Georgia State Panthers (22-12 overall, 11-7 conference)
Projected starting five:
Jr. G Devonta White
So. G Cameron Solomon
Fr. G R.J. Hunter
Jr. F Manny Atkins
Sr. C James Vincent
Important departures:
Four starters from last season’s team have departed: G Jihad Ali (12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.4 apg), C Eric Buckner (10.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 bpg), G James Fields (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg) and G Josh Micheaux (7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg)
Returning:
31.8 percent of scoring and 24.7 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Jr. F Manny Atkins (transfer from Virginia Tech)
Jr. F Denny Burguillos (junior college transfer)
So. G Cameron Solomon (junior college transfer)
Fr. F Marcus Crider
Fr. G R.J. Hunter
Fr. F T.J. Shipes
Fr. F LaRon Smith
Fr. G David Travers
Schedule Highlights:
Georgia State opens the season with a bang as they head to Duke and Brigham Young, but it lightens up a bit after that. They have seven home games, including a visit from Southern Miss, and the toughest road game after the first two may be at Rhode Island just before Christmas. The Panthers will have a chance for a nice start in CAA play as four of the first five are at home before they play four of five on the road.
Projected finish and outlook:
The Panthers enter their final season in the CAA in a similar situation to Old Dominion, and not just because they’re leaving. Like the Monarchs, they don’t have much returning and thus have a lot unknown. What they have going for them is some good young talent, a solid holdover point guard in White, and a coach who knows how to install an edge to his team and showed that last season. The younger Hunter should contribute right away, as should Crider, while Atkins will play right away and help and the junior college transfers should be in the mix right away. There aren’t many expectations for this team, as few are picking them this high, but after what Hunter did last year there is some reason to believe he can get the max out of this team and wind up better than many think.
