WKU Basketball: Charles Bassey Returning To WKU

After waiting for the entire NBA Draft deadline day and then some (12:50 AM ET), WKU Basketball announced that Center Charles Bassey will…

Photo Credit: Joe Faraoni | ESPN Images

After waiting for the entire NBA Draft deadline day and then some (12:50 AM ET), WKU Basketball announced that Center Charles Bassey will be returning to the Hill for his Sophomore season.

We like several others jumped the gun assuming he was gone after the 12 AM deadline passed and there was no information released from WKU Basketball or Bassey. Our staff worked on the news available and did examine why we thought he was making a mistake after reports of his stock continuing to fall. After working out yesterday for the 76ers, Bassey must have used that information to come to the conclusion that he needs another year of college experience to rebuild his stock.

While he was very productive in his Freshman season (C-USA Freshman of the year & Defensive player of the year), Charles has several things to work on in order to recoup his stock including conditioning, ball security, passing and jump shooting. With his return, Bassey hopes to follow the path of players like PJ Washington, Jarret Culver and Ja Morant that used their sophomore seasons to propel them into NBA Draft lottery status.

Bassey now rejoins a loaded roster that has 8 upperclassmen, several key sophomores and impact freshman as well. Here is a rundown of the roster after his decision:

1. Moustapha Diange — Senior (Forward)

2. Jared Savage — Senior (Forward)

3. Kenny Cooper- Senior (Guard-)

4. Camron Justice- Senior (Guard)

5. Taveion Hollingsworth — Junior (Guard)

6. Josh Anderson — Junior (Guard)

7. Carson Williams — Junior (Forward)

8. Marek Nelson — Junior (Forward)

9. Charles Bassey — Sophomore (Center)

10. Tolu Smith — Sophomore (Forward)

11. Jeremiah Gambrell — Sophomore (Guard^)

12. Isiah Cozart — Freshman (Forward)

13. Jackson Harlan — Freshman (Guard)

14. Nick Ongenda — Freshman (Center)

Walk On — Patrick Murphy — Junior (Guard)

-Kenny Cooper still waiting on NCAA ruling if he’ll get an exemption for immediate eligibility

^Gambrell could get a medical redshirt

*Jordan Rawls (top 70 guard) not listed but signs point to him reclassifying to 2019 class

As you can see WKU currently sits at 14 scholarship players (I'm not counting Rawls until WKU announces his addition to the roster). The limit is 13 scholarships, with that in mind be on the lookout for another departure, a move to walk-on or academic scholarship, or a non-qualification to get to that limit.

As you can see WKU’s roster now has experience, depth, and shooting. It’s truly NCAA or bust in Rick Stansbury’s fourth season. After last season’s disappointment, there will be no excuses to not make it back to their first dance since 2013 and Bassey’s return just deepens those expectations.