Marquette adds transfer guard Perez
The Marquette men’s basketball team has added another guard to bolster its backcourt.
Gardner-Webb sophomore Jose Perez announced on Thursday that he will transfer to the Golden Eagles. Perez also considered Memphis, Illinois, Georgia Tech and Iowa State.
The 6-foot-5 Perez averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. He sat out the last 10 games of the season for personal reasons.
MU has added two transfer guards this off-season. Last month, Ohio State freshman D.J. Carton committed to the Golden Eagles. MU needed some reinforcements after losing top scorers Markus Howard (27.8 points per game) and Sacar Anim (13.1).
Both Perez and Carton can apply for waivers with the NCAA to play next season.
The NCAA is also considering allowing student-athletes to transfer without having to sit out a season, though the board of directors recommended against voting for immediate eligibility. The vote is scheduled for May 20.
The 21-year-old Perez is a native of the Bronx in New York City. He played for Wings Academy, winning a Public Schools Athletic League title in 2015. Perez also spent a postgraduate year at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.
Perez played AAU with the PSA Cardinals and became close with executive director Terrance “Munch” Williams.
“Jose is extremely versatile,” Williams said. “One of those Swiss-army knifes. He can shoot the three. Get to the mid-range shot. Can post you.
“Offensive rebound – he can do the dirty work. Don’t necessarily have to run plays for him. He can put it on the deck. And one the great things is he’s a really good passer.”
Perez chose Gardner-Webb over Kent State, Manhattan and LIU Brooklyn. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a freshman to help the Runnin’ Bulldogs win the 2019 Big South tournament and make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Gardner-Webb, a No. 16 seeding, put a scare into eventual champion Virginia in the first round, taking a 14-point lead in the first half before falling, 71-56. Perez had 19 points, shooting 4 for 6 on threepointers.
Williams compared Perez to former Virginia standout Ty Jerome.
“Playing from the IQ standpoint as opposed to an athletic standpoint,” Williams said.
MU has one open scholarship slot, though sophomore forward Brendan Bailey declared for the NBA draft and if he opts to pursue his professional career another scholarship would became available.