Boston College Men’s Basketball: Meet the Juniors

So this is late. Don’t tell my editor. Or maybe I can spin this and say that it’s only fitting that the last group to go up of this year’s Boston College squad is the juniors. This team will rely heavily on the Junior class, and I think it is fair to say that the only way BC goes dancing is with huge years from the two starters here. So without further ado...

Ky Bowman - Guard - 6’1” 188 - #0

This isn’t so much a “meeting” as it is “re-introduction.” If there’s anyone to know (or that you already know) on this Eagle squad, it’s the flame haired guard from North Carolina. He’s a Naismith Award contender, averaged 17-6-4 last year, and will now become the face of BC Basketball since Jerome Robinson joined the Clippers. Is Jumpman Bowman up to the task of carrying BC as Jim Christian’s centerpiece? Hell yeah.

Jared Hamilton - Guard - 6’4” 203 #3

The transfer from Georgia Southern will be eligible to play for the Eagles at the conclusion of the Fall Semester, and should provide depth at the guard spot heading into ACC play. He averaged 6 points, 2 boards, and 1 steal in 19 minutes per game at GSU, and his size/athleticism is a great tool in Jim Christian’s toolbox. The addition of Wynston Tabbs and Hamilton gives Boston College more options than ever at the 1-2 position.

Johncarlos Reyes - Forward/Center - 6’10” 214 #12

Reyes has seen incremental improvement in his playing time each year, averaging just over 10 mpg in 2017-18. He’s always had the size, but his defensive technique needs to improve, whether biting on pump fakes or getting clean blocks. Averaging 2 personal fouls in 10 minutes won’t help BC win close games. He’ll be battling Luka Kraljevic for playing time at C behind our next junior…

Nik Popovic - Center - 6’11” 253 #21

I’m not sure there’s a player on this BC squad as polarizing as Pop. There are games he looks lost, gets into foul trouble, and hurts his team. There are other times where he looks like the physical talent he is, with impressive touch around the rim, as he did against Georgia Tech when he finished with 20 points on 8/11 shooting. He’s the starting center for this team for the foreseeable future, and should improve on last year’s line of 10-6-1 on 50% shooting. The goal is consistency from Popovic the GOAT (seen below), not Popovic the goat.

Matt DiLucco - Guard - 5’11” 180 #22

DiLucco hasn’t seen much time (2 minutes last year), but with any luck BC will be blowing out teams so bad that this guard can put up a triple-double or two.