Simeon Wilcher’s move to Seton Hall pairs a former top-50 recruit with guard-whisperer Shaheen Holloway, potentially transforming a rotational piece into the star Texas failed to unlock.
Over the course of his legendary coaching career, Rick Pitino has proven that guards who spend multiple years learning under him turn out to be great college basketball players.
During his time at St. John's alone, he developed Daniss Jenkins and RJ Luis Jr. into top players in the Big East.
That's why, when Simeon Wilcher arrived in Austin to play for Sean Miller's Texas Longhorns following a two-year stint in Queens, the former UNC commit was being listed as a SEC breakout candidate.
But Wilcher didn't break out. In fact, he performed considerably worse than he did during his sophomore campaign under Pitino.
Despite playing for two of the nation's best coaches across his three-year career, Wilcher has yet to become the player he owned the potential to be coming out of Roselle Catholic in Roselle, New Jersey.
Following just one season under Miller, Wilcher transferred back home, committing to play for Shaheen Holloway and the Seton Hall Pirates for his senior campaign.
And his chosen destination is exactly why the Longhorns could end up missing Wilcher.
After developing the likes of Kadary Richmond and Budd Clark, Holloway has rightfully earned a reputation for being able to get the most out of his guards.
Holloway himself starred in Seton Hall's backcourt from 1996 to 2000, so he often treats his primary facilitator as an extension of himself on the sidelines.
While Wilcher has yet to tap into his full potential, after soaking up knowledge from Pitino and Miller, Holloway could be the one to unlock the former top-50 recruit.
Luckily for the Longhorns, they did bring in three guards through this offseason's portal cycle in Mikey Lewis (Saint Mary's), Isaiah Johnson (Colorado) and Amari Evans (Tennessee).
They'll be joined by the four freshmen guards joining Texas this fall, as Joe Sterling, Bo Ogden, Mantas Laurencikas and Austin Goosby will battle for opportunities in the backcourt as well.
Miller has plenty of pieces in place to fill the 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game Wilcher left behind when he decided to transfer — assuming the former Longhorn continues to produce at the level he did at Texas.
But when you combine Wilcher's raw talent with Holloway's recent track record of developing guards into Big East stars, it's easy to envision a scenario where Wilcher blossoms into a late bloomer.
If Holloway works his magic, Texas won’t regret losing the player Wilcher was. It’ll regret losing the player he became.
