Roster Outlook: Ducks’ MBB roster takes form ahead of 2023-24 season
A month ago, we took a look at the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball roster and projected ahead, looking at all of the players currently in Eugene, and determining what the likelihood would be that they return for another year under Dana Altman.
Since then, a lot has taken place for the Ducks. Some players have announced their return, while several others entered the transfer portal and are now looking for a new team. Oregon has also welcomed a few transfer portal players that will join the roster next year, along with some incoming recruits.
The Ducks are allowed 13 scholarships in 2023, so where do they now stand and how many spots are open on the roster? Here’s the latest after the recent transfer portal activity.
Returning for 2023: N'Faly Dante
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 1 Year
Career Stats: 81 Games | 9.8 PPG, 6.6 REB, 0.8 AST
Analysis
N’Faly Dante announcing his return for one more season in Eugene is by far the biggest win that Dana Altman got this offseason when it comes to personnel. He had a breakout season in 2023, averaging 13.4 PPG and 8.4 REB, leading the Ducks in scoring and proving that he can be a dominant force in the paint. His NBA prospects may not be high at the moment, but with another year with the same production in Eugene, and that will likely change.
Returning for 2023: Jermaine Couisnard
Years of Eligibility Remaining:1 Year
Career Stats: 92 Games | 11.8 PPG, 2,8 REB, 3.0 AST
Analysis
Jermaine Couisnard announcing that he would return for his final year of college eligibility was welcome news for the Ducks. While he missed the start of the 2023 season with a knee injury, he quickly established himself as one of the primary scorers for Oregon, averaging 12.8 points over 19 games. He projects to be one of the best leaders for the Ducks once again in 2024.
Returning for 2023: Nate Bittle
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Career Stats: 51 Games | 4.8 PPG, 3.7 REB, 0.5 AST
Analysis
Bittle’s career statistics at Oregon aren’t all that impressive, but the promise that he showed over the final half of the 2023 season is certainly notable, especially in the NIT with fellow big-man N’Faly Dante sidelined with injury. Once Bittle got free reign to operate as the lone starting center, he flourished, turning in career-highs in back-to-back games and establishing himself as one of the emotional leaders of the team. It seems that the future is bright for Bittle in Eugene, and the fans have taken to him quickly.
Expected Returner for 2023: Keeshawn Barthelemy
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 1 Year
Career Stats: 87 Games | 8.1 PPG, 1.7 REB, 2.0 AST
Analysis
While Keeshawn Barthelemy hasn’t announced publicly that he is coming back for the 2023 season, there seems to be great optimism in Oregon circles that he will return to Eugene. Barthelemy did state after the season that he is deciding between going pro overseas or playing college ball, and that if he does come back to college, it will be at Oregon. Should he return in 2023-24 as expected, Barthelemy would be a welcome offensive piece. He was one of the only Ducks who shot over 35% from deep this season.
Expected Returner for 2023: Brennan Rigsby
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Career Stats: 21 Games | 4.2 PPG, 2.3 REB, 0.8 AST
Analysis
After starting the year injured, Brennan Rigsby started 8 games for the Ducks but was eventually moved to a role off of the bench before ultimately suffering a season-ending injury. He was a nice role player but notably saw his minutes decrease as the season went on. It hasn’t been announced publicly, but I think that Rigsby will end up coming back for at least another year with the Ducks. He showed some flashes and should feel confident that Dana Altman at least wants to use him if he produces.
Expected Returner for 2023: Ethan Butler
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 4 Years
Career Stats: 2 Games | 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists
Analysis
Ethan Butler played 2 games in his freshman year with the Ducks but will be medically redshirting so that he can maintain his four years of eligibility. It wouldn’t be a total surprise if Butler entered the portal, but I think he will probably more likely come back to continue his career in Eugene.
Incoming Transfer: Florida Southwestern State's Jadrian Tracey
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Career Stats: 29 Games | 14.4 PPG, 5.7 REB, 4.5 AST
Analysis
When the news came out that Jadrian Tracey was going to transfer to Oregon, the first thing that I did was go to his stats and check his three-point shooting percentage: 43%. That will work. The Ducks need sharp-shooters who can spot up and knock them down. If Tracey can do that, then he will fit in Eugene. Anything on top of that is gravy.
Incoming Transfer: Georgia's Kario Oquendo
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years
Georgia Bulldogs
2021-22: 31 Games | 15.2 PPG, 4.3 REB, 0.8 AST
2022-23: 29 Games | 12.7 PPG, 2.6 REB, 0.6 AST
Analysis
Kario Oquendo is a proven scorer in the SEC, where he averaged almost 14 points per game over two seasons with the Bulldogs. He brings some nice size at the guard spot and will be a high-energy player who can help alleviate some of the pressure in the backcourt.
Incoming Transfer: Arizona State's Devan Cambridge
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 1 Year
Career Stats: 127 Games | 7.8 PPG, 3.8 REB, 0.6 AST
Analysis
Devan Cambridge is another in-conference transfer that Dana Altman was able to get, following the lead of Keeshawn Barthelemy a year ago. Cambridge had his best season last year with the Sun Devils, where he averaged just under 10 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. He can be a nice scorer for the Ducks in 2023.
Incoming Recruit: 5-star KJ Evans
247Sports Rating: 5-star (98)
National Ranking: No. 11 overall (No. 3 PF)
Analysis
It’s sometimes hard to project whether or not a true freshman will be able to come to the collegiate level and have an instant impact, but KJ Evans projects as someone who can help the Ducks right away next year, with the potential to be a one-and-done, making the leap to the NBA in the 2024 draft. It wouldn’t shock me at all to see Evans find his way into the starting lineup for Oregon before next season is over.
Incoming Recruit: 5-star Mookie Cook
(AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9905)
National Ranking: No. 25 overall (No. 5 SF)
Analysis
Again, it’s hard to go out on a limb and say that Mookie Cook is going to be one of the best players on Oregon’s roster next season, but based on what we’ve seen from him at the high school level, he should have no trouble providing a spark for the Ducks at the very least.
Incoming Recruit: 4-star Jackson Shelstad
Photo Courtesy of Ryan Hoppes/Pro Insight
247Sports Rating: 4-star (93)
National Ranking: No. 48 overall (No. 8 PG)
Analysis
Ironically, it feels like the lowest-rated player in Oregon’s 2023 signing class is the one who Duck fans are the most excited to see. Jackson Shelstad was just named Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the second-straight time, and he has been on an absolute tear up at West Linn, following in the footsteps of Oregon legend Payton Pritchard by dominating with the Lions become coming to Eugene. Whether or not Shelstand can establish himself as a viable point-guard as a true freshman remains to be seen, but Duck fans are clearly ready to embrace and love Shelstad as they did several years ago with Pritchard.
Outgoing Players
Outgoing Transfers
Kel’el Ware
Rivaldo Soares
Lök Wur
Tyrone Williams
Out of Eligibility
Will Richardson
Where That Leaves Us
At the moment, there are 9 players who we are certain will be on the Oregon Ducks’ roster in 2023, with three players — Barthelemy, Rigsby, and Butler — in the camp of players who we think are returning for next season. Should they return, that puts Dana Altman at 12 scholarships, leaving one available going forward.
There’s a chance that he could use it on an incoming transfer, or it could be kept empty in the case that Bronny James comes to Oregon this summer. Either way, there may be one player left to join the team in the coming months.
