WKU Basketball: Tolu Smith becomes 6th player to Transfer this Offseason

Just a few days after Junior forward, Marek Nelson announced that he was leaving the Hilltopper Basketball program, WKU got even more…

TIM BROEKEMA, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Just a few days after Junior forward, Marek Nelson announced that he was leaving the Hilltopper Basketball program, WKU got even more shocking news as Sophomore to be forward, Galen “Tolu” Smith announced that he was also leaving the WKU Basketball program via twitter

This is the sixth departure of the offseason for WKU Basketball as he joins Dalano Banton, Matthew Horton, Jake Ohmer, Moustapha Diagne & Marek Nelson. He is definitely the most unexpected.

Smith was a solid low post contributor in 2018–19. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game and appeared in all 34 games for the Hilltoppers. He was WKU’s second low post option after Charles Bassey averaging 10.1 minutes per game. Though his numbers weren’t spectacular he was supposed to stay as the number two option down low heading into 2019–20 and was seen as a four-year building block player that would continue to grow and get better with experience.

With Smith’s shocking departure, WKU is now suddenly thin in the frontcourt after Charles Bassey. They’ll have to lean on Carson Williams, who is more of a stretch 4, and freshman Isiah Cozart to provide depth down low. With Smith leaving WKU is down to 11 scholarship players out of the maximum of 13 spots.

Look for Stansbury to bring on a late addition, whether it be a grad transfer, a reclassified senior to be in high school or a junior college player. Losing a long term productive player like Smith definitely stings more than some of the other departures.

While College Basketball transfers are normal, losing the roster continuity that they lost with Nelson & Smith this week isn’t an encouraging sign for program stability. Let’s hope Stansbury didn’t push Smith out for someone else because that is a terrible way to do business and build a culture.

Best of luck to Tolu moving forward. Here’s where the roster stands with his unexpected departure

1. Jared Savage — Senior (Forward)

2. Camron Justice- Senior (Guard)

3. Kenny Cooper- Senior (Guard)

4. Taveion Hollingsworth — Junior (Guard)

5. Josh Anderson — Junior (Guard)

6. Carson Williams — Junior (Forward)

7. Charles Bassey — Sophomore (Center)

8. Jeremiah Gambrell — Redshirt Freshman(Guard)

9. Isiah Cozart — Freshman (Forward)

10. Jackson Harlan — Freshman (Guard)

11. Jordan Rawls- Freshman (Guard)

Walk On — Patrick Murphy — Junior (Guard)