Transfer Portal Targets

[NickRU714]

Yes - but for every up and comer who works out making the step up there are 3+ who fail miserably.

That will always be the case.
What happens when Pike retires?
Just close up the program since any HC hire is destined to fail?

Drake seems to have back to back to back successful coach hires that many are envious of (Medved, DeVries and McCollum).
It's rude but Rutgers isn't smarter than McNese State?
Medved went from Drake to Colorado State to Minnesota. Rutgers isn't smarter than Colorado State?

 

[Shelby65]

You and others only focus on the flavor of the minute and compare our coach to that guy as if it’s a given that would be the outcome if we were to make a change. I’m saying that for every example like that which you point to there are far more examples of coaches who had success at a lower level but when given the opportunity to do the same at a high major do not succeed (aka fail). I’m not sure why one would assume that if we were to replace Pike, it’s a given we’d land that unicorn stud.

Shelby isn’t assuming that. But as with Schiano too, there comes a point when you realize mediocrity is the coach’s ceiling and if you’re truly aspiring for more you fire the coach and hope for a brighter future. Unfortunately, mediocrity is the goal for RU and the undeserved contract extensions for Pike and Schiano prove it. More proof is other more successful coaches than ours being fired every year.

 

[NickRU714]

You and others only focus on the flavor of the minute and compare our coach to that guy as if it’s a given that would be the outcome if we were to make a change. I’m saying that for every example like that which you point to there are far more examples of coaches who had success at a lower level but when given the opportunity to do the same at a high major do not succeed (aka fail). I’m not sure why one would assume that if we were to replace Pike, it’s a given we’d land that unicorn stud.

Hope springs eternal!
Because we're Rutgers!!
We hit on Pike.
So why not again?

I know it's incredibly naive but what's the alternative?
"Our HC is terrible but we might as well keep him because the AD is too dumb to identify an improvement."
Not saying Pike is terrible and needs to be replaced now.
But in general no coach should be kept because "well we probably can't do better".

 

[NickRU714]

If the new coach fails then you replace him too.

Can't be scared of change.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

If the new coach fails then you replace him too.

Can't be scared of change.

Yeah that's what Nebraska football fans were saying when they fired Bo Pelini because he ONLY won 9-10 games every year. In the 10 years since they've only won 9 games once and that was in year 2 after he was fired.

So while you can't be scared of change, you also need the right reasons for making the change in the first place.

 

[LotusAggressor]

I wouldn’t say ‘fail miserably’. Anyhow, Shelby was merely refuting the point that we can’t do better than Pike. Of course we can.

He’s an average coach. The next guy, who and whenever that is, is just as likely to be better as not. NIL doesn’t change the odds.

We certainly can do better. The question is whether they will do better.

 

[Shelby65]

We certainly can do better. The question is whether they will do better.

yes. no hire is a guaranteed big winner. but that not a reason to keep an average coach, if he’s even that.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

Funny part is that people are not thrilled with these potential transfers—if you look at majority of these teams in NCAA many of them are from these types of schools who transferred up

Two examples:
Nelson from Bama
Sears from Bama

Even RJ Luis started at UMass

For every sears and Nelson there are 100 guys who couldn’t cut it from lower leagues. They’re outliers and can’t be used as an example.

Also Nelson was one of the bigger names in the transfer portal his year. These guys aren’t even close to that level.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

Bargain bin shopping. Cam Spencer is Rutgers only find, same coaching staff, can’t trust we will find those low major gems

Jacob young was good. Didn’t come from a smaller school but was forgotten about at Texas.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

I have seen Spencer mentioned as some hidden gem a few times

Spencer was a 4 star rated transfer and advanced metrics superstar

Those type of transfers cost 7 figures now

His only other P5 offers were Loyola Chicago and kstate. He was not a big time transfer and wouldn’t have cost even close to a million.

 

[seansherm]

Jacob young was good. Didn’t come from a smaller school but was forgotten about at Texas.

Forgotten about? He played 17 minutes a game his first two years there and was only at 21 his first year here after sitting out a year.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

Forgotten about? He played 17 minutes a game his first two years there and was only at 21 his first year here after sitting out a year.

Yea coming off the bench for 17 minute and 5 ppg isn’t that’s not good for a pretty high recruit. Not sure what you didn’t get from that.

 

[lion1983]

His only other P5 offers were Loyola Chicago and kstate. He was not a big time transfer and wouldn’t have cost even close to a million.

And I think he got $100K to $200 K from UConn, FYI, to leave RU.

 

[seansherm]

Yea coming off the bench for 17 minute and 5 ppg isn’t that’s not good for a pretty high recruit. Not sure what you didn’t get from that.

I'm not sure where he got lost. Freshman and soph plays 17 min and two years later is only up to 21. Seems like he was playing what he should have been. He wasn't lost.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

And I think he got $100K to $200 K from UConn, FYI, to leave RU.

Yea and that was after he already showed he could thrive in the big ten. No patriot league guard I getting a 7 figure pay day.

 

[NickRU714]

His only other P5 offers were Loyola Chicago and kstate. He was not a big time transfer and wouldn’t have cost even close to a million.

This is exactly what w need to do for players (and eventually a HC whenever necessary).

Identify the guy a year before he blows up.
Hope he blows up as expected.
Then unfortunately likely lose the guy to a richer program.

The idea of paying for a guy who has already blown up or is an established talent likely isn't going to happen - no matter how many times people complain about the lack of donations.

Take Ben McCollum for example - a coach many said would never have even considered coming here.
But go back a year when he left SW Missouri State after eleven 1st place finishes for Drake.
Is a coach really picking Drake over Rutgers?
It wouldn't have been Iowa v. Rutgers.


Rutgers needs to identify the coach a year earlier than everyone else and pounce.
Same with players.

 

[LotusAggressor]

This is exactly what w need to do for players (and eventually a HC whenever necessary).

Identify the guy a year before he blows up.
Hope he blows up as expected.
Then unfortunately likely lose the guy to a richer program.

The idea of paying for a guy who has already blown up or is an established talent likely isn't going to happen - no matter how many times people complain about the lack of donations.

Take Ben McCollum for example - a coach many said would never have even considered coming here.
But go back a year when he left SW Missouri State after eleven 1st place finishes for Drake.
Is a coach really picking Drake over Rutgers?
It wouldn't have been Iowa v. Rutgers.


Rutgers needs to identify the coach a year earlier than everyone else and pounce.
Same with players.

That requires a level of evaluation and foresight not seen in these parts.

 

[FinalFourOrBust]

This is exactly what w need to do for players (and eventually a HC whenever necessary).

Identify the guy a year before he blows up.
Hope he blows up as expected.
Then unfortunately likely lose the guy to a richer program.

The idea of paying for a guy who has already blown up or is an established talent likely isn't going to happen - no matter how many times people complain about the lack of donations.

Take Ben McCollum for example - a coach many said would never have even considered coming here.
But go back a year when he left SW Missouri State after eleven 1st place finishes for Drake.
Is a coach really picking Drake over Rutgers?
It wouldn't have been Iowa v. Rutgers.


Rutgers needs to identify the coach a year earlier than everyone else and pounce.
Same with players.

Agreed but if they got McCollum last year , he still could have left for a better P5 job this year like devries did at wvu. These coaches aren’t any more loyal than the players.

 

[RUChow]

For every sears and Nelson there are 100 guys who couldn’t cut it from lower leagues. They’re outliers and can’t be used as an example.

Also Nelson was one of the bigger names in the transfer portal his year. These guys aren’t even close to that level.

So power 4 coaches are only right 1% of the time evaluating transfers. I don't think so. I'd guess that at least 25% "can cut it." Maybe not be stars but can cut it.

 

[RUChow]

This would be scary bad. Northwest Oklahoma State? NJIT?

Cam Mcdowell looks like a Pike kid, and can play in the Big 10, and be good.

