We continue our recruit and return series with the Colorado Buffaloes, whose season ended with a loss to UConn in the first round of the NCAA tournament. A look at what the 2016-17 season could hold:
Possible 2016-17 starting five (statistics reflect regular-season average)
G: Dominique Collier (7.8 PPG, 2.8 APG)
G: Josh Fortune (10.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
F: George King (13.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG)
F: Xavier Johnson (10.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG in 2014-15)
C: Wesley Gordon (7.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG)
Who is lost: Coach Tad Boyle loses only two players from this year’s team -- but one is Josh Scott, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and one of the most consistent players in the Pac-12 during the past four years. Scott hit a career-high in points, rebounds and assists this season and established himself as one of the best post players in the country. He averaged double figures in each of his four seasons in Boulder. The only other expected loss is in-state guard Xavier Talton, who was never a big scorer but managed to carve out a role every season. He could knock down outside shots, but was mostly a glue guy in the backcourt.
Who is added: Boyle has done his best with under-the-radar prospects who developed once in Boulder -- and he’s got an incoming crop that fits the mold. Three-star guard Bryce Peters is the most highly touted of the group, and the California native has length and athleticism in the backcourt. He can get to the rim or make perimeter shots.
Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) product Deleon Brown will make an impact at both ends of the court, while in-state power forward Dallas Walton has some upside but will mostly provide depth as a freshman. Keep an eye on Division II transfer Derrick White, who sat out this season after moving over from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. He has a knack for scoring.
What it means for next season: One of the big keys will be the status of Xavier Johnson. The lefty forward tore his Achilles tendon last summer and missed the entire season. It’s expected that he will seek a medical redshirt and return for his final season in 2016-17. He’s a jack-of-all-trades type of player who will help fill some of the gaps left by Scott. Sophomore wing George King was one of the big surprises of the Pac-12 this season, despite some inconsistent play down the stretch. He hit the 20-point mark five times during the regular season and could be a go-to guy next season.
Big man Wesley Gordon complemented Scott well, but will play a bigger role next season. Dominique Collier returns at point guard, and former Providence transfer Josh Fortune is also back as a double-figure scorer. Rotation players Tre'Shaun Fletcher, Tory Miller and Thomas Akyazili are also back.
Trending: Level. Boyle got Colorado back to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiccup. The Buffaloes lose Scott, but the expected return of Johnson and seven of the top nine scorers will keep them in the mix for an NCAA tournament bid. Who, though, will take on the role of the go-to guy? That could be what puts them over the hump next season.