By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s 2022-23 basketball roster appears to be set now that guard Adam Flagler announced Wednesday he was withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Scott Drew’s program.
The other notable move is when Matthew Mayer also withdrew from the draft and will finish his college career elsewhere. Both of these moves have been expected for weeks.
But with the program expecting five new players between 2022 signees and transfer portal additions, let’s give it our best first look at projecting the Bears’ starting five for the upcoming campaign.
Baylor will be seeking a third consecutive regular season conference title.
G – Adam Flagler, Sr.
Notable: The leading scorer from the 2021-22 team (13.8) returns with leadership and accuracy (38.7 percent from the arc). He didn’t let a knee issue hinder his productivity. In fact, he showed his toughness playing through it wearing a sleeve. The transfer from Presbyterian has been one of the great transfer additions in Drew’s tenure at Baylor.
G – Keyonte George, Fr.
Notable: He’s a one-and-done. Much like Jeremy Sochan and Kendall Brown, the Rivals 5-star No. 8 2022 prospect isn’t coming to Waco to come off the bench or be the 6th man. It doesn’t work that way with his kind of talent. George is the ultimate scorer and has a great looking 3-point shot. Don’t overlook his passing skills. His size (6-3) also gives Baylor physicality in the backcourt.
G – Langston Love, RFr.
Notable: This is a tough call between Love and LJ Cryer. Both are coming off injuries this past season. Love tore his ACL in September and missed all of 21-22. Cryer became a non-participant from the end of January through the duration because of his foot issue. There were also the rumors he would enter the portal after the season. That has been surgically repaired and he hopes to be a full strength when the season begins. But I like Cryer coming off the bench better because Baylor needs instant offense a la what Flagler was during the 2020-21 season. Should he be back at full strength, Love is also likely a one-and-done. He also gives Baylor length in the backcourt at 6-5.
F – Jalen Bridges, Fr.
Notable: The West Virginia transfer will have three years of eligibility remaining. At 6-7, Baylor will need some kind of low post presence. That’s going to be missing with no Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. He is expected to miss the season with a knee injury. Bridges should take the place of Sochan. He was a solid producer for the Mountaineers at 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. If he can be similar or just a little above that will add to this offense.
F – Flo Thamba, Sr.
Notable: He announced earlier this year that he is returning. Thamba and the Baylor coaching staff should feel pretty excited about that based on the way he played offensively from mid-February (when JTT went down) through the end. Thamba played with a lot of confidence on both ends of the floor. Now, it’s time to finish the journey.
Bench: Cryer, BYU transfer Caleb Lohner, Dale Bonner, Dantwan Grimes
Publisher
Baylor’s 2022-23 basketball roster appears to be set now that guard Adam Flagler announced Wednesday he was withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Scott Drew’s program.
The other notable move is when Matthew Mayer also withdrew from the draft and will finish his college career elsewhere. Both of these moves have been expected for weeks.
But with the program expecting five new players between 2022 signees and transfer portal additions, let’s give it our best first look at projecting the Bears’ starting five for the upcoming campaign.
Baylor will be seeking a third consecutive regular season conference title.
G – Adam Flagler, Sr.
Notable: The leading scorer from the 2021-22 team (13.8) returns with leadership and accuracy (38.7 percent from the arc). He didn’t let a knee issue hinder his productivity. In fact, he showed his toughness playing through it wearing a sleeve. The transfer from Presbyterian has been one of the great transfer additions in Drew’s tenure at Baylor.
G – Keyonte George, Fr.
Notable: He’s a one-and-done. Much like Jeremy Sochan and Kendall Brown, the Rivals 5-star No. 8 2022 prospect isn’t coming to Waco to come off the bench or be the 6th man. It doesn’t work that way with his kind of talent. George is the ultimate scorer and has a great looking 3-point shot. Don’t overlook his passing skills. His size (6-3) also gives Baylor physicality in the backcourt.
G – Langston Love, RFr.
Notable: This is a tough call between Love and LJ Cryer. Both are coming off injuries this past season. Love tore his ACL in September and missed all of 21-22. Cryer became a non-participant from the end of January through the duration because of his foot issue. There were also the rumors he would enter the portal after the season. That has been surgically repaired and he hopes to be a full strength when the season begins. But I like Cryer coming off the bench better because Baylor needs instant offense a la what Flagler was during the 2020-21 season. Should he be back at full strength, Love is also likely a one-and-done. He also gives Baylor length in the backcourt at 6-5.
F – Jalen Bridges, Fr.
Notable: The West Virginia transfer will have three years of eligibility remaining. At 6-7, Baylor will need some kind of low post presence. That’s going to be missing with no Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. He is expected to miss the season with a knee injury. Bridges should take the place of Sochan. He was a solid producer for the Mountaineers at 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. If he can be similar or just a little above that will add to this offense.
F – Flo Thamba, Sr.
Notable: He announced earlier this year that he is returning. Thamba and the Baylor coaching staff should feel pretty excited about that based on the way he played offensively from mid-February (when JTT went down) through the end. Thamba played with a lot of confidence on both ends of the floor. Now, it’s time to finish the journey.
Bench: Cryer, BYU transfer Caleb Lohner, Dale Bonner, Dantwan Grimes
