College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 23-11; Third (11-7) in the Big 12 Conference, lost in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Scott Drew (21st Year; 422-233 at Baylor, with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG RayJ Dennis – 6’2″, 205 – Senior (5th)

SG Jayden Nunn – 6’4″, 195 – Junior

SF Ja’Kobe Walter – 6’5″, 210 – Freshman

PF Jalen Bridges – 6’9″, 215 – Senior

C Yves Missi – 7’0″, 220 – Freshman

Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats

RayJ Dennis: 19.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.5 spg – 48.4% FG @ Toledo

Jayden Nunn: 9.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg – 40.4% 3FG @ VCU

Ja’Kobe Walter: 5-star recruit

Jalen Bridges: 10.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 bpg – 50.6% FG

Yves Missi: 4-star prospect

Experienced Reserves

F/C Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua – 6’8″, 240 – Senior (5th)

W Langston Love – 6’5″, 210 Sophomore

F/C Josh Ojianwuna – 6’10”, 240 – Sophomore

G Dantwan Grimes – 6’2″, 190 – Junior

F Yanis Ndjonga – 6’7″, 220 – Junior

F Caleb Lohner – 6’8″, 225 – Senior (5th)

Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats

Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua: 5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.3 bpg – 47.8% FG

Langston Love: 6.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.4 spg – 43.2% FG

Josh Ojianwuna: 4.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 spg – 59.0% FG

Dantwan Grimes: 14.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.8 spg – 35.8% 3FG @ Kilgore College

Yanis Ndjonga: 13.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.3 spg – 55.5% FG @ Navarro College

Caleb Lohner: 3.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.6 spg – 54.7% FG

Freshmen

G Miro Little – 6’4″, 185 – Freshman – Consensus Top 50 recruit

G Omar Adegbola – 6’4″, 200 – Freshman

There have been some changes in Waco since the Bears won a natty just two years ago. Happily, the constant which is Baylor head coach Scott Drew, remains. 

It’s the way of the world these days that rosters will change from year to year. More than in ages past, certainly. It seemed as though Baylor had established a mighty fine new plane of success and continuity, but even the Bears have now been forced to ride the wave of unexpected transfers and become familiar with the seasonal changes of new faces. At least some of this team’s arrivals have been added very intentionally with an eye towards how they’ll fit. 

Drew is welcoming one of the nation’s best recruiting classes, fronted by three heralded freshman and a veteran transfer who is coming off of a Player of the Year award at his previous school. The Bears may be replacing a whole lot of production, but they’re bringing in a tremendous amount of talent to build this new squad. 

The team also has one rising returnee to build around. Senior forward Jalen Bridges averaged double figures for the first time last year in starting every game for the Bears. The consensus is that Bridges has yet to truly hit his potential, and that’s exciting for Baylor, because he has a bunch of the prime skills in demand these days from a high-end 4 man. Bridges can shoot the ball out to three, block shots, defend different types of players, and does work on the offensive glass. Though he’s made just about 32.4% of his triples each of the last two years, Bridges has made an even 100 from the land of trey through his three seasons. The former West Virginia transfer is a career 78.4% foul shooter as well, and is looking to become a true weapon from the outside this winter. 

He led the Bears in rebounding last year, and the effort Bridges gave tracking down offensive boards in particular stood out. “Rebounding is just about toughness and want to,” Bridges has said. Last year, he wanted the ball so much that Bridges ranked second in the take-no-prisoners Big 12 with 81 offensive rebounds. Bridges also finished fourth in the league in blocked shots. The list of players who were top five in their conference in blocks and offensive boards, and also made seven out of eight triple tries in a conference tourney game in that same season has got to be very short – but Bridges is on it. This year, the hope around Waco is that he will evolve into a truly reliable inside-out scorer for the Bears to build around. 

“RayJ is an old-school type player… makes all the right passes, reads.”

