Baylor Men's Basketball Kicks Off Summer Practice with Fresh Faces
Baylor men's basketball coach Scott Drew gathered a completely new lineup for the first summer practice on Wednesday, just two months after a team photo circulated online, marked with an X over all 14 players who are no longer part of the Bears.
Of those players, only four completed their college eligibility, while nine entered the transfer portal. VJ Edgecombe, a standout guard, is projected to be a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, potentially making history for Baylor.
"Losing valuable players is tough; we haven't faced much of that before," Drew remarked this week. "When it happens, it feels like a personal failure as a coach. The transfer portal has changed the landscape, and we have to adapt quickly without taking it personally."
The Bears have revamped their roster with eight transfers and a four-player signing class that includes a five-star recruit and the son of an NBA champion. Among the newcomers at practice was Cameron Carr, a former Tennessee guard who joined Baylor mid-season, well after the previous team photo.
Robert Wright, a guard who averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists last season, was one of the notable departures. Despite reportedly agreeing to a lucrative NIL deal to remain at Baylor, he opted to transfer to BYU for an even more enticing offer.
"You know players will leave; Rob was someone we thought we had secured," Drew explained, choosing not to delve into specifics. "It was unexpected, but our staff did an excellent job assembling a new roster. The goal is to reach a point where we know who’s committed to the team."
The eight incoming transfers bring extensive experience, totaling over 500 games played. Notable additions include Dan Skillings, who played 100 games at Cincinnati, and JJ White, who started 75 of 99 games at Omaha. Juslin Bodo Bodo, a 7-foot center from Cameroon, started all 71 games for High Point in the last two seasons. Obi Agbim, a 6-foot-3 guard from Wyoming, was named Mountain West newcomer of the year after averaging 17.6 points and 3.4 assists last season.
Leading the signing class is five-star prospect Tounde Yessoufou from St. Joseph High School in California. He is joined by Andre Iguodala II, son of the four-time NBA champion; Italian forward Maikcol Perez; and big man May Soyoye.
Baylor joins Gonzaga and Houston as the only teams to win at least one game in each of the last six NCAA Tournaments. However, the Bears have faced early exits in the second round for four consecutive years since their national championship victory in 2021.
Next month, Drew and his team will represent the United States at the World University Games in Germany, providing an early opportunity to assess the new squad.
"A foreign tour is invaluable," Drew noted. "With zero returning scorers, this is a chance for everyone to showcase their skills. The games will benefit those who participate, but practices will be crucial for all players. Plus, team-bonding activities abroad foster connections that are hard to replicate back home."
