Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis and Oregon should be a good match
The success Oregon has enjoyed in the past with graduate transfers helped the Ducks land another one.
They won a month-long recruiting battle with Baylor and Illinois on Wednesday when former Villanova guard Dylan Ennis committed.
Ennis started all 36 games for Villanova last season and averaged 9.9 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Big East champions, but the fifth-year senior chose to transfer because he wanted the chance to play point guard in his final college season. Incumbent starter Ryan Arcidiacono is returning to Villanova next season and top recruit Jaylen Brunson also plays point guard.
With Pac-12 player of the year Joseph Young graduating this spring, Oregon had an opening at point guard. Ennis should compete with reserves Ahmaad Rorie and Casey Benson and incoming freshman Kendall Small for playing time at point guard. He could also play alongside Rorie or Benson too since Dana Altman has often used two ball handlers at one time in years past.
Baylor and Illinois both had playing time available at point guard, but Oregon’s history suggests it’s easy for transfers to thrive quickly. Young, Devoe Joseph, Arsalan Kazemi and Jason Calliste all became impact players immediately with the Ducks despite only having a few months to pick up a new system.
The arrival of Ennis further solidifies Oregon as an NCAA tournament team with a chance to contend in a wide open Pac-12 next season. The Ducks return almost every key player besides Young from a team that won 25 games, surged late in the season and pushed eventual national runner-up Wisconsin into the final minutes before falling in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament.
The only question with Ennis’ commitment is whether it hurts Oregon’s chances of also landing five-star Canadian guard Jamal Murray should he opt to reclassify to the 2015 class. The Ducks are considered one of the favorites to land him, though numerous other high-major programs are also in pursuit.
Regardless, the addition of Ennis is a valuable one. It provides Oregon a veteran option at a position in which the Ducks were in need of one.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
