Following Miami's ACC winning 2012-13 season, the team was pretty much decimated. Between graduating seniors and the loss of Shane Larkin to the NBA, the Canes lost 82% of their minutes. Now they're Rion Brown, Tone Jekiri, and a bunch of guys who have been given uniforms.
But the transfer market is always a source of new blood for teams like this, and sure enough Miami found some.
Miami has picked up DePaul transfer Donnavan Kirk, per source. Big man can play his final year ASAP.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) June 12, 2013
If the name sounds familiar to Miami fans, it's because it is. The 6-9 power forward from Detroit committed to the Canes in 2008. But after his first season, which was derailed by an injury, he transferred to DePaul. He got his degree, and now he's coming back and is immediately eligible.
So what to expect from the senior's bookend season in Coral Gables?
At DePaul he was a role player, averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 boards. He was also nearly invisible. Over two seasons he took just 12% of the shots when he was on the floor, easiest the lowest % for any of the Blue Demon regulars. He was also a fairly nondescript rebounder, which isn't what you want out of a 6-9 guy with an NBA body. He grabbed 12% of the defensive rebounds, which puts him in Trey McKinney Jones territory, and just north of Shane Larkin. And his ability to set teammates up is non existent. He had 14 assists in 31 games.
The upside for Kirk is that he can hold down the middle of a defense. He might not rebound, but he can block some shots and be physical.
So basically, he's a body. But Miami needs bodies.
