When one 7-footer departs, another quickly steps in.
That’s exactly what occurred when head coach Dennis Gates added veteran center Shawn Phillips Jr. from the transfer portal.
This move coincided with freshman Peyton Marshall’s announcement to leave Columbia, though it remains unclear if the two decisions are related.
Regardless, the Tigers now have a new presence in their frontcourt — a player with significantly more experience, especially within the SEC.
Phillips is a seasoned NCAA player, having started his career in the SEC at LSU before transferring to Arizona State for the past two seasons.
His first season at LSU (2022-23) saw limited action, which led to his transfer to Arizona State. It was there that Phillips began to make a more significant impact.
In his sophomore year with the Sun Devils, Phillips appeared in 24 games, starting in half of them. Though he didn’t shoot much, he was efficient, hitting 55% of his field goal attempts.
Phillips contributed on both ends of the court, averaging 5.5 points, three rebounds, and over one block per game.
His junior season saw further improvements in his game, with Phillips nearly averaging six points per game on 57% shooting and increasing his rebounding to over five per contest. He continued to average one block per game.
However, with more playing time, Phillips also saw a rise in turnovers and fouls, averaging nearly two turnovers and three fouls per game. If these areas aren’t addressed, they could become problematic.
Phillips plays a traditional center role, anchoring the paint, waiting for scoring opportunities, and providing solid defense around the basket.
If used effectively, Phillips could be a strong replacement for Marshall and even for former starting center Josh Gray, who entered the transfer portal after exhausting his eligibility.
