2022-23 roster

Anything and everything that is UMass Minutemen Basketball.
User avatar
uz2b-len
Hall of Fame
Posts: 11717
Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 6:03 pm
Location: Deerfield, MA

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by uz2b-len » Tue Jul 19, 2022 8:09 pm

Mykl_18 wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 4:01 pm Looks like there's a Juco kid on campus. Rahsool Diggins posted him on his instagram
Mykl, haven't noticed you before. Welcome! You're off to a good start, providing actual information.
"All credit to my teammates, all glory to God."-- Chaz Williams

User avatar
DoctorJ
Hall of Fame
Posts: 4171
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:36 pm
Location: Western Mass.
Contact:

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by DoctorJ » Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:49 pm

Yes, ty for posting. We like the info. Sorry if I seemed doubtful.

Rashool has been known to recruit for his teams. Got to love that. My guess is he's maybe recruiting his bro to his school because he has special insight.

I would guess an unrecruited guy in the A10 would have to earn a scholarship as a walk on. Maybe a candidate for that with an opportunity to earn for second semester.

I don't have any inside knowledge, so I appreciate what we are hearing. Keep us in your information flow, please.

I like seeing new people on the board! We gotta build!
Refuse To Lose!!!

69MG
Hall of Fame
Posts: 12096
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:07 pm
Location: Western Mass

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by 69MG » Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:49 pm

A few of my friends follow UM BB but not as closely as us (board members). They know who we lost but their question was something like "What can we expect from the new guys? Are they better than the guys we lost?" Both good questions. My simple answer was that the incoming transfers have loads of upside and Frank needs to get them to play like they were supposed to based on how highly recruited they were. So I did a little digging and put together an EMail for them. I'll paste it here and it reminds me of the DK super class of 2016. For whatever reason, other than DJ, none of them performed as we hoped they would and even DJ had plenty of tough games.
A few weeks ago I looked at the new guys on the roster (5 transfers, 2 freshmen) to see where they were ranked coming out of high school/prep school. There are 4 major ranking services and not every player was covered by every service. So I'll give yo the highest ranking I found on each player. I would say that this year's roster is counting on "upside" since many of the players need to prove that they are worth their ranking.

Leveque (6'10 center) Transfer from South Carolina. Was a starter there with average stats. ESPN - #2 player in Mass. Has 2 more years.

Woodley (6'8 backup center) Transfer from South Carolina. 12 minutes a game. 2 points, 3 rebounds. 247sports - #7 player in NJ Has 3 more years.

G. Thompson (6'8 forward) Transfer from BC. Didn't play much, 19 games @ 7.5 minutes/game. Has 3 more years. 247sports - #2 player in MA, #122 nationally

Cross (6'7 forward) Started at Miami, transferred to Louisville. Some starts, some off the bench. Career is 6 points, 4 boards. ESPN - #1 player in MA, #86 nationally Has 3 more years

Diggins (6'2 Point Guard) Transfer from UConn. Hardly played ( 9 games @ 5 min/game). Has 3 more years. ESPN - #58 nationally and #2 player in PA. UConn was loaded at guard and all but 1 of their top guards are coming back.

Luis (6'6 guard) Freshman from Florida. Went to Mt. Zion Prep in Baltimore, the #4 ranked prep BB team in the country last year. 247sports - #6 player from Florida.

K. Thompson (6'1 Point Guard). Freshman from Indiana. Went to prep school at BB factory Hargrave Military Academy (Freddie Riley went there). This is what I found on him:
One player that we saw right before the season started and has only continued to produce is 2022 6’1 Keon Thompson. The senior guard has been posting some incredible numbers so far, averaging 24 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 43 percent from three.

User avatar
DoctorJ
Hall of Fame
Posts: 4171
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:36 pm
Location: Western Mass.
Contact:

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by DoctorJ » Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:55 pm

Were going to see a lot of that group, even if Frank adds more.

I just hope depth isn't our Achilles.
Refuse To Lose!!!

Floyd
Hall of Fame
Posts: 9559
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 8:50 am
Location: Not where I should be

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by Floyd » Sat Jul 23, 2022 9:21 am

Whats nice is all these guys are here for a few years, potentially, to build some chemistry. Thats why I'm not super concerned about the last 2 spots. Might be good to have in your pocket for next year

Frank is a huge upgrade over MM, who was a solid guy but not as experienced and proven as Frank. Its a huge improvement that will be visible immediately on the floor. And thats more a compliment to Frank than a knock on MM
Time to Win

Upstate10
Senior
Posts: 1366
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:30 pm

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by Upstate10 » Sat Jul 23, 2022 7:25 pm

inthescoop wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 10:53 am
Upstate10 wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:57 am I think Keon starts over Diggins
Why?