– Scott Drew

With lots of experienced guards gone from last year, Drew needed to bring in someone to run the offense and create shots for the bevy of talented pieces he now has. The subject of tremendous intrigue in the Transfer Portal, Rayj Dennis was linked to a bunch of prominent schools this spring, but eventually he decided on Baylor. “I chose Baylor because coach Drew is an amazing person and has a great staff,” Dennis told 247Sports this summer. “What they have done with their guards in the past has been great and I felt like it was a great opportunity for me.” Last season at Toledo, Dennis led the Rockets to a Mid-American Conference regular season title and was named the league’s Player of the Year. He led the MAC in points and assists, and finished fifth in steals. After transferring in from Boise State, Dennis averaged 16.1 points, 5.0 boards and 4.9 assists per game in two seasons playing for Toledo, and Drew would love to see him bring that level of production in Waco. 

“RayJ is an old-school type player, old-school game, meaning really fundamentally sound, makes all the right passes, reads, really pitches the ball ahead, a joy to coach” Drew told the Dallas News this fall. “He’s somebody everybody really likes and gravitates to.” A crafty and creative scorer off the bounce, Dennis is also physically strong and explosive. Though he’s a point guard, Dennis has made more than 65% on his more than 400 career attempts around the rim, per Bart Torvik. He’s also well over 45% from mid-range the past couple of years, and last season, Dennis made a career-best 53 triples at 36.6%, adding the final dimension to his scoring game. Dennis handed out 202 assists against just 68 turnovers despite the Rockets’ frenetic pace last year, and as a fifth-year senior, is as proven a playmaking veteran as a team could hope to bring in. With his experience, composure, and versatility as a scorer, Dennis should translate his game very well from the MAC up to the Big 12. Drew is counting on it, and if Dennis can continue to play his usual strong defense on top of everything else, he could well contend for individual hardware this season, too. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

77.0 – Points Per Game (36th)

15.2 – Opponent Assists Per Game (334th)

36.8% – Team 3FG Percentage (37th)

51.6% – Opponent Effective FG Percentage (239th)

31.9% – Offensive Rebound Percentage (31st)

Coming to Waco from RVA, the land of Havoc, Jayden Nunn is a proven deep threat who should slot in very nicely beside Dennis. Nunn started 64 games the past two seasons for VCU, and was easily the Rams’ most consistent three point shooter. He’s knocked down 38.3% of his career deep shots, and Nunn should be on the receiving end of a great many kick-out’s from Dennis as he cruises the lane. Nunn improved his consistency in getting to the rim last year, and is confident slashing to the rim when opponents are worried about the jumper, but he’s sometimes more confident in his shot off the bounce than he ought to be. Still, the Rams needed points, and Nunn tried to oblige as best he could to draw some coverage away from outstanding point guard Ace Baldwin. With more threats around him at Baylor, Nunn should be lethal spotting up and get to pick his spots smoothly off the bounce. He’ll get after people defensively, and Nunn has steeped in a high-pressure system. He’s already racked up 97 steals through 66 career games, and Nunn will add something to a Bears program which has played some of its very best basketball when they’ve had swarms of terrific guards who can guard. 

“Each and every year your personnel dictate and change what you might do defensively. This year one thing we do have is more size and length, and hopefully that does help with that,” Drew said at Big 12 Media Days. This year, with Dennis and Nunn outside and versatile length from Bridges, the Bears have a solid foundation. The youngsters are coming in to add all sorts of fun extras. 

Yves Missi and Ja’Kobe Walter are different players of different sizes and types, but they both figure to make a noticeable and immediate impact at both ends of the floor. Missi has reclassified from 2024, where he was being projected as a Top 25 prospect after coming over from his native Cameroon to prep in California. The rangy post player is considered to have all the length and skill to play the pivot in the Big 12 right away. “I feel like I am ready to play at that level,” Missi told 247Sports after his commitment. “I had a good year at Prolific (Prep) and feel like I got better but I’m looking forward to getting much better at Baylor and to start working with the coaches and getting ready.” 

