Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[MU82]

Really enjoyed watching Nigel play. He got a ton of PT, and was in down the stretch once the game got close, usually as the primary ballhandler.

Looks super quick and athletic, and feisty too!

[avid1010]

Really enjoyed watching Nigel play. He got a ton of PT, and was in down the stretch once the game got close, usually as the primary ballhandler.

Looks super quick and athletic, and feisty too!

Interesting that he doesn't start...but finishes...

[MU82]

Interesting that he doesn't start...but finishes...

John Havlicek, Vinny Johnson, Kevin McHale, Jamal Crawford, etc.

[drbob]

who all started on their high school team!

[wadesworld]

who all started on their high school team!

We should cut Nigel.

[The Sultan]

who all started on their high school team!

Did any of them attend a high school like the one Nigel does?

[MU82]

who all started on their high school team!

The point was that a lot of great players have not started at whatever level they've been at.

There are Hall of Famers who got cut in high school.

[Uncle Rico]

who all started on their high school team!

Thanks

[MuMark]

Before transferring to Luhi he went to Cushing Academy for 2 years.........averaged 13 points a game as a sophomore.......he might have started there.........which would obviously be a very........very.....big development!

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

Before transferring to Luhi he went to Cushing Academy for 2 years.........averaged 13 points a game as a sophomore.......he might have started there.........which would obviously be a very........very.....big development!

Wait so he's a portal player?

[willie warrior]

James has impressive hops!

Yes Dominic did.

[Zog from Margo]

Nm

[Big Papi]

In watching the successful teams in the tournament this year, we failed on multiple levels.

1. 3 point shooting needs to be better and more consistent. We did not have a consistent sniper this year to be our go to guy.

2. Rebounding in general but specifically offensive rebounding.  You need second chance points when your missing shots and no matter how good you are shooting the ball, you will have bad days. We had none of those players.

3. A low post presence as another option to attack defenses in the paint.   All we could do was dribble drive and when that gets shut down, it was good night.

That we struggled against the top teams in the Big East and the Big East flame out in the tournament only solidifies how far behind we are at a legitimate run to and past the sweet 16.

Hopefully the four freshmen are the building blocks for some great achievements.  With Shaka's roster building philosophy, he really needs to hit on all 4 of these guys and keep them happy.

[MU82]

In watching the successful teams in the tournament this year, we failed on multiple levels.

1. 3 point shooting needs to be better and more consistent. We did not have a consistent sniper this year to be our go to guy.

2. Rebounding in general but specifically offensive rebounding.  You need second chance points when your missing shots and no matter how good you are shooting the ball, you will have bad days. We had none of those players.

3. A low post presence as another option to attack defenses in the paint.   All we could do was dribble drive and when that gets shut down, it was good night.

That we struggled against the top teams in the Big East and the Big East flame out in the tournament only solidifies how far behind we are at a legitimate run to and past the sweet 16.

Hopefully the four freshmen are the building blocks for some great achievements.  With Shaka's roster building philosophy, he really needs to hit on all 4 of these guys and keep them happy.

1. Shaka felt he would be fielding a team with a borderline elite 3-point shooter (Kam, .406 last season), three veteran 3-point threats (Chase, .362, a significant improvement from the year before; Joplin, .355, with .399 as a soph; Gold, .371, with improvement every year), and two freshmen who had shot well in high school. He also had seen Lowery every day in practice and knew Zaide had a nice shot. So Shaka had every reason to believe he'd have at least a decent shooting team. The killers were Kam slumping for months and Jop struggling for most of the season. I didn't foresee that, did you? Should Shaka have?

I do agree we need better shooting going forward. And not just us ... every team needs good shooting in today's college basketball. Hopefully Zaide, Owens and some of the incoming freshmen will be long-term answers in that department, and Gold and Ross will shoot well in the upcoming season.

2. I'm not Mr. Stats, but I believe TAMU posted that we were pretty much exactly an average offensive rebounding team. So not as good as any of us would have liked, but not bad. I always want better.

