On development:
Inherited players that stayed -
SO G Pop Isaacs
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 32.8 mpg .353/.297/.846 15.9 ppg 3.2 rpg 3.6 apg 1.1 spg 2.5 topg
2022-23 25 games 24 starts 28.7 mpg .368/.378/.896 11.5 ppg 2.0 rpg 2.7 apg 1.1 spg 2.3 topg
B-
Pop's minutes, scoring average, rebounds and assists have all increased but his already high volume, lower efficiency shooting splits have gotten worse from last year to this year. Still, we don't win without him.
SR G Kerwin Walton
2023-24 29 games 22 starts 23.7 mpg .503/.475/.741 8.3 ppg 2.1 rpg ONLY 9 Turnovers in 686 minutes played!!!
2022-23 27 games 7 starts 12.9 mpg .453/.411/.875 3.6 ppg 0.9 rpg 12 turnovers in 348 minutes played.
A
Kerwin has bought in! He has doubled his minutes played, actually improved on his already good shooting splits, doesn't turn the ball over, and maybe the most impressive thing, works hard on defense. He is the most improved of the holdovers.
SO F Robert Jennings
2023-24 27 games 6 starts 11.4 mpg .500/.000/.690 4.0 ppg 3.0 rpg
2022-23 30 games 4 starts 8.7 mpg .426/.333/.650 2.7 ppg 1.9 rpg
C+
Robert makes up for his skill and size limitations with good effort and positive energy. He will most likely never be more than a spare/backup piece at this level but he seems to be a hard worker and good teammate. He still gets lost on defense some. You need guys like Robert on your basketball team.
SO F KyeRon Lindsay
2023-24 9 games 0 starts 6.3 mpg .625/.000/.500 2.7 ppg 1.3 rpg
2022-23 sat out after transferring from Georgia
D-
The only reason that this isn't an F for me, it is clear that he is physically gifted, and especially in comparison to other young players like Jennings and Yalaho. He plays bigger than he is and always seems to get a bucket. He doesn't play defense. He is so frustrating and should/will be gone. He just never bought in and it shows.
SO G Lamar Washington
2023-24 27 games 0 starts 8.4 mpg .380/.250/.682 2.1 ppg 1.3 rpg
2022-23 32 games 3 starts 15.3 mpg .430/.233/.733 3.4 ppg 1.8 rpg 1.8 apg 1.4 topg
D
Lamar seems to have regressed in every way which really surprises me. He has a good build and seems to want to play tough. He needs a good offseason.
SR G D'Maurian Williams
2023-24 7 games 0 starts 2.7 mpg .333/.000/.000 0.3 ppg 0.4 rpg
2022-23 27 games 1 start 10.7 mpg .424/.359/.792 3.1 ppg 1.3 rpg
Incomplete/F
I am purely venturing a guess but I believe that he had no where to go, Grant let him stay, but it was made clear that he wouldn't play. Our walk-on has a higher ppg average.
At the moment, the holdovers have produced 3 of our 5 starters but 2 of them are definitely because of injuries. Still, Pop has been needed, Kerwin has been an excellent surprise, and Robert has been admirable in his service if nothing else.
The Transfer Portal -
In my opinion, this is where McCasland has really shined brightly!
S-SR G Joe Touissaint
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 33.4 mpg .416/.311/.855 12.4 ppg 2.6 rpg 4.4 apg 1.4 spg 2.2 topg
A
Joe is the tough lead guard and engine to a very interesting but flawed group of talented guards. He just gets it done and has a very savvy mental toughness. He is infectious in a good way.
SO G/F Darrion Williams
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 32.8 mpg .490/.465/.893 11.4 ppg 7.5 rpg 2.4 apg 1.2 spg 1.6 top
A+
Darrion is the best basketball player on this team. He is very unselfish and he does everything well. Continuing to mature and to have confidence to know when to be more assertive will be his areas to grow in. He has hardware winning and professional potential capabilities. What an absolute steal for McCasland and next season should be even better!
