Meet the Vanderbilt men's basketball team
Vanderbilt returns the bulk of its 2014-15 roster for this season under coach Kevin Stallings. Here is a player-by-player breakdown of the team.
WADE BALDWIN
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-3, 194
Position: Guard
Hometown: Belle Mead, N.J.
Twitter: @The_Fourth_Wade
2014-15 Key Stats: 9.3 ppg, 4.4 ast., 4.1 reb., 50 steals, 43.9 3-pt pct.
Notable: Baldwin’s 155 assists broke Vanderbilt’s freshman record and helped him earn SEC All-Freshman honors. His 50 steals also ranked second-most for a Vanderbilt player in the past 13 years.
Outlook: Baldwin is a fiery, tough tone-setter and returns as one of the SEC’s top point guards. In terms of numbers, Baldwin can simply distribute and defend for 40 minutes or be a triple-double threat on a given night.
DJERY BAPTISTE
Class: Freshman
Height/Weight: 6-10, 235
Position: Center
Hometown: Gonaives, Haiti
Twitter: N/A
2014-15 Key Stats: 10 ppg, 10 reb., 3.0 blocks, 2.0 ast. at Prestonwood High School in Plano, Texas
Notable: Helped lead high school to four straight state titles. Chose Vanderbilt over UConn, SMU, Oregon and USC.
Outlook: Baptiste already has a Division I body, but his understanding of Vanderbilt’s offense will take some time. He has plenty of raw talent and could see some time as a reserve center, but that depends on if he can catch up schematically to the college game.
NOLAN CRESSLER
Class: Junior
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
Position: Guard
Hometown: Pittsburgh
Twitter: @NacFlow_24
2013-14 Key Stats: 16.8 ppg, 4.2 reb., 1.6 ast. at Cornell
Notable: Led Cornell in scoring and topped the Ivy League in field goals made per game. Sat out last season after transferring.
Outlook: Cressler will add another scoring threat to the lineup, either as a starter or a spark off the bench. He’s a proven perimeter shooter like Vanderbilt’s other guards. But Cressler also is a strong mid-range shooter and slasher.
MATTHEW FISHER-DAVIS
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-5, 185
Position: Guard/Forward
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Twitter: @_MFD5
2014-15 Key Stats: 7.2 ppg, 2.3 reb., 40.1 3-pt pct.
Notable: Made the most 3-pointers per game (2.1) of any freshman in the SEC.
Outlook: The smooth streaky-shooting Fisher-Davis showed he could turn around a game in a hurry with a flurry of 3-pointers. His defense improved late last season, but he still needs to learn to play better through contact. Nevertheless, he’s one of the SEC’s most impactful weapons from beyond the arc.
JOSH HENDERSON
Class: Graduate student
Height/Weight: 7-0, 237
Position: Center
Hometown: Roanoke, Va.
Twitter: @jhendo40
2014-15 Key Stats: 2.2 ppg, 1.2 reb.
Notable: NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility due to medical hardship from injuries that severely limited two of his seasons.
Outlook: If he can remain healthy, Henderson could once again be Damian Jones’ backup in the post. He is skilled offensively and can provide a quick spurt of scoring off the bench in short stints.
DAMIAN JONES
Class: Junior
Height/Weight: 7-0, 245
Position: Center
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Twitter: @dameology
2014-15 Key Stats: 14.5 ppg, 6.5 reb., 70 blocks, 56.2 FG pct.
Notable: A 2014-15 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist and All-SEC first-teamer, Jones is projected as one of the top big men in next year’s NBA Draft.
Outlook: Jones could be an SEC Player of the Year candidate. He returns as one of the league’s top players and should demand attention from opponents and NBA scouts all year. If Jones has his best season, Vanderbilt will contend for top billing in the SEC and beyond.
CARTER JOSEPHS
Class: Senior
Height/Weight: 6-0, 180
Position: Guard
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Twitter: @carterjosephs
2014-15 Key Stats: 13 games, 52 minutes, 8 ast., 5 reb.
Notable: Walk-on was on scholarship last season when a spot was open.
Outlook: A valuable walk-on, Josephs can play either guard spot in a pinch. He played 20 games in 2013-14 when the roster was depleted.
CAMRON JUSTICE
Class: Freshman
Height/Weight: 6-3, 180
Position: Guard
Hometown: Hindman, Ky.
