Big Signing Day For Bears

[BEARZ77]

Just as is the case for many programs thru out college basketball, spring signing witnessed a lot of roster churn across the country, and the MVC was no different. Looking at both the fall and spring adds, as many as half the programs will have as many as 6-7 new faces [ Illinois State,Missouri State, SIU, Indiana State] and even a program like Bradley will have 4 newcomers and 3 players who red shirted last year suiting up for the first time. For the Bears that will probably be 7 although they still have one open scholy [ however with only one senior and that scholy taken for 2021, they likely will sit on it this yr] . Most likely 1 of those seven, 7'0 transfer Dawson Carper will likely be a rs although the Bears will probably go thru the waiver process.

For the Bears, while that still represents a lot of uncertainty in CDF's 3rd season, most Bear fans were ready for an overhaul after going the transfer route and finding it not as productive as anticipated last year. This years class has a nice mix of 3 HS/Prep players, 3 jucos, and the one transfer. The roster still will retain the look Ford has preferred in his first couple years as the Bears will be long and athletic across the board with only one player less than 6'4 and six 6'8 or better. The Bears have received their LOI from 6 of the seven and are only waiting on that of 6'6 freshman wing Rafe Ayres.

The new Bears are :
HS/Prep
6'6 Wing, Rafe Ayres from Vermont Academy
6'8 PF, Melvyn Ebonkoli [ offers from Seton Hall, South Florida]
6'6 PG, Skylar Wicks [ offers from Depaul, TCU]

JUCO
6'4 PG, Demarcus Sharp[ 1st team Juco AA, #45th ranked juco]
6'7 Wing, Keaton Hervey [ played one year at Incarnate Word av 8 ppg as frosh, # 40th ranked juco]
6'10 C, Nic Tata [ # 63 ranked juco]

Transfer
7'0 C, Dawson Carper [ transfered from Hawaii where he started 20 games as a soph]

Those 7 will be added to a roster returning 6'8 Sr Gaige Prim, 6'6 So Isaiah Mosley, 6'3 So Jamata Black, 6'11 Jr Darian Scott, and redshirt 6'8 So Jared Ridder. Bears also probably will return 6'1 wo Spencer Brown.

Lot of moving parts but what looks to be a more well rounded and complementary roster for the Bears. But time will tell. I like this roster, but even though Prim is a sr I still see it a year away from challenging for a title, but a top 3-5 finish is doable.

[Salukimadness86]

Looks like MSU picked up some solid players. Getting better players, will only make the MVC a better conference overall.