Men’s Basketball Punctuates Early Offseason With Three High-Major Transfer Additions
4/1/2021 1:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Jamion Christian announced Thursday the addition of three high-major transfers to GW men's basketball. Ira Lee (Arizona), Joe Bamisile (Virginia Tech) and Brendan Adams (UConn) all committed to the Buff and Blue.
"What a week!" said Christian. "When I look at our roster, I'm excited to have a team that can play fast, play tough and play together. With Ira, Joe, and Brendan, we gain three players that each play with a relentless love for the game and a relentless love for their teammates. It was clear when recruiting all three that they were loved by their teammates and their coaching staffs. This relentlessness extends from their hunger to not only prove to themselves how dominant they can be, but their ability to impact a program and its trajectory towards greatness."
Lee comes to GW after a four-year career at Arizona in which he appeared in 113 games for the Pac 12's Wildcats. He brings a career .558 field goal percentage into his graduate year of eligibility.
"I love his huge and loving personality and how he is a relentless competitor," said Christian. "Ira gives us a physical, above-the-rim finisher, an every-play guy, who is going to help our entire team continue to improve. I'm excited about the impact he can have with Noel Brown and Hunter Dean, not just this season, but seasons beyond. The Show is coming East!"
Bamisile makes the short trip up I-95 from his home in Chesterfield, Va., after playing for Virginia Tech last season. A top-70 recruit out of Monacan High School, the 6-foot-4 guard maintains four years of eligibility after all basketball student-athletes were granted an eligibility waiver during the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.
"What do I say about Joe?!" Christian said excitedly. "I've loved Joe from our first conversation years ago and our ability to connect on all topics, not just basketball. His talent, ability to finish above the rim and scoring ability are exceptional. His desire to be in a program where all of this would be appreciated was evident, and he will have it here at GW."
Adams comes to Foggy Bottom after three seasons at UConn in which he appeared in 78 games. The Baltimore product comes from an A-10 family with brother Jay earning co A-10 Player of the Year honors at St. Bonaventure in 2017-18. His experience with the Huskies makes him the second-most experienced student-athlete on GW's roster, behind only fellow new addition Lee, as the pair brings 191 combined career games played at the high major level.
"Brendan is such a vocal and physical leader," noted Christian. "The stories about how hard he works and what he gives to his teammates are countless during his time at UConn. His ability to play fast, make plays for others and score quickly were characteristics that we knew we needed to play three guards at a time. Known for making big shots and being on for big moments, Brendan is sure to be clutch when we need him."
The additions of Lee, Bamisile and Adams make the second straight year in which GW added three high-major transfers to the program after James Bishop (LSU), Ricky Lindo (Maryland) and Matt Moyer (Vanderbilt, Syracuse) donned the Buff and Blue last season. Bishop and Lindo return, along with another high-major transfer in Amir Harris (Nebraska), while Moyer has turned pro.
"I want to thank my staff," said Christian. "Their ability to put their head down and get the job done over the past four weeks to get the kind of guys with the kind of character that can make us a contender is exactly why we are in the position that we are today.
"Identifying the talent is one thing, but our staff did an amazing job looking deeply into the character and the competitiveness of each of these guys. That takes time and diligence, again, thank you. Each season we've looked hard in the mirror about needs we have on our roster that will allow us to compete consistently in the A-10. We are certainly happy with the progress made on the recruiting trail and now our focus will move to allowing our team to grow together. 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'"
"What a week!" said Christian. "When I look at our roster, I'm excited to have a team that can play fast, play tough and play together. With Ira, Joe, and Brendan, we gain three players that each play with a relentless love for the game and a relentless love for their teammates. It was clear when recruiting all three that they were loved by their teammates and their coaching staffs. This relentlessness extends from their hunger to not only prove to themselves how dominant they can be, but their ability to impact a program and its trajectory towards greatness."
Lee comes to GW after a four-year career at Arizona in which he appeared in 113 games for the Pac 12's Wildcats. He brings a career .558 field goal percentage into his graduate year of eligibility.
"I love his huge and loving personality and how he is a relentless competitor," said Christian. "Ira gives us a physical, above-the-rim finisher, an every-play guy, who is going to help our entire team continue to improve. I'm excited about the impact he can have with Noel Brown and Hunter Dean, not just this season, but seasons beyond. The Show is coming East!"
Bamisile makes the short trip up I-95 from his home in Chesterfield, Va., after playing for Virginia Tech last season. A top-70 recruit out of Monacan High School, the 6-foot-4 guard maintains four years of eligibility after all basketball student-athletes were granted an eligibility waiver during the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.
"What do I say about Joe?!" Christian said excitedly. "I've loved Joe from our first conversation years ago and our ability to connect on all topics, not just basketball. His talent, ability to finish above the rim and scoring ability are exceptional. His desire to be in a program where all of this would be appreciated was evident, and he will have it here at GW."
Adams comes to Foggy Bottom after three seasons at UConn in which he appeared in 78 games. The Baltimore product comes from an A-10 family with brother Jay earning co A-10 Player of the Year honors at St. Bonaventure in 2017-18. His experience with the Huskies makes him the second-most experienced student-athlete on GW's roster, behind only fellow new addition Lee, as the pair brings 191 combined career games played at the high major level.
"Brendan is such a vocal and physical leader," noted Christian. "The stories about how hard he works and what he gives to his teammates are countless during his time at UConn. His ability to play fast, make plays for others and score quickly were characteristics that we knew we needed to play three guards at a time. Known for making big shots and being on for big moments, Brendan is sure to be clutch when we need him."
The additions of Lee, Bamisile and Adams make the second straight year in which GW added three high-major transfers to the program after James Bishop (LSU), Ricky Lindo (Maryland) and Matt Moyer (Vanderbilt, Syracuse) donned the Buff and Blue last season. Bishop and Lindo return, along with another high-major transfer in Amir Harris (Nebraska), while Moyer has turned pro.
"I want to thank my staff," said Christian. "Their ability to put their head down and get the job done over the past four weeks to get the kind of guys with the kind of character that can make us a contender is exactly why we are in the position that we are today.
"Identifying the talent is one thing, but our staff did an amazing job looking deeply into the character and the competitiveness of each of these guys. That takes time and diligence, again, thank you. Each season we've looked hard in the mirror about needs we have on our roster that will allow us to compete consistently in the A-10. We are certainly happy with the progress made on the recruiting trail and now our focus will move to allowing our team to grow together. 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'"
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