2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist

[GBPhoenix1993]

Honestly, Shaka doesn't even need to go hog wild in the portal. Even if he only gets 2 quality players, that's enough for a serious turnaround if some of the younger guys develop.

Obviously, easier said than done, but hopefully he's privately focusing on a couple of guys. That said, finding guys the quality of Tyler Kolek and Omax Prosper isn't easy but that's how Shaka kick started this program when he got here (along with a couple other short term guys).

I think it's pretty clear he HAS to find a true quality outside shooting guard to go with James to have any chance of a turnaround. With zero pure shooters on the squad it's an incredible weakness that has reared it's ugly head vs. any power 5 team they have faced so far.

[mug644]

The same as Hamilton, with his role very clear.

No hoops team is going to play 15 guys.

If neither Hamilton nor Norman leave after this year, do you really think that just two roster spaces (Zaide's and Sean's--presuming your speculation about him graduating and then no longer using a scholarship plays out) is enough to make a big enough difference after this pathetic season and lack of growth from other players?

Honestly, Shaka doesn't even need to go hog wild in the portal. Even if he only gets 2 quality players, that's enough for a serious turnaround if some of the younger guys develop.

Obviously, easier said than done, but hopefully he's privately focusing on a couple of guys. That said, finding guys the quality of Tyler Kolek and Omax Prosper isn't easy but that's how Shaka kick started this program when he got here (along with a couple other short term guys).

I think it's pretty clear he HAS to find a true quality outside shooting guard to go with James to have any chance of a turnaround. With zero pure shooters on the squad it's an incredible weakness that has reared it's ugly head vs. any power 5 team they have faced so far.

That's a big if you got there, given how we're seeing little growth in both the junior and sophomore classes this year.

[Markusquette]

If neither Hamilton nor Norman leave after this year, do you really think that just two roster spaces (Zaide's and Sean's--presuming your speculation about him graduating and then no longer using a scholarship plays out) is enough to make a big enough difference after this pathetic season and lack of growth from other players?

That's a big if you got there, given how we're seeing little growth in both the junior and sophomore classes this year.

If they only secure two transfers, those two guys would have to be absolute studs to turn this program around quickly. Like a scoring floor general and dominant athletic big. Would be nice to add as many as four transfers but I won't hold my breath.

[tower912]

Think of MU's NIL fund like you think of the Brewer's payroll.   Do not deceive yourself that it is like the Dodger's payroll.  As you make your wish list, this necessarily eliminates high end bidding wars.  The college basketball equivalent of Shohei or Skubal is not coming through the doors of the AL. 

Perhaps developing young talent is the best option.

[Small Orange Soda]

Think of MU's NIL fund like you think of the Brewer's payroll.   Do not deceive yourself that it is like the Dodger's payroll.  As you make your wish list, this necessarily eliminates high end bidding wars.  The college basketball equivalent of Shohei or Skubal is not coming through the doors of the AL. 

Perhaps developing young talent is the best option.

COLE.

[Shooter McGavin]

It can definitely work but the key is the players have to have talent to develop.  Identifying talent has to be Shaka's and the coaching staff's biggest strength. 

[Pakuni]

Think of MU's NIL fund like you think of the Brewer's payroll.   Do not deceive yourself that it is like the Dodger's payroll.  As you make your wish list, this necessarily eliminates high end bidding wars.  The college basketball equivalent of Shohei or Skubal is not coming through the doors of the AL. 

Perhaps developing young talent is the best option.

The Brewers were in the bottom quarter of MLB payrolls last year. I can assure you, Marquette is not in the bottom quarter of NCAA basketball payrolls. There's plenty of reason to believe Marquette is, and can be, competitive among its peer group.
Paint Touches' reporting on the subject indicates Marquette is no pauper when it comes to NIL funding and payouts.
https://painttouches.com/2024/12/30/how-much-do-marquette-players-make-in-nil/

[tower912]

I have read it.  And I stand by my statement.   Even the numbers cited from a couple of years ago do not allow MU to win a bidding war .

[panda]

I have read it.  And I stand by my statement.   Even the numbers cited from a couple of years ago do not allow MU to win a bidding war .

I don't think anyone expects us to consistently compete with big time NIL spenders in the market.

Seton Hall, butler and providence all signed good players from the portal. We can compete with them for pieces.

[tower912]

I look forward to watching it play out.

[Pakuni]

I have read it.  And I stand by my statement.  Even the numbers cited from a couple of years ago do not allow MU to win a bidding war .

A bidding war with who? Duke? Kentucky? Probably not.
Of course, no one here has once suggested otherwise. It's just a red herring thrown out there by the defenders of a failed strategy.

If we can't even compete with non-bluebloods for talent, why bother continuing this charade of having a high-major basketball program? Admit we're a pauper program and join the Horizon League. They'd love to have us.
But again, nothing about Marquette basketball suggests we're a pauper program lacking in resources. It's just an excuse not rooted in any facts.

[panda]

So do I. I hope Shaka can do everything he can to improve the team for next season.

[CountryRoads]

I don't think anyone expects us to consistently compete with big time NIL spenders in the market.

Seton Hall, butler and providence all signed good players from the portal. We can compete with them for pieces.

Lot of players in the portal. Last year's rankings:

https://247sports.com/season/2025-basketball/transferportaltop/

There are upgrades in the 200-400 range. Think MU could compete for those players.

[Viper]

I have read it.  And I stand by my statement.  Even the numbers cited from a couple of years ago do not allow MU to win a bidding war .

