability to space the floor is completely translatable to the highest levels. Michigan will presumably play significant minutes with two bigs, and it looks like, while Vladislav Goldin will make up for Danny’s limitations on the defensive end by being the main anchor of the team, the Israeli frontcourt player will make life way easier for the former FAU center. If it all clicks, at some point there should be an NBA case for him.
AMARI WILLIAMS- Kentucky, 6'10, Big
The first move Coach Pope made in his tenure as a wildcat was securing the arrival of Drexel’s 6’10 C Amari Williams -who tested the NBA Draft waters for a while before pulling out and returning to CBB-. Amari, a 3-time POTY at the CAA, will make an immediate impact as a defensive anchor for Kentucky and is expected to be one of the cornerstones of their rotation alongside another big name such as Lamont Butler, who aligns perfectly well with Amari’s defensive nature. His ability to deny drives, deter shots and create deflections, alongside his spatial awareness as a rim protector and an impressive bag of athletic qualities, are the main selling point for a player who will also benefit from playing with fast-paced, quick-processing playmakers who can put him in optimal spots for finishing. On the other hand, if he’s able to continue making the quick, smart reads that fueled Drexel’s offense in the past, Amari Williams should be a fine ancillary playmaker for Kentucky, given that his fit with Forward Andrew Carr, a sharp off ball player, looks great at a first glance.
ANDREJ JAKIMOVSKI- Colorado, 6'8, Forward
After many seasons being a glue guy for Washington State, Jakimovski will step up for a primary role under Coach Tad Boyle’s orders in his final CBB season. Jakimovski has demonstrated he can do a little of everything in a limited role over his College years: he’s a jack of all trades who can dribble, pass and shoot at a fair enough level, and because of his functional athleticism he can make an impact on both ends of the floor with a solid level of versatility and a strong game perception. The feeling about his game is that, if he’s able to stay healthy and increase his confidence, he will be able to take a statistics leap while maintaining his efficiency. He’s not comparable to Tristan da Silva, but the goal for him will be helping to fill the experience and leadership gap that the German Forward left in the Colorado Buffs rotation.
CHRIST ESSANDOKO- Providence, 7'0, Big
After a 8 points, 6 rebounds season with St. Joseph’s, Essandoko heads to Providence -where he was once originally committed- to turn into their core big for the years to come. It could take some time for him to adjust to the Big East duties, but his tantalizing potential and significant margin for improvement make his pickup one of the best of the Summer. The 2003-born, 7’0 Center is expected to play a significant role for the Friars.
Christ Essandoko is fun to watch, and his game suggests he’s still far from his ceiling. He can shoot the ball from the distance, he’s poised and skilled to get past bigs attacking them off closeouts, and his reactivity in short-roll situations allows him to play alongside aggressive cutters and shooters -he will figure out a way to hit them-. He meets all the requirements to be viewed not only as a day-one contributor, but as a player to build around for the years to come.
The 2024/25 CBB offseason has been crazy. The transfer portal has turned into a kind of free agency that has fully reshaped the competition. As well as during the last days, we’ve been putting together the best Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, now it’s also a good moment to take a look at the most impactful European transfers for the upcoming season.
GREAT OSOBOR- Washington, 6'8, Big
Great Osobor entered the history books with one of the biggest NIL Deals after a forceful season at Utah State, where he logged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game under Coach Danny Sprinkle’s orders. The British center was a force for his team during the entire season, and earned a well-deserved agreement with the Washington Huskies for the 2024/25 season. Osobor’s game is mostly about DHO’s and drives in which he can exploit his strength and size to clear the path to the rim, and he ended up also the motor of his team by adjusting the offensive game plan execution to the pace he needed and making plays for his teammates. Osobor will benefit from a strong season for Zoom Diallo and will need to have some smart and reliable floor-spacers by his side, since his game will be mostly about playing low in the paint and getting touches in the restricted area.
