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After a first-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, UCF faces the familiar challenge of rebuilding a roster following offseason departures.
The Knights must replace at least seven players from last season, including starters Themus Fulks, Riley Kugel and Jamichael Stillwell. Other starters, such as forward Jordan Burks and center John Bol, haven’t made a decision on their futures.
As a result, the team needs to reshape its roster for the upcoming season.
COMMITTED
F LEWIS WALKER
Vitals: 6-6, 227 pounds
Resume: Walker averaged 18.9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29 games in his only season at North Carolina A&T, earning a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association third team and the CAA’s all-freshman team.
Role: The redshirt freshman played primarily as a small forward, while occasionally moving over to power forward during his time with the Aggies. He was second in the conference in field goal percentage (50.8%), free throw attempts (217) and made free throws (187) while finishing third in free throw percentage (86.2%).
Outlook: He becomes the third commitment for the Knights this offseason. Walker could fill the hole left by Jordan Burks if he chooses to leave the program after one season.
G CAYDEN VASKO
Vitals: 6-6, 190 pounds
Resume: Vasko started all 32 games for Wofford last season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He was named to the All-Southern Conference’s third team in his only season with the Terriers. Vasko shot 39% from the field last season, including 32% from beyond the 3-point arc.
Role: He began his college career at Central Michigan, where he was a two-year starter at point guard for the Chippewas, averaging 5.7 points, 4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 63 games.
Outlook: Vasko provides UCF with some much-needed depth at point guard, especially with the departure of Themus Fulks. He’ll be joined by former Oklahoma State guard Arturo Dean, who sat out last season after transferring to UCF.
F ISAIAH MALONE
Vitals: 6-8, 175 pounds
Resume: Malone averaged 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, while connecting on 59% of his shots in 34 games (27 starts) for Florida Gulf Coast University last season. He was named the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year for a team that was 16-18 overall, including 8-10 in the A-Sun.
Role: Prior to his time at FGCU, Malone played for two seasons at St. Francis (Ind.), an NAIA school, where he averaged 16.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while shooting 67.3% from the field.
Outlook: Malone would be a possible replacement for Jamichael Stillwell at power forward, occasionally stepping into the center spot if the Knights chose to go with a smaller lineup.
LEAVING
G CHRIS JOHNSON
Vitals: 6-5, 196 pounds
Resume: Johnson averaged 6.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in roughly 16 minutes per game over the course of 32 games in his only season with the Knights.
Role: He mainly played as the backup for starting point guard Themus Fulks and starting shooting guard Riley Kugel throughout the year.
Outlook: Johnson becomes the third guard leaving the program in the offseason.
G POOHPHA WARAKULNUKROH
Vitals: 5-11, 177 pounds
Resume: The former walk-on manager averaged 0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds and 1.6 minutes in 21 games during his four seasons with the Knights.
Role: Warakulnukroh was a fan favorite, used sparingly throughout his time at UCF. He appeared in just 4 games last season, scoring a single basket during the team’s 97-60 win over Florida A&M on Nov. 11.
Outlook: After walking on Senior Night, Warakulnukroh received a waiver for an additional year of eligibility.
Matt Murschel can be reached at [email protected]
Continue reading...
The Knights must replace at least seven players from last season, including starters Themus Fulks, Riley Kugel and Jamichael Stillwell. Other starters, such as forward Jordan Burks and center John Bol, haven’t made a decision on their futures.
As a result, the team needs to reshape its roster for the upcoming season.
COMMITTED
F LEWIS WALKER
Vitals: 6-6, 227 pounds
Resume: Walker averaged 18.9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29 games in his only season at North Carolina A&T, earning a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association third team and the CAA’s all-freshman team.
Role: The redshirt freshman played primarily as a small forward, while occasionally moving over to power forward during his time with the Aggies. He was second in the conference in field goal percentage (50.8%), free throw attempts (217) and made free throws (187) while finishing third in free throw percentage (86.2%).
Outlook: He becomes the third commitment for the Knights this offseason. Walker could fill the hole left by Jordan Burks if he chooses to leave the program after one season.
G CAYDEN VASKO
Vitals: 6-6, 190 pounds
Resume: Vasko started all 32 games for Wofford last season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He was named to the All-Southern Conference’s third team in his only season with the Terriers. Vasko shot 39% from the field last season, including 32% from beyond the 3-point arc.
Role: He began his college career at Central Michigan, where he was a two-year starter at point guard for the Chippewas, averaging 5.7 points, 4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 63 games.
Outlook: Vasko provides UCF with some much-needed depth at point guard, especially with the departure of Themus Fulks. He’ll be joined by former Oklahoma State guard Arturo Dean, who sat out last season after transferring to UCF.
F ISAIAH MALONE
Vitals: 6-8, 175 pounds
Resume: Malone averaged 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, while connecting on 59% of his shots in 34 games (27 starts) for Florida Gulf Coast University last season. He was named the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year for a team that was 16-18 overall, including 8-10 in the A-Sun.
Role: Prior to his time at FGCU, Malone played for two seasons at St. Francis (Ind.), an NAIA school, where he averaged 16.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while shooting 67.3% from the field.
Outlook: Malone would be a possible replacement for Jamichael Stillwell at power forward, occasionally stepping into the center spot if the Knights chose to go with a smaller lineup.
LEAVING
G CHRIS JOHNSON
Vitals: 6-5, 196 pounds
Resume: Johnson averaged 6.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in roughly 16 minutes per game over the course of 32 games in his only season with the Knights.
Role: He mainly played as the backup for starting point guard Themus Fulks and starting shooting guard Riley Kugel throughout the year.
Outlook: Johnson becomes the third guard leaving the program in the offseason.
G POOHPHA WARAKULNUKROH
Vitals: 5-11, 177 pounds
Resume: The former walk-on manager averaged 0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds and 1.6 minutes in 21 games during his four seasons with the Knights.
Role: Warakulnukroh was a fan favorite, used sparingly throughout his time at UCF. He appeared in just 4 games last season, scoring a single basket during the team’s 97-60 win over Florida A&M on Nov. 11.
Outlook: After walking on Senior Night, Warakulnukroh received a waiver for an additional year of eligibility.
Matt Murschel can be reached at [email protected]
Continue reading...
