2025 Portal Season

[gmujim92]

Didnt okojiestart the tourney game for Memphis?

Yes because their starting PG was hurt.

 

[gmujim92]

Alright a run down on my predictions of who stays/goes and potential targets.

As is well known we have 5 seniors who do not have any eligibility yet. Two of those spots are being taken by incoming freshmen in Devin Booker and Emmanuel Kanga. Kanga in particular I expect to see genuine minutes from pretty quickly in the season.

But that leaves us with 8 players who could in theory come back next year. Of those 8 here’s what I think will happen:
Quigley: Became PG4 pretty quickly and basically didn’t play from post Thanksgiving on. Hes not coming back.
Stas: Staff like him, as long as he’s happy here and comfortable with his role, very hard to see him leaving.
Cokely: Maybe the wildcard since he’s both a true Frosh and didn’t see the ball like Begg did this year. I think he stays with more space available at the 2 and 3 next year, but I wouldn’t be necessarily shocked if he leaves for greater opportunity somewhere.
Begg: I can see a situation where Begg, who was an Ekanam recruit, want to transfer to a similar level closer to home. But, if we’ve made him comfortable there is a very clear opportunity for him to get more playing time next year. At the moment, I believe he stays.
Ball: Got super sick at the worst possible time of the season and understandably redshirted, especially with the depth we had at the wings last year. Seems to love it here, but again, would understand if he decides to transfer for a more certain opportunity. 50/50, I’m not leaning any one way at this point.
Haynes: As I said on another thread, I don’t think our competition is as much a P4/5 school as much as it is opportunities in Europe with Haynes. Issues with transferring again are real and it’s likely much much easier for him to stay here if he wants to stay in college for one last year. We’ll see where this goes, but at the moment… I think he’s a patriot again next year.
BOC: Could be in a lead role next year and a leader. Staff likes him. Don’t think he’d get much better opportunities elsewhere. Pretty confident he’s a Patriot again (and possibly a captain)
Gio: This is the only player that’s been mentioned in the acclaimed Trilly Donovan discord as a player who will enter the portal. Would be stunned if he stays, especially if Haynes sticks around and Kanga coming in. Probably the player the fan base had the most frustration with by the end of the season who was getting consistent time. IMO- gone.


Early targets to watch:
Deshawn Harris-Smith: Highly touted out of PVI, he’s seen his playing time significant decrease this season in particular. Tony was his main recruiter when he was an assistant at UMD and Lamar coached him at PVI. High defensive motor, I’ve heard if he does transfer he wants to stay local. Definite target that will be at the top of our list.

Quinton Mincey: Talented wing originally from Upper Marlboro from UMass Lowell who is applying for a hardship waiver. His advisor has said he’s heard from us. Likely connections to Coach Hinnant.

Martin Somerville: Another UMass Lowell transfer who was really solid as a freshman this year for them. We were looking at him, but passed for Begg. But connections are there and as a local kid himself, would be shocked if we weren’t targeting him.

Baraka Okojie: Yea wouldn’t this be something. Relationship is still there and if he transfers there seems to be interest in returning. May need to rebuild confidence after Penny buried him as the 8th/9th man this year.

Others have said they’d take Baraka back and I would too, but that most likely means Begg is gone. Can’t see him being willing to (potentially) sit behind a guy just one class ahead of him, especially since BOC will also see time at PG and as mentioned the staff is going to bring in other guards.

If Baraka’s knee is 100%, his length and slashing ability are the differentiators for me. Makes you better defensively when you have a 6-3 PG with long arms who doesn’t get switched into mismatches.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Interesting how Baraka was listed at 6'3" at Mason but 6'1" at Memphis. Gotta love it!

 

[dr. gunnie]

Good news - I’ve heard the logo will be back for next season. That’s a major win.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Nothing against Okojie, but he made his decision to leave. He can dry his tears of riding the bench with some FedEx package paper. I'd much rather see Begg become our starting PG.

 

[hoops10]

i watched the Chattanooga game yesterday and came away really impressed with their two guards. Especially this kid, last name Huff. I dont know his status but from a playing aspect he is amazing Lighning quick, can dribble in crowds, and what a shooter. Draining threes like layups. Great point guard skills.. Would be an incredible addition to Mason team. Not sure if he will enter the portal. Maybe someone can give deeper details.

 

[gmujim92]

Nothing against Okojie, but he made his decision to leave. He can dry his tears of riding the bench with some FedEx package paper. I'd much rather see Begg become our starting PG.

Just playing devil’s advocate, Sebastian Thomas left Rhode Island and came back to be far and away their best player (all-A10 third team) as a senior.

Max Shulga left vcu for Villanova, then vcu got him back and he won A-10 POY.

Stuff like this is gonna happen with wide-open transfer rules.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Just playing devil’s advocate, Sebastian Thomas left Rhode Island and came back to be far and away their best player (all-A10 third team) as a senior.

