MT lands hoops transfer

Every year college basketball coaches are directly staring at a new, fresh challenge. That challenge, of course, is improving their roster.

As the story goes every off-season, there are movers and shakers in the roster landscape. Some guys leave because of graduation and new guys are called upon to step into the fold and elevate their games even more.

Then there are players that completely join a new squad by way of transfer. Middle Tennessee State just landed one of those guys.

Tuesday evening, the Blue Raiders got good news from Antonio Green, a guard who has spent the last two years at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley of the WAC conference. Green took to Twitter to announce his decision to come to MT.

Green's intent to transfer was announced in early June. Citing the desire to be closer to his family, and daughter, who reside in Memphis - Green had a number of suitors knocking on his door immediately. In addition to MT, Green was being courted by Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, UAB and others.

Given that Green has to abide by NCAA transfer rules, he will sit out a year before having two years on the hardwood for head coach Kermit Davis. He has a redshirt available to use while sitting out.

Green is what you would call a combination guard. In other words, he can handle all of the duties as a point guard but also a shooting guard. The basketball website for his former school has him slated at 6-foot-2 and checking in at 165 pounds.

As a true freshman, Green was tabbed as the WAC Freshman of the Year and chipped in immediately as a backcourt contributor. Even as a spring chicken, he asserted himself as a valuable asset.

Below are his state lines from his time at UTRGV:

As a true freshman, Green had a handful of games where he compiled over 20 points, including outings against Utah State (20), Chicago State (21), and again on the road against Chicago State (22).

He posted double digits in points 12 times in all during his freshman campaign, showing you he can fill it up for sure.

Green also logged a ton of minutes as a freshman as well. He had 20 games where he played 30 or more minutes.

Following his freshman campaign, Green earned Preseason Coaches, Media & Madness All-WAC Second Team honors prior to his sophomore season - a campaign in which he did not disappoint.

While his production in rebounds and assists per game dropped a bit, his scoring went up tenfold, increasing his average from 11.6 to 16.7.

Green led the WAC in three point shots made and was 12th nationally in that category as well. He was also second in the conference in three point shooting percentage, hitting on 37.2 percent of his attempts.

On the season, Green reached double digit scoring lines 26 times, and chipped in over 20 points on 12 difference occasions. Against Grambling State, Green notched a career high 30 points after connecting on a school record 10 three points shots

Obviously there are some variables and guesswork involved when trying to examine what the roster will look like when Green suits up as a Blue Raider.

Looking at the backcourt, you have Tyrik Dixon, who will be a junior and will have been around the block by then. MT will also have Antwain Johnson as a senior by then.

That leaves spots for other players. Those gaps will be filled and the picture will become clearer as time progresses. All three of these guys can score but also look to share the sugar.

Sufficed to say, MT has secured their backcourt for the foreseeable future.