The season just ended this weekend but the Baylor staff has already begun to search the transfer portal to help replace key guys who are leaving the roster and to increase the talent and experiecne for next season.
The staff will have to replace RayJ Dennis who is out of eligibility plus Jalen Bridges, JaKobe Walter, and Yves Missi as they seem likely to move on to the NBA. There could be more attrition but this group seems to be the most likely that will need to be replaced this offseason.
Guys like Jayden Nunn, Langston Love, Josh Ojianwuna, Miro Little, and Caleb Lohner will have decisions to make but could return. Baylor will also add top five freshman wing VJ Edgecombe along with two top 50 high school prospects in Rob Wright III and Jason Asemota.
With all that still up in the air, let’s take a look at some of the prospects the staff has already reached out to. Think of this more as the type of prospects Baylor is looking for as opposed to just focusing on the names. Baylor could definitely land a guy or two off this initial list but the type of player will be very relevant as things progress this offseason. In general a point guard, a forward/wing, and a center need to be addressed plus a best availiable or two could be made as well depending on how things shake out with the rest of the roster.
Rutgers Center Clifford Omoruyi
2022: 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
2023: 13.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks
2024: 10.4 points 8.3 rebounds 2.9 blocks
The 6-foot-11 center played four seasons at Rutgers and has been very productive the past three seasons for the Scarlet Knights. He shoots 55% from the floor and has been over 60% from the free throw line the past three seasons. Omoruyi was Second-Team All-Big Ten as a junior and an honorable mention this past year.
Since the 2019-2020 season only four players have had a defneisve win share over 2.0 (Butler in 2020, Vital in 2020, Freddie Gillespie in 2020, and James Akinjo 2022). The highest of the group was Gillespie with 2.4 defensive win shares in 2020. Omoruyi has been at 2.8 and 2.3 defensive win shares the past two seasons. He is an absolute difference maker and a true defensive anchor for a team. As I have mentioned and so has Ashley, if he was on this team the Bears would still be playing in the NCAA Tournament.
He would be replacing Yves Missi assuming he moves on to the NBA Draft if not then the Bears would not need a starting center.
Stanford Guard Kanaan Carlyle
2024: 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 32% from three
The 6-foot-3 guard and former top 50 high schooll prospect played his freshman season at Stanford and things did not go as planned. He missed the first month of the season so he only played in a total of 23 games. He showed flashes on the defensive side of the ball where you can see a path to him becoming borderline elite on that end. The shooting is inconcistent but he was just a freshman so there is room to improve. I see a clear path to him being a very good overall player as a sophomore. His 247 player comparision is....Davion Mitchell.
He would be giving Baylor a potetial point guard even though he is not a proven commodity yet in that role. The hope would be that he lives up to his potential and becomes an NBA prospect in one offseason.
Pepperdine Wing/Forward Michael Ajayi
2024: 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 47% from three, 71% free throws
In 2022 and 2023 he was playing at JUCO basketball so this past year was his first season playing Division 1 Basketball. The experience isn’t there but the age certainly is and so is the game. The 6-foot-7 prospect was an All-WCC First-Team guy as he led the league in scoring and rebounding while shooting 47% from three-point range. He is a solid, not elite, individual defender but he has the qualities that make you think he would be able to be very good in the right team defensive concept.
Ajayi would be an option for replacing Jalen Bridges as the staff looks for a big wing/forward who can play the 3 or 4 position.
George Mason Wing/Forward Keyshawn Hall
2023 (UNLV) - 5.4 points and 50% from three
2024 - 16.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 35.7% from three
The 6-foot-7 wing/forward had very high usage this past season but was able to turn that into a pretty efficient year as a sophomore. He shot 47% from the floor, 35.7% from three, and 84.4% from the free throw line. Hall is also a pretty good defender especiallly in regards to steals and blocks but he needs to improve his consistency which seems likely as he has the skill set for it.
Hall would be an option for replacing Jalen Bridges as the staff looks for a big wing/forward who can play the 3 or 4 position.
