1. UNCG - Lose some contributors but return a good core. They get three new guys. Eric Hamilton is a 6'8" transfer from Wichita State who had a lot of offers in high school in Georgia including Georgia, Auburn, and Oregon State. Furman had interest but didn't offer. He is really athletic but had a bad shooting percentage in limited time at Wichita State. Mo Abdulsalam is a 6'8" 270 lb. post from Georgia who had reported offers from Wichita State, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech but picked UNCG. He is a burly, low post presence. Angelo Allegri is a 6'6" small forward going to high school in Missouri. The UNCG offer was his only D1 offer.
2. Wofford -They return almost everyone, and it is a good group. Second is a good placement right now but I'm not sure how much room for improvement they have. They need a solid improvement from freshman point guard Murphy. He had a good freshman year but Wofford requires a lot from that position. They have missed out on a number of recruits including Taylor and Bothwell. Probably hard to promise much chance of immediate playing time.
3. Furman - Well, why not? Every other team has a lot of question marks. A potential starting lineup of Rafferty, Brown, Williams or Mounce or Gurley, Lyons, and Hunter looks really solid. Backups with some experience at both guard and forward and a strong freshman class. I expect at least two of the newcomers to get significant playing time -maybe three.
4. ETSU - Placeholder position. They lose six key players - six of their top nine scorers. The returnees combined for 22 points per game. They had two good freshmen in Hodges and Armus. Jeromy Rodriquez is a 6'7" JC player who had to redshirt because of injury. They thought he was their top recruit last year. Patrick Good is a 6'0" transfer from App. State who is supposed to be a good three point shooter. They have signed two quick freshman guards who will get a shot next year. Let's see who they sign in the spring. If Forbes can use his JC connections to get some immediate help up front they could be right back battling for the title. They don't have enough right now. Their depth does not look adequate.
5. Chattanooga - I expect a big jump for them next year. They had serious injury problems this year but showed resilience trying to fight through them. Transfer Ramon Vila is 6'9" and good enough to start some games last year for Arizona State. I think he moves into the starting lineup early. Redshirts Duane Moss and Justin Brown add depth up front. The two incoming freshmen point guards look very quick and very good passers.
6. Citadel - Maybe they should be higher. Always though it is wait and see if anyone leaves before next season. Depth could be very good. Starting lineup solidified as the season progressed.
7. Mercer - Hard to pick them higher after losing five starters. Cohen, Cummings, and Stowe are a good trio of guards to build around. 6'10" freshman Mason Green supposedly has very good potential. Kilby and Stair are capable wings, although Stair seems to be hurt a lot. They already have five recruits signed - three 6'2" guards, a 6'4" wing, and a 6'7 post. They should get some help there. They are chasing a couple of big foreign born players for their last spot. They came close on nationally top 40 ranked, 6'8" Khavon Moore who made official visits to Florida and Mercer before choosing Texas Tech. He would have been a game changer for them.
8. Samford - Before the latest transfers were announced I would have picked as high as 4th or 5th. Will anyone else leave? Guards are still very good with Coleman, Sharkey, and Cunningham and they add some more with incoming freshmen guard/wings Steven Fitzgerald and Deandre Thomas who had a lot of offers. The freshman forwards are going to have to produce now unless Samford picks up some immediate JC help.
9. Western Carolina - Returning lineup has potential and will have some experience but the coaching change leaves a lot up in the air.
10. VMI - They were playing better by the end of the year with a young squad, but somebody has to finish last and VMI will have to prove it isn't them. Parham had a good freshman year but the team was easily the worst offense in the conference.
Also the transfer from Alabama is a 6-5 wing who was the #2 overall ranked HS Sr in Alabama and had some injuries derail his career at Bama. Has a ton of potential.