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

N – Duke – December 20

N – Michigan State – December 16

N – Florida / Pittsburgh – November 24

N – Auburn – November 7

vs Seton Hall – December 5

Missi projects as a true force on the paint defensively, as he is highly mobile and plays even longer than his seven-foot frame. Missi is coordinated and has good timing, yet can still improve, and he’s going to combine with Bridges to provide intimidating rim protection for the Bears. Offensively, he’s yet to make his jumper into a true threat, but Missi has some range and will stick a hook shot when he can’t make it to the rim. His greatest immediate asset is that Missi is great around the cup, and is a huge threat to finish lobs after screening and rolling to the rim. Missi’s mobility also shows on offense and in transition, as he can absolutely scoot from one lane to the other. As Missi refines his confidence operating with the ball and adds slick footwork and a go-to move or two, he will continue to grow into a great two-way player. 

A Texas native, Walter is a major get – a 5-star prospect who should step right into the Baylor lineup. At his best, Walter is one of the most physically-imposing and aggressive players arriving in college basketball this year, regardless of position. His potential ceiling is extremely high, and scouts want only to see true consistency and good shot selection from Walter to envision him as one of the most draftable prospects of all. He can score from all three levels, and though Walter’s jumper can be streaky, he makes difficult, contested shots. Walter can be an absolute bowling ball going towards the rim, and he should earn plenty of free throw tries. Defensively, Walter is versatile and so physically strong that he can play even bigger than he is. With good quickness and the reach to stay with scorers even when his physicality isn’t enough, Walter is a true two-way prospect. He should fit well with Bridges and Missi, providing the Bears dangerous length all over the frontcourt, and playmaking even when their team doesn’t have the ball. 

Last year, Baylor was excited to welcome Langston Love to the wing after a redshirt, and he’s back to grow his role as a sophomore. Love started two games and played nearly 17 minutes per contest last year, but was also stuck behind three very good scorers on the perimeter. Still, he provided good defense, some three-balls, and great energy on the glass. Love converted each of his nine putback tries last year, per Hoop-Math, and shot 62.9% of his tries near the rim in all, per Bart Torvik. If Love can keep on getting to the charity stripe and nudge up his 36.4% rate from deep on higher volume, he should grow quickly into a consistently productive scorer who could be a strong contender for Big 12 6th Man of the Year. 

There is good depth coming back to support Bridges and Missi up front. In mid-February of 2022, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua went down with one of the worst knee injuries a player can endure. After surgeries, an immense amount of rehabilitation, and unwavering dedication, ‘Everyday Jon’ returned to the court last year. Not just for one last ovation, either – the guy who hoped just to walk again a year and a half ago played Baylor’s final 18 games, and averaged 18.5 minutes in those tilts. Tchamwa Tchatchoua is strong inside and plays hard; though his game rarely takes him above the rim, he eats up space under it and is almost always in the right place. Offensively, Tchamwa Tchatchoua has even started making three’s – he’s knocked down 12 of them at a 44.4% clip over his past 37 games. 

In his rookie year, Josh Ojianwuna also made solid contributions in the paint. He’s got the size and athleticism to provide a quality reserve at both big spots as his development continues. Ojianwuna grabbed 46 offensive rebounds in his average of just 13 minutes per game, and he converted them into 21 putback stabs – second on the team. Overall, Ojianwuna made 59.0% of his shots as a freshman, helped put by a team-high 18 dunks. Caleb Lohner is a versatile defender and a very experienced backup at forward. He was also the Bears’ best per-minute rebounder last season, and brings tremendous energy to the Baylor rotation. Lohner will make a triple if left alone, and shot an excellent 76.7% around the rim last year, per Bart Torvik. “I love this group, and I’m really excited to see what we’re going to do,” Lohner told Baylor Athletics this summer. With the bunch of players that Drew has to play his two big spots, the coach believes that he’s got the rebounding and defensive solidity to take on anybody in their expanding conference. 

