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Oregon State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Beavers

By Andrew Dieckhoff

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Oregon State Beavers cheerleaders perform during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Beavers 73-58. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Oregon State Beavers cheerleaders perform during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Beavers 73-58. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 05: SiriusXM guest Coach Wayne Tinkle speaks during the NCAA final Four radio broadcast on radio row at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 05: SiriusXM guest Coach Wayne Tinkle speaks during the NCAA final Four radio broadcast on radio row at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /

Jarod Lucas could be Wayne Tinkle’s next big star

Headlined by combo guard Jarod Lucas, the Beavers are bringing in six new players into the fold in 2019-20. Lucas, a three-star recruit out of California, broke a regional high school scoring record that had, at one time or another, been held by former Pac-10 stars such as Casey Jacobsen and Tracy Murray. That scoring punch could be just what the Beavers need to replace some of Stevie Thompson’s production in the backcourt. Lucas is probably the biggest threat to Antoine Vernon’s minutes at guard, especially if he can develop his passing skills and learn the offense as the season goes on. Even if his impact isn’t felt immediately, Lucas is a player to keep an eye on for Oregon State in the years to come.

Besides Lucas, the Beavers are bringing in three other freshmen. Dearon Tucker, a 6’10” forward from Dallas, should provide some much-needed depth in the frontcourt. Tucker is also rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and is actually ranked nearly eighty spots higher than Lucas. He was a late signee for Wayne Tinkle, but could be another valuable piece to watch for the future.

Incoming freshmen Gianni Hunt and Julien Franklin could also play some good minutes, though they will likely be behind junior college transfer Sean Miller-Moore on the depth chart for this season. Hunt and Franklin are both three-star players out of California. While both players were mainly targeted by high mid-major programs, Hunt did receive an offer from USC as well. Miller-Moore, a Toronto native, played at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri last year before committing to come out west. The Beavers were his only high-major offer, though the 6’5” wing did turn down scholarships from places like St. Bonaventure, Massachusetts, and Buffalo.

Wayne Tinkle’s plans for the last scholarship ran into a bit of a roadblock when Shengzhe Li, a 7’1” center from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, failed a medical examination prior to joining the team. The Beavers wasted no time, however, in finding another big man elsewhere in the state. Roman Silva, another 7’1” center, was added to the roster in August after a successful stint at San Bernadino Valley College. Walk-on big men Joey Potts and Isaac Barnes are also on the team.

With Tres Tinkle running the show, the Beavers are always going to be a dangerous prospect for any opponent. Which teams will have to deal with Oregon State in 2019-20?

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