We continue our recruit and return series with the Cincinnati Bearcats, whose season ended Friday with a loss to 78-76 Saint Joseph's in the first round. A look at what the 2016-17 season could hold:
Possible 2016-17 starting five (statistics reflect regular-season average)
G: Kevin Johnson (6.2 PPG, 1.6 APG)
G: Troy Caupain (12.4 PPG, 4.8 APG )
F: Jarron Cumberland (incoming freshman)
F: Jacob Evans (8.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG)
F: Gary Clark (10.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG)
Who is lost: Guard Faraud Cobb's (10.7 PPG) ability to hit shots from beyond the arc and the finishing, rebounding and shot-blocking of forward Octavius Ellis (10.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG) will leave a huge void in the Bearcats' lineup. Forward Shaq Thomas' (6.1 PPG) playmaking and the steady hand of center Coreontae DeBerry (5.9 PPG) will be missed as well.
Who is added: Jarron Cumberland, an in-state wing from nearby Wilmington, Ohio, has a college-ready body at 6-foot-4 and more than 200 pounds. Cumberland is a scorer who possesses 3-point range and will have an early opportunity to contribute. Cumberland is a four-star prospect and No. 53 in the ESPN 100. Three-star center Nysier Brooks will provide a presence defensively and in the shot-blocking department, with his length at 6-foot-9. Brooks has excellent upside. Transfer Kyle Washington, who averaged 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds as a part-time starter at NC State in 2014-15, will have a chance to crack the rotation as well.
What it means for next season: Guard Troy Caupain and forward Gary Clark will again be asked to set the tone on both ends of the floor and build upon their scoring, rebounding and assist totals from last season. Guards Jacob Evans and Kevin Johnson will need to be rock-solid in the backcourt as primary ball handlers, scorers and dime droppers while Cumberland gets acclimated to the college game.
Trending: Up. With Caupain and Clark serving as mainstays in the lineup, Mick Cronin has talent, experience and production returning. As always, expect Cincinnati to play tough, compete and improve as the season progresses, which will result in another trip to the NCAA tournament.