Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[Hards Alumni]

lawdog

I definitely build the program via the transfer portal. I would work very hard on getting two guys that will be here 2-3 years and a couple of grad transfers. They key to me is getting the right guys with time left in their college career. Give me an Omax and Kolek every year and develop them. Of all the guy's Shaka brought into the program I am most high on Omax and counting him to improve going into next year.

100% agree.  We use the transfer portal to stabilize.  As we've seen in the last 24 hours, a lot of fans are extremely impatient.  Imagine a world where there is only a traditional transfer portal.  This board would have been in shambles for 12 months instead of 12 hours.

[lawdog77]

Why can't you? That seems like outdated thinking. I think it's more likely these days that you can't build a great team relying only on high school recruits, given that 800-1000 players transfer every year.

My reasoning is that the transfer is a good addition, but the foundation needs to be 4 year players. If we keep saying we need 2 or 3 transfers, I dont think we are headed in the right direction.

[panda]

My hot take: you can't build a great team relying on the transfer portal. If we are hoping for a bumper crop in the transfer portal we are in deep doo doo.

This is very, very, very wrong.

Gonzaga, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas tech and auburn all say hello. Should I continue naming good teams who effectively use the portal? 

[Ellenson Guerrero]

My reasoning is that the transfer is a good addition, but the foundation needs to be 4 year players. If we keep saying we need 2 or 3 transfers, I dont think we are headed in the right direction.

That might be a fine position to hold five years from now, but Shaka hasn't even had a full recruiting cycle under his belt yet. Unless you want us to completely suck, we're going to need to rely on impact transfers for at least the next 2-3 years.

And realistically that is just part of modern college basketball anyway. You're inevitably going to lose good players you recruited out of high school to transfers, so you need to be able to replace them with players who have already demonstrated they can play at the college level elsewhere. Shaka's market advantage isn't in recruiting awkward white guys outside the top 150 and spending three years developing them into program fits who can contribute.

[lawdog77]

This is very, very, very wrong.

Gonzaga, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas tech and auburn all say hello. Should I continue naming good teams who effectively use the portal?

Gonzaga's foundation is the transfer portal?  My take is you shouldn't have to rely on it. Seems like that is what a lot of people around here are advocating.

[panda]

Gonzaga's foundation is the transfer portal?  My take is you shouldn't have to rely on it. Seems like that is what a lot of people around here are advocating.

Two of their starters are from the portal so yes it is.

[lawdog77]

Two of their starters are from the portal so yes it is.

The portal is not their foundation. Their foundation is guys like Timme, Holmgren, Strawther. Getting 1 guy a year in the portal is ideal. Not 3 or more. Some around here seem to drool over guys averaging 8 points a game on middling teams. No thanks

[panda]

The portal is not their foundation. Their foundation is guys like Timme, Holmgren, Strawther. Getting 1 guy a year in the portal is ideal. Not 3 or more. Some around here seem to drool over guys averaging 8 points a game on middling teams. No thanks

Andrew Nemhard is probably the most important player on their team and rasir Bolton is their best perimeter defender, make no mistake, 30 minute a game rock solid guard.

If those two weren't on the team, Gonzaga would be starting two freshman guards and they're not the same team, so yes their foundation (as is many other successful teams nowadays) is built on the portal.

I do agree you need to be careful who you take though. Pining for an ivy leaguer with decent stats on an atrocious team to come in and start for us is not the way to go.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

The simple answer is that you have to recruit both high school and the transfer portal in order to be successful in today's game. We'd all love to develop the program internally and have great high school players stay four years. But that just isn't realistic anymore. Each year you've got to land two or three players from high school that can serve as a foundation for the future, and then fill in the gaps when some of those kids inevitably leave / don't pan out as expected with transfers. What is Shaka supposed to do; go into next season with the roster we have now? 

[muwarrior69]

That might be a fine position to hold five years from now, but Shaka hasn't even had a full recruiting cycle under his belt yet. Unless you want us to completely suck, we're going to need to rely on impact transfers for at least the next 2-3 years.

And realistically that is just part of modern college basketball anyway. You're inevitably going to lose good players you recruited out of high school to transfers, so you need to be able to replace them with players who have already demonstrated they can play at the college level elsewhere. Shaka's market advantage isn't in recruiting awkward white guys outside the top 150 and spending three years developing them into program fits who can contribute.

Is that really necessary? I would imagine most players outside the top 150 would be "awkward". I have know idea if Ben Gold is a top 150 or not, or an awkward player and Shaka recruited him. Quite frankly I don't think Shaka gives a rats ass what color his players are.

[BrewCity83]

The simple answer is that you have to recruit both high school and the transfer portal in order to be successful in today's game. We'd all love to develop the program internally and have great high school players stay four years. But that just isn't realistic anymore. Each year you've got to land two or three players from high school that can serve as a foundation for the future, and then fill in the gaps when some of those kids inevitably leave / don't pan out as expected with transfers. What is Shaka supposed to do; go into next season with the roster we have now?

Exactly.  Shaka hasn't even been here a year.  It's probably going to take a few years for him to fully balance the roster after having to throw this year's team together in a couple months last spring.  He's shown that he can recruit, now let's see what he can put together.  This year it looks like a few transfers that have a little maturity will be needed to add to all the young guys we have.  Over time, as the roster hopefully becomes more balanced and seasoned, the transfers may be a little less necessary than they are right now.