SR G Chance McMillian
2023-24 29 games 0 starts 27.1 mpg .466/.393/.906 10.6 ppg 3.9 rpg 1.1 apg
A
Our closest thing this season statistically to a 50/40/90 shooter is our double digit, playing more than half of every game, 6TH MAN, Chance McMillian. While he isn't our best player (Darrion Williams) or our most improved player (Kerwin Walton) or our most important player (Warren Washington) or our leader (Joe Touissaint), Chance is my personal favorite player on this team. Every team needs a 6th man who can bring some energy and scoring to the 2nd unit and impact the game. Chance has been that guy. Any March success will include Chance McMillian.
S-SR F Devan Cambridge
2023-24 8 games 8 starts 26.0 mpg .527/.091/.694 10.5 ppg 4.5 rpg 1.1 apg 0.9 bpg
Incomplete/B+
Ah, what might have been? Devan is/was the toughest on court player on this roster. While listed at 6'6" on the official roster, he played much bigger and with intensity. We adjusted to not having him but he would have been such a weapon and defensive help for this team. I hope that he heals completely.
S-SR F Warren Washington
2023-24 24 games 24 starts 27.3 mpg .620/.000/.556 9.9 ppg 7.4 rpg 1.8 apg 1.5 bpg
B+
Warren doesn't have much of a shot but he is an active and rangy defender, affects the game offensively with his pretty good passing and screen and roll game. He is an adequate rim protector but does commit some unnecessary fouls at times. He is our only true size this year. We will need two like him next season.
Grant McCasland showed that he can spot transfer talent, land transfer talent, and coach up transfer talent.
Our only recruit -
What will Grant McCasland's recruiting of High School talent look like moving forward?
FR F Eemeli Yalaho
2023-24 14 games 0 starts 7.3 mpg .500/.250/.200 1.7 ppg 1.1 rpg
C-
Yalaho is raw but has flashed some of the shooting that we saw from him in high school and international play at UCF and at West Virginia. Still, .200 at the free throw line is terrible, like, 48 year old me can make at a higher rate. The young 6'8" shooter from Finland will need to work hard to improve if he hopes for more playing time next year when we will most assuredly be heavy transfer portal players once again.
Overall -
B- for roster construction. Top end is very competitive but very little depth, especially at F.
A+ for coaching them up. 21 overall wins and 10 Big 12 wins with this bunch and with these injuries?!!
How would you grade them?
How would you grade Coach?
Inherited players that stayed -
SO G Pop Isaacs
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 32.8 mpg .353/.297/.846 15.9 ppg 3.2 rpg 3.6 apg 1.1 spg 2.5 topg
2022-23 25 games 24 starts 28.7 mpg .368/.378/.896 11.5 ppg 2.0 rpg 2.7 apg 1.1 spg 2.3 topg
B-
Pop's minutes, scoring average, rebounds and assists have all increased but his already high volume, lower efficiency shooting splits have gotten worse from last year to this year. Still, we don't win without him.
SR G Kerwin Walton
2023-24 29 games 22 starts 23.7 mpg .503/.475/.741 8.3 ppg 2.1 rpg ONLY 9 Turnovers in 686 minutes played!!!
2022-23 27 games 7 starts 12.9 mpg .453/.411/.875 3.6 ppg 0.9 rpg 12 turnovers in 348 minutes played.
A
Kerwin has bought in! He has doubled his minutes played, actually improved on his already good shooting splits, doesn't turn the ball over, and maybe the most impressive thing, works hard on defense. He is the most improved of the holdovers.
SO F Robert Jennings
2023-24 27 games 6 starts 11.4 mpg .500/.000/.690 4.0 ppg 3.0 rpg
2022-23 30 games 4 starts 8.7 mpg .426/.333/.650 2.7 ppg 1.9 rpg
C+
Robert makes up for his skill and size limitations with good effort and positive energy. He will most likely never be more than a spare/backup piece at this level but he seems to be a hard worker and good teammate. He still gets lost on defense some. You need guys like Robert on your basketball team.
SO F KyeRon Lindsay
2023-24 9 games 0 starts 6.3 mpg .625/.000/.500 2.7 ppg 1.3 rpg
2022-23 sat out after transferring from Georgia
D-
The only reason that this isn't an F for me, it is clear that he is physically gifted, and especially in comparison to other young players like Jennings and Yalaho. He plays bigger than he is and always seems to get a bucket. He doesn't play defense. He is so frustrating and should/will be gone. He just never bought in and it shows.
