A Way-Too-Early Look At The Air Force Falcons
Air Force will look a little different next season, starting with their floor general.
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Joyce and Van Soelen return as the only major contributors on the Falcon’s roster.
Players have already accepted reality and have begun taking the next step in their careers as of Friday. 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
F Lavelle Scottie GR 6-7 225 Fort Worth, TX-Arlington Heights HS
C Ryan Swan GR 6-8 240 Aurora, CO-Overland HS
G Caleb Morris GR 6-4 185 Vista, CA-Army-Navy Academy
G Sid Tomes GR 6-4 200 Woodbury, MN-East Ridge HS
G LeSean Brown GR 6-2 185 San Antonio, TX-TMI Episcopal
G Chris Joyce Sr. 6-5 193 Jacksonville, FL-Bishop Kenny
G Akaya Ameka Sr. 6-6 215 Hagerstown, MD- Saint Maria Goretti
G Van Soelen Keaton Sr. 6-7 195 Waukee, IA-Des Moines Christian
F Abe Kinrade Jr. 6-7 200 Maquoketa, IA Maquoketa HS
F Isaac Monson Jr. 6-9 205 Salt Lake City, UT-Olympus HS
G Nick Rene Jr. 6-0 180 Garland, TX Lakeview Centennial HS
G Solomon Pierre-Louis So. 6-3 175 Columbus, OH-The Wellington School
G Carter Murphy So. 6-4 190 Phoenix, AZ-Arcadia HS
F Nikc Jackson So. 6-8 195 Scottsdale, AZ-Rancho Solano HS
G Deven Nelson So. 6-1 185 Fountain, CO Mesa Ridge HS
G Mason Taylor So. 6-4 190 Kansas City, MO-Grandview HS
G Camden Vander Zwaag So. 6-4 200 Johnston, IA-Johnson HS
F CJ Haut So. 6-8 200 Monroe, WI-St. Mary’s Catholic Central
G Simon Banks So. 6-1 185 Indianapolis, IN-Brebeuf Jesuit Prep
F Charles Anthony So. 6-8 205 So. Orlando, FL-Strength N Motion Prep
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Mason Taylor So. | Chris Joyce Sr. | Sid Tomes GR | Lavelle Scottie GR | Ryan Swan GR |
| LaSean Brown GR | Caleb Morris GR | Keaton Van Soelen Sr. | Ameka Akaya Sr. | Abe Kinrade Jr. |
| Solomon Pierre-Louis So. | Carter Murphy So. | Nikc Jackson So. | Isaac Monson Jr. | |
| Simon Banks So. | Camden Vander Zwaag So. | CJ Haut So. | Charles Anthony So. |
Things of Note:
- This would extremely similar to last years rotation, minus A.J. Walker, who entered the transfer portal on March 19th.
- Also with the Air Force Academy’s roster structuring ways, it is very difficult to predict incoming freshmen.
It’s always a bit difficult to peg Air Force rosters from season to season. But if seniors are allowed to come back they’ll do so without sophomore guard A.J. Walker leading them, as he has opted to transfer. They would also do so without their head coach Dave Pilipovich who was fired just last week.
That is an interesting aspect to this idea as some guys who are given additional eligibility are sure to want to transfer, right? Given the fact that they have already graduated and for those who have lost their head coach either to a change in leadership or to another job. It would be extremely difficult to see those guys sticking around.
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 Air Force roster given their current recruiting class and who we know has entered the transfer portal.
Next: Roster and Depth Chart
This might be the actual reality for rosters come next season.
Roster and Depth Chart
G Chris Joyce Sr. 6-5 193 Jacksonville, FL-Bishop Kenny
G Akaya Ameka Sr. 6-6 215 Hagerstown, MD- Saint Maria Goretti
G Van Soelen Keaton Sr. 6-7 195 Waukee, IA-Des Moines Christian
F Abe Kinrade Jr. 6-7 200 Maquoketa, IA Maquoketa HS
F Isaac Monson Jr. 6-9 205 Salt Lake City, UT-Olympus HS
G Nick Rene Jr. 6-0 180 Garland, TX Lakeview Centennial HS
G Solomon Pierre-Louis So. 6-3 175 Columbus, OH-The Wellington School
G Carter Murphy So. 6-4 190 Phoenix, AZ-Arcadia HS
F Nikc Jackson So. 6-8 195 Scottsdale, AZ-Rancho Solano HS
G Deven Nelson So. 6-1 185 Fountain, CO Mesa Ridge HS
G Mason Taylor So. 6-4 190 Kansas City, MO-Grandview HS
G Camden Vander Zwaag So. 6-4 200 Johnston, IA-Johnson HS
F CJ Haut So. 6-8 200 Monroe, WI-St. Mary’s Catholic Central
G Simon Banks So. 6-1 185 Indianapolis, IN-Brebeuf Jesuit Prep
F Charles Anthony So. 6-8 205 So. Orlando, FL-Strength N Motion Prep
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Mason Taylor So. | Chris Joyce Sr. | Keaton Van Soelen Sr. | Ameka Akaya Sr. | Nikc Jackson So. |
| Solomon Pierre-Louis So. | Carter Murphy So. | Abe Kinrade Jr. | Isaac Monson Jr. | |
| Simon Banks So. | Camden Vander Zwaag So. | CJ Haut So. | Anthony Charles So. | |
| Nick Rene Jr. | Deven Nelson So. |
2021 stat projections by Bart Torvik.com
Things of Note:
- The Falcons have a unique way of structuring their roster as a service academy so further speculation is very difficult.
- A.J. Walker announced he would enter the transfer portal on the 19th of March.
Looking at what we might need to expect happen next season, the roster has holes. The keys were getting ready to be handed over to A.J. Walker but after learning of his decision to transfer, Chris Joyce returns as the leading scorer from last season with 6.6 PPG and a very impressive shooting performance against the Aztecs at home. Don’t count the Falcons completely out as this is kind of their thing.
They restock up on guys every year and aside from the A.J. Walker’s who are impact guys right away, a lot of guys develop and wait their turn. Predicting their starting lineup next season will be a discussion within itself and will be easier when we get a look at the official roster later this year.
In conclusion,
It’s hard to imagine a ruling in favor of extra eligibility for a sport that was let’s say 85% done? I get it, it isn’t college basketball without March Madness but to award a whole extra year of eligibility for players is hard to imagine logistically. Unlike those springs sport athletes who had their season canceled before it even got started, winter sports got to play almost an entire season before theirs was canceled.
For some teams, especially in the Mountain West, their seasons were over. We had our champion. So for everyone else, their season was actually over, barring a postseason invitation to maybe the NIT, CBI or CIT.
Don’t get me wrong I am all in favor of awarding an extra year of eligibility to guys who just didn’t get the closure they deserved. No matter how heartbreaking it may be on a court surrounded by tens of thousands of fans or watched by millions at home. It is tough that hundreds of players didn’t get to experience that.
But there is also a group of players that maybe just wouldn’t return. Some would graduate and move on while others would pursue a professional opportunity. That is their decision and I can’t wait to hear some official news so we can let them do that.
