Hiring a new coach will be only the beginning to the University at Albany building a basketball team for next season. The Great Danes will need players, and how many of the 13 currently on scholarship will be a part of the 2021-22 roster is a mystery, even to them.
The NCAA has given immunity to all Division I basketball players for this season. In other words, those who played through the pandemic-disrupted season will not lose a year of eligibility.
So, in theory, every player on the UAlbany roster can return. That won’t happen. Verbalcommits.com reported Tuesday night that junior Cameron Healy already has put his name in the transfer portal. Others may follow to show loyalty to former coach Will Brown, who was fired/resigned (take your pick) Monday, and move on. Some may decide it is time to move on from basketball and put their education to use.
Most will wait to see who the athletic administration, led by athletic director Mark Benson, brings on board to try to end the string of three successive losing seasons. If the new hire is someone who knows the talent and is a persuasive talker, the foundation of the roster could be maintained.
Otherwise, you’re talking about a rebuild for a program whose fan base already isn’t as large as it should be for a campus of more than 17,000 students.
UAlbany's Antonio Rizzuto surveys the UMass Lowell defense on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Kathleen Helman / UAlbany Athletics
UAlbany freshman Will Amica looks for room against UMass-Lowell defender Darion Jordan-Thomas in an America East Conference basketball game Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at SEFCU Arena in Albany. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany senior guard Jojo Anderson drives around the Niagara defense in a college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at SEFCU Arena. (Kathleen Helman / UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany forward Jarvis Doles goes up to block a shot by Stony Brook's Juan Felix Rodriguez in an America East basketball game Sunday, Febv. 21, 2021 at SEFCU Arena in Albany. Also pictured are UAlbany's C.J. Kelly (15) and Antonio Rizzuto (0), and Stony Brook's Jaden Sayles. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany point guard Jamel Horton brings the ball upcourt against Stony Brook in an America East basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at SEFCU Arena in Albany. Horton had 10 points and two assists in UAlbany's 67-59 victory. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany guard Cameron Healy (11) is sandwiched by NJIT defenders San Antonio Brinson (2) and Diego Willis in an America East basketball game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at SEFCU Arena. (Bob Mayberger/UAlbany athletics)
Bob Mayberger/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany senior forward Kellon Taylor looks to pass against UMass-Lowell defenders (from left) Kalil Thomas, Connor Withers and Max Brooks in an America East basketball game Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at SEFCU Arena in Albany. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
Adam Lulka returned to the UAlbany starting lineup Friday night and contributed nine points and five rebounds. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany guard C.J. Kelly looks to shoot betrween Stony Brook defenders Juwan White (1) and Tykei Greene (4) in an America East basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2021, at SEFCU Arena in Albany. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany sophomore forward Sam Shafer looks for room between UMBC defenders L.J. Owens (1) and Dimitrije Spasojevic on Saturday, Dec. 19, in an America East Conference game at SEFCU Arena. (Kathleen Helman / UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics
UAlbany senior guard Chuck Champion passes the ball in an America East basketball game Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at SEFCU Arena in Albany. (Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athletics)
Kathleen Helman/UAlbany athleticsHere’s a subjective look at the 13 scholarship players, what their roles were this season and what the future could look like (listed by jersey number):
0 Antonio Rizzuto (G, 6-3, Jr.): Any incoming coach will want to keep Rizzuto, the team captain. His cousin is associate coach (and current interim coach) Jon Iati, so that may factor into Rizzuto’s decision.
1 Will Amica (G, 6-0, Fr.): The lone scholarship freshman, Amica was limited to one game this season. He has said Brown was a major factor in enrolling. He could have four full years here or other schools.
2 Trey Hutcheson (G/F, 6-5, So.): As a freshman, Hutcheson was lauded by Brown as a potential all-America East player. He never started a game this season. Does he need to find a better offensive system?
3 Jojo Anderson (G, 6-3, Sr.): The transfer from Northern Arizona rarely showed his talents after an injury-riddled junior season and bench-ridden senior year. You wonder if he has had enough of basketball.
4 Jarvis Doles (F, 6-9, Jr.): Doles is taking graduate classes but still has two years of eligibility. A transfer from Drexel, he led the Danes in plus/minus (+72). All he needed was a chance. He got it here.
5 Jamel Horton (G, 6-4, Jr.): His father played with Brown in college, and Horton (as did Doles) expressed his appreciation for Brown via Twitter. He would be a centerpiece if UAlbany can keep him.
10 Brent Hank (C, 6-10, Jr.): How can a player who started 54 games in two seasons barely play as a junior? He isn’t offensively gifted, but you can’t teach 6-foot-10. He is finishing is degree this spring.
11 Cameron Healy (G, 6-3, Jr.): What were the odds that Healy, who scored 953 points his first two seasons, wouldn’t reach 1,000 as a junior? It’s no surprise that he’s now in the transfer portal.
12 Kellon Taylor (F 6-6, Sr.): Transferring here after his eligibility as a Duquesne football player expired, Taylor showed a lot of grit, leading the team in rebounding. Can a new coach convince him to return?
14 Adam Lulka (F/C, 6-8, Jr.): A two-time America East all-academic team pick, Lulka was forgotten after he injured his ankle early his sophomore year. His focus is academics, but he can play if a coach lets him.
15 C.J. Kelly (G, 6-5, Jr.): Probably the most impactful player among the six newcomers, Kelly emerged as UAlbany’s leading scorer. Like his teammates, he probably is trying to process Brown’s dismissal.
23 Sam Shafer (G/F, 6-6, So.): A sharpshooter from Frankfort, Ill., he played 102 minutes in two seasons. Shafer seemed to be just outside the rotation. Maybe a new coach, here or elsewhere, will use him.
30 Chuck Champion (G, 6-4, Sr.): The Loyola (Md.) graduate transfer averaged 18 minutes as the sixth man. Champion's wide-ranging skill set would be welcome on any team should he want to play.
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