Early look at next season’s roster
UD will have plenty of experience but a large group of newcomers.
Last season, fans of the Dayton Flyers spent as much time focusing on next season as the ongoing season. They saw the four transfers sitting on the end of the bench and couldn’t help dreaming about the potential of the 2019-20 roster.
It’s a different story this season. There has not been as much talk about the future because the present holds so much promise. However, with one of the team’s newcomers expected to arrive on campus for the start of the second semester in January, it’s a good time to take a quick glance at the 2020-21 roster.
The following list of 12 players does not include Obi Toppin, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining after this one. He could elect to return. However, based on the attention Toppin has received this season from NBA Draft experts and the fact that he explored his draft options last season to get an early peek at the process — and that he’s the age of a college senior now — it’s a safe bet he stays in the draft this season. That would open another scholarship for Dayton.
With Toppin, Dayton again would be a sure bet to start next season in the top 25. Without him, there’s still plenty of reason to be optimistic because of how much experience Dayton will have. Five players will be playing their final seasons of college basketball.
Here’s a glance at next year’s roster, minus Toppin. The grades
listed are the grades the players will be in next season.
Returning starters
Jalen Crutcher, 6-1, Sr., G: The first recruit to sign with the Flyers after the hiring of Anthony Grant in the spring of 2017 has a chance to finish his career with more than 1,500 points. That would put him in the top 20 in the Dayton record book. Crutcher has 862 points in his first two-plus seasons.
Rodney Chatman, 6-1, R-Sr., G: Starting next to Crutcher, he has averaged 9.5 points and 4.2 assists. He’s shooting 40.4% from 3-point range.
Other returners
Ibi Watson, 6-5, R-Sr., G: Coming off the bench in all but one game, when he replaced the injured Crutcher, Watson has averaged 11.7 points. He leads Dayton in 3-point accuracy, making 26 of 54 (48.1%).
Jordy Tshimanga, 6-11, R-Sr., C: The practice time he missed in the preseason makes it hard to judge Tshimanga’s play. He didn’t take the court at all once practice started in October until two days before the start of the Maui Invitational. However, his knee has looked healthy in recent weeks, and his minutes have steadily increased.
He had six points in a season-high 22 minutes Dec. 23 against Grambling State.
Jhery Matos, 6-5, R-Sr., G: He has been the last man off the bench in most games this season, averaging 2.9 points in 9.8 minutes per game.
Chase Johnson, 6-9, R-Jr., F: Entering the last non-conference game of the season Monday against North Florida, Johnson had not been on the bench with the team for the last four games. He played six minutes in the 78-68 victory against Saint Mary’s on Dec. 8, and UD announced before the next game against Drake on Dec. 14 he was out with an unspecified illness. His status for the rest of the season remained unclear entering the final days of December, though Grant said Dec. 23 he hoped to get him back soon.
Dwayne Cohill, 6-2, Jr., G: With a deeper roster this season, his minutes have declined from his freshman season (15.4 to 13.9) but he’s still playing an important role off the bench.
Newcomers
Moulaye Sissoko, 6-9, R-Fr., C: He’s listed as a newcomer here even though he’s been on the roster since last season. Dayton announced two days after the season opener in November he would redshirt this season. Barring a change of plans, he will make his debut with the Flyers next season after practicing with them all this season.
Zimife Nwokeji, 6-7, R-Fr., F: He committed to Dayton on Dec. 15 and said he would enroll in school in January. He’s a member of the class of 2019 who was spending a post-graduate year at the SPIRE Institute. He’ll be able to practice with the team as soon as he arrives on campus. That should give him a chance to contribute right away next season.
Lukas Frazier, 6-4, Fr., G: The first player from the 2020 class to commit to Dayton, Frazier is a senior at Lake Catholic High School in Mentor. He’s the 10th-ranked player in Ohio’s 2020 class, according to 247Sports.com.
Koby Brea, 6-6, Fr., G:
He committed to Dayton in October. A senior at Monsignor Scanlan in Bronx, N.Y., Brea could redshirt as a freshman at UD because of his age. He won’t turn 18 until November.
R.J. Blakney, 6-6, Fr., G:
Like Nwokeji, Blakney should be ready to contribute right away because he’ll be a year removed from high school. He’s spending a post-graduate year at the Loomis Chaffee School. He committed to Dayton in October.