2 Days To Tipoff: Major Significant Roster Change Revealed, Lots of New Names
This season, Georgia Tech features many new players who haven’t previously played under Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire tends to be somewhat secretive about these matters, making it a bit of a guessing game.
Projected Lineup
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| Position | Starter | Backup | Depth Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center | Baye Ndongo | Doryan Onwuchekwa | Ryan Mutombo |
| Power Forward | Luke O’Brien | Duncan Powell | Ibrahim Souare |
| Small Forward | Kowacie Reeves | Darrion Sutton | Dyllan Thompson |
| Shooting Guard | Javian McCollum | Lance Terry | |
| Point Guard | Nait George | Jaeden Mustaf |
I believe this team has a real chance to go at least nine players deep, possibly ten. Stoudamire has expressed a desire for more depth and getting everyone playing time. The only two players I consider locks to start are Nait George at point guard and Baye Ndongo at either the 4 or 5 positions; both had strong freshman seasons and seem ready to perform well again this year. I anticipate that Javian McCollum will join George in the backcourt, though I’m less certain about this since it can be challenging to gauge how transfers will mesh with a new coach and team dynamics, especially since Damon has praised Lance Terry. Jaeden Mustaf, a highly regarded freshman, could emerge as the best defender in the backcourt, so I expect he’ll see some playing time as the season progresses.
On the wings, I expect Kowacie Reeves and Luke O’Brien to step up, but there’s a lot of uncertainty in this area. Reeves was a decent 3-and-D player last year, while O’Brien is similar but typically more consistent, defensively sound, and a better rebounder. The only other wing likely to see significant minutes is freshman Darrion Sutton. Although I don’t expect him to play a lot initially, he has potential. When Reeves or O’Brien need a break, I think the team will turn to either Duncan Powell, a transfer from Sacramento State, or freshman big man Doryan Onwuchekwa for a bigger lineup. Baye Ndongo should play at least 30 minutes each game unless he gets into foul trouble; he can operate as either a center or power forward, but he needs to be on the court.
Ryan Mutombo has had limited playing time over the past few years on struggling Georgetown teams, so I don’t expect him to make a significant impact here either. Dyllan Thompson is a low-ranked freshman, and I think he’ll redshirt to develop his skills for the college level. Ibrahim Souare is the player I’d be least surprised to see break into the lineup. He redshirted last year, so we haven’t seen him play yet, but he’s athletic and returned, suggesting he sees a potential opportunity to contribute.