Just wondering since there is no reasoning here.
I believe that Keon is going to be an elite defender and that Frank is going to love that. Not sure how A-10 ready he is offensively but if he is on the court with some combo of Noah/TJ/Cross it should be fine on that end.

I think that Rashool is going to get plenty of burn but I'm of the opinion that Frank is going to want a defensive dog in the backcourt with Noah as much as he can.

UMassfan_19
Senior
Posts: 976
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:03 pm

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by UMassfan_19 » Sat Jul 23, 2022 7:32 pm

Upstate10 wrote: Sat Jul 23, 2022 7:25 pm
inthescoop wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 10:53 am
Upstate10 wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:57 am I think Keon starts over Diggins
Why?

Just wondering since there is no reasoning here.
I believe that Keon is going to be an elite defender and that Frank is going to love that. Not sure how A-10 ready he is offensively but if he is on the court with some combo of Noah/TJ/Cross it should be fine on that end.

I think that Rashool is going to get plenty of burn but I'm of the opinion that Frank is going to want a defensive dog in the backcourt with Noah as much as he can.
Keon is probably the most underrated player in our class and in a non Covid free transfer world he probably has a lot more power 5 offers

debache
Freshman
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:51 pm

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by debache » Sun Jul 24, 2022 10:58 am

I play poker with a man who knows the McCrory family and he told me today that he is staying at UMass for academics and is not playing basketball. Time will tell if he told me the truth.

capezona
Hall of Fame
Posts: 2801
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:59 pm
Location: Peoria, AZ and Dennisport, MA

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by capezona » Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:54 am

debache wrote: Sun Jul 24, 2022 10:58 am I play poker with a man who knows the McCrory family and he told me today that he is staying at UMass for academics and is not playing basketball. Time will tell if he told me the truth.
Hmmm... how's his poker game?

debache
Freshman
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:51 pm

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by debache » Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:28 pm

Poker players don't lie....his son played at Iona and they have known Cairo since he was young. He has been telling me for months that Cairo has had a very bad back for a long time.

User avatar
DoctorJ
Hall of Fame
Posts: 4171
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:36 pm
Location: Western Mass.
Contact:

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by DoctorJ » Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:59 pm

I'm glad he's continuing his academics.
Refuse To Lose!!!

Upstate10
Senior
Posts: 1366
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:30 pm

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by Upstate10 » Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:39 pm

I hope that he stays involved with the basketball program

Marty Peretz
Hall of Fame
Posts: 4082
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:13 am

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by Marty Peretz » Tue Jul 26, 2022 9:33 am

Not sure who will start on opening night other than Noah and Wildens and probably Cross but I think Keon has an extremely high floor for a true freshman. Frank is not going to play a similar style of basketball to Matt and from talking to a lot of people around the program and people who know Frank's work well from previous stops it's clear that out of the gate he's going to emphasize physicality. McCall teams could score but lacked toughness and I think you'll see a 180 degree change on that front. Given that, I think Keon will benefit. He is tough as hell, long, can really defend and is a good decision maker. Reminds me a bit of Anthony Anderson. Diggins has a higher ceiling talent wise. There's a reason he has Kansas and Nova offers out of HS but Keon really improved during his post grad year and was reportedly set to get some very serious P5 offers before Frank swooped in (previously his listed offers were low majors but that's incredibly deceiving due to the fact that so many guys got extra years so A10 caliber talent was falling to lower places).

Luis also has a monster ceiling and could in time be a special player here but he's not as physically prepare for the rigors of CBB as Keon is right now IMO.

Floyd
Hall of Fame
Posts: 9559
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 8:50 am
Location: Not where I should be

Re: 2022-23 roster

Post by Floyd » Tue Jul 26, 2022 9:55 am

^ good to hear. They got pushed around alot under MM, will be nice to be the aggressor. I hope TJ spends some time in the weight room and fills out a bit, as he showed when he wants to, he can rebound and defend, and being stronger would def help him
Time to Win

minutefanjsf
Hall of Fame
Posts: 2792
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:17 am

Re: 2022-23 roste

Post by minutefanjsf » Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:45 am

Floyd wrote: Tue Jul 26, 2022 9:55 am ^ good to hear. They got pushed around alot under MM, will be nice to be the aggressor. I hope TJ spends some time in the weight room and fills out a bit, as he showed when he wants to, he can rebound and defend, and being stronger would def help him
He has the genes for sure!

Post Reply