3. Agree. We don't need ye olde aircraft carrier, but we could have used someone who even presented the kind of threat Oso did. Still, when you aren't hitting 3s, the defense will make it tough for anybody to operate inside, whether by posting up or driving.

The main thing I've noticed watching the NCAAT unfold - and also many of our games during the season - is that we lack athletes that have both some bulk and good athleticism. The better teams have multiple athletes with builds closer to that of Broome - "grown men," as the announcers like to say - than to that of Gold. So this past season, we not only had a height deficit in most games against good teams but usually a bulk deficit, and over the course of a game (and a season) that can wear on a team. That's not something that gets solved overnight, and maybe Shaka doesn't even consider it a problem, I don't know.

Good discussion. Thanks.

[BCHoopster]

I think Shaka was hoping Hamilton was going to be that physical player, just did not happen yet.  Still has 3 more years to show something.

[MuMark]

FYI

https://x.com/jakelieberman2/status/1906409661705683162?s=61&t=6XPB8f4sAKmJIzxgMcsCjw

[CountryRoads]

FYI

https://x.com/jakelieberman2/status/1906409661705683162?s=61&t=6XPB8f4sAKmJIzxgMcsCjw

What's going on with this? Anybody outside of Jake Lieberman have any comment on this? If he were one of the most "sought after high major prospects", why is it hard to find anything on him? This seems like garbage info to me at this point. Besides, looks like he has an agent.

[The Sultan]

What's going on with this? Anybody outside of Jake Lieberman have any comment on this? If he were one of the most "sought after high major prospects", why is it hard to find anything on him? This seems like garbage info to me at this point. Besides, looks like he has an agent.

What's wrong with having an agent?

Anyway, I wouldn't put a ton of stock into "17 high major offers." I think with the portal, roster expansion, etc. a lot of schools are looking to fill out spots with late risers / projects like him.

[junglecat022]

What's wrong with having an agent?

I assume referring to this:

"Smart has been refusing to negotiate with agents this spring, telling his players and recruits that they'll get the same money from Marquette's collective with or without one, a source familiar with Marquette's NIL (name, image, and likeness) negotiations told Front Office Sports."
https://frontofficesports.com/shaka-smart-marquette-nil-agents/

[The Sultan]

I assume referring to this:

"Smart has been refusing to negotiate with agents this spring, telling his players and recruits that they'll get the same money from Marquette's collective with or without one, a source familiar with Marquette's NIL (name, image, and likeness) negotiations told Front Office Sports."
https://frontofficesports.com/shaka-smart-marquette-nil-agents/

Sigh.

Again this has been repeatedly explained. Shaka doesn't mind if players have agents. He said that having an agent negotiate NIL payments is a waste of money because the offer is the offer.

[jfp61]

Also if you look at  Jake Lieberman and Marquette. Its essentially a bunch of guys we showed some interest in but never alot of REAL guys we recruited.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I assume referring to this:

"Smart has been refusing to negotiate with agents this spring, telling his players and recruits that they'll get the same money from Marquette's collective with or without one, a source familiar with Marquette's NIL (name, image, and likeness) negotiations told Front Office Sports."
https://frontofficesports.com/shaka-smart-marquette-nil-agents/

That's just in regards to Marquette's collective.

I don't think Shaka has any issue if a player has an agent to help with other NIL opportunities outside of the collective.

[GB Warrior]

Wait so he's a portal player?

Statutory Portaling

[PointWarrior]

MU82 - Exactly this "we lack athletes that have both some bulk and good athleticism."  The elite 8 teams make Marquette look small and weak in comparison. 

[MU82]

MU82 - Exactly this "we lack athletes that have both some bulk and good athleticism."  The elite 8 teams make Marquette look small and weak in comparison. 

I think we had the skill to compensate for that shortcoming a year ago. Still sucks to think about 4-for-31.