Cincinnati Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Bearcats

Key Reserves

Guard – Day Day Thomas (Senior)

A former junior college star, Thomas played well in his first year of D1 ball at Cincinnati last season before breaking his foot at season’s end. Thomas averaged 10.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists as the full-time starter at the point. There’s a likelihood he has that same type of impact as a senior, and could even be in that role over James, especially after finishing 6th in the Big 12 in steals.

Guard/Forward – Rayvon Griffith (Freshman)

A former 4-star shooting guard, Griffith came to Cincinnati last season but ended up taking a redshirt season. He’s no lost prospect, as the Bearcats are excited to see what he can produce on the court this year. He projects as a fantastic shot maker, though we’ll see what kinds of opportunity he can claim on this deep roster.

Guard – CJ Fredrick Jr. (Senior)

Fredrick’s collegiate journey began at Iowa way back in 2019 as a double-digit scorer as a freshman. After injuries and multiple transfers, he arrived at Cincinnati last season and averaged 6.1 points and 1.5 assists across 15 games before an injury cost him much of the season. He was a brilliant shooter with the Hawkeyes and did make 43% of his 3-pointers last year; when healthy he’s an effective sniper off the bench for this team.

Guard – Connor Hickman (Senior)

Hickman arrives in Cincinnati after three pretty strong seasons with Bradley. Last year was certainly a breakout effort, as Hickman averaged 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game as a junior, earning All-MVC honors in the process. He also made 40% of his 3-pointers and will absolutely play important minutes for the Bearcats, even off the bench and in a new, tougher league.

Forward – Tyler Betsey (Freshman)

The top freshman recruit from this past offseason, Betsey is a 4-star power forward from the state of Connecticut who could develop into an important frontcourt piece in the coming years. His size and natural talent make him an attractive weapon, especially with his ability to score from all over the court. We’ll see how the defensive side of his game adjusts at the collegiate level.

Forward – Arrinten Page (Sophomore)

Another important transfer addition, Page comes to the Bearcats by way of USC, leaving the Trojans after a coaching change. A former Top 60 recruit, Page did what he could with limited chances, averaging 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, mostly as a backup big. Now, the Bearcats are excited what he can do as the reserve center given another year of development.

Forward – Tyler McKinley (Freshman)

Another frontcourt recruit, McKinley is a 6’8 power forward actually from Cincinnati. The 4-star recruit chose to stay in his hometown, though his road to relevance this season will be a bit tougher. He’s a raw prospect with great scoring and rebounding talent, though there’s a few names ahead of him on the depth chart for this upcoming season.