OSU Hoops in the Mix to Land Star Yale Transfer Paul Atkinson

The reigning Player of the Year in the Ivy League is considering spending his final season of eligibility in Stillwater, America.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Yale star Paul Atkinson has Oklahoma State on his short list that includes Notre Dame, NC State, Iowa, Miami, Kansas, Cincinnati, Texas, Ohio State and Georgia.

Atkinson is expected to cut his list to five schools “in the next week or so,” Borzello reports. The Pokes are among those who have been in constant contact with him.

Atkinson will be a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility beginning in the 2021-22 season. Because he will have graduated, he is immediately eligible to play at the school of his choosing.

Last season for Yale, Atkinson averaged 17.6 points, 7.3 boards and 1.2 steals per game. The 6-foot-10 big man immediately drew interest from Duke, Gonzaga, OSU, Texas and others when he announced he would transfer earlier this fall, and it seems OSU’s persistence is paying off.

OSU’s frontcourt is plenty talented both now and projecting ahead to next season, but a player with Atkinson’s skill set is a must-add. He’s a highly efficient scorer inside the arc — he rated 25th nationally in eFG% last season, according to KenPom data — and he has the talents to extend his shot beyond the 3-point line as well.