POWER FORWARD
2022-23 players not returning: Taylor Funk (NBA G-League Maine Celtics); Cade Potter (Transferred to High Point)
Returning players: NONE
New faces in 2023-24:
Dallin Grant 6’8″ 218 (247 3*) – Cedar City HS, UT
2020-21 (Sr.) Stats: PPG: 16.3 FG%: 54.0 3PT%: 43.0 FT%: 65.0 REB: 6.2 AST: 2.6 STL: 0.6
2019-20 (Jr.) Stats: PPG: 14.2 FG%: 54.0 3PT%: 41.0 FT%: 62.0 REB: 5.9 AST: 2.1 STL: 0.6
2018-19 (So.) Stats: PPG: 12.3 FG%: 52.0 3PT%: 60.0 FT%: 75.0 REB: 4.0 AST: 0.3 STL: 0.7
2017-18 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 10.0 FG%: 45.0 3PT%: 31.0 FT%: 63.0 REB: 4.2 AST: 1.8 STL: 1.0
Offers from: byu, Southern Utah, Stanford, utah
https://247sports.com/Player/Dallin-Grant-46083697/
https://247sports.com/college/utah-state/Article/-3-Cedar-City-HS-UT-SF-Dallin-Grant-commits-to-Utah-State-151947699/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/10424813/Dallin-Grant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUBVf533zfc
Great Osobor 6’8″ 250 (NR) – Montana State University – (3 years to play 2)
2022-23 (So.) Stats: PPG: 10.1 FG%: 62.4 3PT%: 50.0 FT%: 66.4 REB: 4.6 AST: 1.0 BLK: 0.9
2021-22 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 6.0 FG%: 68.1 3PT%: 0.0 FT%: 66.3 REB: 4.2 AST: 0.7 BLK: 0.5
Offers from: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Duquesne, Georgia, Hofstra, Montana St, North Carolina-Greensboro, North Texas, Penn St, Portland
https://msubobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/great-osobor/5704
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpHvAaDgl-A
Karson Templin 6’8″ 217 (247 3*) – Lovejoy HS, TX
2022-23 (Sr.) Stats: PPG: 21.0 FG%:— 3PT%:— FT%:— REB: 11.0 AST: 2.0 BLK: 2.0
2021-22 (Jr.) Stats: PPG: 15.0 FG%: 53.6 3PT%: 25.0 FT%: 57.1 REB: 9.0 AST: 0.8 BLK: 3.5
2020-21 (So.) Stats: PPG: 6.7 FG%: — 3PT%:— FT%:— REB: 5.6 AST:— BLK:—
Offers from: Abilene Christian, Angelo St, Bucknell, Incarnate Word, Indiana St, Louisiana-Lafayette, Lipscomb, Maryland-Baltimore County, Oral Roberts, Sam Houston St, San Jose St, Toledo, UNLV, Utah Valley
https://247sports.com/Player/Karson-Templin-46135221/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/13866545/Karson-Templin
2023-24 OUTLOOK
GREAT OSOBOR
It is pretty obvious to me that the starting nod here will be earned by junior transfer Great Osobor. Osobor began his collegiate career at Montana State University. He has three years to complete his final 2 years of eligibility. He chose the Aggies over offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, Duquesne, Georgia, Hofstra, Montana State, North Carolina-Greensboro, North Texas, Penn State, and Portland. As a sophomore at Montana State in 2022-23, he appeared in 34 games. He averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 62.4 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 66.4 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 4.6 boards and 0.0 blocked shots per contest. He also averaged 1.0 assists per game. As a true freshman in 2021-22, he appeared in 35 games. He averaged 6.0 points per game while shooting 68.1 percent from the floor, he did not make any shots from behind the 3-point line and he shot 66.3 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 4.2 boards and 0.5 blocked shots per contest. He also averaged 0.7 assists per game. Osobor is a phenomenal athlete with far more finesse to his game than most young bigs. He does a good job of getting good looks at the basket out of the post and he can score a lot of points from the free throw line. He contributed a lot to Montana State having a very high free throws attempted to field goals attempted ratio. He is capable of beating his man off the dribble and then going to work down low. He has the athletic ability to play multiple positions. He’s very good playing out on the perimeter. He can shoot the 3 but can also drive the basketball and make good decisions and that makes him very hard to guard.
KARSON TEMPLIN
True freshman Karson Templin has taken a huge step forward over the summer and leading into the fall and I predict he will play and play early this season. Templin chose to join the Aggies over offers from Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Bucknell, Incarnate Word, Indiana State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Lipscomb, Maryland-Baltimore County, Oral Roberts, Sam Houston State, San Jose State, Toledo, UNLV, and Utah Valley. Coming out of Lovejoy High School (TX), Templin was ranked by 247 sports as the number 78 power forward in the country and the number 31 recruit in the State of Texas. As a senior at Lovejoy (TX) in 2022-23, he appeared in 31 games. He averaged 21.0 points per game. He averaged 11.0 boards and 2.0 blocked shots per contest. He also averaged 2.0 assists per game. As a junior in 2021-22, he appeared in 37 games. He averaged 15.0 points per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 57.1 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 9.0 boards and 3.5 blocked shots per contest. He also averaged 0.8 assists per game. The first thing that jumps out at me about Templin is his physical nature. He does not back down and rarely gives up any ground in the post. He already knows how to use his size and length to his advantage on the defensive end of the floor and is proving to be a sound rebounder. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and knock down a pull-up jumper. He can take the ball strong to the hoop and can finish with a dunk or by absorbing contact. Although it may lack consistency now, he can step out and hit the 3-ball, forcing opposing defenders to play him honestly. Templin is a rare combination of strength in the post and finesse out on the perimeter.
DALLIN GRANT
True freshman Dallin Grant joins the Aggies after spending the last two years serving an LDS Church mission. Grant chose the Aggies over offers from byu, Southern Utah, Stanford, and utah. Coming out of Cedar City High School (UT), Grant was ranked by 247 sports as the number 279 overall player in the country, the number 52 small forward, and the number 4 recruit in the State of Utah. As a senior at Cedar City (UT) in 2020-21, he appeared in 25 games. He averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor, 43.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 65.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 6.2 boards, 2.6 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. He was also named the Utah State 4-A Player of the Year. As a junior in 2019-20, he appeared in 24 games. He averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor, 41.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 62.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.9 boards, 2.1 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. As a sophomore in 2018-19, he appeared in 24 games. He averaged 12.3 points per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the floor, 60.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and he shot 75.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 4.0 boards, 0.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. Grant has the size of a power forward but possesses the shooting touch of a much smaller player. At 6-foot-8 he is pretty versatile with his game. He is able to put the ball on the floor with a quick first step. He can also hit the mid-range jump shot as well as score at the rim. He is also able to hit the three at a high clip. His quick release helps him catch opposing defenders off guard. Adding strength as he gets into his first season on campus and into next summer will be a must. With his length, he will be able to guard several different positions on the defensive end and that will make it easier to keep him on the floor for extended periods of time. He is a general on the floor and his leadership skills will shine through once he begins to see the floor more often.
PROJECTED 2023-24 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
POWER FORWARD
1 Great Osobor (6-8, 250, Jr., TR, NR)
24 Karson Templin (6-8, 217, Fr., HS, 3*)
11 Dallin Grant (6-8, 218, Fr., HS, 3*)
Coming Up On Wednesday: Point Guard