The 2026 Transfer Portal

[GMU79]

As I continue to evaluate the roster that is being constructed I am growing concerned about a few things. It's early and I trust that the staff knows what it's doing, but I'm going to pump the breaks on my enthusiasm and temper my expectations until the whole roster is filled out. I'm a realist........

1. Our youth - at present we have 11 guys on the roster. 8 of them are freshmen or sophomores. Our 4 transfers will be Sophomores. Experience tends to win over youth. If Fatt Hill is not granted the extra year we will have two seniors in Brayden O'Connor and Malik Presley. No juniors. We still have spots to fill so this may change.

2. The A10 finished the year as the number 7 ranked conference. We have transfers coming from the Big East (5th ranked conference), the Sun Belt (20th ranked), Southern (23rd ranked), and Patriot (27th ranked). 3 of the 4 come from leagues ranked well below the A10. It might mean nothing, but it might also be significant.

3. Our NET was 94 at the end of the year and our KenPom was 100. The new guys come from teams with NET rankings of 84, 191, 293, and 328. Ken Pom rankings were 84, 195, 300, and 323.

Time, as always, will answer my questions and concerns. Go Mason!

Sad, but very true. Hopefully these guys will explode (in a positive way) in the A10.
And if they do, maybe they will all graduate with GMU degrees.

 

[Old Man]

As I continue to evaluate the roster that is being constructed I am growing concerned about a few things. It's early and I trust that the staff knows what it's doing, but I'm going to pump the breaks on my enthusiasm and temper my expectations until the whole roster is filled out. I'm a realist........

1. Our youth - at present we have 11 guys on the roster. 8 of them are freshmen or sophomores. Our 4 transfers will be Sophomores. Experience tends to win over youth. If Fatt Hill is not granted the extra year we will have two seniors in Brayden O'Connor and Malik Presley. No juniors. We still have spots to fill so this may change.

2. The A10 finished the year as the number 7 ranked conference. We have transfers coming from the Big East (5th ranked conference), the Sun Belt (20th ranked), Southern (23rd ranked), and Patriot (27th ranked). 3 of the 4 come from leagues ranked well below the A10. It might mean nothing, but it might also be significant.

3. Our NET was 94 at the end of the year and our KenPom was 100. The new guys come from teams with NET rankings of 84, 191, 293, and 328. Ken Pom rankings were 84, 195, 300, and 323.

Time, as always, will answer my questions and concerns. Go Mason!

Responding ...

1. This just tells me that we will have to reload next year if, as we all hope, we do well. Also, it's not exactly the same, but if a team is rebuilding every year, as many teams are not just Mason, is almost like you have a team of underclassmen every year until they get comfortable with one another. And it's better than all freshmen who don't know the game at the college level. Also, I've always heard the biggest jump for a collage bball player is freshman to sophomore. It'll be nice to get that benefit as I'm confident in CTS.
2. Two words: Kory Mincy. So to me, the team numbers are more of a reflection of the team not the individual, so I'm not as concerned. And FWIW, the Big South was ranked 20+ that year as well.
3. My thoughts here are similar to #2. Those numbers are team numbers and don't necessarily reflect ability of an individual. Again, Presbyterian finished #282 in Kenpom the year Mincy played for them.

So, as always, in CTS, et al, i.e. asst. coaches, we trust until the trust is proven misplaced.

 

[Old Man]

And FWIW, with the talent I'm seeing coming in (though I'm a neophyte basketball talent reviewer), at the moment, I'm inclined to continue driving to home games. The team being built looks exciting to me.

 

[gmuballer14]

Randall depth or starting material?

 

[gmujim92]

Randall depth or starting material?

He can definitely start for us.

 

[psyclone]

As much as I prefer the "old system" of players being committed to the university for their college careers (or at least most of it), I must admit that reading the boards this last week has been a delight! It's great to be able to look forward to seeing what Tony will be able to do with these guys!

May feel differently when in 6 months when they start dribbling the ball off their feet, throwing passes into the second row, or shooting air balls! But until the opening tap, hope springs eternal!

 

[DRK331]

Former GMU player Jalen Haynes is transferring to Dayton

Tweet:

https://x.com/JoeTipton/status/2044961635559711054

 

[gmujim92]

Former GMU player Jalen Haynes is transferring to Dayton

Tweet:

https://x.com/JoeTipton/status/2044961635559711054

Can’t blame him for taking the cash, but will be looking forward to kicking his a** next season.

 

[GMUFan26]

What if Baraka Okojie and Jalen Haynes come back to Mason?

PG: Baraka Okojie
SG: BOC
SF: Fatt Hill
PF: Grant Randall
C: Jalen Haynes

C: Kanga
G: Lilian Marville
G: Peyton Miller
F: Malik Presley
F: Shane Pendergrass
F: Efeosa O-E
F: Ryan Preston Mendy
C: Michael Marcus

One can dream…

 

[GMUFan26]

PG: Baraka Okojie
SG: BOC
SF: Fatt Hill
PF: Grant Randall
C: Jalen Haynes

C: Kanga
G: Lilian Marville
G: Peyton Miller
F: Malik Presley
F: Shane Pendergrass
F: Efeosa O-E
F: Ryan Preston Mendy
C: Michael Marcus

One can dream…

Welp, saw the Jalen committed to Dayton after I hit submit

 

[mbush]

Welp, saw the Jalen committed to Dayton after I hit submit

Don't forget Adair.

 

[Old Man]

And FWIW, with the talent I'm seeing coming in (though I'm a neophyte basketball talent reviewer), at the moment, I'm inclined to continue driving to home games. The team being built looks exciting to me.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Former GMU player Jalen Haynes is transferring to Dayton

Tweet:

https://x.com/JoeTipton/status/2044961635559711054

This makes me unreasonably angry.

 

[Old Man]

This makes me unreasonably angry.

Or maybe this is the ultimate in basketball espionage. Say he really is too injured still (though I hope not) to contribute effectively, and he knows it. So, instead of coming here, he goes to a courting rival to take a roster spot for an in demand position that will never materialize as expected. Ingenious!

 

[Jack Strop]

Or maybe this is the ultimate in basketball espionage. Say he really is too injured still (though I hope not) to contribute effectively, and he knows it. So, instead of coming here, he goes to a courting rival to take a roster spot for an in demand position that will never materialize as expected. Ingenious!

...diabolical!

 

[Patriotsince81]

Or maybe this is the ultimate in basketball espionage. Say he really is too injured still (though I hope not) to contribute effectively, and he knows it. So, instead of coming here, he goes to a courting rival to take a roster spot for an in demand position that will never materialize as expected. Ingenious!

A purely altruistic gesture on his part.

 

[tblack33]

I think this team is a starting center away from being very interesting. Are we involved with any good big men?

 

[p8triotfan4life]

I think this team is a starting center away from being very interesting. Are we involved with any good big men?

Grant Randall visited yesterday. He was gonna visit Dayton as well....

 

[mshin5]

I think this team is a starting center away from being very interesting. Are we involved with any good big men?

I believe Khaman Maker is still available

 

[gmujim92]

I think this team is a starting center away from being very interesting. Are we involved with any good big men?

Pretty sure Kanga is the favorite to start at the 5