Long Beach State University Athletics
2015-16 Long Beach State Men's Basketball Prospectus
8/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
2015-16 Men's Basketball Preseason Prospectus
Long Beach, Calif. - • Long Beach State loses five seniors, and five starters, from last year's squad but the 49ers have plenty of optimism for the 2015-16 season. With a roster that is as talented as any during Monson's tenure at LBSU, the Beach returns two of its top five scorers from last year in juniors Branford Jones (7.0 ppg) and Travis Hammonds (6.4 ppg) and also welcomes back a starter from the 2013-14 team, A.J. Spencer who missed last season with a knee injury after averaging 9.1 points per game in 28 starts as a junior.
• The 49ers will get an influx of talent from the Division I ranks as well, as three transfers become eligible for their first season at the Beach. Senior Nick Faust spent three years as a starter at Maryland, and the athletic guard will be an immediate impact player. He is joined by two sophomores in Gabe Levin and Roschon Prince. Levin averaged 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on the way to All-Freshman Team honors in the West Coast Conference. The 2014, Roschon Prince was the Gatorade California High School Player of the Year out of Long Beach Poly, and returns to his hometown after one season at USC. Meanwhile, Evan Payne also joins the Beach for the upcoming season in his redshirt year from LMU. Payne scored 18 points per game last season, leading the Lions in scoring and will be another great addition for the 49ers.
• Three other letterwinners return for the 49ers in Temidayo Yussuf, Justin Bibbins and Anson Moye. Yussuf started in ten games for the Beach as a freshman, scoring in double figures three times and putting up one double-double in the frontcourt. Bibbins spent the season as the backup point guard for three-time first-team All-Big West selection Mike Caffey, while Moye saw action in 12 games last season.
• Finally, the 49ers return redshirt freshman Alex Rifkind, who will see his first season of action alongside a freshman class of four players in Noah Blackwell, Lorne Currie, Mason Riggins and LaRond Williams.
• The 49ers will once again have one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules. In addition to hosting BYU and San Diego State, Long Beach State will travel to Oklahoma State, Colorado State, UCLA, PEpperdine, Oregon and Arizona before closing out the non-league slate with a trip to Duke.
• Dan Monson passed Seth Greenberg and Jerry Tarkanian to become the winningest coach in Long Beach State history last year, now with 135 total victories during his eight years as head coach at the Beach. During his tenure, Monson has led the Beach to three Big West championships and the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament. Monson also reached 300 wins last season over a career spanning 18 seasons at Long Beach State, Minnesota and Gonzaga.
Roster Breakdown
Starters Returning (0)
Starters Lost (5)
G - Mike Caffey (6-0, 175, Sr.) 16.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, 61 steals, Second-Team All-District 9, First-Team All-Big West
G - Tyler Lamb (6-5, 205, Sr.) 8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 24 steals
G - McKay LaSalle (6-3, 185, Sr.) 6.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 23 assists, 36.4 3-FG%, 55 3-FG Made
F - David Samuels (6-7, 225, Sr.) 10.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 40 assists, 23 blocks, Honorable Mention All-Big West
F - Eric McKnight (6-9, 220, Sr.) 2.9 ppg, 2.5 rph, 20 blocks
Lettermen Returning (5)
G - Justin Bibbins (5-8, 150, Fr.)1.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 27 assists
F - Temidayo Yussuf (6-7, 260, Fr.) 3.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 11 blocks, 48.7 FG%, 10 starts
G/F - Travis Hammonds (6-6, 225, Jr.) 6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 12 assists, 15 steals
G - Branford Jones (6-1, 175, Jr.) 7.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 61 assists, 34 steals, 12 starts
G - Anson Moye (6-0, 175, Jr.) 0.4 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 12 games played
Redshirts Returning (2)
G - Alex Rifkind (6-1, 170, R-Fr.) Boca Raton, Fla. (North Broward Prep)
G - A.J. Spencer (6-3, 205, Sr.) 9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 54 assists, 17 steals, 28 starts (*2013-14)
Lettermen Lost (2)
G - Deontae North (6-4, 190, Fr.) 3.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 29 games played
F - Jack Willliams (6-8, 195, Fr.) 2.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 32 games played
Transfers (4)
G - Nick Faust (6-6, 210, Sr.) Baltimore, Md. (Maryland) - 9.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg at Maryland in 2013-14
F - Gabe Levin (6-7, 230, So.) Oak Park, Ill. (Loyola Marymount) - 11.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg at Loyola Marymount in 2013-14
G - Evan Payne (6-1, 200, Jr.) Akron, Ohio (Loyola Marymount) - 18.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg at Loyola Marymount in 2014-15
F - Roschon Prince (6-6, 230, So.) Long Beach, Calif. (USC) - 4.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg at USC in 2013-14
High School Recruits (4)
G - Noah Blackwell (6-1, 175, Fr.) Rosville, Calif. (Woodcreek HS)
G - Lorne Currie (6-3, 180, Fr.) Hawthorne, Calif. (Fairfax HS)
F - Mason Riggins (6-8, 250, Fr.) Whitewright, Texas (Whitewright HS)
F - LaRond Williams (6-7, 200, Fr.) Long Beach, Calif. (Price HS)
