BIG EAST ROSTER UPDATE: SOUTH FLORIDA

January 4, 2009


Incoming Transfer Alert: Anthony Crater, 6'1 PG from Ohio State

Projected 2009-2010 Roster:


Seniors: Chris Howard (PG), Mike Mercer (G), Alejando Rivas-Sanchez (C)

Juniors: Dominique Jones (SG)

Sophomores: Eladio Espinosa (F), Juston Leemow (G), Augustus Gilchrist (C), Gaby Belardo (G)

Freshmen: Shaun Noriega (G), Jordan Dumars (F), Anthony Crater (PG)

Another transfer will join the South Florida squad, the latest addition is Anthony Crater, who visited for a recent game and will begin classes next week at USF. The Former Ohio State Point Guard Will Transfer to South Florida (St. Petersburg Times) and have three and a half years of eligibility beginning after exams in December 2009.

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Stan Heath reached back to his Michigan roots once again and added Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater to the Bulls roster. Crater lasted only a few months with the Buckeyes, playing in 10 games in his first semester as a freshman. In 13 minutes of action a game, Crater averaged 1.3 points a game and was unhappy with his playing time, so he has moved on.

After a weekend visit to South Florida, where he saw the Bulls take on Syracuse, Crater felt USF offered the best situation for his future. As a highly rated recruit out of Flint (MI), Crater was a highly targeted recruit by many top programs before he settled on OSU. The addition of JUCO guard Jeremie Simmons did not sit well with the Crater camp and as Simmons got more and more time early on, Crater took a look at his options and will join the USF program, following in the footsteps of other recent mid-year transfers such as Jesus Verdejo, Kentrell Gransberry, Augustus Gilchrist and Mike Mercer that have joined the Bulls in recent seasons.


In the early signing period, the Bulls inked 6'6, 230 lb forward Jordan Dumars, again using coach Heath's Michigan ties. Dumars is the son of former NBA star and current Piston executive Joe Dumars. Jordan Dumars attends Detroit Country Day School and had formed a close relationship with Stan Heath that began with the relationship between Heath and his father.

On paper, Dumars fills a position of need on the USF roster (small forward) and leaves Stan Heath and staff with two scholarships remaining for the class of 2009 as the Bulls have even scored for the class of 2009 earlier with North Port shooting guard Shaun Noriega. Of course, with how busy it has been with players coming and going from their program, that could very well change.


The Bulls were needing immediate help in the class of 2008 with transfers of five players since the 2007-2008 season began. Guards Dante Curry, Aaron Holmes and Solomon Bozeman, along with forwards Ade Saaka and Orane Chin have all left the Bulls program to look for opportunities elsewhere. Also, recruits Teeng Akol, Dwan McMillan and Eugene Teague were not admitted to school because of academic difficulties, leaving the Bulls scrambling for the 2008-2009 season.

USF is still struggling in attracting top high school talent and academic difficulties with recruits seem to have the roster in constant flux. The transfer route is tricky, but relying on it so much rarely works, and to this point, it has not helped the college basketball odds for the Bulls in the Big East.