High-flying Potter transferring from Wright State

Promising sophomore Skyelar Potter, who entertained Wright State fans with his acrobatic dunks, has entered the transfer portal and is looking for another program.

The 6-foot-3 guard had 19 points in the season opener against Central State and was averaging 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds this season. But he was beaten out for a starting spot by freshman Tanner Holden and was held out of two games for disciplinary reasons.

“It was mutual,” coach Scott Nagy said of the departure. “We just felt like we didn’t see things the same way.”

But Nagy added. “There was no yelling or screaming. I miss him. I love that kid. We want what’s best for him, so we’re trying to help him get someplace else.”

Considered the Raiders’ most athletic player, Potter averaged 5.8 points (fifth on the team) and 3.8 rebounds (third) as a freshman in 2018-19.

Wright State has now lost two of three players from last year’s recruiting class. Malachi Smith, a 6-3 guard who made the Horizon League all-freshman team, transferred to Chattanooga in the offseason.

Under the weather: Redshirt freshman center Grant Basile, who started all five games Loudon Love missed with an elbow injury, played only seven minutes and failed to score in a 90-84 win over Green Bay on Saturday.

Basile became ill over Christmas and wasn’t 100 percent.

“He lost about 12 pounds,” Nagy said. “He practiced the last two days (before the game), but he’s looked sick even when he’s practiced.”

The 6-9 Basile may not have gotten much action anyway against the Phoenix, which spreads the floor in its half-court offense.

Back-up center Will Chevalier hit three 3-pointers in a three-minute span in the second half to help Green Bay rally from any early 13-point deficit and take a five -point lead with five minutes to go.

Basile averaged 13.8 points and 10 rebounds in Love’s absence. He’s averaging 8.4 points and 5.9 boards this season.

“It’s not his strength to go out on the perimeter and guard those 3-point shooters. He needs to bang inside. It was a tough game for him to play for sure,” Nagy said.

Hard work: The Raiders may have beaten the Phoenix, but the visitors left the Nutter Center with the confidence they can compete with the league's preseason favorite.

“In the second half, up until the 4:30 mark, we played really well,” coach Linc Darner said. “We had them down five and had a couple bad decisions by us. And when you do that against a very good team with very experienced players, they’ll make you pay.

“We took some tough shots, which we hadn’t done up until then. We have to get better at that. Our guys have to learn from that. But we were right there.”

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