Goodbye Baraka Okojie

[jessej]

More detail on Memphis' comings and goings:

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/2024/04/22/baraka-okojie-memphis-basketball-transfer-george-mason-penny-hardaway/73389534007/

1000 players left in the portal
there will be a lot of former players with no scholarships when the music stops playing
and i am sure that most of them have not made other plans
I hope that they have filled out the financial aid forms for regular university admission.

 

[GMU79]

1000 players left in the portal
there will be a lot of former players with no scholarships when the music stops playing
and i am sure that most of them have not made other plans
I hope that they have filled out the financial aid forms for regular university admission.

Sad that the $ signs blinded so many of them.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Sad that the $ signs blinded so many of them.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[TweederGMU]

Didn’t they just get a 5 mil NIL donation? He probably got a nice check.

$25 million from FedEx

 

[GMU1983]

Quite impressive. Can't fault him if he had an offer from them.

The A10 is better than the American…

 

[psyclone]

More detail on Memphis' comings and goings:

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/2024/04/22/baraka-okojie-memphis-basketball-transfer-george-mason-penny-hardaway/73389534007/

and....

"He becomes the second guard commit of the day, coming just hours after former Texas guard Tyrese Hunter also announced his commitment to Memphis on Monday. Okojie and Hunter become the fourth and fifth players to commit to the Tigers including former Tulsa guard PJ Haggerty, former Illinois forward Dain Dainja and former Wichita State guard Colby Rogers."

"As just a sophomore coming from the Atlantic 10, Okojie likely slots into the rotation as a backup point guard. Haggerty, Hunter and Rogers were all double-digit scorers at their previous stops."

Tigers add guard Baraka Okojie from transfer portal

Okojie led George Mason to a 20-12 record while averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 assists per game

www.localmemphis.com

 

[GMU79]

and....

"He becomes the second guard commit of the day, coming just hours after former Texas guard Tyrese Hunter also announced his commitment to Memphis on Monday. Okojie and Hunter become the fourth and fifth players to commit to the Tigers including former Tulsa guard PJ Haggerty, former Illinois forward Dain Dainja and former Wichita State guard Colby Rogers."

"As just a sophomore coming from the Atlantic 10, Okojie likely slots into the rotation as a backup point guard. Haggerty, Hunter and Rogers were all double-digit scorers at their previous stops."

Tigers add guard Baraka Okojie from transfer portal

Okojie led George Mason to a 20-12 record while averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 assists per game

www.localmemphis.com

More money. Less playing time. Hope he thinks it's worth it.

 

[gmuballer14]

Hall and Okojie definitely didn't get the package they thought they were going to get. Definitely can see Mason make the tournament while both of them watch at home.

 

[GMUgemini]

Hall and Okojie definitely didn't get the package they thought they were going to get. Definitely can see Mason make the tournament while both of them watch at home.

Memphis has a better shot of winning the American next season, but this could be the downside to unfettered free agency that forces second thoughts in some players in the future.

A pro league has an orderly free agency period. You know who you are in competition with generally speaking and your value against that competition for contracts. With the NCAA who knows who is going to enter into the portal with you or how many players who play your position? 2,000+ this season plus thousands of high school seniors vying for spots and community colleges and division 2? So much volatility and with only so many roster spots on the big money teams out there. It’s a gamble to roster hop—there are no guarantees, no fallback contract waiting to sign.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Memphis has a better shot of winning the American next season, but this could be the downside to unfettered free agency that forces second thoughts in some players in the future.

A pro league has an orderly free agency period. You know who you are in competition with generally speaking and your value against that competition for contracts. With the NCAA who knows who is going to enter into the portal with you or how many players who play your position? 2,000+ this season plus thousands of high school seniors vying for spots and community colleges and division 2? So much volatility and with only so many roster spots on the big money teams out there. It’s a gamble to roster hop—there are no guarantees, no fallback contract waiting to sign.

I expect things will calm down when the pool of players shrinks due to the exhaustion of the extra covid year of eligibility.

 

[Patriot8]

Hall and Okojie definitely didn't get the package they thought they were going to get. Definitely can see Mason make the tournament while both of them watch at home.

I’d wager that Okojie is getting something in the range of 120k-150k on the low end.

 

[gmuballer14]

What was he getting here?

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

What was he getting here?

A pack of Bubblicious (grape), four golf tees, and a McDonalds gift card.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

What was he getting here?

I’d like to know as well.

 

[jruby]

To be totally fair, how many coaches go to the final four twice in their career?

It wasn’t a knock, it was more he would have 2 good seasons than a meh year, then 2 good seasons. Just way he built teams.

I meant it’s all Mason has ever known, there are other ways to success was what I meant, not discounting him. Of course everyone would take him back.

 

[Old Man]

I’d wager that Okojie is getting something in the range of 120k-150k on the low end.

Good for him if that's true, however, he better invest well. If he doesn't get the playing time he expects or gets recruited over, that 'income' could be short lived, AND he will have less highlights to convince the NBA to give him a shot.

I suggest he take that money and learn Croatian or Spanish because that's likely where he'll be playing when his college career is done. And to be fair, that might have been his destination if he stayed at Mason, but he would also have had our undying love and gratitude forever which now he won't. So there that.

 

[GMU79]

Good for him if that's true, however, he better invest well. If he doesn't get the playing time he expects or gets recruited over, that 'income' could be short lived, AND he will have less highlights to convince the NBA to give him a shot.

I suggest he take that money and learn Croatian or Spanish because that's likely where he'll be playing when his college career is done. And to be fair, that might have been his destination if he stayed at Mason, but he would also have had our undying love and gratitude forever which now he won't. So there that.

Yep, that money won't last any time. Better to stay at Mason and develop his game than sit on the bench and end up needing to get a real job when he graduates.

 

[Verdad]

Implying that he has less of a chance to play in Europe going to Memphis is just sour grapes. Can't argue with his decision - if he doesnt get significant playing time over the next year or two - he can transfer again to somewhere he will.

 

[emjayar08]

More money. Less playing time. Hope he thinks it's worth it.

Can a Canadian receive NIL?

 

[GMUgemini]

Can a Canadian receive NIL?

Yes. But he has to do his “work” when he’s back in his home country for breaks.