Western Kentucky Basketball: Adding Charles Bassey is a game-changer for the program
Western Kentucky landed a massive commitment as Charles Bassey announced his intentions to enroll in the class of 2018. How does this elite center prospect impact Western Kentucky?
Most rosters have been finalized by mid-June as the crop of quality available players is scarce, but Western Kentucky just added a game-changing recruit for the upcoming season. Charles Bassey, the 3rd best player in the Class of 2019, has joined the Hilltoppers’ 2018 class and is reporting to summer school.
Bassey is obviously an elite recruit and will likely be picked in the lottery of the 2019 NBA Draft. The Nigerian native also turned heads at the Nike Hoop Summit playing for the World Team. In terms of his impact for Western Kentucky, it can only be described as enormous. He replaces Dwight Coleby in the starting lineup and should be a consistent double-double threat.
Listed at 6’10’’ with a 7’3’’ wingspan and 9’2’’ standing reach, Bassey is a physical specimen who loves to finish above the rim with force. He is a great athlete who can block shots and control the paint. Offensively, Bassey has solid touch, but is most effective using his physical tools around the basket.
It is understandable if Western Kentucky fans are still holding their breath or think this is too good to be true. The last elite prospect to sign with the Hilltoppers was Mitchell Robinson who had a volatile and indecisive summer before opting to solely train for the Draft.
Robinson famously attended summer school and practices before disappearing and cleaning out his dorm room which surprised many. Hopefully Bassey follows through with his commitment because Western Kentucky is now a borderline Top 25 team and clear Conference USA Favorites.
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Bassey will obviously be one of the most talented players in the country, but the Hilltoppers are also surrounding him with a talented and veteran roster. Western Kentucky may have the best backcourt outside of the Power 6 leagues as both Lamonte Bearden and Taevion Hollinsworth are excellent players.
Bearden initially announced that he would hire an agent and forego his final season of eligibility, but ultimately changed his mind. This is amazing news for Western Kentucky fans as Bearden averaged 11.8ppg and 3.4apg last season. Hollinsworth is the team’s leading returning scorer as a freshman at 13.3ppg. These two dynamic guards will create easy looks for Bassey as both can penetrate to break down the defense and find open teammates.
Western Kentucky also has talented frontcourt players to pair with Bassey, especially Auburn transfer DeSean Murray. Murray was one of the best graduate transfers and averaged over 10ppg in the SEC. Murray is an aggressive undersized big man who will fit extremely well with the long athletic Bassey.
While these are Western Kentucky’s best players, this roster is loaded with quality players at every position. Sophomore Josh Anderson and Austin Peay transfer Jared Savage will play big roles on the wing. Guard Jake Ohmer was in the rotation as a freshman and can space the floor with his three point shooting. Dalano Blanton is a top 100 recruit who will see time at both guard positions as well. Veteran big men Moustapha Diagne and Matthew Horton will provide even more depth behind Bassey.
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All in all, Western Kentucky’s roster is stocked with quality depth and talented players at each position. The Hilltoppers could easily be ranked in the Top 25 and should definitely make the NCAA Tournament after narrowly missing out last season. Conference USA has multiple strong teams at the top (Marshall, MTSU, Old Dominion), but Western Kentucky is no head and shoulders above the competition.