https://x.com/joetipton/status/2108588194446930021?s=61
Welcome to MU, young man.
Great job reeling them in, Shaka.
Nice add! Glad we're not messing around with hopefully-good-in-6-years centers with zero stars attached to their recruiting profiles.
Hoping we're able to get Fru eligible for next season and let Nyok beef up a bit. I think Caedin Hamilton and Colton Crowdis might have to dip out in order to free up scholarships for MU to do anything else with the roster
Redshirt candidate?
Pretty embarrassing that 247 has an article right below the commitment announcement about his fit at Virginia Tech........clean it up fellas
https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/four-star-big-man-akol-nyok-commits-to-marquette--291019989/
Quote from: MuMark on October 09, 2026, 11:19:04 AMNo redshirts anymore my man
1.5 minutes per game is the new redshirt
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on October 09, 2026, 11:17:40 AMRedshirt candidate?
He's the 70th ranked player in the country. No.
Such a great pickup. Had you told me we'd miss out on Johnson, Knueppel, Davis, Pemberton, Gordon, (probably) Cleveland and I'd still be this excited about our class, I wouldn't have believed you.
But Nyok, Martinez, and Ndong when we're banking on bringing this core back again is pretty damn good. Hard to land top PG recruits when you've got Nigel presumably on board for a while. Nyok is the most promising big man HS recruit we've landed since...Henry Ellenson?? The very commitment that brought me to this board?
When Michigan State and Kentucky try to jump in late on a kid and Shaka ups the ante on our offer to get it done, that deserves all the kudos.
It will be interesting to see which 7 footer gets the majority of playing time if Fru leaves. Nyok fits what Shaka wants to do, good at the pick and roll.
Quote from: BCHoopster on October 09, 2026, 11:30:43 AMIt will be interesting to see which 7 footer gets the majority of playing time if Fru leaves. Nyok fits what Shaka wants to do, good at the pick and roll.
If Fru does not come back, I'd expect another transfer unless Clark takes an unexpectedly big leap.
I think a PG is the top priority next recruiting cycle. I don't think Nigel will get NBA buzz this offseason and should definitely return for his junior year unless things go south and he wants to transfer to a tournament team for more $$$. MU still needs to find a short-term backup for NJ that hopefully becomes a starter as an upperclassmen
If Fru does comeback, I would think Hamilton will be looking for a new school.
Fru, Nyok and one of Clark/Hamilton would be ideal next year
Quote from: BCHoopster on October 09, 2026, 11:38:49 AMIf Fru does comeback, I would think Hamilton will be looking for a new school.
18 will have his degree. I think he is looking for a new school no matter what.
Great job by Shaka. That is worth talking about.
Quote from: Hards Alumni on October 09, 2026, 11:23:17 AMHe's the 70th ranked player in the country. No.
was intended as a joke, but apparently not a very successful one.
Very nice. Wasn't this kid a 5 star by one of the recruiting sites or am I thinking of another 7 footer we offered?
Quote from: willie warrior on October 09, 2026, 12:53:08 PMGreat job by Shaka. That is worth talking about.
Thank you for stepping up to the plate and increasing your donations to the program.
Welcome, Akol. Glad you chose Marquette!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_rYkT9CCl0
He's obviously going to need to bulk up, but there's a lot to like about him. Fearless at the rim on both sides of the court, good hands, good motor, and 7 footers who can switch out onto guards on the perimeter like that defensively make a lot of money in the sport.
Ka-Fricking-Boom!!!!!
🇸🇸
Excellent news!!
I'll admit to having some slight bias towards African ballers.
That said when I look at this young man's ceiling? Sign me up. You can't teach size + overall mobility.
He'll transfer to St. Louis next summer. ;D
Great get. Really happy to beat out a few big hitters that offered him.
Gut feeling, but this feels like a sneaky good class.
Awesome Welcome Akol
Quote from: muwarrior69 on October 09, 2026, 02:17:12 PMHe'll transfer to St. Louis next summer. ;D
There is not a player in the Big East that would pass on the opportunity to play in the A10.
One of Nyok's sneaky best features is how good his hands are, and how quick he is with the ball.
Quote from: Hards Alumni on October 09, 2026, 02:38:43 PMOne of Nyok's sneaky best features is how good his hands are, and how quick he is with the ball.
Some people have small hans and often fumble balls
-21 is gone.....Can we negotiate an injury settlement now?
Quote from: burger on October 09, 2026, 03:34:24 PM-21 is gone.....Can we negotiate an injury settlement now?
No
Quote from: muwarrior69 on October 09, 2026, 02:17:12 PMHe'll transfer to St. Louis next summer. ;D
Why would he want to sit behind Sheek Pearson for three years???
More outstanding work by Shaka and his assistants.
Marquette basketball has a bright future, starting with this season!
Quote from: tower912 on October 09, 2026, 11:07:37 AMWelcome to MU, young man.
Great job reeling them in, Shaka.
OK, Tower. I'm waiting for you to work your magic with Nyok and Ndong. There are probably some good Three Stooges/Curley clips and knock-knock jokes that you can come up with. And Ndong should be easy. Can you combine the two somehow? I'm sure I'm not the only one eagerly awaiting your word play.
Really like this add, fits a need and in a mold Shaka has had success with before.
Quote from: brewcity77 on October 09, 2026, 06:32:51 PMReally like this add, fits a need and in a mold Shaka has had success with before.
Yep, hopefully an upgraded version of Kur Kuath.
