Steve Francis
The Oregon Ducks basketball team is currently 4-0 and ranked 14th in the nation. The Ducks are in great position thanks in large part to Dana Altman once again pulling in some stud transfers. I don’t think there is a better coach in the nation at building a team out of transfer players. Of the 89.5 points per game that Oregon averages, 67.9 of those points are scored by players that did not start their career at Oregon. With Altman signing so many this year, here are the top 5 transfers currently playing for the Ducks.
5. Richard Amardi (Indian Hills Community College)
Amardi is quite possibly the most athletic member on Oregon’s basketball roster. At 6-foot-9, he has great size to go along with his great abilities. Last year, Amardi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He is currently averaging 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds for Oregon. While these aren’t eye popping stats, Amardi’s athletic presence on the floor is where he is truly valuable.
Veteran guard Jason Calliste
Jason Caliste
4. Jason Calliste (Detroit)
Calliste joined Oregon from the Motor City and brings veteran guard play to the Ducks — something badly needed with starting PG Dominic Artis on suspension. Last year, Calliste averaged 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He is also a good-sized guard at 6-foot-2. Currently Calliste is averaging 10.5 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds per game. I expect Jason to be one of the more consistent players for Oregon this year.
Elgin Cook, the future of Oregon basketball
3. Elgin Cook (Northwestern Florida State)
As a freshman last year at Northwestern Florida State, Cook left it all on the court. The first team all-Panhandle and conference’s Freshman of the Year averaged 14.9 points and 6 rebounds per game. It was a great pick up for the Ducks to get a player of Cook’s skill and age. Cook still has three years of eligibility. He is currently averaging 10.5 points and 5 rebounds per game for the Ducks. Cook will be a huge part of the future of Oregon basketball.
Moser gets it done on the court.
2. Mike Moser (UNLV)
Moser chose to transfer to Oregon for his final year of collegiate basketball eligibility. He had a down year last season, thanks in large part to injuries but averaged 14 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Runnin’ Rebels his sophomore year. Moser is currently averaging 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Ducks. Mike is a big, mobile player that can be effective either down low, or from outside beyond the arc. His size and experience will come in huge when the Ducks start tournament play in March. Yeah, I said it, Oregon is going the Big Dance for the second year in a row!
Joseph Young is the definition of a baller.
1. Joseph Young (Houston)
Young is one of the most exciting transfers in the history of the Oregon Ducks. Last year at Houston, he averaged a whopping 18 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. That was as a sophomore by the way, which means Oregon gets him for two years. Young is one of those players that has game you can’t teach — you either have it or you don’t. He is a definite pick in the NBA draft whenever he decides to go. Young is currently averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and, get this — 2 steals per game. He took to Oregon basketball like a Duck to water. Joseph Young is the type of player a team needs to even consider winning a championship, and guess what, our Ducks have him!
So that is my list of the top 5 transfers currently playing on the Oregon Ducks basketball team. I can’t stress enough how great Altman has done in building his teams. The current team makes me feel that Oregon has a very real chance of going further into the tourney than they did last year.
Go Ducks!
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Sam was born and raised in Cottage Grove, Oregon and he has been a die hard Duck fan his entire life. Sam studied at the University of Oregon before moving to San Diego for 5 years. After moving back to Oregon, Sam decided to follow his passion for writing and started writing for various sports sites. To him, nothing is better than being in Autzen Stadium with 59,000 fans screaming their heads off!