[BrewCity83]

Is that really necessary? I would imagine most players outside the top 150 would be "awkward". I have know idea if Ben Gold is a top 150 or not, or an awkward player and Shaka recruited him. Quite frankly I don't think Shaka gives a rats ass what color his players are.

I took that comment as a dig to Gard's Red Empire.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

I took that comment as a dig to Gard's Red Empire.

Yes, some people seem to think we should follow the Wisconsin model. I just don't think that works for Marquette, and even Wisconsin is likely going to need to adapt its approach to the changing landscape of college basketball. Frank the Tanks are the exception not the rule.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The simple answer is that you have to recruit both high school and the transfer portal in order to be successful in today's game. We'd all love to develop the program internally and have great high school players stay four years. But that just isn't realistic anymore. Each year you've got to land two or three players from high school that can serve as a foundation for the future, and then fill in the gaps when some of those kids inevitably leave / don't pan out as expected with transfers. What is Shaka supposed to do; go into next season with the roster we have now?

Exactly.  The portal is part of the new normal.  Use it as a tool to make the team better.

[Don_Kojis]

Think maybe we could recruit a couple of elite junior college players who could bridge the gap between young players and vets.  Shaka could then recruit his type of players.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Think maybe we could recruit a couple of elite junior college players who could bridge the gap between young players and vets.  Shaka could then recruit his type of players.

Replace JUCOs with 5th grad transfers, then yes.

[lawdog77]

Exactly.  The portal is part of the new normal.  Use it as a tool to make the team better.

I Agree, but there is that balance. Bringing in 2-3 one year players is not a recipe for success, IMO. The foundation is 2-4 year players (meaning they are good enough to go pro after several years in the program).

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I Agree, but there is that balance. Bringing in 2-3 one year players is not a recipe for success, IMO. The foundation is 2-4 year players (meaning they are good enough to go pro after several years in the program).

Each year is different.  This year was a total roster overhaul.  Four transfers started most of the year.

Next year, we probably need a Lewis replacement and another rebounder.  Maybe another guard since I'm not sure we have enough talent there yet.

Hopefully we are less reliant on the transfer portal the following year.  But it will depend how much players develop and how 2023 recruiting goes.

[mileskishnish72]

With all the energy on this board re: the transfer portal, I got to wondering just how Much Shaka would be able to accomplish there. The Covid exception is confusing who' what year buy I think Morsell and Kuath are done. If Justin and Greg leave, we still have Oso, Kolek, OMax, Kam, Stevie, EE, Joplin and Itejere. Add in Sean Jones, Ross, and Gold, and you're up to 11. As we saw this year, transfers can make a big impact, but there are likely to be only two of them if no one bails. It seems like there's going to have to be some movement. That's fine if we get new people who know what to do when a shot doesn't go in. Rebounding has been a weakness all year.

[GoldenEagles03]

G- Kolek
G- K. Jones
F- Prosper
F- Lewis
F- Ighodaro

G- Mitchell
G- S. Jones
G- Ross
G- Ellis
F- Joplin
F- Itijere
F- Gold

We are at 12.  I think Justin is coming back for 1 last go around. Ellis may be a question mark, but everyone else will be back.  Portal may not be as lucrative for Marquette as it was this year and that is ok. That's a heck of a returning roster if we can add a solid big.

[Its DJOver]

Think maybe we could recruit a couple of elite junior college players who could bridge the gap between young players and vets.  Shaka could then recruit his type of players.

How many elite jucos do you think are out there?

[lawdog77]

How many elite jucos do you think are out there?

Jae Crowder/Jimmy Butler arent walking through that door.

[Shooter McGavin]

G- Kolek
G- K. Jones
F- Prosper
F- Lewis
F- Ighodaro

G- Mitchell
G- S. Jones
G- Ross
G- Ellis
F- Joplin
F- Itijere
F- Gold

We are at 12.  I think Justin is coming back for 1 last go around. Ellis may be a question mark, but everyone else will be back.  Portal may not be as lucrative for Marquette as it was this year and that is ok. That's a heck of a returning roster if we can add a solid big.

Ultimately I think we'll have two spots to fill.  Big rebounders needed.  Hoping development and Sean Jones fill the point guard spot.

[GoldenEagles03]

Ultimately I think we'll have two spots to fill.  Big rebounders needed.  Hoping development and Sean Jones fill the point guard spot.

Very very pleased with how Stevie finished the year.  I'm confident in our PG spot.

[Farley36]

G- Kolek
G- K. Jones
F- Prosper
F- Lewis
F- Ighodaro

G- Mitchell
G- S. Jones
G- Ross
G- Ellis
F- Joplin
F- Itijere
F- Gold

We are at 12.  I think Justin is coming back for 1 last go around. Ellis may be a question mark, but everyone else will be back.  Portal may not be as lucrative for Marquette as it was this year and that is ok. That's a heck of a returning roster if we can add a solid big.

I love how nearly the same roster that was just humiliated is suddenly a heck of a returning roster.  😂   People of this board continually over value the players we've had.