BEVERLY HILLS (MI) — In the next coupla weeks “FTS” will be taking a look at the five new players who will don the Red and Blue for the first time on November 9th at the newly renovated UD Arena: Rodney Chatman, Jordy Tshimanga, Chase Johnson, Moulaye Sissoko and the subject of today’s profile, Ibi Watson.
Ibi hails from Pickerington, OH and as everyone knows by now he transferred here from the University of Michigan, beating head coach John Beilein out the door by 12 months. The one thing that Ibi brings to the table that the other 4 new guys do not is that he played in an NCAA Championship game with the Wolverines back in 2018. Granted he only played one minute and scored two points in U of M’s 79-62 loss to Villanova, but the fact is he has been there and done what the Flyers hold as their ultimate goal for the upcoming season.
Here is what AG had to say about Watson when he signed with the Flyers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So8gNDGQJDs
It only took Ibi two weeks to determine his future home upon leaving Ann Arbor.
Here is the UD press release on his signing:
The Detroit News wrote this about his transfer to Dayton:
Here is his Verbal Commits page:
http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/ibi-watson
Jon Rothstein had this to say about Ibi: Former Michigan guard should be a starter and double-figure scorer for the Flyers.
Coming out of Pickerington Central HS Watson was a highly recruited 6’5″ shooting guard who played his AAU ball with the All Ohio Red grassroots juggernaut. Here is his official HS mix tape:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw7TWDIFQV0&t=58s
Ibi went off for 41 points including eight three pointers in the All Ohio Super 16 title game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Y8XYbEzh4&pbjreload=10
Here’s Watson talking about the three pointer he hit vs. Central Arkansas to set the U of M school record of 19 three pointers in a game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj1p733qqxs
Ibi participated in the Nationwide three point shooting contest last year representing UD and hit 12 out of 15 from the land of plenty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7qKLlvEQbE
In their Dayton preview the college hoops website Fansided had this to say about Ibi:
The Michigan transfer Ibi Watson is a guy Flyers fans are looking forward to seeing this year. Watson is someone who will have an immediate impact for the Flyers, it’s likely that he’ll start the season coming off the bench but I expect Watson will start his fair share of games this season. Watson has apparently made quite the impression with Anthony Grant
University of Dayton Head Coach Anthony Grant is at the helm of his alma mater’s men’s basketball program after head coaching stops at VCU and Alabama. UD announced Anthony Grant as the 20th head coach in UD Basketball history on March 30, 2017. and had a really good summer.
It looks like Ibi Watson will wear #2 at UD, altho his picture on the team’s website shows him sporting a # 11 uni, so who knows?
The Flyers have had recent success with high major transfers in the personages of Vee Sanford from Georgetown and Jordan Sibert from OSU. Like Watson, both were underutilized at their previous schools and the Flyer Faithful can only hope that Watson thrives like they did in his two seasons at UD.
That’s it “From the Swamp.”
You can email me at: [email protected]
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