Former Syracuse basketball star is one of the all-time greatest transfers

One of the best teams in the history of the Syracuse basketball program, in my humble opinion, is the Orange squad that went 30-5 during the 2009-10 campaign.

In the pre-season, national pundits didn’t have the ‘Cuse highly rated prior to that stanza arriving. But a really terrific Syracuse basketball group that played wonderful team basketball got on a massive roll and ended the regular season at 28–3, securing a No. 1 ranking in the major polls along the way.

If not for starting center Arinze Onuaku getting hurt in the Big East Conference Tournament, I truly believe that the Orange would have absolutely gone to the Final Four and seriously contended for the national title.

Instead, the No. 1 seeded ‘Cuse was upset by No. 5 seed Butler in the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs would journey to the NCAA Tournament championship game, where they lost to No. 1 seed Duke by two points.

Oh, what could have been for Syracuse basketball. Of all the really strong Orange teams not to make a Final Four, I think that the 2009-10 squad was among head coach Jim Boeheim’s premier units. And it was led by one of the greater transfers in the history of college basketball.

Former Syracuse basketball player Wes Johnson was an elite transfer.

Wes Johnson, who transferred from Iowa State to the Orange, only played for the ‘Cuse for one season, that 2009-10 one, and he sure did make the most of his opportunity in Central New York.

Johnson would average 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds for Syracuse basketball. He was the Big East Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-American. He was also one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy honoring the top player nationwide.

ESPN’s John Gasaway recently published an article where he rated the 20 greatest transfers in the history of college basketball, and Johnson appropriately made the cut. In fact, Johnson checked in at No. 7 overall, which is pretty fabulous.

Putting aside my homer-ism and Orange-colored glasses, what Johnson did during his one season on the Hill was remarkable. Even if I wasn’t a Syracuse University alum and ‘Cuse hoops fanatic, I would still say that he should be on the ESPN list of the best transfers ever.

Following his stint in Central New York, Johnson was a lottery pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He spent nine campaigns in the NBA, suiting up for several teams.

I’ll never forget just how good that 2009-10 Syracuse basketball team was, nor how Johnson – that transfer from the Big 12 Conference – helped guide the Orange to a sensational season.