The 2026 Transfer Portal

[JimP]

I've been keeping an eye on DHS.

I still think there is a chance he signs with Mason.

I like the idea of another player who already understands the offensive and defensive schemes.

Who is DHS? I probably read about him earlier here I imagine. Mind is not exactly a steel trap these days. A Prevagen ad may make sense here.

 

[Patriotsince81]

On paper, I think it's kinda alarming where our current roster sits from a perimeter shooting standpoint. Obviously the key word there is "current", curious what the staff has cooking in that area.

I was wondering about the same things so I put together some numbers from 3.

Returning players:
O'Connor 32-85
Presley 7-22
Hill 7-25
Total 46-132 (35.0%)

Incoming Transfers:
Adair 45-132
Marcus Jr. 30-90
Olio-Elabor 2-19
Marville 48-92
Okojie 39-120
Total 164-464 (35.3%)

Combined numbers for current roster 210-596 (35.2%)

Last year we took 615 shots from deep which ranked 327th in the nation. We were 184th in 3 point percentage. We have actually regressed in that area. We ranked 307th in attempts during the 24-25 season and 258th during Tony's first year at Mason. Youth, inexperience, and shooting from deep have me concerned about us having legitimate prospects of finishing at or near the top. I have faith that the staff knows what they are building and am hopeful we can land another big and shooter.

 

[GMUgemini]

Who is DHS? I probably read about him earlier here I imagine. Mind is not exactly a steel trap these days. A Prevagen ad may make sense here.

Deshawn Harris-Smith. Was at UMD and transferred to Georgetown.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4848622/deshawn-harris-smith

 

[DRK331]

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[mkaufman1]

We are in the market for a backup 2 and a 3 guy, so I expect us to bring some shooting in.

Remember Marville was a top shooter last year. Doesn’t mean he will replicate exactly, but he does provide that.

 

[emjayar08]

So with Mendy and Presley being meh, we have just 9 legit players

Okojie
BOC
Efeosa
Adair
Marville
Marcus
Kanga
Shane
Peyton

Young team, probably the youngest and smallest, no? I hope Shane Pendergrass is a one and done to the NBA type player.

Hill is still a ?

Why are you declaring Mendy as meh?

 

[DRK331]

Players lost to the transfer portal:
1. 6’2 Kory Mincy (South Carolina)
2. 6’11 Riley Allenspach (Cincinnati)
3. 6’5 Jahari Long (Wichita State)
4. 6’5 Devin Booker (La Salle)
5. 6’10 Stas Sivka (William & Mary)
6. 6'0 Isaiah Skinn

George Mason Men’s Basketball 2026-2027 Roster
Returning players (no particular order)
1. 6'5 Brayden O'Connor
2. 6'6 Malik Presley
4. 6'9 Emmanuel Kanga
5. 6’9 Ryan-Preston Mendy
6. 6’5 Fatt Hill ???

Transfers (no particular order)
1. 6'9 Michael Marcus Jr. (from App State)
2. 6'9 Emmett Adair (from Loyola Maryland)
3. 6'6 Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (from Butler)
4. 6’1 Lilian Marville (from UNC Greensboro)
5. 6’3 Baraka Okojie (from Mercer)
6. 6'3 Makhai Valentine (from Northern Illinois)
7. 6'8 Elijah Jones (from University of Texas El Paso)

Freshman (no particular order)
1. 6'8 Shane Pendergrass
2. 6'3 Peyton Miller

 

[Stoolguy]

Makhani Valentine has committed!!

 

[DRK331]

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6'3 Makhai Valentine has committed to George Mason

Transfer from Northern Illinois who averaged 13.3 ppg

Stats:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5241390/makhai-valentine

 

[GMU79]

I was wondering about the same things so I put together some numbers from 3.

Returning players:
O'Connor 32-85
Presley 7-22
Hill 7-25
Total 46-132 (35.0%)

Incoming Transfers:
Adair 45-132
Marcus Jr. 30-90
Olio-Elabor 2-19
Marville 48-92
Okojie 39-120
Total 164-464 (35.3%)

Combined numbers for current roster 210-596 (35.2%)

Last year we took 615 shots from deep which ranked 327th in the nation. We were 184th in 3 point percentage. We have actually regressed in that area. We ranked 307th in attempts during the 24-25 season and 258th during Tony's first year at Mason. Youth, inexperience, and shooting from deep have me concerned about us having legitimate prospects of finishing at or near the top. I have faith that the staff knows what they are building an am hopeful we can land another big and shooter.

