The Colorado Buffaloes are coming off of a middling season that saw them finish 8th in the Pac-12 Conference. With a record of 18-17, it is clear that things aren’t totally bad, but an injection of talent is necessary.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, there are five names to watch out for from the most recent recruiting class. With a top-25 class, there are several names that could become staples in the Buffaloes’ lineup before long.
Here is a Colorado basketball betting guide for next season.
Cody Williams, F
The big haul in the 2023 recruiting class. A five-star recruit according to Rivals and other recruiting sites, Williams is the real deal. He is the fourth-ranked forward and seventh-ranked player overall according to Rivals. That kind of player has the potential to make an impact even as a freshman.
Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson were the standouts of last year’s team and will be back again in 2023-24. There is room for Williams to step into the lineup immediately and start contributing. He has significant long-term upside, using his long arms and good athleticism to cover the entire court.
While he has to learn to play through contact, he has solid skills as a passer and shows clear tools to be an elite defender. He is a bit raw but has all the tools to become a force in Boulder and make the leap to the NBA.
welcome to Boulder, CWill 📍#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/vTskeNIy9l
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) June 6, 2023
Assane Diop, PF
Diop is a four-star recruit according to Rivals. He is ranked 24th among power forwards and 121st nationally with attention from Arkansas and Kansas State. Diop may have a tough time finding playing time in his freshman year with da Silva and Lawson Lovering returning to the lineup.
Still, there is a lot to love about the energy that Diop brings to the table. He plays a physical game, getting involved on the glass, and will do the little things that some of the more talented players might not be willing to get involved in.
His shot is workable, though he isn’t the kind of guy that will stretch the floor. He doesn’t have the hype that Williams does but could become the kind of heart-and-soul guy that the Buffs and their fans come to love. Maybe a year away but someone to be excited about in Boulder.
building. day by day. 📈#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/HQpiJIOuFk
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) June 7, 2023
Quincey Allen, G
While the aforementioned players have yet to play for the Buffaloes, Allen actually had time during the 2022-23 season. Given that he averaged just 4.1 minutes per game, he is for all intents and purposes a new addition to the roster for 2023-24.
Allen is a former four-star recruit and shows good size for a guard at 6’8”. Plays a smooth, finesse game and has great body control. Isn’t the most explosive player on the floor but makes up for it by being a very good shooter, particularly right off the catch from three.
Allen will have to show that he’s taken a step forward, especially with Simpson ahead of him on the depth chart. Still, he has the kind of talent that experts feel could land him in the first round of the NBA Draft. This is the time for him to take a step forward and make an impact as an every-game player for the Buffaloes.
Courtney Anderson Jr., G
Anderson flies under the radar a bit. He is a three-star prospect, one that has been a bit higher throughout the course of the season before he eventually committed to Colorado. He is a long-term project and someone that we might see in spot time at best as a freshman.
He describes his own game as a high-level defender capable of scoring at all three levels. He has decent size at 6’3” and could stand to fill out a bit better so that he can hold up when driving to the basket against bigger, stronger opponents on the collegiate level.
Anderson Jr. would do well from honing his defensive game and becoming a force on that end of the floor. If he can establish himself as a valuable defender, he may have the time and exposure needed to build his offensive game as well.
All about the right now. 🧱 #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/7wppQch2Ii
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) June 4, 2023
RJ Smith, G
Smith, a 2022 three-star recruit, may have made his college debut last year if not for injury. He suffered a knee injury prior to the start of the year and needed the extra time to work his way back into form.
Smith was a well-rounded player in high school and a top player in Chino, California. He has raw skills and can be a contributor on the high end. He will have a hole to dig out of with so much talent ahead of him so don’t be shocked if we see Smith sparingly over the course of the 2023-24 season.