 

[MCKnight2004]

McDowell was also a Georgia Commit at one point, so he’s high major d1 ability

 

[colbert17]

I haven't read through the thread but just commenting from the title.
I really don't care who comes in because if they don't like the way they're being used or they're not making enough money they'll be gone in a year anyway. I shock myself with how little interest I have in college basketball now. The first two days of the tournament use to be like national holidays for me. Would always take those days off and watch from noon until 2:00 AM. This year I don't think I watched a total of 30 minutes.
I love the game of basketball and had been involved in it in some capacity for nearly 60 years. For a couple of years now the NBA has been unwatchable. It's like watching extremely talented athletes playing Sunday morning games at the local Y. NCAA basketball is quickly catching up to this.

 

[knights1212]

Aaron Bradshaw is now in the portal again. He was from Rahway and played at Roselle Catholic and Camden. He is 7’1” and played a year at Kentucky and a year at Ohio State. We need a center and it would be nice if we could bring him back to play at RU which is very close to Rahway.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Aaron Bradshaw is now in the portal again. He was from Rahway and played at Roselle Catholic and Camden. He is 7’1” and played a year at Kentucky and a year at Ohio State. We need a center and it would be nice if we could bring him back to play at RU which is very close to Rahway.

I don’t know. He barely saw the floor for an OSU team that wasn’t that good. Doesn’t seem like a very good rebounder at all.

 

[toby83]

I was wondering what happened to Bradshaw, had no idea was at Ohio State.
He was a soft HS player for his size.

 

[toby83]

Surprised Manhattan's Will Sydnor not in the portal yet

 

[RUHoopsHQ]

Francis stats are pretty good, considering his tape and how many 3a he's taken in his 1st 2 years. In a scenario with him as a guard off the bench, he could be a solid contributor. He's not a starter, but as a 4th or 5th guard, he could help RU much more than a Jalen Miller, PJ Hayes or something along those lines.

69-213 from 3 is a ton of shots....with better shot selection, he's probably around 36 to 38% from 3 the next 2 years and if he's not, 32% on high volume is still more likely to generate more 3s than most guards we have had in a while off the bench.

Tariq Francis Career Stats - NCAAM - ESPN

Complete career NCAAM stats for the NJIT Highlanders Guard Tariq Francis on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.

www.espn.com

He's not that good

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

He's not that good

I’d take Jalen Miller back over him. At least we know he can handle the ball at the p5 level and plays defense. Scoring against American East opponents means literally nothing.

He’s 6 foot tall listed which means he’s not even 6 foot tall. He can only play PG. And he’s in the top 50 nationally for turnovers. That’s horrendous.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

He's not that good

Is he better than what we brought off the bench last year?? And the year before that??

Do you have a better option at this price range, for a 4th or 5th guard??

Keep in mind, I have to assume another (better) guard or combo guard is brought on board and that Lino Mark and Kaden Powers are the 2nd and 3rd guards, competing with J Mike Davis.....Francis as a 4th or 5th guard is a good pick up.....no one is expecting him to start.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Is he better than what we brought off the bench last year?? And the year before that??

Do you have a better option at this price range, for a 4th or 5th guard??

Keep in mind, I have to assume another (better) guard or combo guard is brought on board and that Lino Mark and Kaden Powers are the 2nd and 3rd guards, competing with J Mike Davis.....Francis as a 4th or 5th guard is a good pick up.....no one is expecting him to start.

At what price range? Thats the problem. We dont know that. When you listen to the podcast, it sure doesn’t sound like bringing in another significantly better guard is a given. As I’ve stated before, if that’s the case, and Francis comes super cheap, then sure - happy to have him. I don’t think he’s worth 6 figures though. The odds of him being both good enough at D and a steady enough ball handler to play back up point minutes in the BIG just isn’t high enough to allocate resources.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

At what price range? Thats the problem. We dont know that. When you listen to the podcast, it sure doesn’t sound like bringing in another significantly better guard is a given. As I’ve stated before, if that’s the case, and Francis comes super cheap, then sure - happy to have him. I don’t think he’s worth 6 figures though. The odds of him being both good enough at D and a steady enough ball handler to play back up point minutes in the BIG just isn’t high enough to allocate resources.