Gotta have it. If you only have one, and he is off, you're doomed.

 

[tblack33]

I’m not really understanding the roster construction yet.

 

[GMU79]

I’m not really understanding the roster construction yet.

Understanding comes to those who walk through the valley of the shadow of confusion, Grasshopper.

 

[Patriot Blue]

I’m not really understanding the roster construction yet.

As long as Coach Skinn understands it, everything is OK

 

[gmujim92]

I’m not really understanding the roster construction yet.

What’s not to understand, specifically?

 

[tblack33]

What’s not to understand, specifically?

Where are the minutes going to come for all these guards who are all extremely similar? What are we going to run out there when Kanga picks up 3 fouls in 9 minutes of game time in the first half? Are we abandoning shooting the 3 ball?

Feels like it’s going to be the coaching staff trying to guess who the hot hand is on any given night with how similar some of these guys are.

 

[GMU1983]

Baraka can get to the hole at will!!

 

[Patriotsince81]

I was wondering about the same things so I put together some numbers from 3.

Returning players:
O'Connor 32-85
Presley 7-22
Hill 7-25
Total 46-132 (35.0%)

Incoming Transfers:
Adair 45-132
Marcus Jr. 30-90
Olio-Elabor 2-19
Marville 48-92
Okojie 39-120
Total 164-464 (35.3%)

Combined numbers for current roster 210-596 (35.2%)

Last year we took 615 shots from deep which ranked 327th in the nation. We were 184th in 3 point percentage. We have actually regressed in that area. We ranked 307th in attempts during the 24-25 season and 258th during Tony's first year at Mason. Youth, inexperience, and shooting from deep have me concerned about us having legitimate prospects of finishing at or near the top. I have faith that the staff knows what they are building and am hopeful we can land another big and shooter.

Updating with the addition of Makai Valentine's 69-193. The current roster sits at 279-789 (35.4%). which would move us up significantly in the nation in 3 point attempts.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Returning Players

6’5” 215 lbs - Senior - Brayden O’Connor - 9.1 ppg & 2.8 reb - 28 min per game

6’9” 220 lbs - Soph - Emmanuel Kanga - 4.6 ppg & 5.3 reb - 13 min per game

6’6” 200 lbs - Senior Malik Presley - 3.2 ppg & 1.5 reb - 16 min per game

6’5” 185 lbs - Grad - Fatt Hill - 10.3 ppg & 3.3 reb - 24 min per game. Eligible ??????

6’9” 205 lbs - Soph - Ryan Preston-Mendy - Redshirt last year - DNP



Transfers

6’9” 230 lbs - Soph - Emmett Adair - Loyola MD - 14.6 ppg & 5.4 reb - 25 min per game

6’9” 255 lbs - Soph - Michael Marcus Jr. - App St. - 7.8 ppg & 6.0 reb - 24 min per game

6’6” 220 lbs - Soph - Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor - Butler - 5.0 ppg & 2.2 reb - 16 min per game

6’1” 180 lbs - Soph - Lilian Marville - UNC Greensboro - 9.5 ppg - 52% from 3 - 26 min per game

6’3” 195 lbs - Senior - Baraka Okojie - Mercer/Memphis/GMU - 19.7 ppg & 5.3 assists - 34 min per game

6’3” 190 lbs - Junior - Makhai Valentine - Northern Illinois - 13.3 ppg & 5.3 reb - 30.6 min per game



Freshmen

6’9” Shane Pendergrass - 4 Star

6’3” Peyton Miller - 3 Star

 

[gmujim92]

Where are the minutes going to come for all these guards who are all extremely similar? What are we going to run out there when Kanga picks up 3 fouls in 9 minutes of game time in the first half? Are we abandoning shooting the 3 ball?

Feels like it’s going to be the coaching staff trying to guess who the hot hand is on any given night with how similar some of these guys are.

I would argue the guards are not at all similar: Okojie is the slasher, BOC and Valentine are three-level scorers, Marville is a shooter and EOE is a freak athlete who will guard his a** off and do other freak athlete things. A pretty diverse skill set and that’s not even considering Presley and the freshman Miller.

Pretty sure the staff is still in the market for a true big and a bigger wing who can play the 4 against smaller teams. But between Kanga, Adair, Marcus Jr. and Pendergrass, we’ve got four guys 6-8 or taller who also all have different strengths.

It’s a roster that should be versatile enough to play lots of different ways. Will that add up to an NCAA bid? Who knows.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Makhani Valentine has committed!!

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