Bigger isn't always better for basketball players in the Southern Conference.
A handful of current SoCon stars began their careers amid bright lights of big arenas in big conferences such as the Big East or Southeastern Conference, only to find more success in cozier environments.
Furman's Amu Saaka, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Keegan Bell and Appalachian State's Omar Carter, among others, began their careers at different Division I schools before finding success on a SoCon squad.
"There are kids that have a chance at bigger schools and it doesn't quite work out, and they have to find a place that fits them the best," Appalachian coach Jason Capel said. "They can help, because a lot of times they have a chip on their shoulder. They've been humbled a bit.
"Transfers enhance the competitive nature of our league."
The success of the current crop of transfers has lessened the correlation between transfer and problem.
"We want to take high-major transfers somewhere down the line," said Georgia Southern coach Charlton Young, who is in his second year of rebuilding the Eagles program. "But you have to be careful that you're not taking somebody else's problem. Down the line, we'd like to get the right guy."
Elon has a former Rice player sitting out this season, and Capel has three sitting- including one from Gonzaga and one from Rutgers. But playing is Carter, who left Coastal Carolina for the Mountaineers and has become the second most important player on his team behind Donald Sims.
SoCon's significant D1 transfersPlayer School Old schoolKeegan Bell UTC VanderbiltOmar Carter ASU Coastal CarolinaChris Early UTC OklahomaCameron Rundles Wofford MontanaAmu Saaka Furman South FloridaOmar Wattad UTC Georgetown
Saaka left South Florida and has become Furman's leader and the sixth-best scorer in the SoCon.
"It's not coincidence when you look around and see impactful players from high-major conferences in our league," Furman coach Jeff Jackson said. "It's a way for us to maintain a sense of maturity. What Amu has been able to do besides having spent two years in the Big East is sit out a year with us, and it really lifts you up a little bit in terms of having something you can count on night in and night out."
UTC has struck the most success with former big-conference players. Three Mocs starters began their college careers at BCS schools, and another started at UNLV. They finished the regular season with a share of the SoCon North Division title and will play on their home court for a spot in the NCAA tournament.
"Transfers play a huge role," UTC coach John Shulman said. "In basketball they have to sit a year. But that's OK because that means we have an old team, and an experienced team, and I don't think young teams win the tournament."
Omar Wattad played two seasons at Georgetown. Bell played a season at Vanderbilt. Chris Early began his circuitous career at Oklahoma, and Troy Cage played for a year at UNLV and then one on the junior college level before finding a home at UTC.
Bell has more assists than any player in the SoCon. Wattad makes more 3s per game outside of Andrew Goudelock, and Early is fourth among the SoCon's leading rebounders.
"I ended up picking Georgetown and I don't regret that decision at all," Wattad said of his first recruitment. "Then I knew I wanted to go mid-major for a better opportunity.
"Transfers impact leagues across the country. That's the way it is now. People leave for better opportunities and people leave for other reasons. It just happens."