By Tom Seipp, Managing Editor
Following the conclusion of both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at St. Bonaventure University, multiple players from each program have announced that they’re entering the transfer portal.
From the men’s program, Wednesday that Alejandro Vasquez, a sophomore undeclared arts major, and Jalen Shaw, a junior video production major, had both entered the portal, VerbalCommits reported and a source confirmed.
Vasquez was in the recruiting class of three freshmen (Vasquez, Robert Carpenter and Justin Winston) who enrolled at Bonaventure in the fall of 2019. Vasquez was the only player out of the three to make it through two complete seasons, with Carpenter transferring immediately after the 2020- 21 season and Winston transferring mid-season.
Vasquez played in all 31 of the Bonnies games in 2019-20, averaging 6.3 points-per-game in 16.2 minutes per appearance.
In his sophomore season, both of those numbers declined, as he only played 13.3 minutes per game scoring at an average of 4.4 points. Vasquez’s efficiency also fell drastically, as his shooting percentage dipped mightily, from 41.8% to 28.3%.
Vasquez, who committed to St. Bonaventure before his senior year of high school, had previous offers from Fordham, Monmouth, UMass, Iona, Robert Morris and St. Peter’s among others. Vasquez has three years of eligibility remaining.
Shaw, after playing two years at a JUCO, signed with Bonaventure last March. The 6-foot-10 center was deciding between the Bonnies and Cleveland State before ultimately deciding on Mark Schmidt’s team.
Shaw was the primary backup to Osun Osunniyi this season, appearing in all but one game. Shaw only averaged 5.7 minutes-per-game, only logging more than 10 minutes six times. With likely having a similar role to next year, Shaw, with two years of eligibility remaining, has left the program.
As of Thursday, Bonaventure only has seven scholarship players for next season. Schmidt’s program has zero players signed beyond the 2021- 22 season.
For the women’s program, two players left while the season was in progress: Star Fitzgerald-Greer, a graduate student majoring in general business and Deja Francis, a junior journalism major.
Francis was absent for the Bonnies Atlantic-10 Tournament game against Davidson. When head coach Jesse Fleming was asked about her status postgame, all he commented was that she was away from the team.
Francis was on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team after a solid freshman season in 2018-19, when she averaged 9.4 points per-game, starting 27 of the Bonnies 30 games.
Over each of her three years in the program, her minutes were declining as they went from 29.1 MPG to 28 MPG and finally 23.7 MPG her junior season.
In the Bonnies last road trip to Philadelphia, Francis only played a then-lowest minutes total of the year against Saint Joseph’s, playing only 10 minutes. But, just two days later, only appeared for one lone minute at La Salle. She left the team after the trip and entered the portal.
Fitzgerald-Greer, the graduate transfer from Howard, appeared in just seven games, scoring 11 points on the season. She, like Francis, also left the team midseason. She has one year of eligibility remaining.
According to multiple sources, not all players in both programs have made final decisions to return next year.
seipptw19@bonaventure.edu
