This is part three of a five-part series assessing the rebuilt rosters of Belmont, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee State and Vanderbilt.  Up third: Middle Tennessee.

It doesn’t happen too often. Most players go into the transfer portal and never return. Jestin Porter, Middle Tennessee’s leading scorer, however, found his way back to Murfreesboro after seeing what other opportunities were out there. Not only is he returning, but Camryn Weston will be returning as well after missing almost all of last season with a torn ACL. It gives coach Nick McDevitt an interesting starting backcourt, if Weston is fully healthy.

Returning players: G Jestin Porter, G Justin Bufford, G Tre Green, F Chris Loofe, G Jacob Johnson, G Isiah Lightsy (non-scholarship),

G Jack Jubenville (non-scholarship)

Redshirts: G Camryn Weston, F Torey Alston.

Recruits: none.

Lost in the portal: C Jared Coleman-Jones (San Diego State), C Josh Ogundele, F O’Zhell Jackson.

Incoming from the portal: G Jarren Hall (Tulsa), G Alex Oglesby (Stetson), G Jlynn Counter (IUPUI), F Essam Mostafa (TCU, Coastal Carolina), F Kamari Lands (Louisville/Arizona State), F Christian Fussell (UT Martin).

Portal damage assessment: With Porter returning, not bad at all. McDevitt has added two interesting frontcourt players in Mostafa, who was highly productive at Coastal but didn’t play well at TCU, and Lands, who was a highly regarded high school recruit a few years ago. Hall and Counter should also be important pieces in the rotation.

Totally subjective, complete speculative, possible starting lineup: Porter, Weston, Bufford, Mostafa, Lands.