We continue our recruit and return series with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, whose season ended Wednesday night with a 67-62 loss to Michigan in the First Four. A look at what the 2016-17 season could hold:
Possible 2016-17 starting five (statistics reflect regular-season average)
G: Sterling Taplin (2.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG)
G: Pat Birt (12.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG)
F: Travis Atson (incoming freshman)
F: Junior Etou (Rutgers transfer)
F/C: Eugene Artison (junior college transfer)
Who is lost: The Golden Hurricane will have a major roster overhaul, with nine seniors departing the program. Guards James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison formed the backcourt and were the team's first- and second-leading scorers. Other productive perimeter players included Marquel Curtis and Rashad Ray, and in the frontcourt Rashad Smith, Brandon Swannegan, D'Andre White and Emmanuel Ezechinonso will also move on.
Who is added: Frank Haith has combined high school and junior college talent in this deep recruiting class. The group begins with a pair of three-star performers -- forward Travis Atson, an explosive scorer, and Martins Igbanu, a good athlete who can score in and around the lane and finish on the break. Add guards Lawson Korita, Joseph Battle and center Will Magnay from Brisbane, Australia, to round out the high schoolers. The experience of junior college guard Corey Henderson Jr., power forward Eugene Artison and Rutgers transfer Junior Etou should help. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Etou sat out 2015-16 after averaging 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a two-year starter at Rutgers.
What it means for next season: Guards Sterling Taplin and Pat Birt will have to set the tone on both ends of the floor, and the other three frontcourt positions could be up for grabs with such a large recruiting class that consists of good, but unknown, talent.
Trending: Down. There are lots of questions and not many answers yet for the rebuilding Golden Hurricane. If everyone buys in, there is some talent in place to make another run, but with so much uncertainty and youth, the chances of returning to the NCAA tournament seem slim at this point.