Wiley is 5th Small-School Transfer This Century to Become DI League MVP
Despite what you might read elsewhere, a striking number of major-college standouts started their careers playing for a four-year small college before transferring. Of course, the most prominent player in this category is all-time great Elgin Baylor. After leaving College of Idaho, Baylor became an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American with Seattle in 1957-58. This season, Eastern Washington forward Jake Wiley (transfer from Lewis-Clark State ID) became the fifth player in the 21st Century to earn MVP honors in a DI league after transferring from a small college.
Wiley joined Alabama coach Avery Johnson on the following chronological list of 11 mid-major conference POY selections since the NCAA playoffs expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985 after previously playing for non-Division I four-year schools during their college careers:
| Season | League Player of Year | Pos. | Division I School | Conference | Four-Year Small College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-87 | Bob McCann | C | Morehead State | Ohio Valley | Upsala (N.J.) |
| 1987-88 | Avery Johnson | G | Southern (La.) | SWAC | Cameron (Okla.) |
| 1987-88 | Larry Jones | F | Boston University | ECAC North Atlantic | C.W. Post (N.Y.) |
| 1990-91 | Marcus Kennedy | F-C | Eastern Michigan | Mid-American | Ferris State (Mich.) |
| 1993-94 | Tucker Neale | G | Colgate | Patriot League | Ashland (Ohio) |
| 1996-97 | Johnny Taylor | F | UT-Chattanooga | Southern | Knoxville (Tenn.) |
| 2000-01 | Demond Stewart | G | Niagara | Metro Atlantic | Mercyhurst (Pa.) |
| 2003-04 | Miah Davis | G | Pacific | Big West | Cal State Stanislaus |
| 2004-05 | Yemi Nicholson | C | Denver | Sun Belt | Fort Lewis (Colo.) |
| 2013-14 | Davion Berry | G-F | Weber State | Big Sky | Cal State Monterey Bay |
| 2016-17 | Jacob Wiley | F | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |