clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Baylor PF Cory Jefferson will return for his senior season!

In a press conference on Baylor's campus eerily reminiscent of Quincy Miller's first barely a year ago, PF Cory Jefferson announced his intention to return to Baylor for his senior season. Let's hope that similarity is where it ends with Miller.

By Mark C. Moore
Mike Stobe

Cory Jefferson

#34 / Forward / Baylor Bears

6-9

210

junior

Bringing back Jefferson and probably losing Isaiah Austin, though he didn't announce that intent today, means Baylor will have back its third-leading scorer from 2012-2013 and most-improved player. His stat line from this year doesn't begin to say how impressive he was, particularly in Baylor's win over Kansas late in the season and the run to the NIT Championship.

FG 3PT FT Rebounds Misc
G M M A Pct M A Pct M A Pct Off Def Tot Ast TO Stl Blk PF PPG
2012 - Cory Jefferson 35 27.7 5.0 8.3 60.1 0.1 0.3 33.3 2.7 3.9 69.3 2.8 5.3 8.1 0.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.2 12.8

He's an extremely durable player who averaged nearly a double-double per game, hit his free throws when he got them, and ended the season with four dominant offensive performances per Ken Pomeroy's statistics. He's also a human highlight reel with his high-flying dunks. Baylor will rely on him as our anchor next season as we go through a somewhat transition phase. And with him, here's how the roster looks now (again, assuming Austin leaves):

Baylor Bears Basketball Roster

# Pos. DOB W H College
Kenny Chery
 G - unk 6-1 junior
Deuce Bello 14 G - 197 6-4 junior
Gary Franklin 4 G - 195 6-2 senior
Rico Gathers 2 F - 260 6-8 sophomore
Brady Heslip 5 G - 180 6-2 senior
Ishmail Wainright G/F - 220 6-6 freshman
Cory Jefferson 34 F - 210 6-9 senior
Logan Lowery 20 F - 190 6-6 junior
Dominic Woodson
 C - 290 6-10 freshman
Johnathan Motley F - 195 6-8 freshman
Taurean Prince 35 F - 202 6-7 sophomore
L.J. Rose 1 G - 190 6-4 sophomore
Chad Rykhoek 15 F/C - 230 6-11 redshirt freshman
-

I've replaced the departing seniors (and Isaiah) with the incoming JUCO players and freshmen. As you can see, we have one spot left to fill should we choose to, and I've been told there is a talented transfer that should be eligible to play immediately to fill that spot. Should Isaiah leave, I mean.

That looks to me like an extremely balanced roster top-to-bottom, but if it has a hole, it is at PG, where we will likely rely on a combination of Chery and Rose to shoulder the load. Neither has before at this level.

More From Our Daily Bears