2024-25 Roster Breakdown & Wishlist

[BambooRdApp]

Abson, 3ppg, 3rpg, 1.5 bpg his senior year.

But he has $200k more than he would have at App, hard to turn down at age 20.

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

[311neers]

Abson, 3ppg, 3rpg, 1.5 bpg his senior year.

But he has $200k more than he would have at App, hard to turn down at age 20.

He was better than the numbers show, but he was behind a $2M center. Hey, he went to the NCAA tournament twice, got smoked, and made over $200k. Not bad. And probably met a ton of guys on the circuit/NBA talent everywhere.

[JTApps1]

Now Huntley is making more money and actually playing in the NBA. I'm not saying it's a direct comparison, but it proves guys can fulfill their dreams no matter where they're at.

It's hard for me as an App alum to encourage guys to chase money at other places. How will we ever get better as a program if our own people are telling players you're too good to be here?

[BambooRdApp]

If you got offered $1.0 million to transfer to XYZ University as an undergrad to continue your education, you saying you would have stayed at App.
I do not think folks are "encouraging a player to leave" . It is just the reality of the discussion in the current state of NIL. Kid would be crazy not too if App only offering let's say $100k.

Heck, I would have left App. for just the $100k to not have the student loans I paid for 10 years.

[AppStFan1]

Abson, 3ppg, 3rpg, 1.5 bpg his senior year.

But he has $200k more than he would have at App, hard to turn down at age 20.

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

[AppStFan1]

If you got offered $1.0 million to transfer to XYZ University as an undergrad to continue your education, you saying you would have stayed at App.
I do not think folks are "encouraging a player to leave" . It is just the reality of the discussion in the current state of NIL. Kid would be crazy not too if App only offering let's say $100k.

Heck, I would have left App. for just the $100k to not have the student loans I paid for 10 years.

I can understand why a player would go but it does not guarantee things work out for the best. I will be curious to see what happens for Abson. Your argument is exactly why though I think giving towards NIL is not smart for a program like us because no matter what we do we don't have enough pockets to match those type of offers. I want to retain players like Abson and not depend on hoping we get a steal from NAIA or D2 in order to try to content for top 4 status in our league. Why stretch and go in debt when we are going to lose out on the player we really want and have to settle for much lower caliber player?

I like that we can show what happened with Huntley as reason why to stay but reality is if Huntley had another year I bet he would have gotten a 300-400k offer and bolted as well. I am just glad he was such a late bloomer to show that a player can achieve next level dreams at App State.

[AppSt94]

There are no guarantees either way. Like it or not, rosters are built, with money and you aren’t going to retain good players without it. It is what it is. Wishing it were different is just a waste of time.

[BambooRdApp]

There are no guarantees either way. Like it or not, rosters are built, with money and you aren’t going to retain good players without it. It is what it is. Wishing it were different is just a waste of time.

Bingo!! No one giving to App. St. NIL, even in current state, is the demise of App. St. and is a ludicrous thought process. We may as well go Pee-wee league.

[BambooRdApp]

Abson, 3ppg, 3rpg, 1.5 bpg his senior year.

But he has $200k more than he would have at App, hard to turn down at age 20.

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

[AppStFan1]

Abson, 3ppg, 3rpg, 1.5 bpg his senior year.

But he has $200k more than he would have at App, hard to turn down at age 20.

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

[JTApps1]

If you got offered $1.0 million to transfer to XYZ University as an undergrad to continue your education, you saying you would have stayed at App.
I do not think folks are "encouraging a player to leave" . It is just the reality of the discussion in the current state of NIL. Kid would be crazy not too if App only offering let's say $100k.

Heck, I would have left App. for just the $100k to not have the student loans I paid for 10 years.

I've not heard of any of our former players making anywhere close to that kind of money.

[BambooRdApp]

If you got offered $1.0 million to transfer to XYZ University as an undergrad to continue your education, you saying you would have stayed at App.
I do not think folks are "encouraging a player to leave" . It is just the reality of the discussion in the current state of NIL. Kid would be crazy not too if App only offering let's say $100k.

Heck, I would have left App. for just the $100k to not have the student loans I paid for 10 years.

I've not heard of any of our former players making anywhere close to that kind of money.

Joey A. did..it was a hypothetical. As stated, I would have been gone for $100K as it is a full ride.

[AppSt94]

If you got offered $1.0 million to transfer to XYZ University as an undergrad to continue your education, you saying you would have stayed at App.
I do not think folks are "encouraging a player to leave" . It is just the reality of the discussion in the current state of NIL. Kid would be crazy not too if App only offering let's say $100k.

Heck, I would have left App. for just the $100k to not have the student loans I paid for 10 years.

I've not heard of any of our former players making anywhere close to that kind of money.

Joey A. did..it was a hypothetical. As stated, I would have been gone for $100K as it is a full ride.

Joey got about that from UCLA and then made a good bit more going to Tenn.

[AppSt94]

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Your argument is idealistic and weak. The fact that Huntley is the first App since the 50s to score a point in the NBA is enough to prove that your opinion is centric to your fandom. The odds of making it to the pros, (I’m talking about the NBA) are stacked against everyone. Especially for guys at the mid major level, and a low mid major at that. Guys that transfer out to higher profile teams are looking to increase their limited chances. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t.

[311neers]

In the short term I can see why but I do wonder what his pro chances would have been had he stayed at App? He is not a NBA guy but I thought he could have gone overseas and made good money. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career. I really only care from a study standpoint. I hope our basketball folks track this stuff of those who leave and compare them to Huntley when recruiting players to stay. I am going to be curious to see if we ever lose anyone who ends up making it in the NBA and clearly improving their stock when they left App? I have to assume any player going to a power program has the NBA on their mind along with the immediate money.

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Huntley's projectability was always higher than Absons due to his athleticism, being 6'11 and can shoot the 3. NBA loves the stretch 4 especially with the lack of Defense in todays game. NBA will find you if you're 6'11, can run and dunk AND shoot the 3.
Not many 6'9 guys of Absons speed in the NBA unless they handle it really well.

Abson might have known this and went to go get his money while he had the opportunity.

[AppSt94]

Abson had a better chance of getting better in practice daily at Gawgia versus App. St. If he is good enough to play overseas, he will be if he showed up every day at Gawgia.

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Huntley's projectability was always higher than Absons due to his athleticism, being 6'11 and can shoot the 3. NBA loves the stretch 4 especially with the lack of Defense in todays game.
Not many 6'9 guys of Absons speed in the NBA unless they handle it really well.

Abson might have known this and went to go get his money while he had the opportunity.

Case in point. Joey went from a fringe UFA coming out of App to a top 10 QB prospect according to some. Where you play matters.

[311neers]

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Huntley's projectability was always higher than Absons due to his athleticism, being 6'11 and can shoot the 3. NBA loves the stretch 4 especially with the lack of Defense in todays game.
Not many 6'9 guys of Absons speed in the NBA unless they handle it really well.

Abson might have known this and went to go get his money while he had the opportunity.

Case in point. Joey went from a fringe UFA coming out of App to a top 10 QB prospect according to some. Where you play matters.

Joey played at App? You'd never know by watching ESPN haha!

[rbarthle17]

Olivier Rioux is in the portal. Bring the circus to Boone!!

[ASUFan4863]

We don't know if that is the case. That is why it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He would have gotten more media attention being a superstar at App rather than bench warmer at UGA.

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Huntley's projectability was always higher than Absons due to his athleticism, being 6'11 and can shoot the 3. NBA loves the stretch 4 especially with the lack of Defense in todays game.
Not many 6'9 guys of Absons speed in the NBA unless they handle it really well.

Abson might have known this and went to go get his money while he had the opportunity.

Case in point. Joey went from a fringe UFA coming out of App to a top 10 QB prospect according to some. Where you play matters.

Haven’t seen a single ranking with Joey in the top 10. 2026 is a historically thin QB class that is not considered good, so he is still a fringe UFA even if he was ranked 8-10.

NDSU QB is projected much higher than Joey after spending his whole career at NDSU and starting for just his senior season. Cade Klubnik went from a top prospect to day 3 afterthought at Clemson. Case in (multiple) point(s) that how you play matters tremendously more than where you play within D1.

[BambooRdApp]

Yes, I actually do know. The daily competition that Abson is getting at Gawgia is exponentially better than in the SBC. Even for basketball conferences, the SBC is not considered good by any sense of the imagination. Second, Abson was not going against very good or skilled big men on the daily practice or in games

I am saying we don't know if he will get a chance in the NBA or overseas until he does. The competition in practice is better but I want to see what opportunities that Abson will get. Huntley went against that SBC competition and he is in the NBA. If it was always about better competition then no small school players would make it in the NFL or NBA. It is about skill set and traits. Huntley had the traits. My argument is that Abson was brought in just to be a backup and got buried. I think he would have been featured at App and would have been higher on the radar. Does it mean he would have made it out of App? No. I do think it just looks better when you are a 3-time All-SBC player than 10th on the Georgia bench. You really get better with reps and Abson did not get the same amount of game reps at Georgia that he would have with App. Practice can only do so much and it is not what you do in practice but what you do in games.

Huntley's projectability was always higher than Absons due to his athleticism, being 6'11 and can shoot the 3. NBA loves the stretch 4 especially with the lack of Defense in todays game.
Not many 6'9 guys of Absons speed in the NBA unless they handle it really well.

Abson might have known this and went to go get his money while he had the opportunity.

Case in point. Joey went from a fringe UFA coming out of App to a top 10 QB prospect according to some. Where you play matters.

Haven’t seen a single ranking with Joey in the top 10. 2026 is a historically thin QB class that is not considered good, so he is still a fringe UFA even if he was ranked 8-10.

NDSU QB is projected much higher than Joey after spending his whole career at NDSU and starting for just his senior season. Cade Klubnik went from a top prospect to day 3 afterthought at Clemson. Case in (multiple) point(s) that how you play matters tremendously more than where you play within D1.

So, one year of examples. Historically, it is pretty evident that where you play is a determining factor. Do smaller school QBs make it to the NFL, sure..Tony Romo, Carson Wentz...but not the norm
If we just want to confine analysis to one year, I believe only one of all QBs drafted in 25 was below Power level