The three players who transferred into the Georgia State men’s basketball team are having different experiences as the season unfolds.
It is happening exactly as coach Ron Hunter expected for Justin Seymour, Willie Clayton and Devin Mitchell as the Panthers (5-3) prepare to host Alabama A&M on Wednesday at the GSU Sports Arena. The team is coming off a 83-52 win over Georgia Southwestern, a victory that made Hunter the school’s all-time winningest coach.
Seymour, a guard who transferred from Murray State, seems to be having the easiest time. Hunter said it’s because he was able to play last year. A graduate student (and the first Hunter has taken at Georgia State), Seymour didn’t have to sit out a season, per NCAA rules. Seymour leads the Panthers in 3-pointers made (14) and is second in scoring average (9.4). His outside shooting has been a strength for a team that struggled hitting 3-pointers last season (34.2 percent).
“Definitely a home run,” Hunter said. “I really like what he brings to our team.”
Seymour said another reason he has been able to transition so easily into Hunter’s program is the experiences he had at Utah, and then Murray State. He has become used to change and knows to listen to his coach and teammates in order to make things easier to fulfill his goal of winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament and making it to the NCAA tournament.
Clayton, a forward who transferred from Charlotte, hasn’t had as easy a transition as Seymour. Hunter said that’s because Clayton had to sit out a season and it takes time to get timing and reactions back. Clayton leads the Panthers in rebounds (68), including offensive (28), and is fifth in scoring average (7.5). His rebounding, particularly on offense, has been a strength for a team that has struggled in that area for several seasons. Hunter said the Panthers are getting 10 extra possession because of Clayton’s efforts and described him as the best rebounder he has ever coached.
“One thing that doesn’t go away is rebounding,” Hunter said.
Hunter said he knows that Clayton will round into form by the time conference play starts at Georgia Southern on Dec. 31, but that he needs to improve his free-throw shooting (28.6 percent). Hunter won’t play him in the final five minutes of games because of his inability at the line.
Clayton prefers to focus on the positives of his rebounding because he said all players have at least one weakness.
“You can’t let that define you,” he said. “You have to find other things that make you stand out. I’m a great rebounder because I have a niche for the ball. You know you will miss a couple of shots so you have to bring more energy to the game by going to get the ball.”
Clayton will participate in Georgia State’s graduation ceremonies on Wednesday after completing his degree in Sociology and play that night. He said he’s up to 30 tickets for the game because of all the friends and family members who will be in town.
Mitchell, a guard who transferred from Alabama, wasn’t as quick to find his rhythm as the other two because he hasn’t played in two years after not getting many minutes with the Tide and then sitting out a year because of his decision to leave. Hunter said they knew it would take time for Mitchell, which is one of the reasons they added Seymour.
Mitchell is averaging 3.8 points per game, but scored a season-high 13 in the win over Georgia Southwestern. Hunter said Mitchell was pressing in previous games, so to see the ball go in a few times should boost his confidence. Like Clayton, Mitchell will be a different player in a few weeks as he logs more minutes, which Hunter said is of important to a jump-shooting guard.
“He’s a guy, that when he gets going, our season will take off,” Hunter said.
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