The UCF Knights enter this season looking to vastly improve upon their 12-18 record with the help of returning starters B.J. Taylor, Adonys Henriquez and Staphon Blair. Alongside the returning starters are a few important returning role players and five impactful newcomers that help to make this team deeper than it has been in years.
A tough schedule sees the Knights taking on four teams that made the NCAA tournament last season and the American Athletic Conference is stronger than ever. Here is a breakdown of projected starters and key role players for the Knights this season:
B.J. Taylor, Sophomore Guard
B.J. Taylor burst onto the scene last season as a freshman and led the Knights in points per game, but this season he will be called upon to facilitate more. The sophomore guard managed only 2.5 assists per game last year, but should open the season as the starting point guard once he returns from a bone bruise that will sideline him for the first game of the season against Davidson.
Adonys Henriquez, Sophomore Guard
Alongside Taylor, Adonys Henriquez broke out in his freshman season while shooting a blistering 39.4 percent from the 3-point line. Henriquez also finished last season with the second most made three-pointers by a freshman in UCF history. The sophomore swingman is a projected starter at either shooting guard or small forward for the Knights with his penchant for stuffing the stat sheet night in and night out.
Staphon Blair, Senior Forward
A senior leader entering this season for the Knights, Staphon Blair will play most of his games as the starting power forward once again. Blair was UCF’s lead rebounder last season and will most certainly be integral to the team’s success in the paint. The senior leader will also be expected to help mentor newcomers Tacko Fall and Chad Brown as they are expected to take on and play prominent roles in their freshman seasons.
Justin McBride, Junior Center
In his first full season with the Knights, Justin McBride managed two double-doubles and had the second highest field goal percentage on the team. The junior big man managed 4.3 rebounds per game with limited playing time and is the team’s projected starter at center. McBride has been working on his conditioning coming into this season and will be counted on to play significantly more than his average of 13.7 minutes in 2014.
Daiquan Walker, Senior Guard
Walker played a significant role off the bench during the 2014 season for the Knights and he will be called upon to do just that once again. Averaging 7.4 points per game, Walker shot 38 percent from beyond the arc and dished out a solid number of assists to boot. If Walker can improve his shot selection going into the 2015 season, he will once again prove to be a vaunted asset for the Knights.
Tacko Fall, Freshman Center
After being cleared to play by the NCAA, the 7-foot-6 center will be able to suit up for the Knight’s first game of the season against Davidson. Fall has lofty expectations heading into his freshman season, but will likely take his bumps and bruises early on as he hones in his skills at the NCAA level. His size will play a critical role for the Knights as they look to reverse their rebounding woes from last season.
A.J. Davis, Redshirt Sophomore Guard/Forward
A.J. Davis transferred from the University of Tennessee and sat out all of last season due to the NCAA’s transfer rules. Davis could be an X-factor for UCF this season as much of his game has been lauded by the coaching staff and he is the only player on the roster with NCAA tournament experience. Davis is a strong bet to be the Knight’s sixth man and can be expected to be a solid contributor of points and rebounds off the bench.
Chance McSpadden, Freshman Guard
McSpadden’s debut season has been largely overshadowed by Tacko Fall, but the combo guard can turn heads and light up the scoreboard on a regular basis. Standing tall for a guard at 6-foot-4, McSpadden sports a strong mid-range game to go and possesses the ability to create his own shot. The freshman will come off the bench for the Knights to start the season, but expect his minutes to steadily grow as his shooting rounds into form.
Chad Brown, Freshman Forward
Chad Brown is a shot-blocking savant and comes into his freshman year at UCF as a role player who will provide much needed relief for Staphon Blair. Brown averaged 9.4 blocks per game as a senior at Deltona High School and led them to the Class 6A regional finals. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward is likely to be the fourth player in the Knight’s frontcourt rotation following Staphon Blair, Justin McBride and Tacko Fall.
Matt Williams, Redshirt Junior Guard
Williams led the Knights in three-point percentage in the 2013 season, but missed all of 2014 after due to a congenital condition called bipartite patella. The redshirt junior is expected to see steady minutes off the bench to start, but if picks up where he left off, Williams will be a valuable asset for the Knights to employ when they need a boost off the bench.
