On Tuesday night, Boston College announced that C Jayden Hastings would return for his sophomore redshirt season.
Hastings, a high three-star prospect out of IMG Academy in Florida, originally committed to the Eagles in the 2023 class. After redshirting last season, he stepped into the rotation this past year in the backup center role. He averaged 4.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 15 minutes per game. He features explosive, raw athleticism and showed flashes of excellent rim protection this past season. His offensive game is a work in progress, but as his footwork improves he could become a capable back-to-the-basket option for Grant’s offense. With Chad Venning graduated, Hastings will likely step into the starting 5 spot this coming season (barring a portal addition). One thing that will define Hastings’ season: foul trouble. His athleticism and aggressive defense got him into trouble at times last season. He’s got all the tools to be a successful big man in the ACC — he just needs to stay on the court.
With Hand announcing his return on Monday, Grant’s roster construction in a critical offseason is fully underway. We’ll continue to watch for the likes of Fred Payne and Luka Toews, but with Hand and Hastings back in the mix Grant has brought back two central pieces for next season’s squad.