Boston College Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for Eagles
Potential Starting Lineup for Boston College
Point Guard : Chas Kelley III | 6'3 | 185 lbs
Don't be surprised if a position battle between junior guard and redshirt sophomore guard Donald Hand Jr. becomes the focus of the Golden Eagles' early practices. Kelley probably holds more of an edge over Hand in the early going, given that he started in seven games in 2023-24.
He returns after producing 3.7 points, 1.6 assists and 1.4 rebounds per contest through 27 games (7 starts) this past season. Given his penchant for playmaking, he'll be looked upon to get their new faces adjusted to the ACC. With starts in four conference games this past year, he looks like the most likely suitor for the starting point guard role.
Shooting Guard : Dion Brown | 6'3 | 180 lbs
Brown was one of the hottest players in the America East with the UMBC Golden Retrievers this past season. He put up 19.0 points, 7.6 rebounds 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a first-team All-AEC performer this past season. He led the conference in offensive rebounds (85) and field goals made (246) while showcasing his abilities in the backcourt.
He'll have his work cut out for him in solidifying himself as a main option for Boston College in the ACC. With Kelley entering his third season, he could be prime for a turn in his production with the addition of Brown.
Guard/Wing : Roger McFarlane | 6'4 | 215 lbs
McFarlane is a graduate transfer who could find himself in the starting rotation given his versatility and ability to rebound the basketball. He joins the Golden Eagles from the Southland Conference and Southeastern Louisiana, looking to make his presence felt.
The 6-foot-4 swingman put up 14.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 34.1 percent shooting from 3-point land in 2023-24 as a Second-Team All-Southland performer. He ranked first in the conference in defensive rebounds (226) and seventh in field goals made (166), showcasing his ability to battle inside the arc and gaining the eye of Coach Grant in the process. He'll be looked upon to create some havoc inside the paint and beyond in his addition to the ACC.
Guard/Wing - Donald Hand Jr. | 6'5 | 210 lbs
Hand returns as one of the two players in the Boston College rotation with more than 20 games of experience from a season ago. He'll look to operate at the fourth guard/wing role given the glaring lack of depth in the frontcourt. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, he's a sizeable option in the rotation who's shown flashes of his ability to score the basketball.
Hand produced 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest in 2023-24 across 34 appearances as a redshirt freshman. He appeared in 14.4 minutes of action as a reserve this past year. He'll be looked upon in the early stages to get their new faces going and acclimated to their style of play.
Center - Chad Venning | 6'10 | 270 lbs
Venning joins the Golden Eagles out of the transfer portal after leading St. Bonaventure to a 20-win season and earning Second-Team All-A10 honors in the process. Coach Grant has proven to be a developer of talent on the interior, and Venning is his latest project and their biggest addition out of the portal.
He averaged 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest while shooting 52.9 percent from the field across 33 appearances, all starts, in 2023-24 for the Bonnies. His transition into the ACC will depend greatly on his ability to operate in the painted area on both ends.
He's a graduate transfer who will look to replace the double-double presence Quinten Post brought to the painted area in 2023-24. His addition and success in the frontcourt will be key to the Golden Eagles success in 2024-25.