When Isaiah Adams, C.J. Walker and Darius Perry announced they were returning to UCF for another season rather than test the NBA waters, it was a huge break for the Knights.
The team figured to spend much of the summer auditioning replacements for the three standouts, who accounted for close to half of the offensive production last season. Instead, UCF finds itself welcoming back the core of a group whose familiarity spells good things for the Knights in 2021-22.
“I’m excited to have them back and look forward to working with them,” said coach Johnny Dawkins.
Things could have taken a much different turn after Adams, Walker and Perry declared for the NBA Draft in April. But the trio chose not to sign with agents, opening the door for a possible return to UCF in the future.
“You always be cognizant of the fact that those players may be gone and you have to be prepared for it,” said Dawkins, who is set to begin his sixth season in Orlando. “I thought we were prepared for the guys’ departure but I think they made the right decisions.”
All three players, along with guard Brandon Mahan, who removed his name from the transfer portal back in June, were in constant communication with each other during the process. Each sharing with one another their decisions to return to the program.
“When I put my name into the draft and Brandon put his name into the transfer portal, we still stay connected and talked about it,” said Adams. “When we all had the idea about coming back, we discussed how we all want to come back because we feel like we’ll have a better chance with chemistry with everyone coming back.”
Adams, who averaged 9.9 points and 3.9 rebounds during his freshman campaign, said the feedback he received during the draft process revolved around being a much more rounded player.
“Last year, I wasn’t as consistent as I could have been,” said Adams. “Being a consistent shooter and making sure I get my body built out.”
The return of Adams, Perry, Walker (7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds) and Mahan (12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds) along with junior guard Darin Green (11.3 points) means the Knights will have their entire starting lineup back for the upcoming season.
UCF finished a pandemic-shortened season in 2020 with an 11-12 record including an 8-10 mark in the American Athletic Conference. After an uneven performance throughout much of the season, the Knights managed to finish strong, winning six of their last eight games before losing in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
Dawkins used 11 different starting lineups throughout the season, juggling roster management through injuries and the pandemic.
“Looking back, it was very disruptive for us,” said Dawkins. “I think every team experienced it a little bit differently. Because we didn’t have a spring or summer with our guys, they never got good work in the offseason. Then you couple that with about four bouts of COVID that hit us during the season which disrupted our practices and play.
“It was the most challenging season that I’ve had as a coach.”
Adams said the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic made it challenging for the players.
“Not knowing when you would play,” said Adams. “... There were a whole bunch of games where we would go into the day of [the game] thinking we were going to play and the next thing the game is off.”
Heading into this season, however, most of the players on the team have received the COVID vaccine but there are still a few players who remained unvaccinated.
“All we can do is educate our young student-athletes and that’s what we do and then they all make their individual choices,” said Dawkins. “We’re not pushing or advocating for our guys one way or the other — other than educating them on what’s out there. I think giving them good information has been helpful to our team.”
Those players who choose not to get vaccinated will remain under the same guidelines of last season including wearing a face mask, utilizing social distancing as well as undergoing frequent COVID tests according to Dawkins.
“I think everyone is an individual and thinks for themselves,” said Perry, who led the team in scoring (14.7 points per game) and assists (3.4 per game). “There’s a lot of guys on the team with the vaccination and a couple of guys that don’t have it. ... That’s not something that we worry about. If they get it [the vaccine], they get it. If they don’t, they don’t.”
The addition of transfer Cheikh Mbacke Diong (UNLV) and Tyem Freeman (Indian Hills C.C.) along with incoming freshmen Darius Johnson and Ed’Xavior Rhodes, gives the roster some much-needed depth heading into this upcoming season.
“It’s a plus that all of the guys are coming back,” added Perry. “We’ve got to play with each other once, know we’ve got the whole summer together so I think it’s going to be special coming in and being able to play and have that chemistry.”
