Potential Grad Transfer: Mark Alstork

The latest edition of our graduate transfer reviews comes in the form of 6-5 SG/SF Mark Alstork. While the players that we have written about so far all seem to be similar type players, that is not the case for Alstork.

The former Wright State Raiders guard actually declared for the NBA Draft last week, but announced yesterday that he has requested a transfer. He has already been contacted by several different NCAA programs as well according to this tweet (including Wake Forest):

The conditions of his release are that he cannot transfer to another school in the Horizon League, nor any team on the schedule for Wright State next year. I do not know if this excludes any team on the above list, but that’s something worth watching for as well.

He is a very high usage player (34.7% possessions, 7th highest in Division 1 last year), primarily due to sheer number of shots taken per game and a higher than average turnover rate.

Alstork averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for the 20-12 Raiders.

He was able to knock down 38% of his three’s (on 177 attempts), and demonstrated a good ability to get to the basket, draw fouls, and make his free throws (85% on 201 attempts).

Quite frankly it is odd that Wake would be after a 6-5 high usage player. I assume Chaundee Brown will come in and start at the 3 from day one. Not only that, Bryant Crawford and John Collins are already above average usage players, and I would expect Brown to have a high usage rate as well in his freshman year.

It is also intriguing to know that we are still actively reaching out to graduate transfers. I understand that the coaching staff is always going to keep all options open, but assuming Olivier Sarr does commit to Wake Forest, there is not an open scholarship available.

Does this give us any additional information about what Collins is thinking? Possibly, but it also indicates that the coaching staff is simply covering their bases so they don’t get caught in a bad position should Collins leave, or another transfer is announced.

While Alstork looks promising on the surface, I don’t necessarily think he is exactly what the staff is looking for. A lower usage player with more size, ability to defend around the rim, and rebound the ball would be a much better fit for the team roster that Wake is bringing back next year.