The Many Shades of UMass' New Look Frontcourt

 As UMass enters its second season under veteran head coach Frank Martin, second leading scorer and leading rebounder Matt Cross returns as the team’s star forward while the young backcourt pieces of Keon Thompson and Rahsool Diggins will likely start. However, the Minutemen’s rebuilt roster features nine new players, four of which will completely reshape UMass’ frontcourt for this year and beyond. 

St. Francis (PA) transfer Josh Cohen is the center that will likely make the most immediate impact. Last season’s Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Year, the 6’10 220 senior finished the season averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, after steadily improving as a low-post tactician and a high IQ facilitator from the elbow. 

“I cannot wait to play for Coach Martin. His passion for the game is unmatched,” shared Cohen days after committing with UMass. When asked about his strong performances against stout defensive centers: 30 points against Norchad Omier vs Miami, 40 points against Hamaka Hepa vs Hawaii and 18 points against Manny Bates vs Butler, Martin reflected “I don’t back down from anyone. Those centers are very good, but I took it as an opportunity to show that I can play with them and keep the same mentality going and try to out tough them”.

After starting his career as mostly a low-post, easy bucket converter, Cohen has worked hard to expand his game to the elbow and beyond: “Being scouted game after game, you have to find new ways to score. Over the last two years, I have developed the ability to score multiple ways.”

Case in point, the shot charts below (via cbbanalytics.com) show Cohen’s growth in converting shots beyond the elbow, hinting towards an improved ability to provide spacing which in turn challenges defenders to focus their energy away from the basket.

Coach Martin likes his bigs to protect the rim, so expect a slight increase to Cohen’s 2.7% block rate (good for 451st in the nation and seventh in the NEC) as Cohen learns UMass’ defense. Originally recruited by Martin’s staff back in 2021, Daniel Hankins-Sanford will be transferring to UMass from South Carolina. The 6’8 230 sophomore was originally a top-200 recruit nationally according to 247Sports and played a part-time rotational role with the Gamecocks during his freshman season, averaging eight minutes-per-game across 22 games. Nick Lorensen from Mid-Major Madness writes of Hankins-Sanford: “Daniel got less floor time than [Ben] Bosmans-Verdonk but showed a more calm and controlled presence on the floor. Really enjoyed watching his length…he didn’t see the floor much, but promising signs that he was recruited by Frank [Martin] and is following him to UMass.” Hankins-Sanford’s ability to crash the boards on offense (15.4% offensive rebounding rate, 5.5 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes) plus his athletic frame meshes well with Martin’s offensive style that puts emphasis on tempo and rebounding.

Hankins-Sanford is also a willing shooter from all over the court, but improved strength and footwork should improve his interior efficiency.

With a six-man high school graduate recruiting class joining Amherst next season, Mathok Majok and Sawyer Mayhugh bring size to the Minutemen’s bench with upside to grow into impact roles in the near future.

At 7’3 210, it’s easy to get excited about Mathok Majok’s potential. Originally from South Sudan, Majok averaged 12 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks per game last season at Bridgeport Prep. A reclass commit that was originally part of the Class of 2024, Majok is a project, but his athleticism, length and willingness to learn will endear himself to the coaching staff and fanbase.

“Mathok is the ultimate rim protector,” says Ponce James, the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Bridgeport Prep, “Very fluid and runs the floor effortlessly. He’s a tremendous lob threat, however, he is still developing offensively on the post.”

Practicing with a heady low-post weapon like Cohen will be a symbiotic source of competition for Majok as he learns the game and steadily builds his body to prepare for the grind of A-10 basketball.

Incoming freshman Sawyer Mayhugh is another frontcourt addition with enticing potential. The 6’10 220 forward from Weston, MA finished his high school career at Brewer Academy where he showcased his strong perimeter game that combines his comfort of shooting from deep and his willingness to cut to the basket and attack the lane. 

Offered by seven schools, including locals Bryant, Northeastern and BU, Mayhugh’s frame is more developed than most forwards his size at his age, which will help him to immediately compete for backup power forward minutes behind returning junior Gianni Thompson.

Conservative projections would peg both Majok and Mayhugh as having developmental freshman seasons while Josh Cohen is expected to make an immediate impact similar to last season’s Northeast Conference transfer big Isaac Kante. Hankins-Sanford’s versatility could force him into playing time at both the 4 and the 5. 

Towards the end of last season, injuries forced Martin to play extra large lineups with Matt Cross at the 3, so it is not out of the question for Cross, Cohen and Hankins-Sanford to share the floor together next season.

After a 6-12 finish in conference play last season and a rebuilt roster this season, there is a lot of mystery on UMass’ short-term potential as the Minutemen enter their second year of the Martin era, but Cross and Cohen’s senior leadership combined with nine underclassmen brings intrigue to see how the young roster fares.