I listened to the podcast, but I don't find much of it as accurate. NIL is a rumor mill with no way of knowing what anyone is making and the only true source would be an agent, who's # 1 goal is to lie about what a player got in NIL, because the higher the rumored amount is, benefits the agent 1st.

All i know are actual AAU circuit people and coaches, HS coaches, refs who call NCAA games and scouts who grind 11 months a year in hoops. And the only ones who want a GM, are the agents, so they can create even more chaos and market uncertainty for players who we all don't know, how hard they will work or play, once they get a few hundred thousand dollars in the next 12 months.

Are agents and these supposed GMs offering a refund for players who loaf and no show, because some GM or agent overpromised something that the coaching staffs didn't agree to??

Any reasonable AAU coach or parents aren't dealing with a GM when it comes to how a player is or isn't planning to be used or what the role is....they're going right to the lead assistant coaches who have the relationship with the family or player.

The media is trying to make something more complicated than reality.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I listened to the podcast, but I don't find much of it as accurate. NIL is a rumor mill with no way of knowing what anyone is making and the only true source would be an agent, who's # 1 goal is to lie about what a player got in NIL, because the higher the rumored amount is, benefits the agent 1st.

All i know are actual AAU circuit people and coaches, HS coaches, refs who call NCAA games and scouts who grind 11 months a year in hoops. And the only ones who want a GM, are the agents, so they can create even more chaos and market uncertainty for players who we all don't know, how hard they will work or play, once they get a few hundred thousand dollars in the next 12 months.

Are agents and these supposed GMs offering a refund for players who loaf and no show, because some GM or agent overpromised something that the coaching staffs didn't agree to??

Any reasonable AAU coach or parents aren't dealing with a GM when it comes to how a player is or isn't planning to be used or what the role is....they're going right to the lead assistant coaches who have the relationship with the family or player.

The media is trying to make something more complicated than reality.

What don’t you find accurate? No $$$s were discussed on the podcast at all. Richie simply sounded pessimistic based on who was on our visitor list. There was no mention of price tag except regarding a wing we're not going after because he’s asking 7 figures.
On a previous podcast Richie mentioned that Lathan asked for 7 figures. Other than that, no $$ was thrown out. We really don’t have a baseline from Richie at all. The only numbers being thrown out otherwise are from posters without accountablity due to the anonymity of the site. Have to be take. With a grain of salt.

 

[bitnez]

I listened to the podcast, but I don't find much of it as accurate. NIL is a rumor mill with no way of knowing what anyone is making and the only true source would be an agent, who's # 1 goal is to lie about what a player got in NIL, because the higher the rumored amount is, benefits the agent 1st.

All i know are actual AAU circuit people and coaches, HS coaches, refs who call NCAA games and scouts who grind 11 months a year in hoops. And the only ones who want a GM, are the agents, so they can create even more chaos and market uncertainty for players who we all don't know, how hard they will work or play, once they get a few hundred thousand dollars in the next 12 months.

Are agents and these supposed GMs offering a refund for players who loaf and no show, because some GM or agent overpromised something that the coaching staffs didn't agree to??

Any reasonable AAU coach or parents aren't dealing with a GM when it comes to how a player is or isn't planning to be used or what the role is....they're going right to the lead assistant coaches who have the relationship with the family or player.

The media is trying to make something more complicated than reality.

Let’s assume you are correct and the money being discussed is over-estimated. That scenario is actually worse for us. It means we can compete monetarily and kids simply don’t want to play for Pike.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

What don’t you find accurate? No $$$s were discussed on the podcast at all. Richie simply sounded pessimistic based on who was on our visitor list. There was no mention of price tag except regarding a wing we're not going after because he’s asking 7 figures.
On a previous podcast Richie mentioned that Lathan asked for 7 figures. Other than that, no $$ was thrown out. We really don’t have a baseline from Richie at all. The only numbers being thrown out otherwise are from posters without accountablity due to the anonymity of the site. Have to be take. With a grain of salt.

