2022 Transfer Portal Thread

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Always amazed at the pessimism here. Justin Lewis will be back. He said so himself less than a week ago! He just wants as unbiased an evaluation from NBA teams as possible. And maybe to maintain leverage to encourage some local NLI sponsorship. I wouldn't be surprised if Shaka himself told him to walk back those initial comments.

I'm a pretty optimistic dude, but I think you're a little too Pollyanna for me

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Always amazed at the pessimism here. Justin Lewis will be back. He said so himself less than a week ago! He just wants as unbiased an evaluation from NBA teams as possible. And maybe to maintain leverage to encourage some local NLI sponsorship. I wouldn't be surprised if Shaka himself told him to walk back those initial comments.

Mind sharing where he said that? 

[rocky_warrior]

Mind sharing where he said that?

He walked it back.  Start here and read the the craziness:
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=63243.msg1441153#msg1441153

tl;dr -  Said on an IG Live chat he was staying at MU, then replied on twitter to an article about said statement with "don't believe everything to hear" - or something to that extent.

[Goose]

TwoWords

I am with TAMU on being optimistic person by nature, but I think Lewis is gone for good. As for my optimistic side, I believe Shaka will have a better player in that spot this upcoming season.

[withoutbias]

Sorry, posted in the wrong thread.

[PointWarrior]

Waiting for my 414 day dump of Marquette transfers commitments....

[GoldenEagles03]

Also possible he meant he's staying at MU for the rest of the semester.  Several guys leave school as soon as the basketball season ends to prep for the draft.

He also added later in response to Chase Ross that he was going to "run it back" and play again next year.

I think it is entirely possible he is gone next year, but I don't think he has any idea on what he will decide to this point.

It's pretty clear that he wants to go to the NBA (because who wouldn't) but he will make the best choice for his future after getting advice from the league.

[jfp61]

Waiting for my 414 day dump of Marquette transfers commitments....

Seeing how we have the visit today it might take a week to 10 days for the pictures to develop.

[brewcity77]

He walked it back.  Start here and read the the craziness:
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=63243.msg1441153#msg1441153

tl;dr -  Said on an IG Live chat he was staying at MU, then replied on twitter to an article about said statement with "don't believe everything to hear" - or something to that extent.

I think Andy from Anonymous Eagle had the best summation: https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2022/4/9/23018288/marquette-golden-eagles-basketball-justin-lewis-nba-draft-future-entry

This part in particular: "It was only a matter of time before Justin Lewis weighed in on what Justin Lewis said in that live streaming video, though. Justin Lewis made it very clear that Justin Lewis has no idea what Justin Lewis is talking about and that Justin Lewis definitely does not speak for Justin Lewis when it comes to Justin Lewis' future."

[swoopem]

Goose and 4ever,

Do you think Justin is gone for good cuz he's gonna stay in the draft regardless of feedback or if he comes back to college he's going to transfer? A transfer would be a kick in the balls

[Goose]

Swoop

Zero inside info, but if he does not go pro, I think he ends up at another school. In the free agent market, he really is high level commodity that could play a big role on a very good team next season.

[4everwarriors]

I'm with Goose on this. Pretty sure he's kissed off MU. May be taking his talents anywhere from U of Kansas to the Maine Redclaws, to Bangladesh, hey?

[drbob]

think it would be a sad commentary on state of MU basketball program if its best player leaves for another school.  Also says Shaka is not a destination coach and Marquette will never be on a par with the likes of Villanova. Surprised you feel that way Goose, as I thought you were very high on the future with Shaka as coach.

[4everwarriors]

Will only speak for myself, but the sooner Shaka gets his own recruits into the program, the sooner we'll be going Uptown, aina?

[Tha Hound]

TwoWords

I am with TAMU on being optimistic person by nature, but I think Lewis is gone for good. As for my optimistic side, I believe Shaka will have a better player in that spot this upcoming season.

