2017 Who Completes your Roster and Who Starts

[4+4+1-1=8]

Scholarships allowed per season = 13

Number of returning players = 5 (Jones, Wynyard, Humphries, Gabriel, Diallo)

Number of incoming players = 5 (Richards, Alexander, Green, Vanderbilt, Washington)

Current recruits that Cal has serious interest in = 5 (Baker, Bamba, Smith, Knox, Johnson)

So, three scholarships and five players to choose from. In a perfect world, who do you choose and who do you start?

Personally, I round out the class with Bamba, Knox and Johnson. I pick Johnson over Baker and Smith due to the fact that he has NCAA experience and that's something we'll be lacking next year even more so than previous years under Cal. In addition to experience at 6'7/210lbs he offers the size that plays into Cal's system and shoots a needed 42% clip from beyond the arc.

2017 Starters/Bench:
Green/Alexander
Diallo/Johnson
Knox/Vanderbilt/Gabriel
Bamba/Washington/SKJ
Humphries/Richards/Wynyard

In a perfect world this gives us the size, shooters, and rim protectors that has been prevalent in Cal's most successful years. It does fall short in the area of experience which is what I feel will limit our success next year and could be resolved if Briscoe didn't hate school/would return. With that said, all of the above mentioned players have the will to win and that in itself can lead to a NC. On the other hand, if it doesn't it will leave Cal an extremely solid base to build around going into 2018 and I feel extremely confident that we'll bring home number 9 by then.

In an imperfect world, I would hope for Briscoe's return for the experience we need, Knox to go to Missouri, and we still land Bamba and Johnson. Then again, I don't want to kid myself about Briscoe returning.

Go Big Blue!!!

 

[docholiday51]

Hopefully Bamba and Johnson are two,I'm not sure there will be 5 returning players.I can see it not being a good move for one or two of them coming back and truth be told if we get Bamba the front court might be better if it was thinned a bit.

 

[mebeblue2]

give me Bamba and any good shooting SG/SF

with Bamba and Richards our "D" should be good from the git-go
the only thing this team will need is a shooter, they will have everything else

 

[JimboBBN]

I just don't see Kentucky getting Knox at this point. I would love to be wrong. More likely that Briscoe comes back IMO.

 

[lkc1234]

Scholarships allowed per season = 13

Number of returning players = 5 (Jones, Wynyard, Humphries, Gabriel, Diallo)

Number of incoming players = 5 (Richards, Alexander, Green, Vanderbilt, Washington)

Current recruits that Cal has serious interest in = 5 (Baker, Bamba, Smith, Knox, Johnson)

So, three scholarships and five players to choose from. In a perfect world, who do you choose and who do you start?

Personally, I round out the class with Bamba, Knox and Johnson. I pick Johnson over Baker and Smith due to the fact that he has NCAA experience and that's something we'll be lacking next year even more so than previous years under Cal. In addition to experience at 6'7/210lbs he offers the size that plays into Cal's system and shoots a needed 42% clip from beyond the arc.

2017 Starters/Bench:
Green/Alexander
Diallo/Johnson
Knox/Vanderbilt/Gabriel
Bamba/Washington/SKJ
Humphries/Richards/Wynyard

In a perfect world this gives us the size, shooters, and rim protectors that has been prevalent in Cal's most successful years. It does fall short in the area of experience which is what I feel will limit our success next year and could be resolved if Briscoe didn't hate school/would return. With that said, all of the above mentioned players have the will to win and that in itself can lead to a NC. On the other hand, if it doesn't it will leave Cal an extremely solid base to build around going into 2018 and I feel extremely confident that we'll bring home number 9 by then.

In an imperfect world, I would hope for Briscoe's return for the experience we need, Knox to go to Missouri, and we still land Bamba and Johnson. Then again, I don't want to kid myself about Briscoe returning.

Go Big Blue!!!

Johnson would not help us next year because he will have to sit out next year as a transfer.

 

[lkc1234]

Hopefully Bamba and Johnson are two,I'm not sure there will be 5 returning players.I can see it not being a good move for one or two of them coming back and truth be told if we get Bamba the front court might be better if it was thinned a bit.

Johnson will not be eligible next year.

 

[caneintally]

Johnson will not be eligible next year.

Huh? Yes he will. He has 2 years left.

 

[UKEE]

Johnson would not help us next year because he will have to sit out next year as a transfer.

I thought he would be a graduate transfer with two years left (because of redshirt)? I could have swore that I read that somewhere....

Edit: http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2017/04/02/pitts-top-returning-scorer-will-transfer/

He will have two years of eligibility remaining, and more importantly, he’s on pace to graduate this spring, which would allow him to be immediately eligible to play in the 2017-18 season.

