By Foster Nicholas | Sports Writer
After a summer of developing chemistry, Baylor men’s basketball replenished its guard force via the transfer portal. The Bears ushered in senior guard RayJ Dennis from Toledo, and he’ll look to lead a position group that lost three starters.
Replacing Adam Flagler (NBA), LJ Cryer (transferred to Houston) and Keyonte George (NBA) is no easy task, but those are the shoes that will look to be filled this season.
Dennis transferred to Baylor in the offseason after a career season at Toledo. In his redshirt junior season, Dennis was unanimously named the MAC Player of the Year and helped the Rockets to their third-straight MAC Championship.
The 6-foot-2 guard has already blended into the Baylor culture created by head coach Scott Drew, and Drew said Dennis has the makings to replicate his monster season.
“He’s somebody everybody really likes and really gravitates to,” Drew said. “He has an old soul, has an old man game. But everyone loves playing with him because he really can pass the ball, and it’s fun being on his team.”
Dennis said his dedication to the game and his craft has helped him connect with every teammate as practice hits full swing.
“That’s something really special about this team: We don’t really have cliques,” Dennis said. “Everybody’s cool with everybody, and we all hang out together. This team has been really cool. I’m just one of the new guys here, so I’m just excited to play and be a part of the Baylor culture and legacy.”
The Plainfield, Ill., native is currently the Bears’ only senior guard on the roster. Dennis’ scored at a high clip in 2022-23, as he averaged 19.5 PPG (second-best in MAC), 5.8 assists per game (led MAC) and a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th in the nation). Senior forward Jalen Bridges said he and the team have taken note and believe Dennis can replicate that success at Baylor.
“I’ve really connected with RayJ just because he’s truly the true definition of a point guard,” Bridges said. “He’s pushing the ball with his eyes up looking for the bigs, running the floor, looking for me and Ja’Kobe [Walter] in the corner. He’s going to do a lot of special things for this team.”
The Bears open the season on Nov. 7 with a neutral-site battle against Auburn at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Baylor’s home opener is set against Gardner-Webb at 4 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Ferrell Center.
