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Updated Colorado men’s basketball roster outlook ahead of the 2023-24 season

Jack Carlough
·5 min read
3

Besides graduating a pair of quality bench players and watching Nique Clifford, Lawson Lovering and Quincy Allen enter the transfer portal, the Colorado men’s basketball team retains most of its core group heading into the 2023-24 season.

And perhaps just as encouraging, both a big man from TCU and a potential first-round NBA draft pick are set to wear the black and gold for head coach Tad Boyle this winter. The hype around Colorado is certainly legitimate with ESPN projecting the Buffs to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Below is a player-by-player breakdown of Colorado’s current scholarship roster ahead of a highly-anticipated season:

Senior guard/forward Luke O'Brien, #0

2022-23 averages: 6.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists

Notable: O’Brien is in a strong position to start for the 2023-24 Buffs

Junior guard Julian Hammond III, #1

2022-23 averages: 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists

Notable: The Cherry Creek graduate played well down the stretch last season in place of KJ Simpson

Junior guard KJ Simpson, #2

Jan 22, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/washington-st/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Washington State Cougars;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Washington State Cougars</a> guard Justin Powell (24) blocks the advance of Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) in the first half at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

2022-23 averages: 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists

Notable: Simpson was named to the All-Pac-12 second-team following his stellar sophomore season

Freshman guard RJ Smith, #10

Feb 23, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view inside of the Coors Events Center prior to the game between the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/usc/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:USC Trojans;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">USC Trojans</a> against the Colorado Buffaloes. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

— Redshirted in 2022-23

Notable: A former 2022 three-star prospect out of La Verne, California

Sophomore guard Javon Ruffin, #11

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: Javon Ruffin #11 of the Colorado Buffaloes in the first half against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/ucla/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:UCLA Bruins;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">UCLA Bruins</a> at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on January 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2022-23 averages: 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Notable: Will miss entire 2023-24 season due to ongoing knee issues

Senior guard J'Vonne Hadley, #13

Jan 19, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard J’Vonne Hadley (13) in the first half against the Washington Huskies at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard J’Vonne Hadley (13) in the first half against the Washington Huskies at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

2022-23 averages: 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Notable: Prior to suffering a season-ending hand injury in early February, Hadley was Colorado’s leading rebounder

Senior forward Tristan da Silva, #23

2022-23 averages: 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Notable: After testing the NBA draft waters, da Silva decided to return for his senior season at CU

Freshman forward Joe Hurlburt, #24

Enderlin High School’s Joe Hurlburt goes up for a dunk during a <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/purdue/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Purdue;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Purdue</a> Men’s Basketball Elite Camp, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at the Cordova Recreational Sports Center in West Lafayette.<br>Purdue Men S Elite Basketball Camp

— Redshirted in 2022-23

Notable: A two-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year

Junior center Eddie Lampkin Jr. (TCU transfer)

2022-23 averages at TCU: 6.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Notable: Committed to Colorado in April following three seasons at TCU

Incoming freshman forward Cody Williams

Notable: Five-star prospect and the highest-rated signee in program history

Incoming freshman center Assane Diop

Feb 5, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Colorado Buffaloes basketball before the game against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/stanford/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Stanford Cardinal;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Stanford Cardinal</a> at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Notable: Four-star prospect who played prep basketball in Denver

Incoming freshman forward Courtney Anderson

Notable: 6-foot-5, 180-pound three-star prospect out of California

Incoming freshman forward/center Bangot Dak

Notable: The Nebraska prospect took Colorado’s final scholarship spot when he signed earlier this month

Story originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire