Entering Will Ryan’s first full off-season at the helm, there is no doubt he had his work cut out for him. Following the departure of eight players leaving via the transfer portal, the program had some holes to fill. While on paper that seemed like something that would set the program back, some saw it as an opportunity to speed up the retooling process.
Gone are a large group of players that didn’t see themselves as a fit in coach Ryan’s system (which is totally fine). Entering is a large group of handpicked players excited to be a part of what the phoenix are attempting to build. The top end talent on the roster has certainly taken a hit, but from top to bottom I see this as a deeper roster than a year ago. It’s easy to look at this team on paper and see a group who is seemingly a better fit for Will Ryan’s system.
There is going to be true competition for minutes at each and every position on the floor. Green Bay put a premium on players with in-state ties that offer size, shooting, and versatility. Will Ryan is going to have plenty of options if he wants to play small, having landed several bigger guards from the portal. In addition to the guards added to the roster, the Phoenix added size that will allow them to match up well with bigger teams in the conference.
Without Further ado, we will introduce the incoming transfers that have committed to UWGB this off-season.
=======================================================================================
Mitch Listau – Player notes:
- Transfer (Belmont) – committed on 3-30-21.
- Waunakee, Wisconsin Native.
- Ranked 6th best player in WI (2018)
- 3 seasons of eligibility remaining
Listau was a three-time all-state selection by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and was a second-team all-state pick by the Associated Press as a senior after averaging 23.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 54% from the field.
Mitch Listau, guard, spent three seasons at Belmont one of which was a red-shirt season. Largely regulated to a bench role, Listau appeared in 19 games a year ago (missed several due to injury). Mitch Listau is a skilled, left-handed wing who can score from distance, mid-range and off the dribble. The Waunakee native was super-efficient in the opportunities he was given last season, averaging 1.016 PPP (85th percentile), and 1 PPP on spot up jumpers (70th percentile).
Listau, a career 35% three-point shooter at Belmont, thought it best to pursue greater opportunity in his home state. Green Bay as a unit was a poor shooting team last season, so adding an efficient shooter like Mitch Listau seems like a no-brainer and likely a lock for minutes next season.
Listau has some size for a wing, which should allow him to play either spot on the wing. He’s also a decent ball handler for his position and has a knockdown mid-range jumper. Green Bay needs all the shooting it can get right now, so landing an in-state kid who fills a need seems like a no-brainer.
=======================================================================================
Randy Tucker – Player notes:
- Transfer (Vincennes University – JUCO) – committed on 4-29-21
- 6-foot-4 Guard, Illinois native.
- Played for NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Todd Franklin at Vincennes
- Three seasons of eligibility remaining
Green Bay took quite the hit in guard depth following all of the off-season departures. Will Ryan made a conscious effort to fix that hole by securing a commitment from 6’4″ guard Randy Tucker. Tucker, a Rock Island, IL (Quad Cities area) native played his previous two seasons at the JUCO level at Vincennes University under NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Todd Franklin.
Randy Tucker brings great size for the position and is a 38.8% three-point shooter, with about 56% of his shots coming from behind the arc. Tucker is a player who has a great basketball IQ, crediting both his high school and college coach’s ability to teach the game. Tucker is also a solid and willing rebounder, which is important given his size and the Green Bay system counting on everyone to contribute on the glass.
With every position on the floor having minutes up for grabs, it’s difficult to say what his chances are of earning significant playing time. However, a gritty defender with good size and shooting ability would likely be given every chance to earn a role for the phoenix. This seems like a nice addition given the fit.
=======================================================================================
Donovan Ivory – Player notes:
- Transfer (Boise State) – committed on 5-01-21
- Kaukauna, Wisconsin native.
- 6-foot-6 guard.
- Formerly a scholarship guard at UMass Lowell/ Walk-On at Boise State
- Three seasons of eligibility remaining
Donovan Ivory is the third guard this off-season to accept a scholarship from UWGB, joining Mitch Listau and Randy Tucker.
Ivory is another in-state guard returning home for the opportunity to play in front of friends and family. Green Bay will be Ivory’s third stop in as many years, and hopefully his last. Ivory was a D2 all-state selection by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, and a state champion while at Kaukauna.
Ivory took a scholarship offer from UMass Lowell but spent only one semester at the school. Ivory played in three games, averaging just under six minutes a game before leaving for Boise State and becoming a walk-on. Ivory played in three games this season for the Broncos before entering the transfer portal.
Ivory brings good size at the guard position and can be a play-maker with the ball in his hands. Ivory is yet another floor stretcher and can finish through contact. The downside is that he hasn’t had a lot of in-game experience over the last two seasons.
I think this was a flyer very much worth taking. Ivory possesses the kind of qualities that should translate well in this system and is an above average athlete. I like this fit more than most, and definitely see Ivory as a contributor due to his size, skillset, and versatility. I would be shocked if he didn’t bring something to the program as soon as next season.
=======================================================================================
Tutu Majok – Player notes:
- Transfer (JUCO -Bossier Parish Community College) Committed 05-21-21
- Three seasons of eligibility remaining
- 6-foot-8 big man
Tutu Majok, the lone big man recruited in this transfer portal class, was a bit of an outside the box addition. While he may not be the prototypical big man recruited to play in this system, he certainly addresses one of this teams’ biggest holes from a year ago, rebounding.
Majok makes his presence known on the glass, averaging more than 10 rebounds a game in under 20 MPG this past season. Majok makes up for his lack of height with his long wingspan, thicker build, and above average athleticism for the position. I don’t see Majok getting pushed around in the Horizon league, his presence alone should go a long way for a program that wants to build a foundation of strong defensive play.
Tutu Majok runs the floor really well for a big man. He is explosive off of a drop step and doesn’t hesitate when he decides to go to the rim. The JUCO transfer has decent touch and routinely follows up his shots. Between him and Manny Ansong, Green Bay is going to be relentless on the offensive glass. His face-up jumper isn’t a strong suit, but is definitely serviceable, seeing he shot 30% from downtown (on only 26 attempts). The last thing that really stood out about Majok was his above average passing ability for a true center.
With very few established big men on the roster it’s hard to envision a scenario where Tutu Majok doesn’t step into a role of some sort right out of the gate.
=======================================================================================
Nate Jenkins – Player notes:
- Transfer (Iowa State – Walk-on) Committed 04-28-21
- Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin native.
- 6-foot-2 Guard.
- 14th Ranked player in Wisconsin in 2019
- Three seasons of eligibility remaining
Nate Jenkins is another in-state prospect who is returning home to Wisconsin. Jenkins played his high school basketball at Kettle Moraine before accepting a walk-on spot at Iowa State. Jenkins averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals as a senior while earning first-team all-conference honors. He also played AAU for the Wisconsin Playground Warriors.
Nate Jenkins appeared in 18 games over two years, averaging 0.4 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.3 assists before entering the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity. While at Iowa State Jenkins earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team (21), Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (20), Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (F19, S20), ISU Scholar-Athlete (20, 21).
Jenkins comes to Green Bay as a walk-on but like many other incoming players will be thrust into competition for minutes. There is not a lot of info or film available on Nate Jenkins at this time, so he enters the program a relative unknown on the court. What we do know is he has good size for a mid-major guard and is an excellent student who now will have his chance to prove himself on the court.
Give me a follow on Twitter at @Badgers_Notes
