5 transfers who would be good fit for Louisville basketball
By Jacob Lane
Ian DuBose – Guard
Houston Baptist, RS junior
2019 season stats: 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists
If there’s a better fit for Louisville at one of their open guard spots than redshirt junior Ian Dubose, I have yet to see it.
I have told myself over the last three days that when the right player became available for Louisville, that I’d know it. It took less than a minute of watching Dubose to see that he is a player capable of thriving under Mack.
His high-motor, athleticism, ability to attack, score at multiple levels, and rebound makes him a near-perfect fit for what I called a need for an “experienced, versatile do-it-all guard. Replacing guys like Fresh Kimble, Darius Perry, and Ryan McMahon is going to be a major challenge for Mack, and while David Johnson and Josh Nickelberry are great starts, it’s obvious there’s a need for experience.
DuBose was a multi-year starter and highly accomplished player for Houston Baptist of the Southland Conference. Following two straight seasons of averaging 17-plus points and six rebounds per game for HBU, the 6’4, 210-pound guard was named to the All-Southland Conference second team, making him one of the more accomplished players in program history.
After going 4-25 overall and finishing last in the conference, DuBose announced his intentions to transfer for his final season of eligibility and instantly became one of the top upperclassmen available.
What makes him a great fit?
Well as I said, it doesn’t take long to see the high-motor that DuBose plays with on both sides of the floor, two things the Cards haven’t had enough of over the last two years. He’s a proven scorer who is more than capable of scoring around the basket off the dribble as well as pulling-up from deep, shooting nearly 38 percent over the course of his career, as well as a guy who can lock down an opposing team’s top scorer. DuBose has played both guard positions during his time at Houston Baptist, and could provide the versatility that is currently missing from the roster. Relying on him as a scorer makes a bit more sense, considering he’s been turnover prone during his career thus far.
Transitioning up from the Southland Conference to the ACC is a big jump, and it’s more than likely you’d see the majority of his numbers take a hit because of it. We’ve seen how transitioning from star roles at smaller schools can go with guys like Kimble and Damion Lee, and while it’s likely that DuBose would be more of a role player, his experience and abilities make him a great fit for the 2020-21 roster.