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Even though the regular season is a full month away, exhibition season is coming up upon us and I figured it's an excellent time to dive into what Boston College has to offer as our first official (but not really official) opponent this fall.
When Earl Grant made the jump from Charleston to Boston College, he was one of the young rising stars in college basketball. Charleston was one of the most efficient offenses in mid-major basketballdom, but aside from a very decent 2023-24 season where Boston College won 20 games, Earl Grant’s fourth year as Boston College’s head coach was his worst yet, with the Eagles sitting near the bottom of the ACC and missing the conference tournament.
After losing Quinten Post to the NBA and most of the roster in the 2024 offseason, Grant failed to rebuild quickly through the transfer portal, leaving only Donald Hand Jr. as a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming team. Offensive scheme issues, defensive inconsistency, and poor late-game coaching have persisted throughout his tenure and then when you compound the well-persistent the school’s challenges in recruiting and investment, the program is not set up for basketball success.
With that being said, this year’s Boston College squad looks stronger than last year as they added much needed size via the transfer portal.
Key returners:
Incoming transfers
Projected starting backcourt
PG – Chase Forte - 6’4 190 fifth-year senior
South Dakota transfer Chase Forte is Boston College’s biggest offseason addition. He averaged 17.9 points on 47% shooting last season while earning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honors with 1.9 steals per game. Though his free-throw shooting (65%) remains a weakness, his two-way dominance fills a major need for BC, which lacked a defensive stopper at point guard. Forte isn’t a high-volume passer (3.2 APG), but his ability to make plays with the ball will be critical.
SG – Fred Payne - 6’1 185 redshirt sophomore
BC retained redshirt sophomore Fred Payne, who averaged 6.9 points in 18 minutes per game last year while shooting 34% from three. Early on, he was one of the team’s most reliable outside threats, but he slumped badly down the stretch, finishing the year 3-for-25 from the field across his final four games. Out of the returning guards, he earned the best defensive metrics, per EvanMiya.com. With a year of growth behind him, Payne is now expected to be BC’s primary perimeter weapon. If he struggles, Luka Toews could step into the role.
SF – Donald Hand Jr. - 6’5 210 junior
Boston College secured a major win by bringing back Donald Hand Jr., the team’s best player last season and the ACC’s Most Improved Player. At 6-5, Hand offers positional flexibility, often sliding to small forward when paired with shorter guards. With BC’s offense built around shared ball-handling, Hand’s versatility is invaluable. His chemistry with Forte will be the key to unlocking the Eagles’ offensive potential.
Projected starting backcourt along with other pieces in the backcourt. :
PF – Jayden Hastings - 6’9 240 sophomore
At 6-9, Hastings shifts back to his natural power forward spot after being forced to play out of position at center last year. His late-season surge—including a perfect 8-for-8, 18-point performance vs. Clemson—showcased his ability to score off the dribble and finish around the rim. With Forte, Payne, and Hand handling much of the scoring load, Hastings can focus on energy plays, rebounding, and complementary offense.
Likely backing up Hastings is Jason Asemota, a long wing who was long touted for his athletic and physical gifts who can handle in space and create off turnovers. The Boston area native struggled in his first season at Baylor, but it will be interesting to see how he can develop in Chestnut Hill, especially since he is a player who thrives in space and BC isn't known as a particularly tempo-pushing team.
C – Boden Kapke - 6’11 255 junior
Butler transfer Boden Kapke (6-11, 255) finally gives BC the true center it lacked last season. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 34 games for the Bulldogs, while occasionally stretching the floor with limited three-point attempts. Kapke won’t be asked to carry the offense but will provide sorely needed size, rim protection, and rebounding—allowing Hastings and the backcourt to thrive in their natural roles.
Backing up Kapke is former four-star prospect Aidan Shaw, who is a bit of a PF/C tweener who never settled into a consistent role at Missouri since his offensive profile is limited and his lack of size and rebounding makes him an occasional liability handling the physicality of more traditional centers. With that being said, Shaw possesses plus length and is a very good rim protector.
In summary, there are some advantages in playing Boston College in its first exhibition matchup, mainly in seeing how the team matches up against a team where their offense is centered around two big guards in Donald Hand Jr. and Chase Forte who can both play downhill, generate fouls and create their own offense. Also, while their frontcourt is not offensively dangerous, the group is quite big and rather deep and if there’s one area where I am questioning in regards with UConn’s title aspirations, it’s frontcourt defense, so allowing our frontcourt to have a “tune up” game against a bigger frontcourt will be beneficial.
When Earl Grant made the jump from Charleston to Boston College, he was one of the young rising stars in college basketball. Charleston was one of the most efficient offenses in mid-major basketballdom, but aside from a very decent 2023-24 season where Boston College won 20 games, Earl Grant’s fourth year as Boston College’s head coach was his worst yet, with the Eagles sitting near the bottom of the ACC and missing the conference tournament.