They quoted a rumor from Jeff Goodman that top portal targets are asking for 2
5 to 3M.....how does anyone actually believe that and what schools are paying 2.5M for 1 player?? Again, the rumors get quoted and it's impossible to get out of fans heads, that it's not reality.

Otherwise, don't quote a random rumor and how do you quote a random George Washington fan based on what they said about Darren Buchanan on Trillys site, as some sort of scoutinf report??

And there's some sort of belief that if a player takes a 2 point shot, that it's a bad shot and jacking up all 3s is good basketball.....there's no logic on evaluation of basketball, as if the Sweet 16 programs in this years tournament don't take mid range 2 point shots......St Johns built their entire program this past year on mid range players.....whether that was a good decision or not, is debatable, but the levels of apathy on Pike and revelation that Schiano can do no wrong and has millions of dollars and only managed 2 Power 4 transfers so far, is at best illogical.

I get it, fans are disappointed, but I think we can all agree that Acuff, Derkack, Martini and Hayes probably didn't cost more than 1M in total between the 4 portal kids.

Could he have put more money into Malique Ewin and bypassed on Martini, Derkack and Hayes?? Probably, but if you're only armed with 1M bucks for the portal, that's certainly not all on Pike, we have to acknowledge as fans, our donor levels are absurdly low, vs the rest of the Power 4 programs. And the bulk of the funds needed to go to Dylan and Ace, this other notion that they only got money from other sources, is at flimsy.....(it's just not true).

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Let’s assume you are correct and the money being discussed is over-estimated. That scenario is actually worse for us. It means we can compete monetarily and kids simply don’t want to play for Pike.

There’s a third possibility. Maybe Pike’s strategy is to only window dress in the elite market right now to get a better feel for what it’s going to take and how high to bid. He might think that it’s better to first secure his remaining guys and a couple role players so that when he goes after the pair of high rollers, he knows what strengths he must go after that he wont be able to compensate for elsewhere.

The good news for us about what we’re targeting now, we won’t have any stars who have egos that need to be managed - nobody is going to be offended by the 7 figure offers we might throw out to buy a few established starters. If we have 10 role player types locked in with $3M to work with, we can then play ball and go after 2 guys that fit the best and then a possible 3rd with whatever is leftover. How do we know that isn’t the plan?

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Let’s assume you are correct and the money being discussed is over-estimated. That scenario is actually worse for us. It means we can compete monetarily and kids simply don’t want to play for Pike.

There's no rule that says you have to spend all of your money in the portal.....its not a good equation that works.....some of that money is better spent, on 2026 HS recruits, that are more likely to stick for more than 1 year and cost a fraction of the portal price tags.

If there's 5M available, I'm not spending more than 2.5M on the portal and saving money for 2025 kids who will perform this year and 2026 freshman that we need to land this spring and summer.

RU has to get out of the portal business each spring, trying to fill 3 starting positions every year. That only happens if you recruit and retain the players via HS recruiting.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

They quoted a rumor from Jeff Goodman that top portal targets are asking for 2
5 to 3M.....how does anyone actually believe that and what schools are paying 2.5M for 1 player?? Again, the rumors get quoted and it's impossible to get out of fans heads, that it's not reality.

Otherwise, don't quote a random rumor and how do you quote a random George Washington fan based on what they said about Darren Buchanan on Trillys site, as some sort of scoutinf report??

And there's some sort of belief that if a player takes a 2 point shot, that it's a bad shot and jacking up all 3s is good basketball.....there's no logic on evaluation of basketball, as if the Sweet 16 programs in this years tournament don't take mid range 2 point shots......St Johns built their entire program this past year on mid range players.....whether that was a good decision or not, is debatable, but the levels of apathy on Pike and revelation that Schiano can do no wrong and has millions of dollars and only managed 2 Power 4 transfers so far, is at best illogical.