A swing skill for Osobor will be developing some sort of shooting range. It’s not like he’s a player who can’t step out to the perimeter, given last season he was able to shoot it at a very reduced volume, and he’s a highly productive asset setting high screens and understanding where his space is, but he will need to have a better jumper for the upcoming stages given that he will need more than size and power to keep making an impact.
DANNY WOLF (Michigan, 7'0, Forward/Big) and VLADISLAV GOLDIN (Michigan, 7'1, Big)
Dusty May had an impressive offseason and got a massive haul in the transfer portal. One of the main names he recruited for the 2024/25 season is Danny Wolf, who enrolls in Michigan after spending two seasons playing for Yale in the IVY League. He also signed Vladislav Goldin, a core piece for FAU in the last years.
Danny Wolf is blended with an uncommon level of skills and game perception for a player of his size. Standing and 7’0, Danny is a tricky athlete who, even though has many ways to go and question marks regarding his defensive capabilities, uses his body attributes perfectly on the offensive end. He can put the ball on the floor with good handles and cadence for a player built like him, his passing vision in high-low connections, from the top of the key and in the post is highly valuable and, on the other hand, his ability to space the floor is completely translatable to the highest levels. Michigan will presumably play significant minutes with two bigs, and it looks like, while Vladislav Goldin will make up for Danny’s limitations on the defensive end by being the main anchor of the team, the Israeli frontcourt player will make life way easier for the former FAU center. If it all clicks, at some point there should be an NBA case for him.
AMARI WILLIAMS- Kentucky, 6'10, Big
The first move Coach Pope made in his tenure as a wildcat was securing the arrival of Drexel’s 6’10 C Amari Williams -who tested the NBA Draft waters for a while before pulling out and returning to CBB-. Amari, a 3-time POTY at the CAA, will make an immediate impact as a defensive anchor for Kentucky and is expected to be one of the cornerstones of their rotation alongside another big name such as Lamont Butler, who aligns perfectly well with Amari’s defensive nature. His ability to deny drives, deter shots and create deflections, alongside his spatial awareness as a rim protector and an impressive bag of athletic qualities, are the main selling point for a player who will also benefit from playing with fast-paced, quick-processing playmakers who can put him in optimal spots for finishing. On the other hand, if he’s able to continue making the quick, smart reads that fueled Drexel’s offense in the past, Amari Williams should be a fine ancillary playmaker for Kentucky, given that his fit with Forward Andrew Carr, a sharp off ball player, looks great at a first glance.
ANDREJ JAKIMOVSKI- Colorado, 6'8, Forward
After many seasons being a glue guy for Washington State, Jakimovski will step up for a primary role under Coach Tad Boyle’s orders in his final CBB season. Jakimovski has demonstrated he can do a little of everything in a limited role over his College years: he’s a jack of all trades who can dribble, pass and shoot at a fair enough level, and because of his functional athleticism he can make an impact on both ends of the floor with a solid level of versatility and a strong game perception. The feeling about his game is that, if he’s able to stay healthy and increase his confidence, he will be able to take a statistics leap while maintaining his efficiency. He’s not comparable to Tristan da Silva, but the goal for him will be helping to fill the experience and leadership gap that the German Forward left in the Colorado Buffs rotation.
CHRIST ESSANDOKO- Providence, 7'0, Big
After a 8 points, 6 rebounds season with St. Joseph’s, Essandoko heads to Providence -where he was once originally committed- to turn into their core big for the years to come. It could take some time for him to adjust to the Big East duties, but his tantalizing potential and significant margin for improvement make his pickup one of the best of the Summer. The 2003-born, 7’0 Center is expected to play a significant role for the Friars.
Christ Essandoko is fun to watch, and his game suggests he’s still far from his ceiling. He can shoot the ball from the distance, he’s poised and skilled to get past bigs attacking them off closeouts, and his reactivity in short-roll situations allows him to play alongside aggressive cutters and shooters -he will figure out a way to hit them-. He meets all the requirements to be viewed not only as a day-one contributor, but as a player to build around for the years to come.
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