 

[ukfan2410]

Johnson is a grad transfer, he's different because he would have 2 yrs left but in my understanding of the rule he would be eligible next season

 

[caneintally]

We won't have 5 returning unless briscoe comes back which is a small possibility. One of the bigs we have coming back ( not Gabriel ) will leave . But I think we close out with Smith at SG , Johnson at SF and Bamba at C .

 

[caneintally]

I thought he would be a graduate transfer with two years left (because of redshirt)? I could have swore that I read that somewhere....

Yes.

 

[lkc1234]

Huh? Yes he will. He has 2 years left.

A transfer is required to sit out one year when transferring unless he/she has already graduated and will be a graduate student at the new school. Anyone that knows college basketball knows that NCAA rule.

 

[lkc1234]

Johnson is a grad transfer, he's different because he would have 2 yrs left but in my understanding of the rule he would be eligible next season

He is not a grad transfer. He is a redshirt sophomore.

 

[UKEE]

He is not a grad transfer.

See above. Yes, he will be.

 

[lkc1234]

See above. Yes, he will be.

You are wrong. Better check your facts. He is a redshirt sophomore.

 

[UKEE]

You are wrong. Better check your facts. He is a redshirt sophomore.

If I'm wrong, it's because the article is wrong. If so, my apologies.

 

[docholiday51]

If I'm wrong, it's because the article is wrong. If so, my apologies.

That is my understanding as well,the article says or leads one to believe he will be eligible next season.I think he will graduate after this semester or in the summer,if that is the case it does seem odd or a little different that he would have 2 years remaining but maybe the 5 years to play 4 would apply.

 

[Rhavicc]

You are wrong. Better check your facts. He is a redshirt sophomore.

Literally every article I've seen days he's a grad transfer that got a year of eligibility waived due to injury, thus giving him 2 years of eligibility left.
If anybody here needs to check facts, it's you.

 

[Cats192]

1. I'm going to assume for now Bam goes.

We get Bamba
We get Baker

PG: Green
SG: Diallo
SF: Vanderbilt
PF: Washington
C: Bambaa

Second unit
PG: Alexander
SG: Baker
SF: SJK/WG
PF: Humphries
C: Richards

Depth wise we look ok if we get a few recruits to fall the same way. A lot of inexperience though.

Cam Johnson certainly makes a nice X-Factor

 

[spotter34]

As far as finishing the class off, I'll go with Baker, Johnson, and Bamba.

 

[UKEE]

I'm going to assume for now Briscoe goes.

Did you mean Bam as Briscoe has declared and will hire an agent?

 

[Cats192]

Did you mean Bam as Briscoe has declared and will hire an agent?

Indeed.

 

[docholiday51]

As far as finishing the class off, I'll go with Baker, Johnson, and Bamba.

I would really like to see that along with the return of Humphries and either Gabriel or SKJ.Just for the sake of conversation if only one of Hump,SKJ or Gabriel chooses to return who would be your choice?

 

[4+4+1-1=8]

I would really like to see that along with the return of Humphries and either Gabriel or SKJ.Just for the sake of conversation if only one of Hump,SKJ or Gabriel chooses to return who would be your choice?

For sake of conversation and NC hopes I'd choose Hump to return. A) He brings the experience that we'll sorely be missing next year. B) Bamba isn't going to play the 5 in college and I don't think Richards is ready to shoulder the entire load of playing the 5 by himself. C) I've always thought Hump had it in him to shine at UK and albeit it was only one game, I feel the UNCheat game was a sign of things to come if given the opportunity to get starting minutes next season. D) He can bring the shooting ability that coming from a Big can help open up the floor for Bamba at the 4 and also create lanes for the slashing guards we have in the form of Green, Diallo and Alexander.

With that said, I have a really bad feeling that he doesn't return. Rumors began about a month ago about him returning to Australia to play pro and as everybody has seen over the past few days it appears that those rumors are coming to fruition. Let's hope myself and every other idiot who thinks he's leaving is wrong.

Go Big Blue!!!

 

[bucsrule8872]

I am expecting:

Starters

G Green
G Diallo
F Washington
F Bamba
F Richards

Bench

G Alexander
G Baker or Smith or Johnson (think we will get one or them...maybe two)
F Vanderbilt
F Killeya-Jones
F Wynyard

I really hope we get Bamba. He is vital. Obviously, the most important recruit this season.

Johnson would be a nice addition as well. We need an experienced shooter. He would be the second most important recruit, assuming Knox is out of the equation as many believe.

 

[Hoskins91]

If Knox isn't an option then Cameron Johnson would definitely be a priority. Bamba as well, obviously. I could see a lot of different lineups being a possibility if those two things happen. Outside of Bamba and Green (Green simply because we have no one else), I don't think anyone is a guaranteed starter.