Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball opted for a fresh start in 2024 following another disappointing season under head coach Jerry Stackhouse, bringing in James Madison’s Mark Byington to lead a program reset. Byington, who led JMU to the NCAA tournament last season, arrives in Nashville with a reputation for successful rebuilds and a mission to restore Vanderbilt’s competitiveness. 

Byington has essentially constructed an entirely new team in the transfer portal, with only two players returning from last year’s squad in JaQualon “JQ” Roberts and Jordan Williams — both of whom struggled to find consistent minutes and production in years past. Considering he was starting with nothing, Byington did an excellent job acquiring high-impact players, headlined by North Texas’s Jason Edwards and Michigan State’s AJ Hoggard. Like Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence did in 2023, this new-look Vanderbilt backcourt will have to anchor the team in 2024.

However, the team’s size remains a key concern. For the second-straight year, the Commodores enter the season undersized by SEC standards, with their tallest active players standing at just 6’8” (Jaylen Carey and Roberts). Last year transfers collectively grabbed 33.4 boards per game, below last season’s team total, suggesting that rebounding once again may be an issue. 

Vanderbilt can compensate for this size difference in a number of other ways. The incoming transfers bring in significantly higher scoring and assist numbers as compared to last year’s squad, including an aggregated 6% increase in 3-point percentage. While some stats, like Jason Edwards’ impressive numbers, are from non-Power-Four competition, this overall scoring increase is promising for the Commodores’ offense. Coupled with Byington’s fast-paced, perimeter-focused scheme, the team’s improved shooting efficiency could allow Vanderbilt to blitz its opponents and make up for its lack of size. 

Here’s a closer look at all ten transfers set to make their mark in West End this season.

Jason Edwards, Guard, Junior

Previous school: University of North Texas

Edwards is an explosive player who will have a much-needed offensive impact for the Commodores this year. Shooting 42.5% from the floor and 80.7% from the free throw line in 2023-24, Edwards provides versatility and an ability to create his own shots, similar to the beloved Manjon. The junior from Atlanta was not heavily recruited out of high school and so opted to play a year at junior college before transferring to North Texas, where he averaged 19.1 points a game during his sophomore campaign. Edwards will be a key part of Vanderbilt’s offense this year during his first Power Four test.

AJ Hoggard, Guard, Graduate Transfer

Previous school: Michigan State University 

Another high-profile transfer, Hoggard comes over from East Lansing to join Mark Byington’s backcourt this season. The 6'4” Pennsylvania native, who started 83 games for the Spartans over the past four seasons, is known for his steady presence on the floor rather than flashy scoring. Although he’s hit just around 30% of his attempts from beyond the arc in his career, his catch-and-shoot metrics have improved year-over-year, suggesting he could thrive in Vanderbilt’s new offensive scheme. Hoggard’s impressive near 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season underscores his ability as a playmaker. He is set to form a strong partnership with Edwards en route to creating a dynamic backcourt for the Commodores. 

Devin McGlockton, Power Forward, Junior

Previous school: Boston College

Devin McGlockton is a power forward entering his third season of college basketball and brings needed height to an undersized team. The junior from Cumming, Georgia, shot 39.2% from 3-point range and 56.7% from the floor in 36 games. The former Boston College Eagle stands at 6’7”, and his size and shooting ability allow him to drive to the rim while staying a threat from the top of the key. McGlockton’s experience as a two-year starter for Boston College and offensive-rebounding ability in the paint project him to serve as the Commodores’ starting power forward. 

Alex Hemenway, Guard, Graduate Transfer

Previous school: Clemson University

After playing 95 games across five collegiate seasons at Clemson, Hemenway brings another veteran presence to Vanderbilt’s locker room. In pursuit of more perimeter fire-power after Vanderbilt was ranked in the bottom 10 in the nation in 3-point percentage, Byington pushed for Hemenway, who has shot 42.9% from beyond the arc in his career. Known for his catch-and-shoot prowess and quick release, Hemenway is set to be an impactful role player off the bench — a similar role he played for the Tigers last season. Hemenway does not provide much off the dribble or on defense, which may ultimately limit his minutes, but his sharpshooting will certainly be a valuable asset to deepen Vanderbilt’s backcourt. 