I get it, fans are disappointed, but I think we can all agree that Acuff, Derkack, Martini and Hayes probably didn't cost more than 1M in total between the 4 portal kids.

Could he have put more money into Malique Ewin and bypassed on Martini, Derkack and Hayes?? Probably, but if you're only armed with 1M bucks for the portal, that's certainly not all on Pike, we have to acknowledge as fans, our donor levels are absurdly low, vs the rest of the Power 4 programs. And the bulk of the funds needed to go to Dylan and Ace, this other notion that they only got money from other sources, is at flimsy.....(it's just not true).

I agree the podcast was overly pessimistic. Especially about Buchanan, although it was discouraging to hear that GW fans say “he tries” on D. Was hoping for more of an endorsement than that on that end. The market at the very top is likely in that $2M range, but those are mostly guys we wouldn’t have historically been in the running for anyway. We should be able to get 2 guys in the $1Ms who are very good players. And with a little luck, have money left to take a chance on another Buchanan type and then we’d be in ok shape.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

There's no rule that says you have to spend all of your money in the portal.....its not a good equation that works.....some of that money is better spent, on 2026 HS recruits, that are more likely to stick for more than 1 year and cost a fraction of the portal price tags.

If there's 5M available, I'm not spending more than 2.5M on the portal and saving money for 2025 kids who will perform this year and 2026 freshman that we need to land this spring and summer.

RU has to get out of the portal business each spring, trying to fill 3 starting positions every year. That only happens if you recruit and retain the players via HS recruiting.

No - I don’t think you can do that. The allocation (salary cap) is for active players in the coming year. Isn’t it?

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

There’s a third possibility. Maybe Pike’s strategy is to only window dress in the elite market right now to get a better feel for what it’s going to take and how high to bid. He might think that it’s better to first secure his remaining guys and a couple role players so that when he goes after the pair of high rollers, he knows what strengths he must go after that he wont be able to compensate for elsewhere.

The good news for us about what we’re targeting now, we won’t have any stars who have egos that need to be managed - nobody is going to be offended by the 7 figure offers we might throw out to buy a few established starters. If we have 10 role player types locked in with $3M to work with, we can then play ball and go after 2 guys that fit the best and then a possible 3rd with whatever is leftover. How do we know that isn’t the plan?

I am not advocating for this, but I am not under the impression it's the wrong approach. I would not overpay for a forward coming from Cornell or Quinnipiac, Princeton, and watch that player get eaten alive in practice defensively by our freshman Chris Nwuli or sophomore Dylan Grant.

I think that watching how poorly Pike listened to some people about how good Martini was, convinced him it "might work", because the alternative was to try and spread 1M out amongst 4 players.....instead of loading up on Ewin.

If it was meant, I would stay out of the portal, unless it's a role player or I am getting a lock starter at a fair price. Otherwise, I would rather recruit and retain my own players and lengthen the bench over 2 more HS recruiting classes.

If that means we don't make the NCAAs next year, so be it....but this chasing of portal kids is absurd and stupid on so many levels....

 

[NickRU714]

There's no rule that says you have to spend all of your money in the portal.....its not a good equation that works.....some of that money is better spent, on 2026 HS recruits, that are more likely to stick for more than 1 year and cost a fraction of the portal price tags.

If there's 5M available, I'm not spending more than 2.5M on the portal and saving money for 2025 kids who will perform this year and 2026 freshman that we need to land this spring and summer.

RU has to get out of the portal business each spring, trying to fill 3 starting positions every year. That only happens if you recruit and retain the players via HS recruiting.

You do realize RU will have to fill 5 starting positions every spring.
Portal or retention doesn't matter.

If the vaunted 2025 recruits turn into legit B1G starters then next spring they will cost the same as a portal legit B1G starter.

I'm not sure why people don't understand this concept.

Talent isn't going to be cheaper just because it's under "retention" instead of "transfer".
Talent will cost the same no matter where it comes from.