2025 Portal Season

[DRK331]

Podcast episode on GMU's roster and transfers:

https://x.com/3BidLeaguePod/status/1917930249230098700

 

[psyclone]

Podcast episode on GMU's roster and transfers:

https://x.com/3BidLeaguePod/status/1917930249230098700

Thanks for sending this link.
First part of podcast addresses listener questions about A10; discussion about Mason's transfers with Palmer Johnson/Giant Killer begins at 37 min mark.

 

[GMU1983]

Okojie to MERCER U

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Okojie to MERCER U

Man this breaks my heart. He's too talented to end up there his junior year. Listened to all the wrong people. Poor kid.

 

[jessej]

Man this breaks my heart. He's too talented to end up there his junior year. Listened to all the wrong people. Poor kid.

hopefully he dominates and can step up next year, although I have no idea if he is on pace for graduation

but he is in the musical chairs stage as there are dwindling number of scholarship slots available and many more players still in the portal

 

[The Great PATSby]

Now that he's committed somewhere else, I'll share what I heard. Maybe it's been already been said around here, but Baraka reached out to Tony about coming back to Mason. Not sure if there were some serious discussions about it actually happening. What I hoped happened was Tony told him to "kick rocks" for leaving us like that.

With that being said, I'm glad he at least landed somewhere and not ended up being a statistic of the many players that entered the portal and never get picked up.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Now that he's committed somewhere else, I'll share what I heard. Maybe it's been already been said around here, but Baraka reached out to Tony about coming back to Mason. Not sure if there were some serious discussions about it actually happening. What I hoped happened was Tony told him to "kick rocks" for leaving us like that.

With that being said, I'm glad he at least landed somewhere and not ended up being a statistic of the many players that entered the portal and never get picked up.

To my understanding- talks started serious, people around Baraka dragged feet again, Mason signed Kory Mincy and that was that.

 

[jessej]

To my understanding- talks started serious, people around Baraka dragged feet again, Mason signed Kory Mincy and that was that.

wont nobody f--- you over like friends and family supposedly looking out for your best interests

 

[DRK331]

Baraka Okojie in his new Mercer jersey:

https://x.com/baraka_okojie/status/1918379727670161704

Mercer's program:

Mercer Bears men's basketball - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Verdad]

Okojie will be a perfect case study to teach our impact freshmen in the future to convince them to stay

 

[psyclone]

Summary of rosters for 3 A10 teams from ESPN:

Atlantic 10​

Dayton Flyers​

Departed or expected to depart: Nate Santos (14.3 PPG), Enoch Cheeks (13.2 PPG), Malachi Smith (10.4 PPG), Zed Key (8.8 PPG), Posh Alexander (5.8 PPG), Isaac Jack (3.2 PPG), Hamad Mousa (1.3 PPG), Marvel Allen (redshirt)
In limbo: None
Expected to return: Javon Bennett (11.6 PPG), Amael L'Etang (7.1 PPG), Jacob Conner (2.7 PPG), Jaiun Simon (1.2 PPG)
Incoming transfers: De'Shayne Montgomery (6.5 PPG at Georgia), Adam Njie (12.4 PPG at Iona), Jordan Derkack (5.7 PPG at Rutgers), Malcolm Thomas (redshirt at Villanova)
Incoming freshmen: Jaron McKie (four-star), Damon Friery (four-star)

---

George Mason Patriots​

Departed or expected to depart: Jalen Haynes (14.1 PPG), Darius Maddox (13.8 PPG), K.D. Johnson (7.9 PPG), Woody Newton (6.9 PPG), Giovanni Emejuru (6.2 PPG), Jared Billups (5.2 PPG), Zach Anderson (5.3 PPG), Justin Begg (2.9 PPG), Jeremiah Quigley (1.2 PPG), Austin Ball (2.5 PPG in 2023-24)
In limbo: None
Expected to return: Brayden O'Connor (9.1 PPG), Stas Sivka (1.5 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Jermahri Hill (15.8 PPG at Ball State), Kory Mincy (15.0 PPG at Presbyterian), Masai Troutman (13.5 PPG at Northeastern), Dola Adebayo (13.2 PPG at Mount St. Mary's), Nick Ellington (9.9 PPG at Murray State), Riley Allenspach (7.8 PPG at Samford), Jahari Long (4.5 PPG at Maryland in 2023-24)
Incoming freshmen: Emmanuel Kanga (three-star), Devin Booker (NR)

