A week after a season-ending loss to Iona in the MAAC tournament, the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team received some uplifting news.

Forward Kevin Marfo is transferring back to Quinnipiac, a year after transferring to Texas A&M.

Marfo was a crucial piece on the 2019-20 Bobcats team. He led the entire nation in rebounding, averaging 13.3 rebounds per game, and had double-digit boards in 29 of his 30 games played.

Marfo also led the MAAC in double-doubles, with 17 that season.

His dynamic play was certainly missed this past season. Quinnipiac’s leading rebounder was Jacob Rigoni, who averaged 6.3 rebounds per game. This seven-rebound differential between seasons for the team leader in the category was huge.

In 2019-20, the Bobcats had 1,095 rebounds and averaged 36.5 per game, while their opponents had 1,042 rebounds and averaged 34.7 per game.

In 2020-21, their rebounding numbers fell off. They had 793 rebounds and averaged 36.0 per game, while their opponents had 873 rebounds and averaged 39.7 per game. Getting Marfo back means getting a competitive rebounding master back, as well as a leader who helps improve the team on both ends of the floor.

This past season with Texas A&M, Marfo’s playing time diminished. He went from playing 28.1 minutes per game in his last year at Quinnipiac to 12.8 minutes in 2020-21.

Marfo played in all 30 games with the Bobcats in ‘19-‘20, and played in 17 with the Aggies, starting in just 8 of those games.

Despite the lack of playing time, he still finished second on the team in field goal percentage and blocks and finished third in rebounding. Texas A&M finished in 13th place in the SEC, with a 2-8 conference record.

Now back in Hamden, Marfo will surely get more than enough playing time again.

Marfo is reuniting with a few of his former teammates, including center Seth Pinkney and guard Savion Lewis. He rejoins Pinkney in the frontcourt, as the two will be the leaders on defense.

In 2020-21, Pinkney finished third in the MAAC in total blocked shots, with 43. These two should produce a ton of blocks and rebounds next season together, which will help an already great team defense.

Marfo will also be playing with Savion Lewis a lot more, as Lewis only played in 8 games in 2019-20. Lewis led the team with 71 total assists, 3.4 per game, this past year. Their offensive connection could be deadly for opponents, while the defensive connection between Marfo and Pinkney could be deadly as well.

As Jacob Rigoni has graduated, and it was announced after the MAAC tournament that guard Bol Akot is transferring, this addition of Marfo might be much needed for this Bobcats squad.

With a lot of young talent and their leading rebounder back, Quinnipiac will look to make a big splash in the MAAC in 2021-22.