I know there's a lot a stuff here on transfer, but I could find this answer. Sorry if it's been asked already.

Do transfers sit a year when they come to your school? I was contracted by an international transfer, and I'm trying to decide if I want to recruit him. Being international, I know I'll have to guess at his potentials. He's pretty good on paper. He's going into his junior year. Will I get him for two years, or will he sit for one and I get him for one?

And also, would you guys spend the added money to recruit an international two-year player or would you rather spend (far) less money on a local four-year player?

Thanks.

Transfers are eligible immediately, unlike actual college basketball, and personally I would spend less money on the 4-year guy if they project similarly. You can use scouting trips to figure out the internationals potential, but they're $700 each

If you click on his rating history tab then you should be able to get a little information on his potential.  

what can you learn from rating history?  since it is in the past, couldnt any category where he improved have turned red or - and I had not focused on this before - would you look at pace of change and infer that more potential must exist where he improved fast? better, may exist?

Just infer based on how the recruit improved over his career.  It's not an exact science, but you should get general idea if you should recruit him.