OSU in the Running To Land Virginia Tech Transfer Guard Jalen Cone
STILLWATER – It was reported by Jeff Goodman on Friday Mike Boynton and Co. are in the running to land Virginia Tech transfer guard Jalen Cone.
The other teams in the running are Buffalo, Indiana, Iowa State, NAU, Nebraska and Penn State.
Checking in at 5-10, 165-pounds out of Walkertown, N.C., Cone finished his sophomore season averaged 9.2 points a game, shooting nearly 36% from the field and 35% from 3-point range, but suffered an ankle injury on Feb. 6 against Miami (FL) and missed the remainder of the season. His shooting percentage is down from his freshman season as he shot 40% from the field and 46% from 3-point range in his first season.
However, his season being cut short to an ankle injury certainly played into the dip in numbers as he missed the entire last month of the season.
There was a dip in his performance in mid-January, but he had some really solid performances to start conference play. He posted 12 points against Miami (FL), 23 points against Louisville while shooting 6-of-12 from beyond the 3-point line. He scored 18-points against Notre Dame going 4-of-10 from beyond the arch and 14 points against Duke with 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.
There’s no question as to what Cone would be brought in to do in Stillwater and that’s to be a 3-point specialist. Boynton and Co. brought Ferron Flavors Jr. and Bryce Williams in this past season to be the sharpshooters, but Flavors was injured a good portion of the season and just entered the transfer portal, while Williams was streaky this past season and is undecided on whether he’ll return next season.
Cade Cunningham gave the Pokes a decent look from 3-point range, especially in clutch situations. Boynton and Co. will also have Rondel Walker and Keylan Boone, both of which showed they can heat up from beyond the arc. But being able to add Cone to the roster, or a shooter like Cone, would be a huge boost going into next season without Cunningham.
It’ll all depend on the NCAA’s decision on OSU’s appeal, but as of right now, pre-NCAA decision, Boynton and Co. have two scholarships to give, one from Cunningham going to the NBA and one from Flavors entering the transfer portal.