Max Shulga left vcu for Villanova, then vcu got him back and he won A-10 POY.

Stuff like this is gonna happen with wide-open transfer rules.

Not familiar with Thomas's story, but Shulga came back for Odom, right? In our case he'd be coming back to same coaching staff and system. If Okojie initiated the interest and the staff thought it would work then they obviously knows what's best. Seems like a waste of resources trying to recruit him back though. Plenty of other ballers out there.

 

[gmujim92]

Not familiar with Thomas's story, but Shulga came back for Odom, right? In our case he'd be coming back to same coaching staff and system. If Okojie initiated the interest and the staff thought it would work then they obviously knows what's best. Seems like a waste of resources trying to recruit him back though. Plenty of other ballers out there.

If there’s still a relationship I wouldn’t expect there to be much of a recruiting process at all. The player either wants to come back or he doesn’t, or the staff wants him back or doesn’t. Pretty straightforward situation.

 

[GMUgemini]

If there’s still a relationship I wouldn’t expect there to be much of a recruiting process at all. The player either wants to come back or he doesn’t, or the staff wants him back or doesn’t. Pretty straightforward situation.

If Okojie winds up back on the roster I wouldn’t complain. And given Skinn’s offense nothing prevents Okojie and Begg from being on the floor together, hell nothing prevents Okojie, Begg, and O’Connor from being on the floor together.

But who knows if it will happen. Okojie left for money not playing time.

 

[jessej]

If there’s still a relationship I wouldn’t expect there to be much of a recruiting process at all. The player either wants to come back or he doesn’t, or the staff wants him back or doesn’t. Pretty straightforward situation.

Would there be a money/NIL issue?

 

[gmujim92]

Would there be a money/NIL issue?

He more or less knows what we can pay. If he’s interested in coming back, money obviously is not an issue.

 

[Falco]

My guess, and it's 100% a guess based on gut feelings and NO inside information of any kind.
Gio - goes
Jalen - goes
Stas - stays
Ball - stays
O'Connor - stays
Cokley - goes
Begg - stays/goes - how's that for being noncommittal?
Quigley - already gone

Similar feelings. But I hope we can convince Jalen to stay! I’d really like to see Ball play I think he’s going to be a stud

 

[jruby]

Similar feelings. But I hope we can convince Jalen to stay! I’d really like to see Ball play I think he’s going to be a stud

I like Ball not sure why he would leave? He chose to redshirt, he still has 3 years and can make an impact next year. If he leaves where’s he going? He didn’t play at all this year, not a lot of tape for coaches to recruit him off.

 

[illayin]

jordan marsh in the pool...was he a KE or TS recruit? either way a PG that has developed nicely at UNCA

edit: oh wait... he decommitted or became a nonpriority after KE left i think?

 

[Verdad]

jordan marsh in the pool...was he a KE or TS recruit? either way a PG that has developed nicely at UNCA

edit: oh wait... he decommitted or became a nonpriority after KE left i think?

I think thats correct - KE commit we questioned as a take, then he decommited and dont think there was interest from CTS, but could be wrong

 

[mkaufman1]

jordan marsh in the pool...was he a KE or TS recruit? either way a PG that has developed nicely at UNCA

edit: oh wait... he decommitted or became a nonpriority after KE left i think?

I think thats correct - KE commit we questioned as a take, then he decommited and dont think there was interest from CTS, but could be wrong

He was a late Feb 2023/ March 2023 commit and then CTS wasn’t interested in him.

Dez White also in the portal.

Also ROY in the Patriot League Holy Cross guard Max Green is in the portal - 6’6 point guard (yes he plays point). Complete stud who I’ve been watching all year. Supposedly Kentucky will be all over him, although I would love for Mason to get involved. I could also see him going to like Richmond. Will be interesting to see his journey.

 

[Verdad]

He was a late Feb 2023/ March 2023 commit and then CTS wasn’t interested in him.

Dez White also in the portal.

Also ROY in the Patriot League Holy Cross guard Max Green is in the portal - 6’6 point guard (yes he plays point). Complete stud who I’ve been watching all year. Supposedly Kentucky will be all over him, although I would love for Mason to get involved. I could also see him going to like Richmond. Will be interesting to see his journey.

It would be a dick move to steal a DP kid, but Id love to have him!

 

[mkaufman1]

It would be a dick move to steal a DP kid, but Id love to have him!

Haha- once he showed any potential he was going to move up. Suspect he will be a bag candidate but not sure. Always hard to tell.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

Nothing against Okojie, but he made his decision to leave. He can dry his tears of riding the bench with some FedEx package paper. I'd much rather see Begg become our starting PG.

I think Begg has the potential to become a star. Throw out his numbers in November and look at what he did since Dec 1. Shot 50% (16-32) from deep. Showed a lot better judgement running the point and improved defensively, and he's fast as hell. I'd hate to see him leave.