The trend in college basketball is certainly seeing more turnover on college basketball rosters than in any other time. That trend is likely to continue this season. The purpose of this article is to try and help sort that out one team at a time in alphabetical order. Starting with Denver.
Let’s start with maybe the biggest news. Rodney Billups is out as the head man in Denver and former Stanford assistant Jeff Wulbrun has been named Billups replacement. Wulbrun has an incredible challenge ahead of him for his first division 1 coaching opportunity and a roster that already has had some change and likely headed for more. Let’s look at where it is currently at. As a reminder with Denver and all institutions seniors are still able to return so if they have not indicated otherwise they will be listed as currently on the roster.
Currently on the Roster
Senior
F/C Frank Ryder (although Twitter account is him in his Colorado uniform and Colorado teammates so seems unlikely returning) 5.1 pts 1.5 reb
Junior:
F Tristan Green 6.1pts 4.6 reb. Green who has not entered the portal would be a building block for Coach Wulbrun in his first year. Green is the highest-scoring player to currently remain on the roster, along with his ability to rebound and showed some potential to improve on last season’s 28% from behind the arc. Green is long at 6’9 and a decent athlete. Intrigued to see if Green remains on the roster.
G Khalil Johnson. Has played sparse minutes in 13 career appearances since joining Denver.
G Iseri Palacio. Appeared in one game and played 2 minutes last year.
Sophomore
The sophomore class for Denver probably shows the most promise for Denver if players return.
G Roscoe Eastmond. At only 5’9 Eastmond is undersized but feels like a player that could be helpful in a DU rebuild. The stat that sticks out is Eastmond’s ability to distribute. Eastmond averaged 3.2 assists in 19 minutes last year. A good distributor in his first two years with the Pioneers
G Eric Moenkhaus. Moenkhaus started with limited playing time as the season started last year. However, at the end of the year started contributing including a stretch of 8 games out of 10 where he played 15 or more minutes. Moenkhaus has one thing every team needs, the ability to shoot the basketball. Shooting 43% from behind the arc last season.
G Kobey Lam. Lam is another guard who can shoot the ball, shooting 37% from behind the arc last season. Not only that but Lam is not shy in putting up shots averaging 7 shots per game in only 19 minutes per last year. Lam started the last 4 games of the season and finished averaging 8 points per game
F James Sanders. Played a limited role last year
F Javonni Bickham. Averaged 3.8 points per game and made 3 starts last season.
Freshman
G Drake Muller. The most active of the DU freshmen that remains on the roster. Averaged 2.1 points per game, averaged 33% from 3 and made 5 starts his freshman year.
In the Portal
G Jase Townsend. The biggest name to leave Denver this offseason. Townsend averaged 19.2 points per game last season and one of the Summit League’s top scorers. Townsend has verbally committed to play at San Diego.
C/F Robert Jones. An early-season injury derailed Jones season before he returned late in the year. Jones averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds in the 15 games he played this season. Jones has verbally commited to play in the Big 12 at Iowa State
F Sam Hines. Hines had an impressive freshmen season for the Pioneers. Hines was second on the team with 10.6 points per game and added 5.8 rebounds per game. Hines has verbally committed to South Florida.
G Taelyr Gatlin. Gatlin averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 assists in a mostly reserve role, while Shooting 45% from behind the arc. At this time Gatlin has not committed to a new team.
Incoming freshman
Maybe not surprising given the coaching change but Denver at this time has no signed letters of intent.
Former DU players playing ball somewhere else
F Jake Krafka. Played 3 seasons at Denver, last year averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds for St. Edwards (D2)
G Joseph Lanzi. Played 2 seasons at Denver, last year averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 assists at Charleston (D2)
F Alperen Kurnaz. Played 2 seasons at Denver, on the roster with Lynn but it looks like they didn’t play last year.
F David Nzekwesi. A familiar last name to Summit League fans, Nzekwesi played 2 seasons at Denver and played at Weber State last year.
G Owen McGlashan. Played in limited games in his one season in Denver, now playing at Saint Anselm (D2) which did not play this season.