Fairfield’s powerhouse center Deng Gai has solidified himself as one of the MAAC’s elite players, by earning the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year his first two seasons.
What’s next? Become a dominant force within a mid-major conference such as the MAAC or move to a larger program with a lesser role?
After Fairfield’s 69-54 loss to Manhattan in the MAAC Championship game on March 10, Gai said he wasn’t sure if Fairfield was the right fit for him to pursue a future career in the NBA.
“I want to improve more, so I might have to go to a bigger school where’s there’s more competition and players that I can challenge,” Gai said. “Because I don’t learn from anybody here … I don’t want to be selfish, but I have to do something better for me too. My goal is to play in the NBA one day, but I [first] want to do better in school and learn more English.”
The Connecticut Post used Gai’s statement in an article on March 12 that said Gai was possibly transferring to Michigan because Wolverine head coach Tommy Amaker, while at Seton Hall, attempted to recruit Gai out of high school.
O’Toole, however, told The Mirror there’s 100 percent no validity to that theory.
“I contacted Tommy Amaker of Michigan myself. He had heard nothing,” O’Toole said. “The article wasn’t based on any fact. I mean the article is basically accusing Michigan of tampering … they are already on probation right now, they don’t want to have any part of that. The article said that he [Gai] wanted to go to another college higher up. I just don’t see that happening.”
After meeting with O’Toole last Friday, Gai released a statement that said he was happy at Fairfield and the possibility of transferring was unlikely.
“I am happy at Fairfield and want to continue to work on my studies and basketball skills to get better and reach my goal of playing professionally after college,” Gai said. “I believe I can reach that goal by playing at Fairfield.”
O’Toole said Monday that if Gai decides to continue his education, he will be in a Stags’ uniform next year, but didn’t rule out the possibility that the 6-foot-8 forward from the Sudan may jump ship and play abroad.
“Deng wants to go to the NBA. There’s many ways you could do that,” O’Toole said. “When you have a European passport, you can go and play now and then work your way back.”
O’Toole, who played for Fairfield in the mid-80’s, said he also considered transferring while he was here but noted that no player from the MAAC since 1980 has transferred to a more prominent program and went on to have a successful NBA career.
“You always think about it, especially if you’re losing or things aren’t going well,” O’Toole said. “If he’s going to be in college next year, I believe he will be back here. I’ve talked to him about it, I think he’ll be back.”
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