One of the several high-major teams teams to play an exhibition game this past weekend was UCF Basketball, who had one of the more intriguing offseasons. They landed several transfers, including some notable and even infamous names.
The first chance to see them together was against Florida Gulf Coast, an ASUN program. Despite not having the same kind of talent level, the Knights struggled early on, trailing at halftime. However, a 53-point effort in the final 20 minutes allowed UCF to pull away with the 92-78 victory.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
Jaylin Sellers injury
Last season, Sellers was one of the top impact transfers in the country, leading UCF Basketball with 15.9 ppg. He and Darius Johnson are set to be one of the top backcourt duos in the Big 12. Unfortunately, he had to get carried out after suffering a serious injury. While he is recovering, the team reportedly doesn't have a timeline for a return. This makes the addition of transfer Jordan Ivy-Curry even more important if Sellers is out for time in November.
#UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said there is no timeline and no prognosis yet for guard Jaylin Sellers, who went down hard in the team's exhibition game on Sunday.
— Matt Murschel (@osmattmurschel) October 23, 2024
"We're taking it day by day. ... He's in good spirits and he's moving forward."
Keshawn Hall's big game
Among the many incoming transfers is Hall, a 6'7 transfer forward from George Mason. He proved to be the best player on the court, producing a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, along with six turnovers. The Knights have a quality backcourt already and if the frontcourt gives them consistent production, they'll be a potential NCAA Tournament team.
Dior Johnson and Mikey Williams' debut
Two of the other interesting newcomers to the roster are guards Dior Johnson and Mikey Williams, who at one time, were former 5-star prospects out of high school. For various off-the-court reasons, both had to leave their respective stops. The two played double-digit minutes in the game, with Dior scoring eight points on 4/5 shooting in 18 minutes, while Williams had five points in 10 minutes.
If Ivy-Curry is out for any extended time in November, we'll see more of these two and the rest of the guards for the Knights. There's a lot to like with this roster but in a loaded Big 12, UCF will have to maximize the talent.