UCF basketball exceeded expectations in 2023, but who will start in 2024?

UCF basketball has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 when they had probably their best roster ever. That roster included B.J. Taylor, Tacko Fall, and Aubrey Dawkins.

In this first season in the Big 12, UCF exceeded all expectations, especially stepping into one of the country's best, if not the best, basketball conferences. The Knights had a solid non-conference play and came out in Big 12 play a little flat against Kansas State, but then opened up Big 12 at home against Kansas with a bang.

The Knights took down the blue-blood Jayhawks in just their second-ever Big 12 game.

Now looking forward to the 2024 season, UCF will be expected to do more. They lost big man Ibrahima Diallo, but they just landed another big man with Moustapha Thiam reclassifying and joining the Knights a year early. UCF brought in a lot of new faces, but how will they work out?

However, who will the starting five be? There are only two starters returning for UCF next season, but who will the other three be?

G Jaylin Sellers

Jaylin Sellers came in as the newcomer last season and stole the show for the Knights. After two seasons at Ball State, Sellers chose to join Johnny Dawkins and it was the best decision he could have made.

In the 2023-2024 season, Sellers averaged 15.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He was a solid starter for the Knights it was just his first season with them. Dawkins would be crazy not to make Sellers a starter next season, as he is one of the best shooters on the team.

G Darius Johnson

Darius Johnson is the other returning starter for the Knights this next season. Johnson got better and better as the season went on and was almost an automatic bucket for UCF, especially in the Big 12 Tournament.

Johnson averaged 15.2 points per game, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in the 2023-2024 season. Johnson was a playmaker for the Knights and when they needed to score the most he would put the team on his back and do it himself. Johnson should be an automatic starter for UCF next season.

C Moustaphia Thaim

Yes, Moustaphia Thiam just made the decision to reclassify to join the Knights early, and it could very well make him an automatic starter. With the loss of Ibrahima Diallo and that big presence in the paint, it opens the door for Thiam to take that center position and run with it.

Thiam will have a lot of work to do in the offseason, but his size alone can be what helps him break into the starting five.

F J.J. Taylor

J.J. Taylor comes to UCF from Memphis along with fellow transfer Mikey Williams. Taylor is a young player coming to UCF who did not see a lot of time on the court at Memphis, but the talent he brings as a four-star transfer.

Taylor will bring the height and size that Sellers and Johnson lack, help balance Thiam, and maybe even take some heat off of him. Taylor is still young so he will have learning to do, but being in the starting five will give him good experience and help him grow for seasons to come.

F Benny Williams

Benny Williams transferred to UCF from Syracuse this past offseason and his numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, but he brings something very important, experience. Williams will be joining a younger squad and the experience he bring sis not something that should be forgotten.

Williams averaged 5.4 points per game and 3.9 rebounds last season and his rebounding ability is what will help him earn his way into the starting five.