209 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

247: Portal Window, Top Names To Know

https://247sports.co...pWTcYYEIplL7MRA

 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Why is it even open in the middle of the tournament? Blows my mind that they can’t even put some logical structure around all of this. Same with coaching changes.

[hallas]

Why is it even open in the middle of the tournament? Blows my mind that they can’t even put some logical structure around all of this. Same with coaching changes.

I saw a quote from Matt Painter that the coaches overwhelmingly approved this, and that mid-tourney was the best of a lot of bad options. They didn't want to push it too late because it would interfere with high school recruiting during the summer, and the earlier window gives players a better opportunity to transfer before summer semester starts.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Willard said he and his coaching staff have been dedicating two hours every single day for transfer portal scouting. Obviously a huge priority since that’s the primary way he wants to build out his rosters.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Guards / Wings: Gillespie, Rice, Palmer, DHS, Stephens (EDIT, Long)
Bigs: Gapare, Pierce

 

Incoming: Chris Jeffrey CG

 

First thing is retaining Gillespie and Rice. 

 

 

 

I like Gapare, he can be a nice piece. 

Hopefully Palmer and Jeffrey are regular rotation pieces and give you some bench scoring.

DHS... I think he will leave. If not, can't expect any offense. Does play defense. 

Stephens and Pierce...  can't expect anything. 

 

 

A starting 3, a starting 5... a starting 4 if you don't believe Gapare can hold up there... a back up 1...   that's the shopping list. 

 

4 star PF Marcus Jackson (81st Nationally) is interested. 

[BSLZackKiesel]

Jahari Long should be back as well. He's practicing with the team at the moment, not sure how intensely but has definitely made progress from his torn ACL. That gives you a solid guard off the bench along with Jeffrey.

[BSLChrisStoner]

https://247sports.co...transferportal/

[BSLZackKiesel]

Bryce Lindsay (James Madison) is one to watch for here, Baltimore kid who played for Buzz at Texas A&M for a year before transferring to Harrisonburg before last season. He entered the transfer portal on March 24th.

[BaltBird 24]

He's a 40% 3pt shooter and has 3 years of eligibility remaining.

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Top 50 In The Portal

https://www.espn.com...ankings-2025-26

[BSLZackKiesel]

Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M) has entered the transfer portal with a "do not contact" tag, indicating he likely intends to follow Buzz Williams to Maryland. He started 14 games for the Aggies last season and averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Would be a candidate to start in the frontcourt.

[You Play to Win the Game]

He'd be a great start. I was just reviewing their season, in their biggest moments, he was the catalyst behind those wins. 

 

[JeremyStrain]

Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M) has entered the transfer portal with a "do not contact" tag, indicating he likely intends to follow Buzz Williams to Maryland. He started 14 games for the Aggies last season and averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Would be a candidate to start in the frontcourt.

I was just about to say, for all the watching our players hit the portal the past few days, now that this news is out, we should be keeping an eye on TAM and see how many hit it there too. Every coach is going to have a few that are huge fans and will follow. This will be the headstart we get on a rebuild.

 

Hopefully he has someone on staff that recruits well in the DMV. I was a little concerned when he says he likes to use existing staff, because this area can be a little...stiff...to outsiders, especially in the Bmore area. And recruiting here is going to be a big factor for how quickly or IF we can contend.

[Mackus]

I was just about to say, for all the watching our players hit the portal the past few days, now that this news is out, we should be keeping an eye on TAM and see how many hit it there too.

 

Texas A&M was all seniors this year.  Payne and Solomon Washington were the only underclassmen in the rotation.  Not sure if any of the seniors have eligibility left and might also be candidates to follow to CP.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Texas A&M was all seniors this year.  Payne and Solomon Washington were the only underclassmen in the rotation.  Not sure if any of the seniors have eligibility left and might also be candidates to follow to CP.

Based on a quick scan I just did, it doesn't look like they have any seniors who have eligibility left. So like you said, it's just Payne and Washington (and five players who didn't see much or any playing time this season).

[BSLZackKiesel]

Texas A&M currently has three players committed to their 2025 freshman recruiting class, so keep an eye on those guys. They're all west-coasters though, so not sure how likely they'd be to follow Buzz all the way to the east coast.

• 4-star G Jasir Rencher (San Francisco, CA)
• 4-star G Jeremiah Green (Chandler, AZ; Has also played HS ball in Kansas and Texas)
• 3-star G Aaron Glass (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)

[JeremyStrain]

Based on a quick scan I just did, it doesn't look like they have any seniors who have eligibility left. So like you said, it's just Payne and Washington (and five players who didn't see much or any playing time this season).

Even if it's only two, it's two more than we had yesterday. :/

 

Everything helps when your roster just got decimated.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland is reportedly targeting Shawn Phillips, Jr. (Arizona State). He's a 7-footer with one year of eligibility remaining, spent his freshman season at LSU. Made 12 starts last year, averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Lol. Amazing numbers. What a guy to target to start your tenure at a new school

[BSLZackKiesel]

Texas A&M was all seniors this year.  Payne and Solomon Washington were the only underclassmen in the rotation.  Not sure if any of the seniors have eligibility left and might also be candidates to follow to CP.

Washington has now entered the transfer portal, along with Andre Mills. Both with "do not contact" tags, so expect them to join Payne in College Park.