Jalen Bridges Returning to Baylor Basketball for Senior Season

WACO, Texas – Power forward Jalen Bridges has decided to return to Baylor and play his senior season for Scott Drew and the Bears, per Jeff Goodman.

This is the win that Drew and the 2023-24 Baylor Men’s Basketball roster were looking for. Bridges decided to return to Baylor after mulling over options like playing professionally in the Australian NBL.

Bridges is now the only returning starter from last year’s tournament team, and he was the most consistent threat down the stretch of Big 12 play for the Bears.

After an outstanding freshman year at West Virginia and a subsequent sophomore slump, Bridges used his one-time transfer waiver to come to Waco and play for Baylor.

Bridges averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 27.3 minutes per game this past season as he joined the Bears after transferring from West Virginia. He hit 50.6% of his shots from the field, 32.4% from three and 77.8% from the free throw line.

Bridges’ advanced shooting numbers were 57.9% effective field goal percentage and 61.1% true shooting percentage. He earned a 124.9 offensive rating on 17.3% usage rate. Only Adam Flagler had a higher offensive rating last year for Baylor.

He could be an all-conference-level player for the Bears and move Baylor closer to the top-10 conversation through the offseason thanks to the other offseason additions to Baylor’s roster.

In the wake of Adam Flagler’s decision to stay in the NBA Draft, Scott Drew landed the transfer commitment of RayJ Dennis from Toledo. A great offensive creator with some of the better assist and turnover figures in the nation out of the MAC last season.

The Bears also added Jayden Nunn from VCU to battle with Langston Love for minutes at the two-guard spot. Both offer versatility to play other positions and play with each other on the court as well.  

Bridges also now gets to play alongside an impressive incoming class of players that includes Ja’Kobe Walter, Miro Little and Yves Missi. Walter is a consensus five-star recruit combo guard while Little and Missi are four-star prospects at point guard and center respectively.