We're going to give you a rundown of this season's top impact transfers sometime in the next week or so and that list may be led by Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson.

When the 6-foot-7 1/2, 210-pound Johnson left Iowa State and joined the Orange program in June of 2008, it was meaningless news to the college basketball world.

Johnson was a guy who barely stood out on Iowa State.

However, what people didn't understand was that the Texas native played his sophomore season with an ankle injury and still averaged 12.4 points.

"I'm finally healthy now," Johnson said.

Orange coach Jim Boeheim has wasted little time heaping praise on Johnson, who figures to step in and make an immediate impact – especially with the loss of Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris from last season's team.

"I know my scoring will be there, but I've been trying to work on my rebounding and defense in the last year," Johnson said.

Johnson is long and athletic – just the way they like them up in Syracuse.

"My roommate, Kris Joseph, compares me to Tracy McGrady," Johnson said. "With how I can break people down off the dribble and explode."

Johnson attended the Vince Carter Camp but passed on an invite to go to the LeBron James Skills Academy in July.

Johnson practiced all of last season with the Orange and said that another guy who sat out, Scoop Jardine, has made a dramatic change in the offseason.

Jardine is the frontrunner to take the starting point guard spot vacated by Flynn, but he'll have competition from freshman Brandon Triche.

"Scoop lost a lot of weight and looks real good," Johnson said. "He's been doing two-a-days all summer."

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year," he added.

LAMAR HEALTHY

Lamar coach Steve Roccaforte isn't into excuses, but I'll make a few for him.

His best player, Kenny Dawkins, was hurt the entire season with toe and groin injuries and was forced to sit out five of the last six games. Freshman guard Charlie Harper broke his leg in a car accident in December and missed six weeks.

Justin Nabors and Lawrence Nwevo, two players expected to start, were already done for the season with injuries.

Somehow, the Cardinals started the season 10-4 and found a way to end the year with a 15-15 mark.

This season, Roccaforte has Nabors, Nwevo and Harper back – in addition to junior guard Ashton Hall. Anthony Miles, who averaged 13 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in place of Dawkins down the stretch, has a year under his belt.

He also has an astonishing 18 home games – and eight new faces.

"We're going to be bigger and longer at every position," Roccaforte said. "I think we'll be balanced."

RANDOM NOTES: Western Kentucky coach Ken McDonald dismissed freshman Terrence Boyd from the program just a couple of weeks after he let another frosh, David Laurie, go. Both, according to sources, were sent packing for "conduct unbecoming of a Hilltopper." ... Scout.com reports that Marquette received a commitment from Stone Mountain (Ga.) guard Jamail Jones. ... Trevor Releford, the younger brother of Kansas guard Travis Releford, told Scout.com that Oklahoma and Alabama have emerged as co-favorites. ... College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins signed a two-year extension that runs through 2013-14.