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Former N.C. Central forward Stanton Kidd headed to Colorado State

Todd Mayo, Stanto Kidd

Marquette’s’ Todd Mayo is called for a foul as he tries to take the ball away from North Carolina Central’s Stanton Kidd, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)

AP

Colorado State head coach Larry Eustachy has landed another front court player, as 6-7 forward Stanton Kidd committed to the Mountain West school Saturday according to Matt L. Stephens of The Coloradoan.

Kidd arrives in Fort Collins by way of North Carolina Central, where he averaged 14.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest in his lone season at the MEAC school. Prior to NCCU, Kidd played two seasons at South Plains JC in Texas.

Kidd’s reason for the move to Colorado State: added exposure.

“I wanted to get more exposure so I can have a better shot playing with top competition,” Kidd said. “It’s not that the MEAC isn’t good competition, 15-9 in the MEAC is OK, but you won’t get recognized much by scouts. If you go 15-9 in the Mountain West, that’s a lot better. There are a lot of pro guys who have come from the Mountain West, plus the conference sends four or five teams to the NCAA tournament.”

The unfortunate aspect of this transfer for Colorado State is that, like former SIU forward Dantiel Daniels, Kidd will have to sit out the 2013-14 season per NCAA transfer rules. Kidd will have one year of eligibility remaining, and his signing means that Colorado State is out of scholarships to hand out for the 2013-14 campaign.

What does that mean? Players such as J.J. Avila, Daniel Bejarano and Gerson Santo will need to hold their own on the glass if Colorado State is to entertain thoughts of a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

Colorado State, which was knocked out of this year’s tournament by eventual national champion Louisville, has to replace center Colton Iverson and forwards Pierce Hornung and Greg Smith inside (not to mention guards Wes Eikmeier and Dorian Green). That trio combined to pull down an average of nearly 24 rebounds per game in 2012-13, and were a major reason why the Rams ranked second nationally in offensive rebound percentage and first in defensive rebounding percentage.

Without those three players, can the 2013-14 edition perform at a level high enough to keep the Rams in contention for another NCAA tournament berth? Of the returnees Bejarano was the most effective on the glass (5.3 rpg), as he posted individual rebounding percentages of 9.4 (offensive) and 19.7 (defensive).

Santo played just over seven minutes per game in 2012-13, and with the key departures it goes without saying that Colorado State will need the Brazilian to take full advantage of increased playing time. As for Avila he was an effective rebounder in his two seasons at Navy (6.0 rpg), and he has the talent needed to produce at a similar level for Colorado State.

Unless there’s another personnel change in the offing this is the trio coach Eustachy will have to rely on. And if each player shows himself capable of handling added responsibilities, Colorado State can continue its current run of success.

Raphielle can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.