Recruiting as of 2/15/25

[The Sultan]

He certainly won on the table at Porcinis. Even if it was for a very brief moment, if you know what I mean.

Here we are in 2025 telling Porcini's jokes...

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Here we are in 2025 telling Porcini's jokes...

When dealing with other mens' scrotums, willie doesn't let go

[Newsdreams]

So...any thoughts on the actual recruits Marquette is goin after?

Hard pass, just hit the portal

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Duke currently has players that transferred from Purdue, Syracuse, and Tulane.  They supplement the 1 & Done players with proven transfers.

[wadesworld]

He certainly won on the table at Porcinis. Even if it was for a very brief moment, if you know what I mean.

Thanks.

[MUfan12]

You can't preach their philosophy and recruit over guys in any circumstance...it just doesn't work like that because the second you do it once, the whole philosophy becomes a lie.

No one's spot should ever be that secure. Everyone has to know someone is gunning for their minutes, whether it's an underclassman or a transfer in.

[MU82]

I do not believe Scott, Smith, or Richmond has any eligibility left after this year. I do not see Duke grabbing a player as a one-year rental but they might take Luis. I'm not sure Ejiofor would start and Maluach is only a freshman. Would Ejiofor want to be Theo John? Wilcher is a good player but I'm not sure he's as good as what Duke already has. Duke is young and once again have the top recruiting class coming in next season. I do not see them beating at the door for SJU players. Basically, if you're an MU or an SJU, you can pretty much forget it if you think your going to out-talent your way to a title. Shaka's approach is to have a better team due to synergy and that best develops by recruit and develop. I think that's what you need at MU.

Even if St. John's doesn't have the $$ (and I'm not certain that's the case), this is where evaluation and negotiation comes in.

Maybe Pitino can't promise $500K to Transfer A, but he can promise him $350K, a certain role, and the opportunity to be coached by a Hall of Famer. For some players, that's not enough. For others, it might be all it takes. Pitino has a big personality and ability to communicate/persuade.

Also, as in recruiting high school kids, one way to "win" in portal shopping is to land guys who might not be the biggest names out there but could still be very valuable to certain teams/systems/styles with certain needs. How coveted was Ashworth? Maybe you don't go after the Storrs (Self wishes he didn't); you go after the Knechts.

Stuff like that.

I think what Pitino is talking about doing is interesting, especially in contrast to another top coach in his conference taking the exact opposite approach.

[tower912]

So...any thoughts on the actual recruits Marquette is goin after?

I like the 2025 class.   

[Zog from Margo]

Apparently you haven't heard of Mike Repole.  I suggest you look up both the man himself and his ties to St. John's basketball. 

https://nypost.com/2024/02/22/sports/st-johns-receiving-nil-lifeline-from-billionaire-alum-mike-repole

That's nice, but they are not alone in having billionaire alums. Some have several. https://www.forbes.com/sites/denizcam/2017/10/17/the-10-schools-that-mint-the-most-u-s-billionaires/

[GoldenEagles03]

No one's spot should ever be that secure. Everyone has to know someone is gunning for their minutes, whether it's an underclassman or a transfer in.

If you're going to pour your whole existence into that philosophy, then yes their spot on the roster should feel secure. The players gunning for their minutes are the incoming underclassmen.

Upper classmen will start here. A select few underclassmen will get the chance to as well. That's what they believe in and that won't change unless their whole philosophy changes.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

So...any thoughts on the actual recruits Marquette is goin after?

JJ Andrews is a stud. Top 50, borderline top 25 player.  Marquette has a legit chance. Arkansas is the main competition right now.

Alex Egbuonu is a rapidly ascending player. His combination of strength and athleticism remind me of Alando Tucker.  Marquette has a good chance here, but I wonder if Auburn (where he recently visited) will make a big push.

Ethan Johnston is as versatile as a Swiss Army knife. Has grown at least 3 inches in the past two years, turning from a guard into a bonafide wing.  Fits Shaka's recruiting profile as an athletic wing and cultural fit, with a goal of long-term development in mind.

Sheek Pearson, I haven't heard what's up with him lately. Iowa State, and maybe Illinois, might be the main competition.

Vaughn Karvala, not sure what's the latest with his recruitment.

[tower912]

Is the kid from Kaukana still on the radar?

[MUfan12]

If you're going to pour your whole existence into that philosophy, then yes their spot on the roster should feel secure. The players gunning for their minutes are the incoming underclassmen.

Upper classmen will start here. A select few underclassmen will get the chance to as well. That's what they believe in and that won't change unless their whole philosophy changes.

If Shaka has a spot, and a transfer fits a need/cultural fit, he's making that call.

It's not going to happen often, mind you. But it's not as black and white as you make it out to be.

[GoldenEagles03]

If Shaka has a spot, and a transfer fits a need/cultural fit, he's making that call.

It's not going to happen often, mind you. But it's not as black and white as you make it out to be.

I don't disagree. My point, is that they aren't going to kick a kid on the roster to the side to make room for that said player in the portal. It'd likely have to happen organically.

[WhiteTrash]

Curious about people's thoughts on whether it costs more to bring in transfers as opposed to keeping your own players?

My uninformed opinion is in the free market transfer portal world it should cost the same to attract transfers as it is to keep them. I assume MU players receive transfer/NIL offers that need to be matched or surpassed by MU. 

[Its DJOver]

Curious about people's thoughts on whether it costs more to bring in transfers as opposed to keeping your own players?

My uninformed opinion is in the free market transfer portal world it should cost the same to attract transfers as it is to keep them. I assume MU players receive transfer/NIL offers that need to be matched or surpassed by MU. 

How do you think that conversation would have gone, Kam walks into Shaka's office and says that Memphis offered more? I think that Shaka would have said that if it matters that much to you, there's the door.  I get the sense that if $ was all someone cared about, they wouldn't be here in the first place. 

I'm sure all our players are well compensated. I'm equally confident that if they really wanted more $, they could probably have gotten it by testing the open market.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Curious about people's thoughts on whether it costs more to bring in transfers as opposed to keeping your own players?

My uninformed opinion is in the free market transfer portal world it should cost the same to attract transfers as it is to keep them. I assume MU players receive transfer/NIL offers that need to be matched or surpassed by MU. 

I have zero inside info on this but I expect Kam could have made more money than he is getting at Marquette if he entered the portal. 

[GoldenEagles03]

I have zero inside info on this but I expect Kam could have made more money than he is getting at Marquette if he entered the portal. 

I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere or heard somewhere that Kam did get higher offers elsewhere.

[bradforster]

That's nice, but they are not alone in having billionaire alums. Some have several. https://www.forbes.com/sites/denizcam/2017/10/17/the-10-schools-that-mint-the-most-u-s-billionaires/

Yes, but this billionaire cares deeply about the basketball program.  That's the difference maker vs. many of the others. 

[MuMark]

If Shaka has a spot, and a transfer fits a need/cultural fit, he's making that call.

It's not going to happen often, mind you. But it's not as black and white as you make it out to be.

We have an open spot now and Shaka said in an article about his philosophy earlier this season that a guy was in the portal last spring who was " one of the favorite guys he ever recruited " ........he said he decided not to go after him because of his commitment to the current players and the guys they had coming in.

I'm not saying it will never happen but I'm not sure what you wrote is accurate either.

I can't remember where I read it but I know there was discussion here about who it might have been.......possibly Leon Bond or maybe Seth Trimble.

[Zog from Margo]

Yes, but this billionaire cares deeply about the basketball program.  That's the difference maker vs. many of the others. 

And we know who these people are how? Just because SJU's billionaire craves the attention does not mean there aren't others at other schools who are equally committed. 

[Zog from Margo]

And we know who these people are how? Just because SJU's billionaire craves the attention does not mean there aren't others at other schools who are equally committed. According to the article, Repole will donate million dollars to SJU's NIL. That isn't all that much. 

[MUfan12]

We have an open spot now and Shaka said in an article about his philosophy earlier this season that a guy was in the portal last spring who was " one of the favorite guys he ever recruited " ........he said he decided not to go after him because of his commitment to the current players and the guys they had coming in.

I'm not saying it will never happen but I'm not sure what you wrote is accurate either.

I can't remember where I read it but I know there was discussion here about who it might have been.......possibly Leon Bond or maybe Seth Trimble.

"If we can bring in a transfer that makes sense for us that we think is a cultural fit for us, and he really wants to be at Marquette and be part of something bigger than himself, great. Let's do that," Smart said. "But if some guys try to come in here for a straight transaction, what can you do for me? What can I do for you? Yeah, we're good."

Bond didn't fill a need, and the Trimbles are a lot. I can see why he passed on both.

[JakeBarnes]

Apparently you haven't heard of Mike Repole.  I suggest you look up both the man himself and his ties to St. John's basketball. 

https://nypost.com/2024/02/22/sports/st-johns-receiving-nil-lifeline-from-billionaire-alum-mike-repole

Marquette will take your phallic-ly named booster and raise with one Dick Strong.

[BrewCity83]

Where have you gone, Austin Grandstaff?