2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist

[79Warrior]

There wasn't a scholarship available.

It is rare that I disagree with Brew, but if nobody else leaves the priority has to be a combo guard with size.  Because as the 26-27 roster is currently situated guards are NJ, AS, Tre, and Sean.   Injuries always happen.  You can win playing small ball, but you cannot win with poor guard play. 2003-4, Buzz's final season.

I do remember Crean game years ago when we had no point guard to bring the ball up due to injuries.I agree with importance of guard play, but personally I am over getting demolished at the 5 by other teams. We need a legit big man.

[Viper]

I do remember Crean game years ago when we had no point guard to bring the ball up due to injuries.I agree with importance of guard play, but personally I am over getting demolished at the 5 by other teams. We need a legit big man.

that was 'Action' Jackson playing point center!!! I do agree, Shaka needs a legit big...rim run, boards. (I thought Clark would be that guy) Back-up pg too.

[romey]

that was 'Action' Jackson playing point center!!! I do agree, Shaka needs a legit big...rim run, boards. (I thought Clark would be that guy) Back-up pg too.

Walk-on Rob Hanley got some run even.

Have we "moved on" from Clark?  At one point there was some sentiment that his length could be useful.  It seems that he is getting very few minutes now.

Personally, I like his upside and am hopeful he can contribute next year.

[panda]

Walk-on Rob Hanley got some run even.

Have we "moved on" from Clark?  At one point there was some sentiment that his length could be useful.  It seems that he is getting very few minutes now.

Personally, I like his upside and am hopeful he can contribute next year.

The only thing Clark has going for him is people compare him to Hamilton.

[brewcity77]

Why wasn't a big the #1 focus this past offseason?

Gold
Hamilton
Clark
Parham

That is criminal.

Sheek and Clark are two years away from meaningful production.
We need a big next year, even more than this past year.

I suspect it's twofold.

First, I think the staff believed Ben was at his best as a stretch 4. They've long talked about how they want him to play and how they believe there's more there than what he showed. That meant moving someone else to the 5.

Which led to the second problem, the staff misevaluated Caedin Hamilton. Maybe it's the whole "better in practice" thing but I think Caedin was better in practice because he was going against Josh and Parham in the post. One wasn't ready and one isn't physically built to defend 250-lb post players. They mistakenly thought Caedin's practice dominance against guys who weren't Big East level interior defenders was real when it clearly wasn't.

I do think Big East starting big is the top need, and hopefully Sheek can be the rotation piece. But that does require counting on a redshirt freshman and we've been down that road before. You can tell me until you're blue in the face that Pearson is different but I'll believe it when I see it consistently against high majors.

Then we need a scorer on the wing to replace 2023-24 Kam Jones (something we've failed to do for two years). Someone who can also help with ball handling would be ideal, but a 23-26% usage capable scorer is necessary.

Anything else is a luxury.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I just looked at his recruiting page and it actually looks like we were one of his first offers!

For most that would probably be a good thing but Shaka seems like a grudge guy. Choosing Providence over Marquette probably eliminates him as a target rather than enhance his ability to be a target of Shaka lol. You would think if he was good enough for the culture then, why wouldn't he be now? But who knows.

A "grudge guy".

There is nothing whatsoever to indicate Shaka is a "grudge guy". In fact, he seems to be the very opposite.

Where do you come up with some of this nonsense?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It seems to me they are one in the same with Shaka. He holds having an agent against a kid like one would hold a grudge.

It's baffling that he would close the door on so many athletes who have these advisors. Especially when the best of the best will obviously have agents. So we won't take transfers but we also eliminate ourselves from the best high school talent. This is where we end up.

It's too bad we lost Egbuonu because he has an agent.

[Small Orange Soda]

Which led to the second problem, the staff misevaluated Caedin Hamilton. Maybe it's the whole "better in practice" thing but I think Caedin was better in practice because he was going against Royce and Parham in the post. One wasn't ready and one isn't physically built to defend 250-lb post players. They mistakenly thought Caedin's practice dominance against guys who weren't Big East level interior defenders was real when it clearly wasn't.

The issue, to me, is that this is the second year they've evaluated Caedin that way. I'm not a Fire Shaka guy, but this is the most damning critique of his entire tenure.

[Newsdreams]

We sure about that wingspan?

He said he spent the offseason working on the triple. No word if he made 10k shots or not.

The kid does get to the line a TON. I'd take him (pawz).

But does he have that look?

[DoctorV]

I had St Thomas on the side tv on Sunday while watching a soccer game.

I must've caught one of Minessales worst stretches of the season but it was really really bad...

I get that everyone has a bad game but usually studs seems to jump off the screen at lower levels and his athleticism didn't seem to fit the bill.
They were playing a 4-16 team.
On one possession he did this quadruple fake thing in the post to trick the defender that almost made me fall off the couch in laughter, and then he got swatted.

Not trying to disparage the kid but in the 15-20 mins of real time that I watch it was not good.

On the other hand, he's got a teammate named Bjerke that went 10-12 from 3.
He's 6-9, pretty unathletic, but is shooting 47% from 3 and shot 42% last year and 47% in year 1. A guy like that would be a decent one year Caedin replacement imo.
Probably only gives you 10-12 mpg but can light it up with guys getting him the ball for some open looks

[Viper]

I had St Thomas on the side tv on Sunday while watching a soccer game.

I must've caught one of Minessales worst stretches of the season but it was really really bad...

I get that everyone has a bad game but usually studs seems to jump off the screen at lower levels and his athleticism didn't seem to fit the bill.
They were playing a 4-16 team.
On one possession he did this quadruple fake thing in the post to trick the defender that almost made me fall off the couch in laughter, and then he got swatted.

Not trying to disparage the kid but in the 15-20 mins of real time that I watch it was not good.

On the other hand, he's got a teammate named Bjerke that went 10-12 from 3.
He's 6-9, pretty unathletic, but is shooting 47% from 3 and shot 42% last year and 47% in year 1. A guy like that would be a decent one year Caedin replacement imo.
Probably only gives you 10-12 mpg but can light it up with guys getting him the ball for some open looks

Bjerke's #'s are what Shaka needed from Gold. Definitely need a big w/Lowrey's scholly, imo...they are out there. Watch any random game and teams have 'bigs' better than MU.

[Tha Hound]

Yeah I agree. Give me a starting center and a backup point guard. And then a wing or a shooter depth piece if we need a third scholarship filled.

This isn't enough quality. Two starter-level players (doesn't mean they need to actually start) should be the goal.

We have plenty of promising young depth coming through the ranks. We need proven talent from the portal to allow the young guys to grow.

[BCHoopster]

Last year 2100 kids or more went into the portal, he can find a big, a guard will be no problem

[muwarrior69]

I had St Thomas on the side tv on Sunday while watching a soccer game.

I must've caught one of Minessales worst stretches of the season but it was really really bad...

I get that everyone has a bad game but usually studs seems to jump off the screen at lower levels and his athleticism didn't seem to fit the bill.
They were playing a 4-16 team.
On one possession he did this quadruple fake thing in the post to trick the defender that almost made me fall off the couch in laughter, and then he got swatted.

Not trying to disparage the kid but in the 15-20 mins of real time that I watch it was not good.

On the other hand, he's got a teammate named Bjerke that went 10-12 from 3.
He's 6-9, pretty unathletic, but is shooting 47% from 3 and shot 42% last year and 47% in year 1. A guy like that would be a decent one year Caedin replacement imo.
Probably only gives you 10-12 mpg but can light it up with guys getting him the ball for some open looks

At least his shooting isn't regressing.