STILLWATER – Oklahoma State Cowboy basketball is officially back as of Monday with the 2022-23 season now underway. Both the conference and non-conference schedules have been released, TV and tipoff details are being announced and the Cowboys no longer have a postseason ban to deal with.
The main question now is what will the scholarship situation look like at the end of this season?
Mike Boynton and Co. enter this season with 11 scholarship players and four walk-ons. There are a few scenarios that could play out over the next month or so regarding the current roster and scholarship situation. It’s certainly possible the coaching staff could award one to two walk-ons a scholarship, or go ahead and eat one to two of the three scholarships taken away by the NCAA.
Mike Boynton met with the media on Tuesday afternoon for first time this season and he was asked and addressed the scholarship situation as best he could. As you’ll soon find out, it’s a bit more complicated than any of us initially realized.
"I don't talk about it. I think about it, obviously, because I want to prepare, but it's an impossible exercise,” said coach Boynton. “I'm always fairly honest; Moussa Cisse will probably not be back in college next year, I don't think. But he's got two years of eligibility left. Bryce Thompson, if he has the type of year that I hope he has, he's probably at least going through the [NBA Draft] process next spring. Avery Anderson, Kalib Boone, Chris Harris, Tyreek Smith, who is going to graduate still with two years, we got six guys who all could be gone. And if they are, this team is going to look very different next year. Caleb Asberry, he's in his COVID year, so that's it for him. Bernie Kouma is in his COVID year, so that's it for him. So now you got eight. I don't know. John Michael has got two years. He's already a transfer. What do you do? You just try to sign as many good players as you can and figure it out next year when the time comes.
"It's hard turning down good players. Credit to our staff, they've done a tremendous job here early in identifying guys who we think can fit what we're trying to build here in the future. And they ask the question, and again, I have to answer it. Ultimately, I'm responsible for it. I know that there's a limit of scholarships we have to be at by next fall. We won't be over it."
With how he progressed throughout last season, and with his athleticism and potential, Moussa Cisse is a guy I always thought would most likely be gone after this season. However, he still has two years of eligibility remaining. Bryce Thompson is also a junior same as Cisse. Transfer guard John-Michael Wright also has two years of eligibility. The quartet of Avery Anderson III, Kalib Boone, Chris Harris and Tyreek Smith all have a COVID year of eligibility after this season. Then, as Boynton said, both Caleb Asberry and Bernard Kouma are done after this season.
So, depending on what the guys want to do, that’s anywhere between two and eight players the coaching staff will have to replace at the end of this season, not including any possible transfers.
Boynton and Co. also currently have four commitments in the 2023 class, with the possibility of adding a few more before the Nov. signing period, as well as transfers and HS signings the spring.
Eligibility after this season
- Avery Anderson III – one year
- Bryce Thompson – two years
- Chris Harris – one year
- Woody Newton – two years
- Caleb Asberry – none
- Quion Williams – three years (not including any possible redshirt)
- Kalib Boone – one year
- Tyreek Smith – one year
- Bernard Kouma – none
- Moussa Cisse – two years
- John-Michael Wright – one years
