What seniors can return for the 2025-26 season?

[CatsSnitch]

Do any of the transfers have eligibility left after this season?

 

[lazycat75]

Do any of the transfers have eligibility left after this season?

BG and Otega Collin Chandler

 

[G-PIP]

Does Ansley Almonor have a 5th year option?

 

[Padsfs07]

We have (6) 5th-year seniors and (1) 4th-yr senior. Almonor was a 2021 recruit, so he doesn't get a 5th (covid) year.

 

[anonymous_2011]

I suspect we will only return Chandler, Noah, and Perry.

 

[EliteBlue]

I suspect we will only return Chandler, Noah, and Perry.

What’s your reasoning on not returning a BG and OO?

 

[BlueSince92]

Does Ansley Almonor have a 5th year option?

Sadly no. I would love to have that dude back. First jersey I bought from the new team.

 

[anonymous_2011]

What’s your reasoning on not returning a BG and OO?

Oweh is probably going to play himself into the draft. Garrison to portal for highest bidder.

Not that either are unhappy or anything but it's just the nature of CBB now.

 

[EliteBlue]

Oweh is probably going to play himself into the draft. Garrison to portal for highest bidder.

Not that either are unhappy or anything but it's just the nature of CBB now.

I can see Owen playing himself into the late first round and testing waters.

You may be right about BG just due to the nature of college athletics; but I personally think we’ll retain him as long as we have a solid season. He’ll likely be the starting 5 next season and the NBA is going to tell him he needs to show he can consistently hit 3s and be versatile….there isn’t a system in the nation better for him to do that at the 4/5 than here

 

[Smashcat]

Oweh is probably going to play himself into the draft.

If he was 6-6 he'd be a first rounder. Have a feeling he'll get enough NIL to be back.

 

[LukaszObrzut]

If he was 6-6 he'd be a first rounder. Have a feeling he'll get enough NIL to be back.

6’5-6’6 doesn’t matter. But wingspan sure does.

 

[Hank Camacho]

Where the hell else is Brandon Garrison going to go that allows him carte blanche to fire away from the 3?

We can pay players now. Why on Earth should we expect to lose bidding wars on kids who look like they are loving their time here and have a coach who puts them in positions to showcase their skills?

We can probably pay the equivalent of yearly NBA salary from a rookie scale contract to these guys. It might make sense to them to take the money in college while figuring out how to maximize the chances of getting a second NBA contract, which is where the real money is.

 

[JonathanW]

6’5-6’6 doesn’t matter. But wingspan sure does.

Where height matters more is on defense. Oweh's defense is good enough that an inch or two isn't such a big deal. The main question NBA teams will have with him is his 3pt shot. While I don't think he'll be a very good 3pt shooter, I think he'll be good enough to work his way into say an early 2nd round pick and solid chance at a guaranteed contract.

 

[zoid1]

Next year should look like this

SR- Oweh, Horn, Darbyshire, Tow
JR- Garrison
SO- Perry, Chandler, Noah
FR- Moreno, Johnson, Lewis

We probably get Wilson very soon and add at least 3 upperclassmen from the transfer portal. Give us 12 scholly players, 3 walk-ons and save the last scholly for a late bloomer, reclass or international player looking for a home right before the season.

 

[blue cincy]

I will be naïve for now and say we get Oweh, Garrison, Perry, Noah, Chandler all back. Just to be positive.
Then have 4 Freshmen (3 that are signed now), plus Wilson (unless Ark gives him a couple of mil to keep him from going to UK.
9 guys plus 3 or so in the portal.
1 Senior Oweh,
1 Junior Garrison
3 Sophomores Perry Noah and Chandler

Probably get 3 Junior/seniors in portal, point guard, power forward / center, wing.

 

[katwest]

I don't think either of them will leave, Oweh is doing what he did at Oklahoma and there was no mention of him ever leaving early then. As for Garrison, he's got a whole to work on and seems eager to do so, both will get enough NIL money to make it an easy decision to stay. You see what happened when Duke put the defense on Robinson, some good games aren't enough to automatically say anyone will be leaving for the NBA next year. Robinson was our best pro prospect, and he was maybe a third rounder. He made the right decision to come back, one thing about it, Pope will not be encouraging anyone to leave that he knows isn't ready.

 

[LukaszObrzut]

Where height matters more is on defense. Oweh's defense is good enough that an inch or two isn't such a big deal. The main question NBA teams will have with him is his 3pt shot. While I don't think he'll be a very good 3pt shooter, I think he'll be good enough to work his way into say an early 2nd round pick and solid chance at a guaranteed contract.

Well right, I was speaking to the guy who said he would be a 1st rounder if 6'6
If his shooting is not reliable (which it's probably not going to be with his style) he will need to be known as someone who can defend at an elite level- and that is as you mentioned where wingspan- noticeably the names you hear of most often have 3-5 inches or more than their height.

 

[G-PIP]

Sadly no. I would love to have that dude back. First jersey I bought from the new team.

Thanks. I was confused about that.

 

[Hank Camacho]

I will be naïve for now and say we get Oweh, Garrison, Perry, Noah, Chandler all back. Just to be positive.
Then have 4 Freshmen (3 that are signed now), plus Wilson (unless Ark gives him a couple of mil to keep him from going to UK.
9 guys plus 3 or so in the portal.
1 Senior Oweh,
1 Junior Garrison
3 Sophomores Perry Noah and Chandler

Probably get 3 Junior/seniors in portal, point guard, power forward / center, wing.

I think the scholarship limit goes up to 15 next year. With the transfer portal, we might end up adding guys to end of the roster just to keep them off the competitions' squads.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Garrison and OO can come back and start.

Wilson and JJ will start so that leaves one spot for a transfer to start.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Next year should look like this

SR- Oweh, Horn, Darbyshire, Tow
JR- Garrison
SO- Perry, Chandler, Noah
FR- Moreno, Johnson, Lewis

We probably get Wilson very soon and add at least 3 upperclassmen from the transfer portal. Give us 12 scholly players, 3 walk-ons and save the last scholly for a late bloomer, reclass or international player looking for a home right before the season.

Will Zach Tow ever play in a game? Horn played in the blow outs but Tow has yet to see the court.

 

[BlueSince92]

I can see Owen playing himself into the late first round and testing waters.

You may be right about BG just due to the nature of college athletics; but I personally think we’ll retain him as long as we have a solid season. He’ll likely be the starting 5 next season and the NBA is going to tell him he needs to show he can consistently hit 3s and be versatile….there isn’t a system in the nation better for him to do that at the 4/5 than here

I agree. Plus we just gave him (I forget which particular flavor of) MVP in one of our most significant wins in at least a decade. What on Earth would anyone else be able to offer him that compares to what he has here?