SO G Lamar Washington
2023-24 27 games 0 starts 8.4 mpg .380/.250/.682 2.1 ppg 1.3 rpg
2022-23 32 games 3 starts 15.3 mpg .430/.233/.733 3.4 ppg 1.8 rpg 1.8 apg 1.4 topg
D
Lamar seems to have regressed in every way which really surprises me. He has a good build and seems to want to play tough. He needs a good offseason.
SR G D'Maurian Williams
2023-24 7 games 0 starts 2.7 mpg .333/.000/.000 0.3 ppg 0.4 rpg
2022-23 27 games 1 start 10.7 mpg .424/.359/.792 3.1 ppg 1.3 rpg
Incomplete/F
I am purely venturing a guess but I believe that he had no where to go, Grant let him stay, but it was made clear that he wouldn't play. Our walk-on has a higher ppg average.
At the moment, the holdovers have produced 3 of our 5 starters but 2 of them are definitely because of injuries. Still, Pop has been needed, Kerwin has been an excellent surprise, and Robert has been admirable in his service if nothing else.
The Transfer Portal -
In my opinion, this is where McCasland has really shined brightly!
S-SR G Joe Touissaint
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 33.4 mpg .416/.311/.855 12.4 ppg 2.6 rpg 4.4 apg 1.4 spg 2.2 topg
A
Joe is the tough lead guard and engine to a very interesting but flawed group of talented guards. He just gets it done and has a very savvy mental toughness. He is infectious in a good way.
SO G/F Darrion Williams
2023-24 30 games 30 starts 32.8 mpg .490/.465/.893 11.4 ppg 7.5 rpg 2.4 apg 1.2 spg 1.6 top
A+
Darrion is the best basketball player on this team. He is very unselfish and he does everything well. Continuing to mature and to have confidence to know when to be more assertive will be his areas to grow in. He has hardware winning and professional potential capabilities. What an absolute steal for McCasland and next season should be even better!
SR G Chance McMillian
2023-24 29 games 0 starts 27.1 mpg .466/.393/.906 10.6 ppg 3.9 rpg 1.1 apg
A
Our closest thing this season statistically to a 50/40/90 shooter is our double digit, playing more than half of every game, 6TH MAN, Chance McMillian. While he isn't our best player (Darrion Williams) or our most improved player (Kerwin Walton) or our most important player (Warren Washington) or our leader (Joe Touissaint), Chance is my personal favorite player on this team. Every team needs a 6th man who can bring some energy and scoring to the 2nd unit and impact the game. Chance has been that guy. Any March success will include Chance McMillian.
S-SR F Devan Cambridge
2023-24 8 games 8 starts 26.0 mpg .527/.091/.694 10.5 ppg 4.5 rpg 1.1 apg 0.9 bpg
Incomplete/B+
Ah, what might have been? Devan is/was the toughest on court player on this roster. While listed at 6'6" on the official roster, he played much bigger and with intensity. We adjusted to not having him but he would have been such a weapon and defensive help for this team. I hope that he heals completely.
S-SR F Warren Washington
2023-24 24 games 24 starts 27.3 mpg .620/.000/.556 9.9 ppg 7.4 rpg 1.8 apg 1.5 bpg
B+
Warren doesn't have much of a shot but he is an active and rangy defender, affects the game offensively with his pretty good passing and screen and roll game. He is an adequate rim protector but does commit some unnecessary fouls at times. He is our only true size this year. We will need two like him next season.
Grant McCasland showed that he can spot transfer talent, land transfer talent, and coach up transfer talent.
Our only recruit -
What will Grant McCasland's recruiting of High School talent look like moving forward?
FR F Eemeli Yalaho
2023-24 14 games 0 starts 7.3 mpg .500/.250/.200 1.7 ppg 1.1 rpg
C-
Yalaho is raw but has flashed some of the shooting that we saw from him in high school and international play at UCF and at West Virginia. Still, .200 at the free throw line is terrible, like, 48 year old me can make at a higher rate. The young 6'8" shooter from Finland will need to work hard to improve if he hopes for more playing time next year when we will most assuredly be heavy transfer portal players once again.
Overall -
B- for roster construction. Top end is very competitive but very little depth, especially at F.
A+ for coaching them up. 21 overall wins and 10 Big 12 wins with this bunch and with these injuries?!!
How would you grade them?
How would you grade Coach?
