TOREROS GET TRANSFER WINGMAN EARLINGTON
USD continued rebuilding via the transfer market Tuesday when former St. John’s swingman Marcellus Earlington announced on Twitter he was heading to the Toreros.
Earlington will be a senior with two years of eligibility if he chooses to play a second season.
Earlington played every St. John’s game the past two seasons, starting four times. He averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 18.2 minutes as a sophomore. His numbers dipped slightly last season to 6.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 16.9 minutes.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Earlington is expected to be a multi-dimensional forward who can run the floor, plus score inside and from deep. He shot 40.3 percent on 3s last season but only 57.1 percent from the line.
Earlington said he chose USD over St. Bonaventure, Utah State and LaSalle. He’s leaving a Big East program that posted records of 16-11 and 17-15 the past two seasons for USD, which has struggled the past two years, going 3-11 and 9-23.
“I wanted to be offered a bigger role,” said Earlington. “I wanted to impact winning more and wanted to showcase more of my abilities.”
At St. John’s, Earlington’s role was limited because the Redmen were led by 6-8 wing Julian Champagnie, who led the Big East in scoring at 19.8 points.
Earlington becomes the fourth transfer to commit to USD. The previous three were point guard Bryce Monroe (Sam Houston State), shooting guard Jase Townsend (University of Denver) and center Terrell Brown (Pitt).
Monroe was the Southland Conference freshman of the year, Townsend averaged 19.2 points last season while Brown averaged only 11 minutes at Pitt.
“I think they’ve done a great job picking up transfer talent,” said Earlington. “I want to go out there, be a leader, defend, score, rebound, just be an all-around player. I’ll play any position if it impacts winning.”
Four former USD players have entered the transfer portal: center Yauhen Massalski, guard Marion Humphrey and forwards Mikal Gjerde and Jared Rodriguez.