That is significantly less likely than Justin returning

[lawdog77]

Swoop

Zero inside info, but if he does not go pro, I think he ends up at another school. In the free agent market, he really is high level commodity that could play a big role on a very good team next season.

I don't see him going to another school. When was the last time  the best player on a P-6, NCAA tourney team transferred when there wasn't a coaching change?

[Goose]

drbob

I think Lewis will be an exception to the rule if he transfers. He was not a Shaka recruit, had a breakout year and has plenty of options out there. I am sure we will have players, even good or very good, transfer down the road, but I think the Lewis situation is a bit different. Top programs will be replacing grad or transfers every year and Lewis could be a missing piece for team expecting a deep March run next year.

My hope is a year from now we are the program looking for the Lewis type transfer to provide a deep run at MU. That said, I would not fault Lewis if he could play a big role on a team that needs that one guy. At this moment, MU still needs "guys" with or without Lewis, IMO.

For the record, I think Shaka is a destination coach and needs another year to piece things together. I said in earlier in post, if Lewis is gone, Shaka has to find a better Lewis and I think he does.

[tower912]

Yes, because better than first team big east is available at your local CVS.

[Uncle Rico]

Yes, because better than first team big east is available at your local CVS.

If you can replace him with Joey Hauser, you make that trade

[brewcity77]

Just to play devil's advocate, if Justin is gone (and I expect he is) I believe his replacement is already here and, especially considering his comments on transfers yesterday, they won't be looking to make radical changes through the portal.

Shaka's comments about transfers needing to fit the program and the advantage of moldable players (he cited Emarion Ellis) reminded me of last year's "All culture for the first two years." It feels like short-term winning is secondary to creating a sustainable, long-term culture of success. I think he's looking at programs like Villanova, Baylor, and Gonzaga as models for success where they got the right guys in to win and while they clearly still valued talent, it was getting the most talented players that fit that culture, with talent being disregarded if it doesn't match up with the long-term goals of the program.

If you're hoping to see Justin replaced with Kendric Davis or someone of that ilk, I think you'll be disappointed. I think it's more likely we'll see Joplin and O-Max given that additional offensive freedom because those are the guys that will be leading this team in the years to come and setting the table for what Smart wants the program to be not just in a year or two, but in a decade or two.

[Goose]

lawdog

So, I guess we should not be holding out hope that Ramey ends up at MU.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Shaka talks recruiting philosophy, high school vs transfer portal.


https://twitter.com/DariusJoshuaTV/status/1514311512323731466?t=sOdughIy86x7OicWjbK2RA&s=19


After hearing this, I think Wrightsil will be our only portal addition this year.  If Lewis stays in the draft, his spot might go unfilled.

[Goose]

I am 100% sure that a lot of the guys in the transfer portal are not good fits, we need 2-3 to be good fits. I would be very surprised if we ended up with only transfer entering the program next year. If it ends up with one guy, and no Lewis, Shaka has a lot of coaching work ahead of him to build off of this season. IMO, he would have to be a very confident guy to roll the dice with only one transfer and the returning team going into next season.

[Viper]

He also added later in response to Chase Ross that he was going to "run it back" and play again next year.

I think it is entirely possible he is gone next year, but I don't think he has any idea on what he will decide to this point.

It's pretty clear that he wants to go to the NBA (because who wouldn't) but he will make the best choice for his future after getting advice from the league.

...I hope Lewis isn't talking to the same peeps Vander 'consulted' with.

[brewcity77]

Shaka talks recruiting philosophy, high school vs transfer portal.


https://twitter.com/DariusJoshuaTV/status/1514311512323731466?t=sOdughIy86x7OicWjbK2RA&s=19


After hearing this, I think Wrightsil will be our only portal addition this year.  If Lewis stays in the draft, his spot might go unfilled.

Those were the comments I was referring to. I still think there's a chance it's Wrightsil and a true big (Washington?) and if we're going over/under 1.5, I'm taking the over, especially if Justin leaves, but timing could make it difficult.