College Basketball will be here before you know it, but Phenom Hoops can’t wait until then to talk about it as we are diving into teams and rosters that are grabbing our attention. One program that made a statement last year in the ACC was SMU, finishing 13-7 in the conference and 24-11 in its first year.
Certainly coming out strong, was SMU’s season just an outlier, or was it the start of something more for the program? Diving into the roster, the Mustangs should be a team to take seriously this season once again as they look to make a push towards the top of the conference.
Boopie Miller is back for SMU after leading the way in scoring last season, averaging 13.2 points per game. Starting 28 games, averaging nearly 30 minutes per game, and helping lead a balanced attack with a wealth of experience, Miller looks to do much of the same as a veteran. Then you start looking at Samet Yigitoglu, a 7’2 center that was a strong force for the Mustangs last year, averaging 10 points and six rebounds, while also leading the team in blocks. BJ Edwards is another player who brings a lot of experience and is coming off a season in which he played/started in 35 games, averaging 10 points and also being a strong facilitator (129 total assists, second on the team). These three players have experience, understand the system, and all received starts last year in what was a balanced attack.
Then you talk about players that are coming into the program, as SMU landed some valuable transfers to help replace the production from last year. 6’6 Corey Washington has talent and experience, starting 33 games last year for Wichita State and averaging 13.7ppg, 7.5rpg, and was active on both sides. With his blend of size and versatility, Washington should come in and immediately help. Sam Walters, a Top 100 prospect coming out of high school, is coming off an injury at Michigan, but did show potential as a 6’8 prospect that can score and knock down shots from outside. If healthy, Walters looks to show why he was a top recruit and help this team in a big way. And then you have Jaron Pierre Jr, a 6’6 prospect who was C-USA Player of the year, started in 36 games, and averaged 21.6 points per game last year. Could he take over as the scoring leader for this team? We shall see but he has proven that he can be a lethal weapon and continue to bring a balanced attack to the court.
And it just continues from there… this is a program that I believe has underrated and balanced talent that we will be learning more about. Nigel Walls was a Top 75 prospect and has tremendous potential as a 6’11 prospect. Jaden Toombs has proven to be a monster down in the paint and is an underrated big as far as production; I believe he could come in immediately and get minutes with what he provides. BJ Davis Ray is a 6’7 Top 100 prospect that is a strong scoring option with tremendous size. Billy White III reclassified up and is another Top 50 prospect with size, as he could get some early minutes and show his ability to stretch the floor, impact the game in several areas, and bring potential to the floor. And then there is 6’6 Jermaine O’Neal, a 6’6 prospect that brings length and impact, along with a background of understanding the game from his father, Jermaine O’Neal Sr.
Running through this roster, I really like what this program has been able to build, and though it is still early for college basketball, the Mustangs should be a program talked about more in finishing once again towards the top of the league.