2024-25 CAA Offseason Guide

[UDHoops]

Starting this even before a winner is declared because we have big news.

Amari Williams has entered the portal/put his name in the NBA Draft Process. Drexel now losing at least 4 starters from last season (Okros, House, Monroe out of eligibility)

https://x.com/ssn_bluehens/status/17677 ... VHPEJ8igOg

[finpxz1]

Williams is a really nice college player, but I don’t see him making a living in the NBA. He might be better served picking up a nice NIL payday with a P4 before heading off to big bucks overseas.

[UDHoops]

Hampton hires Georgetown assistant Ivan Thomas: https://x.com/SSN_BlueHens/status/17679 ... 66370?s=20

Two of their top 4 scorers are in the portal already (Deng, Nesbitt). W&M have had 3 underclassmen dip in as well (Williams, Karansinski, Lemond)

[Udforever1]

Life of a mid major, or mid major conference, these days.

https://twitter.com/justindiament/statu ... 3047549139

[UDHoops]

Track all 14 programs' roster movement here:

https://www.ssn-sports.com/post/2024-ca ... al-tracker

[UDHoops]

So far...

New coaches for Charleston (Pat Kelsey's former boss Chris Mack, who was heavily linked to the Vanderbilt job before Byington was offered it), William and Mary with Brian Earl (built one of the best Ivy League Programs at Cornell, very intrigued about this program now because it's interesting to see him value the opportunity at W&M more), and Hampton with Ivan Thomas (Ed Cooley's assistant at both Providence/Georgetown).

Portal has taken from everyone at the top, not just Delaware. Including guys without eligibility, Charleston have currently lost 9 of their 10 rotation guys, Drexel its entire starting five, Hofstra its top 4 scorers, UNCW 3 of their top 4 scorers, Stony Brook all five starters. Towson is the only team in the conference to not have a scholarship player in the portal (Charles Thompson is out of eligibility).

As far as incoming players, UNCW have added a pair of double digit scorers in Farleigh Dickinson's Sean Moore (scored a team high 19 point in their David vs. Goliath... figuratively and literally... win against Purdue last March Madness) and Holy Cross's Bo Montgomery (reported contact with UD, 40% 3 pointer shooter). Hampton has quietly gotten both Kyrese Mullen and Jordan Nesbitt to take their names out of the portal and added a role player from Georgetown in Wayne Bristol Jr. and a redshirt freshman guard from App State in Etienne Strothers. Our friend Monte Ross has added a former 3-star Memphis commit in Ryan Forrest, who scored 12 points a game for Northwestern State last season. Outside of these and a Division 2 add for Campbell, there hasn't been any incoming moves for the conference yet.

As far as outgoing guys, Drexel's Justin Moore just committed to A10's Loyola Chicago. Amari Williams will be at a P5 school soon enough, same with Darlinstone Dubar of Hofstra. Hampton's Jerry Deng seems to be getting a lot of love as well. Curious to see where Jyare Davis goes... there's a lot of similarities in how both him and DJ Burns for NC State play the game offensively on the post. And the market for Drumgoole... a 6th/7th man on a high major program? Time will tell. 4th school incoming.

Right now, Trazarien White has stayed a Seahawk. Adding Moore and Montgomery to him is a great start, and they'll continue to make moves as well. Anthony Dell'Orso is still at Campbell too, he will definitely be on the preseason ballot. The Tigers, if they can add a forward that can fill in Thompson's shoes defensively, they will be a top 2 team in my preseason poll. Skerry has done a great job keeping his young guys together. Wouldn't be shocked to see Mack keep a few of those Charleston guys as well... they have the NIL to persuade them.

It's going to heat up here for the portal, 358 teams are now in the offseason and the last 4 will join soon. Last year's commitment announcements (the portal was opened for 60 days last year, this year 45): Tyler Houser March 18th, Gerald Drumgoole April 3rd, Zion Bethea April 21st, Niels Lane April 23rd, Jalun Trent May 25th, Kobe Jerome June 24th. Players can enter until May 1st.

[HENJOHN]

Great information and summary Hoops. Thanks

[Hens79]

This is really good stuff. Hope some transfers in are announced soon.

UD needs to create a winning and exciting environment similar to Charleston and UNCW to be able to have any hope to keep the better players longer in the world of the portal and NIL. The last two years at the Bob have been a snooze of not very good to pretty bad basketball in a generally dull environment.

[UDHoops]

First domino to what I said about Charleston... it's being officially reported that Ante Brzovic has taken his name out of the portal and will return to Charleston.