2022 Record: 20-14 (7-9)
Head Coach: Chris Gerlufsen (Career Record 28-19)
Projected Rotation:
PG: Marcus Williams (7.8 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 2.8 Ast)
SG: Malik Thomas (USC 2.4 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.3 Ast)
SF: Mike Sharavjamts (Dayton 5.6 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 2.6 Ast)
PF: Josh Kunen (4.9 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 1.2 Ast)
C: Jonathan Mogbo (Missouri State 8.0 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast)
6: SG Robby Beasley (UC Davis 9.4 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 1.2 Ast)
7: PF Barry Wang
8: PF Isaiah Hawthorne (6.4 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.9 Ast)
9: PG Ryan Beasley
10: C Ndewedo Newbury (5.0 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.0 Ast)
11: SG Stefan Todorovic (SMU 5.5 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.4 Ast)
12: C Volodymyr Markovetskyy (3.5 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 0.2 Ast)
13: C Saba Gigiberia (4.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.6 Ast)
San Francisco returned the majority of their players from a team that won 20 games last season. They also did a very good job in the portal acquiring players that can fill their voids immediately. San Fran returns a trio of centers in Ndewedo Newbury, Saba Gigiberia, and Volodymyr Markoverskyy. All 3 were contributors for the Dons last season giving them very good depth in the front court. Newbury saw a dramatic increase in his minutes last season and found himself to be an active member of the rotation. Gigiberia and Markoverskyy were former high major players that add to the Dons big man depth and can give them high quality minutes off the bench.
Isaiah Hawthorne like Newbury is another player that had a huge breakout season last year. Hawthorne developed a three point shot last offseason and found himself in a starting role as the season progressed. Now entering his 4th season with the Dons, Hawthorne brings the experience they need. The Dons also got a commitment from Chinese freshman Junjie “Barry” Wang who spend this past season with the NBA Excellence program in Australia. Wang chose the Dons over opportunities at high major programs. He is a very skilled forward that has the chance to make an impact immediately.
Additional returning players for the Dons include big man Josh Kunen and point guard Marcus Williams. Kunen started nearly all games for the Dons last season. He is great on the defensive end and the Australia native has also developed a three point shot really well shooting 45% from beyond the arc at 6-8. Marcus Williams is projected to be the starting point guard for the Dons this season. The former Texas A&M Aggie and Wyoming Cowboy is expected to have an even bigger role than he did last year and really take up the leadership role on this Dons squad. The Dons added a transfer guard this offseason in Stefan Todorovic from SMU. He struggled from the field at times shooting 35% overall and 31% from 3, but he is an upside player with good length at 6-8 190lbs that can hopefully develop into an impact player for the Dons in the future.
The Dons picked up a late portal commitment from UC Davis transfer Robby Beasley. He has a high motor and shoots the ball from beyond the arc really well. As noted, the Dons really made an emphasis to add and retain quality shooters this offseason. Robby Beasley’s younger brother Ryan is signed to the Dons as part of the 2023 recruiting class. Ryan Beasley is expected to have a role in the Dons rotation and was really underrecruited out of high school for his talent level. Ryan Beasley has high major talent, he could thrive and develop in the Gerlufsen system.
The Dons also got transfer commitments this offseason from USC transfer Malik Thomas and Dayton transfer Mike Sharavjamts aka “Mongolian Mike.” Malik Thomas is a tremendous athlete and former 4 star top 80 recruit. He is another great upside addition for the Dons and could really be a surprise to many this season. He didn’t really get the chance he needed at USC, but he will have his opportunity this season with the Dons. Mongolian Mike attended the G-League Combine this season and many thought that he could end up staying pro, but he decided to enter the portal and found his home with the Dons. He is another player with sky high potential and was also another former 4 star recruit. He has NBA level skill and talent and is still a very young developing player that can hopefully breakout with the Dons this offseason.
Missouri State transfer Jonathan Mogbo was another addition that the Dons made this offseason and he could potentially be the best Dons portal addition of the offseason. Mogbo is very analytically sound and plays bigger than he is. At 6-8 he grabbed 7 rebounds per game this season in a good MVC conference. He has the ability to immediately start at the 5 in the WCC and is a very sound scorer around the rim while also being a defensive disruptor.
Expectations for the Dons this season should be to contend for the #3 spot in the WCC and a potential NIT or CBI bid. The top 2 teams are set in stone with preseason top 15 teams St. Mary’s and Gonzaga. San Francisco will battle with teams such as Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, and Portland for that 3rd spot. The Dons should also look to improve on their 20-14 record from last season. With BYU departed for the Big 12, that 3rd place spot in the WCC is wide open now for years to come.