A Way-Too-Early Look At The Colorado State Rams
There is plenty to be excited about for Rams fans next season, as they return a quartet of starters from a top-5 Mountain West team.
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With out without Nico Carvacho, this roster has talent, but if he came back that would be nice too.
Players have already accepted reality and have begun taking the next step in their careers. For some that is beginning NBA draft preparations a little earlier than expected, for others it is finishing their remaining course loads online to better gear up for next semester. Though the last group of players it is looking for their next opportunity and entering the transfer portal.
After sporting leagues around the globe either canceled or postponed their seasons in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA followed suit by outright canceling scheduled spring sports but rewarding seniors another year of eligibility to return and compete next season. This was a swift and just decision in a time of uncertainty for a lot of student-athletes, but there was still a group left in with uncertainty.
Winter sport athletes have currently been left with hope, given a ruling from the NCAA that would grant them any sort of extra eligibility given their abrupt cancellation of the big dance. So in the spirit of pure fun we will take a look at Mountain West team’s rosters for next season. Taking a look at both scenarios, just in case the NCAA surprises us.
2020-2021 Roster: In the event seniors are granted further eligibility
G Hyron Edwards 6-0 165 R-Sr. East Chicago, IN-East Chicago Central/Trinity Vallley C.C./Texas Tech
G Kris Martin 6-4 190 R-Sr. Frisco, TX-Kimball HS/Oral Roberts
F/C Nico Carvacho 6-11 245 R-Sr. Frisco, TX-Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)
G Teyvion Kirk 6-4 185 R-Jr. Joliet, IL-Joliet West HS/Ohio
G Kyle Lukasiewicz 6-6 200 Sr. Centennial, CO-Arapahoe HS/NE Oklahoma A&M*
G Kendle Moore 5-10 145 Jr. Danville, IL-Danville HS
G P.J. Byrd 6-1 185 Jr Houston, TX-Bush HS/VCU
F Adam Thistlewood 6-6 00 Jr. Golden, CO-Golden HS
G Ignas Sargiunas 6-5 205 R-So. Kaunas, Lithuania-Jonas Basanavicius Gymnasium/Georgia
G Isaiah Stevens 6-0 160 So. Allen, TX-Allen HS
F Dischon Thomas 6-9 215 So. Phoenix, AZ-Hillcrest Prep
G David Roddy 6-5 250 So. Minneapolis, MN-Breck School
G John Tonje 6-5 195 So. Omaha, NE-Omaha Central HS
F James Moors 6-10 200 R-Fr. Auckland, New Zealand
F Isaiah Rivera 6-5 185 Fr. Geneseo, IL-Geneseo HS
C Jacob Jennisen 7-0 205 Fr. Sauk Centre, MN-Sauk Centre Secondary School
G Trace Young 6-3 165 Fr. Dripping Springs HS-Austin, TX*
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Isaiah Stevens So. | Kendle Moore Jr. | Adam Thistlewood Jr. | David Roddy So. | Nico Carvacho Gr. |
| P.J. Byrd Jr. | Teyvion Kirk R-Jr. | John Toje So. | James Moor R-Fr. | Jacob Jennisen Fr. |
| Hyron Edwards Gr. | Kris Martin Gr. | Isaiah Rivera Fr. | ||
| Trace Young Fr.* | Ignas Sargiunas R-So. | Kyle Lukasiewicz Sr. * |
Things of Note:
- This team would have 16 players total with two walk-ons in Young and Lukasiewicz.
Niko Medvid has done a great job in Fort Collins in just two seasons in charge since arriving from Drake. The Rams enjoyed a top-five conference finish, 20-win season and conference accolades for multiple players.
With four returning starters and transfers Teyvion Kirk and Ignas Sargiunas eligible to play next season after sitting out 2019-2020, this team is loaded. But given the chance to welcome back one of the best big men to dawn a Colorado State uniform in Nico Carvacho, next year’s squad would challenge any in the Mountain West for the top spot.
It’s hard to say whether Carvacho or any of the three seniors scheduled to graduate this spring would be guaranteed returns next season. Carvacho already spurned high major programs when former head coach Larry Eustachy was fired after his sophomore season, would he do it again given extra eligibility? It’s hard to say.
But in the event that the NCAA rules against awarding additional eligibility for winter sport athletes, which still seems like a possibility given how long it has taken to hear any news regarding the matter. Here is a list followed by a depth chart of the Colorado State roster given their current recruiting class and who we know has entered the transfer portal.
Next: Roster and Depth Chart