looking for one year in the bigs
graduate transfer pierce, a glenbard west grad, hopes to duplicate mooney’s success
Justin Pierce couldn’t help but think and wonder as he watched Matt Mooney emerge as a hero for Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament.
“Absolutely,” said Pierce when asked if he kept tabs on Mooney’s magical ride that helped lead the Red Raiders to the nationalchampionship final. “I absolutely followed him and what he did, not only during the March Madness run but throughout the year.”
Like Mooney one year ago, former Glenbard West star Pierce is a coveted graduate transfer who college coaches salivate over.
The grad transfer process has become college basketball’s version of free agency. The transfers are critical roster acquisitions for contending teams and a chance to add an experienced player rather than depending on an unproven freshman.
A college player who completes his undergraduate degree with one year of athletic eligibility remaining has the option to begin his graduate degree at another university without having to sit out a year. Pierce will graduate from William & Mary, a prestigious academic institution in Williamsburg, Virginia, in just three years, laying the groundwork for an opportunity to play at a high-major program in his final season of eligibility.
“Matt Mooney did a great job of finding the right fit, where he could make an impact and play a lot,” Pierce said. “I want to find that.”
Mooney, who starred at Notre Dame in high school, played at Air Force and South Dakota before transferring to Texas Tech as a graduate student for his final season. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 assists in 31 minutes for the Red Raiders.
Pierce was cognizant of the road Mooney took and can’t help but see the similarities. He saw a Chicagoarea kid who worked himself up from a lower level of Division I to play at its highest level. He saw the player who had never played in the NCAA Tournament become a star in his one season in Lubbock, Texas.
The long, athletic and versatile Pierce scored 980 points and pulled down 576 rebounds in three seasons with the Tribe. He averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists this past season.
“He’s the definition of versatility,” William & Mary assistant coach Jonathan Holmes said.
Pierce has been contacted by more than two dozen high-major programs when his name entered the transfer portal last month. In a recent ESPN.com ranking, Pierce was ranked as the fifth-best immediately eligible transfer in the country.
“When you combine his competitive drive and work ethic with his talent and versatility, I’m not surprised at all that he’s in the position he is now in with these great options,” Holmes said. “Justin deserves all the credit because of all the time and work he’s put in. Whatever he does, it’s done at a high level, both on and off the court.”
And it’s why Pierce can dream a little after watching Mooney’s rise and success at Texas Tech.
Coaches who contacted him include Michigan’s John Beilein, Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann, North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Notre Dame’s Mike Brey.
“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say it was pretty surreal to be talking with these coaches and thinking about being a part of their programs,” Pierce said.
A basketball junkie with a sharp basketball mind, Pierce said he has found it “pretty cool” to have coaches come to William & Mary, sit down with him and talk basketball. Together they shared some visions of what the coming year could look like.
“This is a one-year deal and not a four-year deal,” Pierce said. “Immediate playing time was not a big priority for me coming out of high school. Now I’m looking for holes in a position of these teams where I can see playing time and opportunity.”
After taking a visit to Notre Dame last weekend, Pierce is visiting Michigan this weekend and will visit North Carolina at the end of the month. Those are his final three.
Coming out of high school, Pierce was more highly recruited than Mooney, who had just one offer from Air Force. Nonetheless, Pierce’s recruitment lacked Big Ten or ACC powers.
There were a boatload of midmajor options for the late-blooming Pierce, who entered Glenbard West as a 5-8 freshman and sprouted 10 inches in four years. He opened eyes on the spring and summer club circuit while playing with Mercury Elite before his senior season, ultimately choosing William & Mary over 14 other low-major and mid-major offers.
Now, for one season, Pierce has an opportunity to play at the highest level, potentially for a top-25 program in one of the nation’s best conferences. It’s an opportunity — and decision — Pierce isn’t taking lightly.
“It’s been overwhelming and a little stressful at times,” Pierce said. “But I remind myself that it’s a good stress. It’s a blessing to be in this position, and with the options that are out there I really can’t go wrong.”