TCU Insider: Basketball roster updates, key transfer targets

Things have quieted down for the TCU basketball program a week after Micah Peavy and JaKobe Coles entered the transfer portal after the Horned Frogs’ loss in the NCAA Tournament to Utah State.

The down period has allowed the staff to sort through its options for reshaping the roster. While many are worried about how the Horned Frogs will look next season, it’s important to remember that almost every team will have a massive roster turnover. It’s just the state of the college basketball game right now.

So what does TCU’s roster look like right now? Let’s take a look at who’s departing, who’s returning and needs in the transfer portal:

Departures

Players leaving: Emanuel Miller, Avery Anderson, Trevian Tennyson, Chuck O’Bannon, Xavier Cork, JaKobe Coles

Breakdown: These are all players that have exhausted their eligibility and are unable to return. The biggest loss is obviously Miller, who was a second team All-Big 12 selection after averaging 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds during a career season. Miller is one of the better players in program history and will be the toughest to replace.

Avery Anderson (7.8 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Trevian Tennyson (8.4 ppg, 42 percent from 3) were brought in from the transfer portal last year to rebuild the backcourt. They both had good moments, but starting in February both struggled mightily as Anderson’s decision making and Tennyson’s defense began to be exploited by opponents.

Cork and O’Bannon were key reserves from the last three years and their veteran presence will be missed. Coles was fourth on the team in scoring with 10 points per game while shooting 42 percent from 3. Based on conversations with sources, it appears Coles returning to Fort Worth is unlikely.

Returners

Players: Ernest Udeh, Isaiah Manning and Jace Posey

Breakdown: These players are expected or have already announced they’re returning. Udeh is the only one that played in the rotation as Manning and Posey redshirted their freshman seasons. Udeh averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in the 29 games he started this season. The talented center showed flashes with his athleticism and interior defense, but needs to continue to develop.

Posey is the son of two-time NBA champion James Posey while Manning was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class and ranked the No. 20 prospect in the state of Texas.

Incoming freshmen

Signees: Micah Robinson, David Punch, Ashton Simmons, Malick Diallo

Breakdowns: TCU’s class currently sits at No. 15 in the 247Sports composite rankings and it would be the best recruiting class in program history led by Robinson. Ranked the No. 83 prospect in the Class of 2024, Robinson stars at Oak Hill and the third-highest ranked recruit to sign with TCU since 2000. Punch is also a four-star prospect just outside the top-100 and projects to play power forward. Diallo is a 6-foot-10 big man viewed as the No. 26 center in the class.

Simmons is a top-15 prospect in the state of Texas after staring at West Brook High in Beaumont. Simmons is a combo guard with a background in football.

Potential returners

Players: Micah Peavy, Jameer Nelson Jr., Essam Mostafa

Breakdown: This is where things start to get murky for TCU and this will have the biggest impact on how the roster looks. Let’s start with Peavy, who had his best season averaging 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while having more of a playmaking role. Multiple sources say Peavy entered the portal to explore his value, which is understandable. A 6-foot-7 wing that can lockdown opposing scorers and still has upside on offense would be valuable to any program.

There’s a good chance Peavy returns as many around the program remain optimistic. TCU is probably the best situation for Peavy considering how many minutes and shots need to be replaced. Peavy could easily be next year’s version of Kevin McCullar Jr. at Kansas. McCullar went from a solid starter to a first team All-Big 12 forward and potential first round pick as a fifth year senior. Why couldn’t that be Peavy?

Nelson’s eligibility has been exhausted, but there’s a chance he could receive a hardship waiver. The waiver would be based on his time at George Washington and how the overall environment was detrimental to him and his teammates.

One source said they felt that TCU “had a better than 50 percent” chance of the waiver being approved, but also cautioned it could be a 51-49 percent situation. In other words slightly better than a coin flip. Nelson was second on the team with 11.2 points and 3.3 assists as he had to adjust to Big 12 competition while being the team’s point guard.

Mostafa was a reserve for the Horned Frogs after transferring in from Coastal Carolina. He’s a senior, but has a COVID year that can still be used if he desires. As of Thursday, Mostafa hasn’t made a decision on whether he’s coming back,entering the portal or moving on to a professional career.

Transfer needs and targets

Breakdown: As it stands, TCU has seven scholarship players between Udeh, the incoming freshmen and the redshirt freshmen. With six slots to fill a lot of it comes down to which of the potential returners ends up coming back. So let’s assume two of Peavy, Nelson and Mostafa are able to return. What does TCU need in that situation?

There’s no question the Horned Frogs must rebuild and improve the backcourt as Simmons is the only pure guard projected to be on the roster without Nelson’s waiver. TCU doesn’t need just one, they need at least two, maybe three or four if Nelson doesn’t return. The Horned Frogs were a finalist for Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel, who averaged 16.3 points and 4.7 assists in the Big 12, but after visiting TCU McDaniel committed to Kansas State earlier this week.

The Horned Frogs are now turning their focus to Arizona State transfer guard Frankie Collins and Toledo transfer guard Dante Maddox Jr. Collins is 6-1 and averaged 13.8 points and 3.2 assists for the Sun Devils. Collins scored eight points against TCU last year in the NCAA Tournament. The staff has already conducted an in-home visit and plans to have Collins in Fort Worth in the coming weeks.

Maddox is one of the top guards in the portal after averaging 15.6 points and being a second team All-MAC selection. TCU made Maddox’s final list along with the likes of Louisville, Illinois and more. Two more names to watch include Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan, a 6-4 guard that averaged 9 points and 4.4 assists for the Sooners this season. Green Bay guard Noah Reynolds is another that TCU is pursuing and he averaged 20 points per game on 50 percent shooting for the Phoenix.

Most of the scholarships will go to guards. As for bigs, there hasn’t been much smoke with TCU and big men in the transfer portal. The Horned Frogs could decide to keep the rotation somewhat young with Udeh, Punch, Manning, Diallo and potentially Mostafa. It wouldn’t be the worst decision as TCU’s up-tempo style doesn’t require much from a big man offensively and Udeh has plenty of talent to be molded.

If TCU can convince Peavy to return then the roster situation is far from as bleak as many would have thought.