Mar 13, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Big 12 school banners hang in the courtyard of the Kansas City Power & Light District following the cancellation of the Big 12 mens basketball tournament due to concerns over the Covid 19 coronavirus. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2022-23 transfer cycle starting to wind down, the NBA Draft deadlines come and gone and players either on campus or reporting soon, this seems like as good a time as any to run through how each Big 12 team rounded out their rosters for the upcoming season.
Obviously, there is still room for things to change, especially for programs like Kansas State, and their new head coach Jerome Tang, which currently lists only eight players on the roster.
I’ve gone through and listed each team’s returning players from last season, their transfer additions with transfer class rankings from 247Sports in parentheses, other recruiting additions (i.e. freshmen and JUCOs) with class rankings from 247Sports in parentheses and their departures.
Here’s where things stand as of today:
Baylor – Scott Drew
Key Returners – Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Flo Thamba, Dale Bonner, Jordan Turner, Zach Loveday, Langston Love
Transfer Additions (No. 36) – Caleb Lohner (BYU), Jalen Bridges (West Virginia)
Other Additions (No. 41) – Keyonte George, Joshua Ojianwuna, Dantwan Grimes (JUCO)
Departures – Matthew Mayer (Transfer), Dain Dainja (Transfer), James Akinjo (Graduation), Kendall Brown (Pro), Jeremy Sochan (Pro)
Analysis – Despite losing his star point guard in Akinjo, Drew’s team should be really good again with the returning backcourt pieces in Flagler and Cryer. Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Thamba will combine for one of the Big 12’s best frontcourts. Adding a player like Bridges keeps the Bears strong on the wing despite losing Mayer, Brown and Sochan. Five-star guard Keyonte George (No. 6 player in America per 247) gives Drew another young weapon alongside his backcourt vets.
Iowa State – T.J. Otzelberger
Returners – Caleb Grill, Aljaz Kunc, Robert Jones, Gabe Kalscheur
Transfer Additions (No. 11) – Osun Osunniyi (St. Bonaventure), Jaren Holmes (St. Bonaventure), Hason Ward (VCU), Jeremiah Williams (Temple), Tre King (Eastern Kentucky/Georgetown)
Other Additions (No. 40) – Eli King, Demarion Watson, Tamin Lipsey
Departures – Tyrese Hunter (Transfer), Izaiah Brockington (Pro), George Condit IV (Pro), Tristan Enaruna (Transfer), Jaden Walker (Transfer), Tre Jackson (Transfer)
Analysis – The losses of Hunter and Brockington hurt the most for Otzelberger going into year two in Ames, but the additions of Williams and Holmes solidify the backcourt alongside the returning Kalscheur. Osunniyi and Ward should help Iowa State to have one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league. Watch for Eli King (No. 144 player in America per 247) to be a potential under-the-radar breakout player as a freshman.
Kansas – Bill Self
Returners – Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris, Joseph Yesufu, Zach Clemence, Bobby Pettiford, KJ Adams, Cam Martin, Kyle Cuffe Jr.
Transfer Additions (No. 61) – Kevin McCullar (Texas Tech)
Other Additions (No. 4) – Gradey Dick, MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh Jr., Zuby Ejiofor
Departures – Ochai Agbaji (Pro), Christian Braun (Pro), David McCormack (Graduation), Remy Martin (Graduation), Mitch Lightfoot (Graduation), Jalen Coleman-Lands (Graduation)
Analysis – Wilson’s decision to return for another year in Lawrence was significant for the defending national champions. Harris will be expected to take over the majority of the primary ball-handling duties with Yesufu there to help as well. Kansas native Gradey Dick (No. 19 player in 2023 class) has the tools to be an absolute superstar sooner rather than later, but expect McCullar to be the focal point of the offense. The frontcourt is likely to be the biggest question mark after losing veterans McCormack and Lightfoot.
Kansas State – Jerome Tang
Returners – Ismael Massoud, Markquis Nowell
Transfer Additions (No. 53) – David N’Guessan (Virginia Tech), Jerrell Colbert (LSU), Cam Carter (Mississippi State)
Other Additions (No. 66) – Nae’Qwan Tomlin (JUCO), Taj Manning, Dorian Finister
Departures – Logan Landers (Transfer), Davion Bradford (Transfer), Kaosi Ezeagu (Transfer), Maximus Edwards (Transfer), Seryee Lewis (Transfer), Nijel Pack (Transfer), Carlton Linguard (Transfer), Luke Kasubke (Transfer), Selton Miguel (Transfer)
Analysis – Your guess is as good as mine in Tang’s first season at the helm in Manhattan. The Wildcats lost nearly everyone from a not terrible but not great team a year ago, and none of the additions really jump off the page. Mississippi State transfer Cam Carter was the highest-rated player of the additions but averaged only 2.2 points per game last year in Starkville. The Wildcats will almost certainly be picked to finish last in the league in the preseason.
Oklahoma – Porter Moser
Returners – Jalen Hill, Tanner Groves, Jacob Groves, C.J. Noland, Bijan Cortes
Transfer Additions (No. 10) – Grant Sherfield (Nevada), Sam Godwin (Boston University), Joe Bamisile (George Washington)
Other Additions (No. 36) – Otega Oweh, Milos Uzan, Luke Northweather
Departures – Umoja Gibson (Transfer), Rick Issanza (Transfer), Elijah Harkless (Transfer), Akol Mawein (Transfer), Alton Mason (Transfer), Jordan Goldwire (Graduation)
Analysis – Bringing back the Groves brothers, and adding third-team All-MWC guard Grant Sherfield (19.1 ppg last season at Nevada), were all significant for Porter Moser going into year two. The transfer portal hit the Sooners hard in the backcourt and on the wings, though. The Groves brothers will likely be the centerpiece of everything in Norman — again.