Quote from: MU82 on October 09, 2026, 04:56:03 PMMarquette basketball has a bright future, starting with this season!
I was going to write a new post, but you have it covered well Mike in just a few words. Time to look forward, not backwards.
Shaka gave something unique a try. It didn't work, and he waited (at least) a year too long to course-correct.
But he has course-corrected, and the program's reboot has me very excited about the future.
And for a corny slogan-lover like Shaka, it can still be RGV. Bringing in a couple/few needed transfers to go along with good recruits you develop ... that absolutely can feed into relationships, growth and victory.
Hell, it's what Painter, Izzo, Hurley and others have been doing very well for the last several years.
Quote from: MUbiz on October 09, 2026, 11:48:39 AM18 will have his degree. I think he is looking for a new school no matter what.
smh. shaka sacrificed sheek for the guy.
Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2026, 09:54:18 PMsmh. shaka sacrificed sheek for the guy.
Why are you belaboring on this? I don't get it.
Two very obvious answers. 1. Have you read the rest of his stuff? Completely in character. 2. It is his manatee.
Quote from: MuggsyB on Today at 06:21:39 AMWhy are you belaboring on this? I don't get it.
Normally if you repeat a questionable view often enough, others will pick it up and repeat it, and often many will start to believe it. It can become truth.
Works on oneself first.
In this case hasn't worked on others only the self.
If your a lone voice yelling into the wind, at what point does one move on? Maybe we'll find out? But the answer could be never.
Quote from: MuggsyB on Today at 06:21:39 AMWhy are you belaboring on this? I don't get it.
Because he doesn't like the truth and that it was shared here by people in the know.
Again, I see a young man with an incredibly high ceiling. If you're a 7 footer that can handle switching, and also eliminate the paint, that equals immediate impact. You add the lob threat and the fact that he runs like a gazelle? That's an emphatic positive. It will take him some time to bulk up and mature but I'm extremely grateful he chose to come to MU.
MU's history is not littered with agile 7'1 players. There are far more project bigs that didn't pan out than there are bigs that exceeded expectations.
Nyok is highly regarded. Not deemed a project. I am going to celebrate his decision and enjoy watching him develop.
That's exactly right. He's the kind of potential talent/player MU has never gotten. Or at least I can't think of a 7 footer we've had with his defensive skill-set. I'm very eager to see how he'll look a full year from now. Shot blocking + shot alternating + shot intimidating + glass cleaning = a tremendous addition to the MU roster. Add he will add to his offensive skills.
McIlvaine is probably a fair comp. Different time, different game, so speed and agility weren't prioritized at 7'1.
Interestingly, in the same era, McCaskill came in with less hype than Caedin or Josh. If Scoop existed then, I am sure there would have been posters questioning KO's sanity and rooting for Amal to transfer. He turned out to be one of the rare project bigs at MU who far exceeded expectations.
So, to borrow from Forrest Gump, recruiting bigs is like a box of chocolates.
Quote from: MuggsyB on Today at 09:11:21 AMAgain, I see a young man with an incredibly high ceiling.
At 7'1" he really needs a high ceiling.
Quote from: mileskishnish72 on Today at 10:10:48 AMAt 7'1" he really needs a high ceiling.
Rim shot. Wait, that's the point.
Quote from: MuggsyB on Today at 09:49:57 AMThat's exactly right. He's the kind of potential talent/player MU has never gotten. Or at least I can't think of a 7 footer we've had with his defensive skill-set. I'm very eager to see how he'll look a full year from now. Shot blocking + shot alternating + shot intimidating + glass cleaning = a tremendous addition to the MU roster. Add he will add to his offensive skills.
Nyok is more highly rated but Clark has a similar defensive skill set.
Bing Videos (https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=akol+nyok+basketball&mid=C9D0F53C88A007C304F9C9D0F53C88A007C304F9&churl=&FORM=VIRE)
Nyok highlights.
Might as well add him the roster table even though we're one over.
Quote from: MuggsyB on Today at 06:21:39 AMWhy are you belaboring on this? I don't get it.
Schtick.
Do you not read Scoop?
He can use more beef for sure, but watching that video ... Nyok is not as rail-thin as I expected him to be.
He definitely will contribute as a freshman, preferably as a 10-15 minute sub behind Fru.
So as it stands now, we're one over the scholarship liming for next season and two if Fru comes back, which I hope he does.
Hamilton graduates and moves on and Crowds find a new home in that scenario.
It likely won't work out like that, obviously. If it did, that's a boat load of talent on that 27-28 team
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on Today at 01:20:34 PMSo as it stands now, we're one over the scholarship liming for next season and two if Fru comes back, which I hope he does.
Hamilton graduates and moves on and Crowds find a new home in that scenario.
It likely won't work out like that, obviously. If it did, that's a boat load of talent on that 27-28 team
This scenario is an example of why any concern about being "over" is silly. Roster movement is the new normal.
I expect 2 or 3 lob conversions per game for Fru this season. I also would like to get to the FT line with far more regularity. MU's backcourt potential is BUD (Beyond Ultra Dynamic). Our super sophs can cause some fear and sleepless nights. They just need some reinforcements. And don't forget RP. He is a match-up nightmare at the 4. The trio of Minnesale, DO, and MP is critical to the ultimate success of MU. Can we get consistent buckets/production from these guys? Nash is another X factor. Let me just say this: I like our top 4 and believe we can be very formidable.