Kijani Wright, Power Forward, Junior

Previous school: University of Southern California

One of the most unique transfers that Vanderbilt brought in this season, Kijani Wright was a highly-recruited prospect out of high school, as he played for the fabled Sierra Canyon with Bronny James and Co. The 6’9” junior will be out indefinitely this year with an unspecified non-basketball medical condition. Byington hinted from his preseason press conference that Wright is currently healthy and could potentially see some minutes at the end of the season, but nothing is guaranteed. Wright played his first two seasons of college ball at USC, serving limited minutes on a stacked roster. The junior forward was thought to be a major part of Byington’s offense — projected as the starting center — but Vanderbilt will have to look elsewhere in the wake of his injury. 

Jaylen Carey, Forward, Sophomore

Previous school: James Madison University

One of Byington’s first transfers, the 6'8” forward from James Madison, followed his coach to West End for the 2024-25 season. Carey was solid off the bench in his freshman season for the Dukes, averaging 7.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 14.9 minutes per game. Most notably, Carey was remarkably efficient from inside the arc, shooting 72% on two-pointers. A very physical player, Carey is expected to bring a high level of physicality and toughness to Vanderbilt’s frontcourt. Carey will likely spend time at center for Vanderbilt in the wake of Wright’s injury. He should see significant time on the floor in his first season as a Commodore, especially considering he’s already familiar with Byington’s scheme.

Tyler Nickel, Guard, Junior

Previous school: Virginia Tech

Tyler Nickel joined the Commodores as one of two transfers from Virginia Tech, marking his third school in as many years. The guard from Harrisonburg, Virginia, shot 39.9% from 3-point range on 148 attempts in 2024, an impressive amount of shooting likely predicting his place on Byington’s team. The head coach recruited Nickel out of high school, so it’s clear that he knows what the forward is capable of. Nickel also boasts an impressive 82% career success rate from the free throw line, putting him at the top of Vanderbilt’s shooters from the charity stripe. Nickel will likely be a starter or one of the first men off the bench for the Commodores, thanks to his shooting prowess.

MJ Collins, Guard, Junior

Previous school: Virginia Tech

MJ Collins followed in his teammate Nickel’s footsteps and left the Hokies in favor of the Commodores for the 2024-25 season. The 6 '4” shooting guard from South Carolina started in 28 of Virginia Tech’s 34 games last season, averaging 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest. He will likely be a rotational player for Byington, with his size offering the potential to slot in as a combo guard. Collins is also a respected and twitchy defender with experience defending top guards in the ACC. Collins could become a valuable asset to Vanderbilt’s backcourt if he becomes a more efficient shooter. 

Chris Manon, Guard, Graduate Transfer 

Previous school: Cornell University

After three seasons with Cornell, Chris Manon left the Ivy League for the SEC, joining Byington’s long list of transfers. The senior from New Jersey shot 56.4% from the floor last year; he’s an efficient scorer who will be utilized frequently in Vanderbilt’s lineup. Cornell was one of the fastest offenses in the nation last year, making Manon a perfect fit for Byington’s fast-paced scheme. The SEC will surely challenge him, but Manon’s deep ball makes him a threat, regardless. 

Grant Huffman, Guard, Graduate Transfer

Previous school: Davidson College 

A former team captain at Davidson, Huffman brings leadership and experience to Vanderbilt. The 6’4” point guard is the exact veteran presence that Byington needs to stabilize his backcourt. Huffman’s court vision and intelligence should help teammates around him succeed, as his 5.3 assists per game last season tied for 36th in the nation. He also presents a scoring threat, as he posted 12.8 points per game last year in 32 starts. 

This 2024-25 Vanderbilt squad will look nothing like the Stackhouse-led teams of the past, thanks to a fast-paced offense and energetic defense that will outwork opponents on both sides of the court. In fact, Vanderbilt Athletics' website just changed every player's position on the "roster" page to point guard, proving that Byington's players won't be afraid to facilitate on offense and let the ball fly from downtown.

Commodore Nation will watch Edwards closely to see if he can adjust his game to the SEC, as he has the potential to be one of the top scorers in the entire conference. Hoggard, McGlockton, Carey and Nickel will also play critical roles thanks to their scoring abilities and experience. 

Byington has faith in this high-scoring offense despite its size issue. While it’ll take some time to adjust, the team — on paper — has better cumulative averages in points, assists, steals, blocks and three-point percentage than last year’s Commodores. 

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball opens up its season next Monday when it takes on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. CST.