Based on my current understanding

[Jason94]

This is who will currently be on the team going into next season:

1 year of eligibility left: Robbins
2 years: Wright, QMB
3 years: Lawrence, Thomas, Stute, Dorsey
4 years: Dia, Dort, Smith, Shelby

That is 11 players, meaning we have room for two more players, and have room should Pippen decide that he does in fact want to play in the NCAA tournament.

But from a position standpoint we have the following:

PG - Shelby
SG - Thomas, Lawrence
SF - Wright, Dorsey, Dia
PF - Stute, Smith
C - Robbins, QMB, Dort

We have a lot of depth at the 5 next season at the moment, so much so that you could easily see us playing two of the three at the same time in certain scenarios, especially if Robbins can indeed shoot the three, or you can let QMB play the high post with Dort or Robbins play low.

We are painfully thin at guard however with Dezonie's transfer. Even if Shelby is the greatest freshman PG, he cannot be expected to play 40 mpg and will need a reasonable backup, which we currently do not have on the roster. At SG if we could combine Thomas' shooting with Lawrence's size and athleticism, we would have a pretty good player, but as it is we have two role players gunning for the starting spot at the moment. We need someone who can reasonably start at the point in case Shelby has growing pains (a strong possibility) and someone who we could rely upon to score at least 10 ppg and start at the 2 guard spot. Given that our current freshman class is almost gone, adding rising sophomores would be ideal, but any non-freshman would be fine.

[Nashmann]

Neither Thomas or Lawrence are truly starters and wouldn't miss if they hit the portal.

[Jason94]

Neither Thomas or Lawrence are truly starters and wouldn't miss if they hit the portal.

I agree that they aren't starters, but we are going to need some sort of depth at guard. I'd prefer if we don't have to play either Wright or Stute at either guard spot. If either left we'd only have 2 total guards on the team. Lawrence could be a decent 4 guard option.

[bornadore57]

Love the progress Lawrence has made.

[Gambit]

Lawrence and Thomas have not show the ball-handling chops to start, IMO. I think a better lineup would be Shelby, Wright, Stute, Robbin and QMB. Q really impressed me with his defense and rebounding the last 1/2 of the season. Lawrence and Thomas for when we need to go smaller/quicker. I like Lawrence’s athleticism, but he seems like a poor man’s max Evans right now. We need Dorsey to show something if we are going to have any depth at all. we may struggle from outside unless Thomas picks up his ball handling to play more minutes.

[Hutch37]

have a feeling at least 3 of the freshmen will see some decent minutes- we must add a veteran PG . I feel like the 2 position has always been vandy's easiest to fill- Trey Thomas can shoot the lights out at times but the physicality has always been hard for him. He is a good bench option. Lawrence showed a real jump at the end of the year. He found some confidence in his jumper and he can definitely drive to the hoop. He could start and flourish but still feel like we also have to add a combo guard from the portal. Either our PG or combo G must be a good shooter-I have no idea how good a shooter is Shelby...

[MemorialMagic]

Hoping that Lawerence can spend a lot of time in the shooting lab and with a shooting coach in the off season. Add some consistency to his 3 point shooting. Get him up to 33% from 3, and he will be a force.

I think Dorsey will stick. His mom had some tweets that talked about how happy she was to have her son playing under Stackhouse. Need to get him game comfortable and probably better defensively. Seemed lost on D.

[geeznotagain]

Seemed lost on D.

Also on O, but other than that he was terrific.

[UltimateVUFan]

Agree with all who have stated that finding a solid PG in the portal is an absolute necessity regardless of Pippen’s intentions.

A few things I’ve taken away from interviews with Stack and recruiting notes I read throughout the season on the incoming class:

1) Stack said in an interview late in the season something to the effect of: “before it’s all said and done, Dorsey is going to be very good for us.” As a recruit, he was touted as having a lot of upside as a 3 and D specialist. Obviously we haven’t seen much of him yet, but maybe he needs more development to adjust to the college game. If his mom wants him here and the relationship with Stack is strong, I’m excited to see his long term potential in years 3 and 4. Look at most of the teams that make good runs in the tournament and the VU teams of the past that have had the most success. They are full of upperclassmen who stuck with the team for their full careers and learned the system. Heck, look at how much better of a player QMB was this season after his redshirt year and a year of taking lumps on the court in the SEC. Jordan Wright, too. Did anyone outside of Stack foresee those guys making the leaps they did this season? Dorsey was more highly regarded than either as a recruit, and while that doesn’t always equate to success at the college level, I trust Stack, and I certainly don’t see a reason for anyone to take cheap shots at a guy who is committed to the school and program!

2) Shelby is considered one of the best shooters in this class by some analysts, with a good stroke and ability to catch and shoot. However, he likely isn’t ready to assume the lead guard role at the college level yet (certainly not in the SEC). Still, aside from a PG, VU most needs athletic shooters, and he fills that role.

3) Though Dort is the higher rated prospect, Smith may end up being the steal of the class. He is also supposed to be a solid shooter from deep, especially for a forward. According to an interview I read, Stack also told him he could use him anywhere from the 2-4 spots. He’s also committed to developing his defense and prided himself on taking a lot of charges on the summer club circuit against other high-level players.
https://www.prospectiveinsight.com/post/colin-smith-2


Future is bright if Pippen stays or if the staff can snag a decent PG to replace him from the portal. Depending on scholarship numbers and the rumors circulating re: current departures (Frank???), it is possible that the staff could do both, or even bring in two upperclassmen guards if Pippen leaves. Here’s hoping.

Anchor Down!

[MemorialMagic]

I’m sorry. Who’s in the portal?

[commadore]

I’m sorry. Who’s in the portal?

Dezonie, Frank, and Mann.

[UltimateVUFan]

I’m sorry. Who’s in the portal?

Dezonie, Frank, and Mann.

Is the jury still out on Frank? I’ve seen conflicting information or at least some indications that it isn’t totally confirmed yet.

[MrMemorial]

Just in the portal and he grew up not far from here. 20ppg PG

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... mark-sears

[MemorialMagic]

Right. Sorry. There was a post from someone saying something like: “is this before or after they entered the portal”. Trying to understand what they meant. Apparently that post is gone now. Or maybe I was hallucinating.

[commadore]

Right. Sorry. There was a post from someone saying something like: “is this before or after they entered the portal”. Trying to understand what they meant. Apparently that post is gone now. Or maybe I was hallucinating.

Boy you were quick. That was up for about 20 seconds. I got Dorsey and Desone confused.