This weekend will be a busy and stressful one for for Richard Pitino. On Saturday, Top 100 2020 shooting guard Kerwin Walton will choose whether he will stay home or pick one of five other suitors.
One day later, Justin Kier will make his decision as well. Jeff Borzello tweeted this afternoon that the George Mason graduate transfer will announce Sunday and also added that he has cut his list to three, and will choose between Georgia, Minnesota, and North Carolina State.
Borzello says that Kier is perhaps the best remaining gradate transfer remaining this off-season.
Kier signed with George Mason after graduating from Spotswood High School in Grottoes, Virginia. He started in 29 of his team's 33 games right off the bat in his freshman season. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, and led the team in three-point shooting at 38.6%.
In his sophomore campaign he raised his numbers to 11.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. He also went from 1.1 assists to 2.3. He also led the Patriots in steals with 77. On the down side, although his field goal percentage rose to 45.1% his three-point percentage bottomed out to just 17.4%.
His junior year was his high water mark. Kier averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Kier shot 47.1% and his deep ball numbers rose to 37.1%. He made All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, and was also named the league's Most Improved Player.
Kier's senior season ended in disappointment, but it opened the door of opportunity to get a fifth year of eligibility, perhaps at a different school. Kier reinjured a stress fracture in his right foot that only allowed him to play nine games. He had an original injury before the season began and forced him to miss the first six games.
January 11 would be his last game. He suffered another stress fracture even though he scored 18 points in the game. Kier's numbers were down due to his health, but his three-point percentage rose all the way to 45.8%.
Kier still has scored 1,120 points despite having his senior year cut short. That is a 10.4 point per game average overall. He also has 548 career rebounds for a 5.1 average. Kier has over 200 assists as well. Take his sophomore season out of the equation, and Kier has made 61 of 157 three-pointers for a 38.9% average.
In the 2017-18 season, Kier had 18 points against Louisville. He followed that up with 17 points against Penn State. He has had nine games in which he has eclipsed the twenty point mark. His career high was a 32-point outing against Vermont as a junior. He made 12 of 15 shot attempts.
The Gopher Report spoke with Kier moments after Borzello's tweet. He shared his feelings about the Minnesota program with us.
"I love the coaching staff. Due to the coronavirus I saw a lot of virtual stuff but I can't get in person. Just the love of the coaching staff and how they believe in me, and how I can help their program."
He went on to expound on what Pitino's sales pitch has been to him?
"They've just got a good group of guys. They may need an older guy to come in and help lead and improve their program. They've talked a lot about their guys and who they have, so it's been kind of like that."
He closed by naming the the factors he will take into consideration when making his final decision.
"My role, and just a nice comfortable place for me. I like brotherhood. All that kind of stuff, everything that comes with winning, as men and players. That's what excites me."
One day later, Justin Kier will make his decision as well. Jeff Borzello tweeted this afternoon that the George Mason graduate transfer will announce Sunday and also added that he has cut his list to three, and will choose between Georgia, Minnesota, and North Carolina State.
Borzello says that Kier is perhaps the best remaining gradate transfer remaining this off-season.
Kier signed with George Mason after graduating from Spotswood High School in Grottoes, Virginia. He started in 29 of his team's 33 games right off the bat in his freshman season. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, and led the team in three-point shooting at 38.6%.
In his sophomore campaign he raised his numbers to 11.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. He also went from 1.1 assists to 2.3. He also led the Patriots in steals with 77. On the down side, although his field goal percentage rose to 45.1% his three-point percentage bottomed out to just 17.4%.
His junior year was his high water mark. Kier averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Kier shot 47.1% and his deep ball numbers rose to 37.1%. He made All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, and was also named the league's Most Improved Player.
Kier's senior season ended in disappointment, but it opened the door of opportunity to get a fifth year of eligibility, perhaps at a different school. Kier reinjured a stress fracture in his right foot that only allowed him to play nine games. He had an original injury before the season began and forced him to miss the first six games.
January 11 would be his last game. He suffered another stress fracture even though he scored 18 points in the game. Kier's numbers were down due to his health, but his three-point percentage rose all the way to 45.8%.
Kier still has scored 1,120 points despite having his senior year cut short. That is a 10.4 point per game average overall. He also has 548 career rebounds for a 5.1 average. Kier has over 200 assists as well. Take his sophomore season out of the equation, and Kier has made 61 of 157 three-pointers for a 38.9% average.
In the 2017-18 season, Kier had 18 points against Louisville. He followed that up with 17 points against Penn State. He has had nine games in which he has eclipsed the twenty point mark. His career high was a 32-point outing against Vermont as a junior. He made 12 of 15 shot attempts.
The Gopher Report spoke with Kier moments after Borzello's tweet. He shared his feelings about the Minnesota program with us.
"I love the coaching staff. Due to the coronavirus I saw a lot of virtual stuff but I can't get in person. Just the love of the coaching staff and how they believe in me, and how I can help their program."
He went on to expound on what Pitino's sales pitch has been to him?
"They've just got a good group of guys. They may need an older guy to come in and help lead and improve their program. They've talked a lot about their guys and who they have, so it's been kind of like that."
He closed by naming the the factors he will take into consideration when making his final decision.
"My role, and just a nice comfortable place for me. I like brotherhood. All that kind of stuff, everything that comes with winning, as men and players. That's what excites me."