---

vcu Rams​

Departed or expected to depart: Max Shulga (15.0 PPG), Joe Bamisile (15.0 PPG), Phillip Russell (10.3 PPG), Jack Clark (9.7 PPG), Luke Bamgboye (3.8 PPG), Alphonzo Billups III (2.9 PPG)
In limbo: Zeb Jackson (10.8 PPG)
Expected to return: Christian Fermin (4.6 PPG), Terrence Hill Jr. (3.4 PPG), Brandon Jennings (2.7 PPG), Michael Belle (2.8 PPG), Obinnaya Okafor (0.3 PPG)
Incoming transfers: Barry Evans (13.3 PPG at Bryant), Tyrell Ward (9.1 PPG at LSU), Keyshawn Mitchell (8.5 PPG at Bryant), Lazar Djokovic (7.9 PPG at Charleston), Jadrian Tracey (6.9 PPG at Oregon), Ahmad Nowell (1.5 PPG at UConn)
Incoming freshmen: Nyk Lewis (No. 56 in ESPN 100), Jordan Tillery (three-star)

Latest rosters for 90+ men's college basketball teams: Transfers, recruits, more

Players leaving. Players joining. We're tracking all personnel movement for key teams heading into 2025-26.

www.espn.com

 

[mkaufman1]

Now that he's committed somewhere else, I'll share what I heard. Maybe it's been already been said around here, but Baraka reached out to Tony about coming back to Mason. Not sure if there were some serious discussions about it actually happening. What I hoped happened was Tony told him to "kick rocks" for leaving us like that.

With that being said, I'm glad he at least landed somewhere and not ended up being a statistic of the many players that entered the portal and never get picked up.

To my understanding- talks started serious, people around Baraka dragged feet again, Mason signed Kory Mincy and that was that.

There was definite mutual interest but how much , who knows. Could have just been trying to seek what we could give and then match elsewhere or something.

It’s whatever at this point, his people are crazy and he will be in the portal again for round 4. I enjoy watching him on the court and hope he does well at Mercer.

 

[Jack Strop]

Okojie will be a perfect case study to teach our impact freshmen in the future to convince them to stay

I'm sure there are many more stories just like Baraka's out there. I am also sure there are even worse stories, as well.

Certainly a case study that defines how the portal and chasing money can blow up in one's face. Will stories like these slow down portal entry or give marginally talented players pause??? We'll see. Sometimes one has a good thing staring into one's own face and doesn't even know it.

Oh well. Good luck, Baraka.

 

[Old Man]

I'm sure there are many more stories just like Baraka's out there. I am also sure there are even worse stories, as well.

Certainly a case study that defines how the portal and chasing money can blow up in one's face. Will stories like these slow down portal entry or give marginally talented players pause??? We'll see. Sometimes one has a good thing staring into one's own face and doesn't even know it.

Oh well. Good luck, Baraka.

The worst part about this is all the college degrees that will not be achieved because of the transfer portal. I get not all athletes complete their education anyway, but transferring almost always costs a few credits. Transferring several times can cost a year or more toward a degree. AND, does the final university a player is at feel any sort of obligation to allow and help the player complete, and pay for, their degree when their eligibility has run its course should the player want to put forth the effort? At least in the old way, players could at least expect to be awarded a degree for their efforts. Now what?

 

[Jack Strop]

The worst part about this is all the college degrees that will not be achieved because of the transfer portal. I get not all athletes complete their education anyway, but transferring almost always costs a few credits. Transferring several times can cost a year or more toward a degree. AND, does the final university a player is at feel any sort of obligation to allow and help the player complete, and pay for, their degree when their eligibility has run its course should the player want to put forth the effort? At least in the old way, players could at least expect to be awarded a degree for their efforts. Now what?

A: Under-educated athletes.