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SMU's summer of fun
The Mustangs kicked off serious coaching dominoes earlier this offseason. Did they just make another significant move? Plus, Georgetown heads up a busy recruiting day and we grade the MAAC transfers.
Sean Paul
July 24, 2024
Good morning! If you didn’t commit to a college program yesterday, you may have been the only one.
Let's get to it.
1. SMU’s big addition could pay big dividends
Think how much SMU has influenced the college basketball offseason.
It fired Rob Lanier and set off a chain reaction that resulted in changes at USC, Arkansas, Kentucky, and BYU, with some potential for change with Baylor and UConn along the way.
SMU made another headline on Tuesday. It brought in 7-2 behemoth Samet Yigitoglu from Turkey to solidify its interior.
Big news in the European scene, SMU lands 7’2 Samet Yigitoglu for the 2024-2025 season per @Eurohopes
Samet averaged 13.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG and 1.2 BPG in Fiba U20 last summer and 4.2 PPG in the BSL
Paint beast should be one of the most dominant freshman’s in the country
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting)
3:52 PM • Jul 23, 2024
Yigitoglu spent last season playing for Besiktas S.J. in Turkey, where he averaged 13.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and one block per game. He'll be vital as a potential defensive anchor in Dallas.
The thing I’ll keep an eye on is Yigitoglu’s early season usage.
It’s August, so most teams have wrapped summer practice sessions. Yigitoglu hasn’t learned Enfield's system, and adjust to living/playing in the U.S. (to say nothing of getting through SMU’s admissions). None of that is easy.
Will it be different from last year when a pair of international 7-footers, Aday Mara (UCLA) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky) struggled in their first college seasons? We'll see.
Yigitoglu has support, though.
Boopie Miller (15.8 ppg at Wake Forest) and returning sharpshooter Chuck Harris will carry the offensive load. Kario Oquendo, who averaged 13 ppg at Georgia two years ago before playing a small role at Oregon last season, also should help.
Meanwhile, the interior has a few option:
Yohan Traore, a former 5-star recruit who averaged 15 ppg at UCSB
Matt Cross from UMass (15 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Returnee Keon Ambrose Hylton (6 ppg, 4 rpg)
Yigitoglu will be the Mustangs' only shot-blocker and their lone 7-footer and provide defensive value even if his offensive game doesn't translate instantly.
Is this a tournament team? Nope, but the upside is there.
2. Cooley’s ideal big man + more recruiting news
Georgetown is BACK! getting there!
Ed Cooley's rebuild is progressing, whether it's in the portal or through the high school ranks.