Baylor made the second round of the NCAA Tournament less than 30 days ago but not even one single player from last year’s college basketball roster will be back for 2025-26. The Bears are forced to rebuild their entire roster and will do so with the help of an NBA legend, Andre Iguodala.
His son, Andre Iguodala II committed to the program on Friday night. Feel old yet?
Baylor went 20-15 during the 2024-25 college basketball season and lost to Duke in the Round of 32. However, all 14 players are either out of eligibility, going pro or transferring. Mostly transferring.
Rob Wright III received a monster pay raise to play at BYU. The other starters will likely follow a similar path, in search of more money in the transfer portal. There is very little hope for their return.
Thus, head coach Scott Drew must start from scratch. He has already replaced seven of 14 players— five through the transfer portal and two true freshmen. One incoming recruit is five-star small forward Tounde Yessoufou. The other is Andre Iguodala II.
Andre Iguodala Sr. played an astonishing 19 years in the NBA with the 76ers, Nuggets, Warriors and Heat. He won four championships and was named as the Finals MVP in 2015. His number is retired by Golden State.
Iguodala Jr. is a three-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2025. The 6-foot-7 small forward committed to Baylor over an offer from Northern Arizona and interest from Arizona and Cal. He is considered a late-blooming prospect with NBA upside with great lateral movement who runs well in tradition. Although his weight will be the primary focus upon arrival to campus at only 187 pounds, the younger Igoudala developed into a dangerous spot-up shooter with an improving jumper and range.
If this latest Baylor commitment makes you feel old, you are not alone! However, it is important to note that Iguodala Sr. only retired in 2023 and he’s 41 years old. It’s not that crazy. You’re not that old.
Still, it is wild to see the son of a very recent NBA player head off to college. Andre Iguodala II is part of a total rebuild in Waco. The sky is the limit for his future!