You have no idea what's currently banked in the NIL vault. I don't either. You have no idea how much MU can spend, or is willing to spend, for wins. Same here. Yours is all conjecture.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Lot of players in the portal. Last year's rankings:

https://247sports.com/season/2025-basketball/transferportaltop/

There are upgrades in the 200-400 range. Think MU could compete for those players.

Thank You for compiling rankings. Agree since there are approximately 365 x 15 =5,475 players in Division 1 is that correct. Not saying Caedin is number 5475 but 200-400 range would be awesome

[tower912]

Interesting article out of Connecticut, comparing and contrasting the portal approaches of Hurley, Shaka, and Pitino.   In it, Shaka expresses admiration for how Izzo, Painter, and Hurley recruit and develop their own while using transfers to augment. 

Perhaps Shaka is recalibrating.   

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

[Pakuni]

You have no idea what's currently banked in the NIL vault. I don't either. You have no idea how much MU can spend, or is willing to spend, for wins. Same here. Yours is all conjecture.

You're correct that none of us know Marquette's NIL budget.
What I do know is that Marquette always ranks in the top 25 in attendance and, if I'm not mistaken, was top 10ish last year.
I know Marquette has a passionate, dedicated fanbase that cares way more about its basketball program than most.
I know Marquette is located in a major market with substantial opportunities for corporate investment and sponsorships, and - relatively speaking - little direct competition for those dollars.
I know Marquette men's basketball doesn't have to share a dime of its NIL revenues with a football, baseball or hockey program ... or any program that need substantial investment.

None of those factors can give me an exact dollar amount of what's available, but they're all strong indicators that the revenues to be competitive are out there to be had. If Marquette isn't capturing those revenues, we need better people in charge.

[MU82]

I have read it.  And I stand by my statement.   Even the numbers cited from a couple of years ago do not allow MU to win a bidding war .

I have absolutely no idea how much $$$ Marquette has for NIL. I would think we have enough to compete with the likes of Providence, Creighton, Seton Hall, Butler, Xavier, but maybe not.

It's gonna be an interesting April for MU hoops. (And for MUScoop!)

[Shooter McGavin]

Hope that article Tower mentions is an accurate reflection of how he thinks because that is the most rational thing I have heard this year from the program.  If we had that thought process for the past two years there may have been more than one sweet sixteen to show for it.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Hope that article Tower mentions is an accurate reflection of how he thinks because that is the most rational thing I have heard this year from the program.  If we had that thought process for the past two years there may have been more than one sweet sixteen to show for it.

Sometimes reality needs to slap you in the face before you make the necessary adjustments, whether that's the portal or life in general.

We'll see what happens.

[Zog from Margo]

Interesting article out of Connecticut, comparing and contrasting the portal approaches of Hurley, Shaka, and Pitino.   In it, Shaka expresses admiration for how Izzo, Painter, and Hurley recruit and develop their own while using transfers to augment. 

Perhaps Shaka is recalibrating.   

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Shaka is a smart guy. He knows he needs to turn this around quickly. I don't see how he does that without using the portal. He just had too many misses in the junior and sophomore classes.

[brewcity77]

Think of MU's NIL fund like you think of the Brewer's payroll.   Do not deceive yourself that it is like the Dodger's payroll.  As you make your wish list, this necessarily eliminates high end bidding wars.  The college basketball equivalent of Shohei or Skubal is not coming through the doors of the AL. 

Perhaps developing young talent is the best option.

We don't need Kentucky's payroll. But clearly this assembly of talent isn't enough. We can certainly compete for transfers with the likes of Seton Hall, Villanova, and Butler.

Right now, there are 4 paths to roster build.

• US Transfers: This is the most reliable path because they have a D1 track record to assess, but also the most expensive.
• Elite HS Players: Think top-40 recruits. Returns vary but generally these are immediate impact guys. Next most expensive.
• Foreign Pros: Wide variability in quality & hard to evaluate, but cheaper than domestic talent.
• Developmental HS Players: Sub-40 recruits. Typically take years to pay off, cheaper than most other options but if they don't hit it's usually a long term wasted investment.

At the moment, we're not using 3 of the 4 paths. We're using a low reliability, long term payoff method that requires the staff to hit on about 75% of their targets. When we miss (and we have more misses than hits on the roster now) there's no alternative to supplement talent.

The biggest issue is this staff seems to have believed this team was good enough. They saw these guys in practice and thought they were Big East level players. If the only method we're using requires elite talent identification and development, and this staff isn't proving elite at either with this current roster, and most of this roster is locked into being back for the next 2-3 years, "developing young talent" is simply not a viable option if we want to meet our expected level of success.

[mug644]

Interesting article out of Connecticut, comparing and contrasting the portal approaches of Hurley, Shaka, and Pitino.   In it, Shaka expresses admiration for how Izzo, Painter, and Hurley recruit and develop their own while using transfers to augment. 

Perhaps Shaka is recalibrating.   

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Link?

And, of course, he's recalibrating...he's been reading MU Scoop.

[swoopem]

Perhaps developing young talent is the best option.

The guys that everyone (mostly) want to see transfer have had plenty of time to grow and develop. They haven't. It's time to move on from Tre, Caedin, and Sean. Thankfully Zaide already left and hopefully started the trend. They've all had 3 years and they've shown they don't belong at this level.


*maybe Sean did but he doesn't anymore

[Farley36]

Portal wish list
1.  New AD
2.  New head coach
3.  Entirely new roster