Bryce Drew's 5 immediate tasks as Vanderbilt coach

Bryce Drew will have to hit the ground running as Vanderbilt’s new basketball coach because big decisions await.

A staff of assistants must be hired. The roster he inherits suddenly has some holes. And there are numerous paths he can choose to complete the lineup for his first season.

Here are five personnel tasks that await Drew in the coming days and weeks.

Sway Damian Jones or move on

Sophomore Wade Baldwin is headed to the NBA, and he reiterated that after Drew’s introductory press conference Wednesday. Damian Jones, a 7-foot junior center, complimented Drew on his “openness” but said he’s still planning to go into the draft, where he’s projected as a late first-round pick. Drew could put on an extended full-court press to try to win over the big man in a short period of time, but that may be a wasted effort because he has many other jobs to do.

Vanderbilt's Bryce Drew wants to make winning fun

Re-recruit signees

Drew called both of Vanderbilt’s two incoming players Wednesday night to solidify their allegiance to the Commodores. Payton Willis, a 6-4 point guard from Fayetteville (Ark.) High, and Clevon Brown, a 6-8 forward from San Antonio, signed with Vanderbilt in November. If both are on board, Drew can move on. If not, he will have to work on them harder to make sure neither requests a release from their scholarship.

Fans say Bryce Drew a good fit for Vanderbilt

Hire a staff

Valparaiso assistant Roger Powell attended Drew’s press conference at Vanderbilt and he will join the Commodores staff, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. Fellow Valparaiso assistant Luke Gore, a Paris, Tenn., native, may also be a good fit on Drew’s Vanderbilt staff. He played at Cumberland and Bethel. Also, will Drew try to keep someone from Kevin Stallings’ Vanderbilt staff for the sake of continuity? The hiring process shouldn’t take long.

Valparaiso praises Bryce Drew as he heads to Vanderbilt

Sign more players

The apparent exit of Baldwin and Jones leaves two scholarships available, and that’s assuming that no current Commodores want to transfer. The NCAA late signing period begins Wednesday when junior college players, Division I transfers and graduate transfers are most often signed. Vanderbilt’s high academic standards rarely allow for junior college transfers. But coming from a tough academic school like Valparaiso, Drew shouldn’t have to adjust his recruiting approach.

Consider Valpo transfers

Two standout Valparaiso players, 6-9 forward Alec Peters and 6-1 point guard Keith Carter, could be options as graduate transfers to Vanderbilt. Peters told The Times of Northwest Indiana that he will enter the NBA Draft, but he has until May 25 to withdraw his name and either return to Valparaiso or transfer elsewhere for one season. Peters could break Drew’s record as Valparaiso’s all-time leading scorer next season. But transferring to Vanderbilt would offer him better competition to increase his draft stock. Carter was a senior last season, but he has petitioned the NCAA to regain one year of eligibility because he only played 39 minutes in three games as a freshman at Saint Louis before transferring to Valparaiso. He would give Vanderbilt a much-needed option at point guard.

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.