I know alot can happen between now and next year, but if everyone returns...how does a true freshman like Caris get any minutes? Is a red-shirt a strong possibility here?
I'd say he gets a red-shirt, barring a defection or injury. There just isn't going to be any minutes for him on the wing especially with Offutt, Kellogg, Johnson, and Hall all being jr's and sr's. Even if Goard is in fact leaving, he was only averaging 7.3 mpg. Giving Rico and Hall 3.7 more mpg isn't exactly asking much. I would guess they red-shirt LaVert, make sure he's ready and that he knows it could be pulled at any minute, but that they intend to red-shirt him the full year.
It just makes too much sense to red-shirt LaVert with this veteran laden team and with how stacked we should be on the wing. There's no reason to waste a year of his eligibility if he's only going to play 5 mpg.