Oklahoma State – Mike Boynton
Returners – Avery Anderson, Bryce Thompson, Moussa Cisse, Tyreek Smith, Kalib Boone, Woody Newton
Transfer Additions (No. 89) – John-Michael Wright (High Point), Caleb Asberry (Texas State), Russell Harrison (Louisiana Monroe)
Other Additions (No. 80) – Quion Williams
Departures – Rondel Walker (Transfer), Isaac Likekele (Transfer), Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (Transfer), Keylan Boone (Transfer), Donovan Williams (Transfer)
Analysis – Avery Anderson returning for another season in Stillwater was huge after he entered his name into the NBA Draft. He’ll be expected to do a lot for the Cowboys after losing star veteran point guard Isaac Likekele. Cisse will be one of the league’s best rim protectors.
TCU – Jamie Dixon
Returners – Mike Miles, Damion Baugh, Emanuel Miller, Chuck O’Bannon, Eddie Lampkin, Micah Peavy, Xavier Cork, JaKobe Coles, Shahada Wells, Souleymane Doumbia
Transfer Additions (No. 72) – Rondel Walker (Oklahoma State)
Other Additions (No. 91) – PJ Haggerty
Departures – Francisco Farabello (Transfer)
Analysis – If there’s a more veteran team in college basketball than the Horned Frogs going into next season, I’m not sure who they are. They return each of their top six scorers from a team that nearly knocked off Arizona to advance to the Sweet 16 last season. Miles and Baugh combine for perhaps the league’s best backcourt. Lampkin is poised for a breakout season in the paint as the league’s best all-around center. The Frogs very well could compete for their first Big 12 title.
Texas – Chris Beard
Returners – Timmy Allen, Marcus Carr, Christian Bishop, Dylan Disu, Brock Cunningham
Transfer Additions (No. 3) – Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State), Sir’Jabari Rice (New Mexico State)
Other Additions (No. 5) – Dillon Mitchell, Arterio Morris, Rowan Brumbaugh
Departures – Tre Mitchell (Transfer), Devin Askew (Transfer), Courtney Ramey (Transfer), Jaylon Tyson (Transfer), Andrew Jones (Graduation), Jase Febres (Graduation), Avery Benson (Graduation)
Analysis – The Longhorns have all the talent needed to compete for the Big 12 title, but we’ve seen this movie before with Texas men’s basketball. It will be interesting to see Hunter and Carr co-exist in the backcourt. Allen might have been Texas’ best player last season, averaging 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The recruiting class ranks as the league’s second-best with a pair of five-star prospects in Mitchell and Morris. Rice was a three-time All-WAC player at New Mexico State. There will be a lot of cooks in the Longhorn kitchen. We’ll see how it all comes together.
Texas Tech – Mark Adams
Returners – Kevin Obanor, Clarence Nadolny, Daniel Batcho, Ethan Duncan, KJ Allen, Austin Timperman
Transfer Additions (No. 1) – De’Vion Harmon (Oregon), D’Maurian Williams (Gardner Webb), Fardaws Aimaq (Utah Valley), Jaylon Tyson (Texas)
Other Additions (No. 13) – Elijah Fisher, Richard Isaacs, Lamar Washington, Robert Jennings
Departures – Mylik Wilson (Transfer), Kevin McCullar (Transfer), Chibuzo Agbo Jr. (Transfer), Terrence Shannon (Transfer), Sadaar Calhoun (Transfer), Davion Warren (Graduation), Bryson Williams (Graduation), Marcus Santos-Silva (Graduation), Adonis Arms (Graduation)
Analysis – Despite being hit hard by the transfer portal, Adams and his staff bounced back extremely well bringing in the nation’s top transfer class. Harmon averaged in double-digits scoring each of the last two seasons at Oregon, and Aimaq was one of the best frontcourt transfers in the country after leading the NCAA in rebounding last season at Utah Valley. Returning Obanor was huge, as well. Iowa State people have seen what Nadolny can do when he’s playing well, and could be in for a breakout year with a less crowded backcourt.
West Virginia – Bob Huggins
Returners – Kedrian Johnson, Kobe Johnson, Jamel King, James Okonkwo, Seth Wilson
Transfer Additions (No. 21) – Emmitt Matthews Jr. (Washington), Tre Mitchell (Texas), Joe Toussaint (Iowa), Erik Stevenson (South Carolina)
Other Additions (No. 48) – Joshiah Harris, Pat Suemnich (JUCO), Mohamed Wague (JUCO), Jimmy Bell (JUCO)
Departures – Sean McNeil (Transfer), Jalen Bridges (Transfer), Isaiah Cottrell (Transfer), Seny Ndiaye (Transfer), Taj Thweatt (Transfer), Dimon Carrigan (Graduation), Malik Curry (Graduation), Gabe Osabuohien (Graduation), Pauly Paulicap (Graduation), Taz Sherman (Graduation)
Analysis – Emmitt Matthews is back in Morgantown after transferring to Washington for one season after two years at West Virginia. He’ll be a crucial piece of any success the Mountaineers have this season. This will be an interesting team to follow during the non-conference portion of the schedule with so many additions and so few major returners.
