Transfer Talent: Former WSU Guard Malachi Flynn Headed for A-A Status

"Stepping onto a brand new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation which is not nurturing." - Maya Angelou

Whether schools are simply filling out a roster with a backup or chasing a pot of gold at the end of a Larry Bird rainbow, they seem to be looking around every corner and under every rock for a transfer. Bird left a potential powerhouse at Indiana but never played for the Hoosiers before becoming national player of the year with Indiana State. The majority of All-American transfers depart from universities that currently are power-league members.

How many All-Americans actually played varsity basketball for two different four-year schools? The average is about one every two years. Duke and Kansas, two of the five schools with the most All-Americans in history, had their first transfer in that category earlier this decade - Duke guard Seth Curry (Liberty) and KU center Jeff Withey (Arizona). If voters are paying attention and not buffoons-at-large, San Diego State guard Malachi Flynn should be a shoo-in for A-A status this season after leaving Washington State (2016-17 and 2017-18).

Mississippi State lost a transfer All-American several seasons ago when Ben Hansbrough departed for Notre Dame but the Bulldogs had their own player in this category earlier this century after Lawrence Roberts left Baylor. In an era when transfers have almost become an obsession for various reasons, there was a modest uptick in the ratio with seven All-Americans in this category in a six-year span from 2000 through 2005 before Louisville's Luke Hancock (George Mason) became Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Following is an alphabetical list of A-As who began their collegiate career at another four-year school:

*Attended junior college between four-year school stints.
NOTE: Burgess was an Air Force veteran.