Season in Review: Ryan Welage community ranking and offseason outlook

Some technical difficulties slowed our poll results, but we’re back with the player-by-player autopsy of the season and a look at where each guy needs to develop to fit into next year’s plan.

Ryan Welage was supposed to be one of the best pure shooters on the transfer market at about this time last year. A willowy white kid from Indiana by way of the west coast, he had hit nothing but net in the classroom as well as on the court, leaving him holding a degree with a year of eligibility left. He chose to spend it at Xavier.

Community grade: C

There’s a sense in which I can see this as probably a perfectly fair grade for Welly. Despite being a constant menace from behind the arc, there were days when that was all he brought to the offensive end of the floor. He rebounded from the 4 at about the same rates as Q rebounded from the 1. On the defensive end, I don’t think he wasn’t trying, I just think he wasn’t very good. A C adds up.

Banners staff grade: B-

I’m inclined to be a little more charitable. While he was primarily an offensive player, his ORtg of 125.2 was 43rd in the country. He was a little bit like a 6’10” Brad Redford, but he hit 22 two-point baskets and shot 42% from deep against a Big East schedule. He never fouled, never turned the ball over, and was always ready from deep. Plus he dropped 19/3/4 with a block on St. John’s in a game Xavier couldn’t afford to lose. I’ll have fond memories of Welly and his Bombs.

Offseason outlook:

Welly has signed with Inception Sports, the same agency that represents Remy Abell, Dee Davis, Sean O’Mara, and RaShid Gaston. His future in the game surely lies overseas, and here’s hoping that it’s a long and enjoyable one for him.