After losing Quinten Post to the NBA and most of the roster in the 2024 offseason, Grant failed to rebuild quickly through the transfer portal, leaving only Donald Hand Jr. as a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming team. Offensive scheme issues, defensive inconsistency, and poor late-game coaching have persisted throughout his tenure and then when you compound the well-persistent the school’s challenges in recruiting and investment, the program is not set up for basketball success.
With that being said, this year’s Boston College squad looks stronger than last year as they added much needed size via the transfer portal.
Key returners:
- Donald Hand - 6’5 210 JR - 15.7p, 6.1r, 37 3P%, 5.1 FTA, 86 FT%
- Fred Payne - 6’1 195 JR - 6.9p, 36 FG%, 88 FT%, 18 mpg, #1 defensive metrics amongst guards
- Jayden Hastings - 6’9 240 SO - 4.0p, 3.1r, 1.3b, 15 mpg, #1 defensive metrics
Incoming transfers
- Chase Forte 6’4 190 GR from South Dakota, 18p, 4r, 3a, 2s, mostly inside, 7.7 FTA, 10th highest usage rate in the nation, 4th highest fouls drawn rate in the nation.
- Jason Asemota 6’8 200 SO from Baylor, former #52 recruit of ‘24, 6.5 mpg
- Aidan Shaw 6’8 205 SR from Missouri, former #63 recruit of ‘22, 9 mpg
- Boden Kapke, 6’11 255 JR from Butler, 4.1p, 2.8r, career 30 3P%
Projected starting backcourt
PG – Chase Forte - 6’4 190 fifth-year senior
South Dakota transfer Chase Forte is Boston College’s biggest offseason addition. He averaged 17.9 points on 47% shooting last season while earning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honors with 1.9 steals per game. Though his free-throw shooting (65%) remains a weakness, his two-way dominance fills a major need for BC, which lacked a defensive stopper at point guard. Forte isn’t a high-volume passer (3.2 APG), but his ability to make plays with the ball will be critical.
SG – Fred Payne - 6’1 185 redshirt sophomore
BC retained redshirt sophomore Fred Payne, who averaged 6.9 points in 18 minutes per game last year while shooting 34% from three. Early on, he was one of the team’s most reliable outside threats, but he slumped badly down the stretch, finishing the year 3-for-25 from the field across his final four games. Out of the returning guards, he earned the best defensive metrics, per EvanMiya.com. With a year of growth behind him, Payne is now expected to be BC’s primary perimeter weapon. If he struggles, Luka Toews could step into the role.
SF – Donald Hand Jr. - 6’5 210 junior
Boston College secured a major win by bringing back Donald Hand Jr., the team’s best player last season and the ACC’s Most Improved Player. At 6-5, Hand offers positional flexibility, often sliding to small forward when paired with shorter guards. With BC’s offense built around shared ball-handling, Hand’s versatility is invaluable. His chemistry with Forte will be the key to unlocking the Eagles’ offensive potential.
Projected starting backcourt along with other pieces in the backcourt. :
PF – Jayden Hastings - 6’9 240 sophomore
At 6-9, Hastings shifts back to his natural power forward spot after being forced to play out of position at center last year. His late-season surge—including a perfect 8-for-8, 18-point performance vs. Clemson—showcased his ability to score off the dribble and finish around the rim. With Forte, Payne, and Hand handling much of the scoring load, Hastings can focus on energy plays, rebounding, and complementary offense.
Likely backing up Hastings is Jason Asemota, a long wing who was long touted for his athletic and physical gifts who can handle in space and create off turnovers. The Boston area native struggled in his first season at Baylor, but it will be interesting to see how he can develop in Chestnut Hill, especially since he is a player who thrives in space and BC isn't known as a particularly tempo-pushing team.
C – Boden Kapke - 6’11 255 junior
Butler transfer Boden Kapke (6-11, 255) finally gives BC the true center it lacked last season. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 34 games for the Bulldogs, while occasionally stretching the floor with limited three-point attempts. Kapke won’t be asked to carry the offense but will provide sorely needed size, rim protection, and rebounding—allowing Hastings and the backcourt to thrive in their natural roles.
Backing up Kapke is former four-star prospect Aidan Shaw, who is a bit of a PF/C tweener who never settled into a consistent role at Missouri since his offensive profile is limited and his lack of size and rebounding makes him an occasional liability handling the physicality of more traditional centers. With that being said, Shaw possesses plus length and is a very good rim protector.
In summary, there are some advantages in playing Boston College in its first exhibition matchup, mainly in seeing how the team matches up against a team where their offense is centered around two big guards in Donald Hand Jr. and Chase Forte who can both play downhill, generate fouls and create their own offense. Also, while their frontcourt is not offensively dangerous, the group is quite big and rather deep and if there’s one area where I am questioning in regards with UConn’s title aspirations, it’s frontcourt defense, so allowing our frontcourt to have a “tune up” game against a bigger frontcourt will be beneficial.
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