There is both quality and tremendous potential off the bench at guard, too. Finnish rookie Miro Little, who prepped last season at Sunrise Christian in Kansas, is coming to Waco to teach the folks about Päntsdrunk and become the point guard of the future. With great size and a wealth of international experience against top competition, Little is a versatile, clever guard. Little was the youngest player on any roster at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and acquitted himself well, averaging 4.6 assists per game off the bench for Team Finland while competing against grown men. 

He’s demonstrated the ability to cover just about any other type of guard, and Little uses his understanding of scheme and positioning to be constantly in the right place at the right time. That savvy translates on offense, too. Little is a solid orchestrator of the attack, and makes good decisions with the ball. He uses his size well on the way to the rim, and Little will dribble into a variety of fallaway or turnaround jumpers from the elbow and deeper when teams go zone. “I will bring my point guard and leadership skills to the program,” Little told 247 Sports after signing with the Bears. “I love to get my teammates involved and create a winning environment on every team I’m on. I’m just an all-around guard who can score, pass, defend and rebound.” With Dennis clearly in charge this winter, Little should have the chance to develop at his own pace and pick his spots to make visible contributions. 

Coming up from the JuCo ranks is Dantwan Grimes, a jet of a combo guard who played alongside Cincinnati commit Day Day Thomas in an all-go backcourt  at Kilgore College last year. Grimes loves to attack off the bounce, and has great agility in the lane. A creative shot-maker, Grimes sometimes gets a bit wild, but his aggressive approach sets defenders back on their heels. “I’ve gelled with everybody here,” Grimes told Foster Nicholas for the Baylor Lariat after practices began for this session. “Everybody has a good personality, and everybody wants to learn and grow. It makes it easier to be able to know what guys want and know what they’re looking for and get everybody involved.” Grimes brings real two-way potential, as his quickness and is a real irritant to opposing ballhandlers. If he continues to improve as an outside shooter – Grimes also improved considerably at the charity stripe from his freshman to sophomore year – he should be another valuable addition who allows Drew to keep the pressure on. 

Also coming aboard from junior college is Yanis Mdjonga, who is also originally from Cameroon. He’s another big body to help out inside, and Drew is hoping that the increased overall competition in the paint will force positive results in the paint this winter. In addition to international experience, the former New Mexico Military Institute post was a highly productive double-double threat at the lower level. He can get from end to end like he means it, and scores effectively around the lane. If he can, like Lohner, provide some spot minutes as a big 3 man, it will give Drew even more options. Ndjonga splashed 15 triples last year at a 41.7% rate, and adds another talented piece to Drew’s bench. Walk-on freshman Omar Adegbola will also scrap to earn some run, though it’s also possible that he could take a redshirt to develop. Adegbola is a physically strong perimeter player who can make it to the rim and do some damage when he gets there. 

Baylor was not as good on the boards or defensively last season as they generally have been the past decade. Drew’s best teams have been able to clean the glass and lock down the halfcourt on their opponents, but last year the Bears ranked in the bottom 50 of the nation’s teams in both defensive rebounding and opponent shooting percentage on two-point tries. 

This offseason, they’ve also seen significantly more roster turnover than the past few years. The additions Baylor has made would seem to address the greatest deficiencies of last year’s squad. With more size, length and defensive hunger than last year, Baylor is hoping to be a bit tougher to play against – and return to the successes of the recent past. “If those characteristics continue throughout the heart of the season and the ups and downs and the successes and adversities, we’re going to be really good,” Drew said this fall.

If Dennis is ready to be the star he’s been, Bridges takes the next step, and the freshmen are as ready as it seems they are, Baylor can swagger back into March for another deep run. Drew has completely changed the prospects of this program, and expectations are high in Waco. This team’s path won’t be easy, but their Big 12 experience should temper the Bears to throw their weight around a bit more in this year’s Big Dance.