Coach Brian Gregory said he believes that his three high-level transfers — point guard Tyler Harris (Memphis), wing Keyshawn Bryant (South Carolina) and guard Selton Miguel (Kansas State) — already have brought a new level of confidence and energy to the USF men's basketball team.
As the Bulls seek to rebound from last season's 8-23 finish, Gregory said he expects the Bulls to have a boost of versatility, along with much-needed scoring punch.
"These are some very competitive dudes,'' Gregory said. "They bring it every day in practice. They provide some of that good friction you need to become a really good team. I'm very pleased with how they have become part of the team and they are all going to bring some great qualities that will show up in the games.''
When the Bulls open Nov. 7 against Southeast Missouri State at the Yuengling Center — five days after facing the University of Tampa in an exhibition game — Gregory said the page will turn to a new season and what he expects will be contention for the American Athletic Conference's upper division.
That's a position familiar to Harris, a 5-foot-9 guard with one season of eligibility remaining. USF fans are well-acquainted with Harris, a cocksure, edgy and highly successful scoring threat who thrived for Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers. Once, he was the opponent. Now he's a Bull.
"Look, I get it and I know why some fans may not care for me,'' said Harris, who has 1,133 career points in college for Memphis and Iowa State (2020-21 season). "I talk a lot. I'm not a quiet guy. But I'm just out there having fun and competing. I think the USF fans are going to like me.
"I was just looking for a place where I could have a bigger role (he averaged 18.9 minutes per game last season at Memphis). I think I can be a leader here. I love the way Coach BG (Gregory) utilizes his guards. I remember David Collins and (Laquincy) Rideau. Those guys were all-out dogs. That's me, too. I'm going to be that guy.''
Last season, Harris logged career-high stats in field-goal percentage (40.4 percent) and 3-point percentage (39.3). He's also a career 85.9 percent free-throw shooter. At Cordova High School (Memphis area), he had a program-record 2,647 career points to finish 12th all-time in the state of Tennessee.
"We had a little more intimate knowledge of Tyler because he had been in our league,'' Gregory said. "He wants a more expanded role and he's going to have that opportunity here. He wants to prove he can run a team (on a full-time basis) and he's obviously a great shooter, but he's going to show that he has an all-around game.
"He's starting to grasp stuff and realize that if he goes four or five minutes without making a shot, he's still going to be OK. He's going to really impact the way we play and bring the hard-nosed winning attitude that he has always displayed.''
Bryant, from Winter Haven High School, also showed signs of becoming a big-time scorer at South Carolina, where he rolled up 973 points in four seasons. He had a career-high 26 points against LSU and led South Carolina in dunks (27) as a sophomore.
"Dude can fly,'' USF returning forward Corey Walker Jr. said. "I think Keyshawn is going to be spectacular for us.''
Bryant, a 6-6 wing who said he was named for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, said he displayed eye-popping ability with the Gamecocks, but just not often enough. Consistency is his goal at USF.
"I know the guys at USF didn't have the season they wanted last year,'' Bryant said. "I can relate to that because I had a season at South Carolina that did not go well and I think it was all about confidence. It's a mindset thing. When you're feeling good about yourself, it makes a huge difference, and I think this team is feeling good about itself right now.
"I played in the SEC and I think I know what it takes. I see a lot of great players on our USF team. They're going to step up much bigger than people are even dreaming about. I feel I can add something by just being myself, running the court, being athletic, making plays. I definitely believe we're going to be putting the ball in the basket.''
Bryant said a winning season at USF is an achievable goal and one that would provide tremendous pride.
"It's the last go-round for Keyshawn and Tyler and both of those guys have a chance in their last year to go down in our history books as two really important guys,'' Gregory said. "I think they have both embraced that opportunity.''
Gregory said Miguel, a 6-4 guard who played in 55 games over two seasons at Kansas State, will bring tough-minded defensive play, along with an all-court game. As a true freshman, Miguel started 22 games and played 30 or more minutes in 14 of them. He can score, but also is proficient in ball distribution and lockdown defense.
"For all of those guys, we looked into their background for the qualities we felt would really help our team,'' Gregory said. "We wanted to know, 'Who coached them? How did they respond to that coaching? What was asked of them? Did they play for demanding coaches? Did the play for winning teams?'
"I really feel like those three transfers are going to add a lot, not only by what they produce, but how it rubs off on our other players and how it translates in practice. They all have a chance to really make their mark for us.''