Twitter: @CamronJustice5
2014-15 Key Stats: 28.5 ppg, 6.2 ast., 5.2 reb., 2.4 stls at Knott County Central High
Notable: Ranked third all-time in Kentucky high school basketball history in scoring (3,588) and 3-pointers made (393) in a career.
Outlook: Justice is likely the most game-ready of all the freshmen. His shooting touch is akin to other Vanderbilt guards such as Riley LaChance and Matthew Fisher-Davis, and he should squeeze out a few minutes at shooting guard coming off the bench.
LUKE KORNET
Class: Junior
Height/Weight: 7-1, 240
Position: Forward
Hometown: Lantana, Texas
Twitter: @bigshin32
2014-15 Key Stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.4 reb., 38 blocks, 40.0 3-pt pct.
Notable: Kornet was the best 3-point shooting big man in the SEC last season. His 40-percent clip from beyond the arc was the best among any players 6-foot-8 or taller in the league.
Outlook: Kornet should slide into the 4-spot in the starting lineup, a role he held for part of last season. His inside-out game became a weapon that opposing coaches regularly identified as one of Vanderbilt’s most distinguishing characteristics.
RILEY LACHANCE
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-2, 182
Position: Guard
Hometown: Brookfield, Wis.
Twitter: @LaChance_13
2014-15 Key Stats: 12.3 ppg, 3.1 reb., 2.9 ast., 38.2 3-pt pct., 87.3 FT pct.
Notable: An SEC All-Freshman team selection, LaChance led the league’s freshmen in scoring and ranked second in 3-pointers made behind Matthew Fisher-Davis.
Outlook: A double-figure scorer in 24 of 35 games last season, LaChance returns as a savvy and consistent shooting guard with toughness beyond his years. However, he also will be the team’s No. 2 point guard, replacing Shelton Mitchell, who transferred after last season.
PHILLIP MCGLOIN
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-1, 183
Position: Guard
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Twitter: @philiam25
2014-15 Key Stats: 5 games, 5 minutes, 3 reb., 1 ast.
Notable: Earned SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
Outlook: McGloin was a late addition as a walk-on last October. He is a hard-working player in a crowded backcourt. His value comes in pushing scholarship guards throughout the week in practice.
JEFF ROBERSON
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-6, 220
Position: Forward
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Twitter: @j5robe
2014-15 Key Stats: 4.7 ppg, 3.1 reb., 45.5 3-pt pct.
Notable: Roberson distinguished himself as a tenacious defender last season, putting him in the lineup for 24 starts as a freshman.
Outlook: Roberson is in transition. On a guard-heavy roster, he likely will play some at the power forward spot, as well as the 3, which he primarily played last season. His defense continues to be an asset, but the team also needs his rebounding to rise after the graduation of offensive rebounding leader James Siakam.
SAMIR SEHIC
Class: Freshman
Height/Weight: 6-9, 247
Position: Forward
Hometown: Atlanta
Twitter: @samirsehic
2014-15 Key Stats: 20.0 ppg, 14.0 reb., 2.0 ast. at Cy Woods High in Cypress, Texas
Notable: Originally from Bosnia, the 6-foot-9 Sehic was nicknamed the “Big Boz” in high school.
Outlook: Sehic is a skilled forward with a rangy shooting touch. His freshman year should be used to develop and adapt to the college game.
JOE TOYE
Class: Freshman
Height/Weight: 6-7, 201
Position: Guard/Forward
Hometown: Chicago
Twitter: @J_toyestory
2014-15 Key Stats: 18.0 ppg, 7.0 reb., 2.0 ast., 2.0 stls
Notable: His twin sister, Elizabeth, signed to play basketball at Wisconsin.
Outlook: One of the team’s best athletes, Toye rises above the rim like few on the roster. Fellow freshman Camron Justice may have a more immediate role on the court, but Toye could develop into a good slashing guard in time.
NATHAN WATKINS
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-5, 186
Position: Guard
Hometown: Brentwood
Twitter: @SwatkinsVU
2014-15 Key Stats: 12 games, 18 minutes, 1 reb.
Notable: Two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Outlook: Former Ensworth standout has played 26 games in his career as a walk-on. If Vanderbilt is as good as projected, he could see a few minutes at the end of some lopsided games this year.