5 takes from Cuonzo Martin’s new-look roster since returning to Missouri State basketball

Missouri State men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin has built a roster from almost scratch with only two players from the 2023-24 season returning since he took over the program in late March.

Martin appears to have 13 scholarship players signed or committed for the 2024-25 season. There could be some movement before the fall semester begins around mid-August.

Here are some early thoughts on the new-look Bears with the roster coming together.

Missouri State men’s basketball: A look at Missouri State’s 2024-25 roster under head coach Cuonzo Martin

Missouri State basketball’s roster doesn’t have an obvious ‘star’ you’d point to right now

In recent years, you’d be able to point to Missouri State’s roster and know someone like Alston Mason, Isiaih Mosley, Gaige Prim or as far back as Alize Johnson would be the one to carry the team. Martin even had Kyle Weems his first go-around.

There isn’t a player of that caliber that you’d point at right now. Someone will emerge from somewhere in the first month of the season and we’ll start to hear more closer to tipoff.

Stetson’s Jalen Blackmon (5) drives past Austin Peay’s Dez White (2) during the ASUN championship game at the Edmunds Center in DeLand, Sunday, March 10, 2024.

The names to point to are Austin Peay transfer Desmond White and South Plains (Texas) College transfer Jalen Hampton who have both played at the Division I level and have had success. White is a solid 3-point shooter while Hampton has shown to be a solid player inside. Then you’re waiting to see if others develop like freshmen Jurrell Baldwin and Makhai Valentine or Murray State transfer Sam Murray II.

More: How Cuonzo Martin sold Vincent Brady II on Missouri State basketball’s championship future

It’s not as talented as last year’s team on paper, but it can be far more successful

Last season’s team was so disappointing because you’d look at names like Mason, Donovan Clay, Chance Moore, Cesare Edwards and N.J. Benson and then see how poor the results were. Some of it was on…

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Author : Springfield News-Leader

Publish date : 2024-05-30 08:03:28

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