Transfer Portal 2026

[BearKatz]

TBD:
- James
- Haynes
- Harris
- Kriisa, if there is a way to get another year
- Rodriguez
- McKinley
- Dzellat

So it's the whole team, not one player has committed to returning. Another mass exodus again, which was to be expected.

I would have thought with Thiam & Tillery being offered contracts they might have returned. Unless both are just exploring other options.

[swilsonsp4]

So it's the whole team, not one player has committed to returning. Another mass exodus again, which was to be expected.

I would have thought with Thiam & Tillery being offered contracts they might have returned. Unless both are just exploring other options.

Chad Brendel has stated numerous times that he'd set the line at 1.5 as to the number of returnees (and he takes the under).

[BearKatz]

I have not seen one player except Thiam & Tillery that I would even make an offer on.

The majority so far, have very little to none experience, or would suggest they could make an impact.

Any Blue Blood Program should snatch up Thiam immediately.

[swilsonsp4]

Utah State’s high upside freshman / rising sophomore Adlan Elamin is reportedly entering the portal with a “do not contact” designation which is often used when a player is following a coach to a new school

https://x.com/kayserhoops/status/204...A2NHZ_hNyS2mFg

Per Chad Brendel, it's not an open & shut case that Elamin is coming here. There's competition and the price is higher than anticipated. The "do not contact" tag, in addition to possibly indicating a done deal, also is used to push the contact to a player's agent, so that the player doesn't have to mess with all of it.

[GoBearcats31]

It is understandable with a new coach that you would have to rebuild, potentially from scratch

What will be fascinating in this era is to track programs like Xavier and Indiana. They had entirely new teams in 2025-26 and neither made the tournament, and both will have almost entirely new teams again in 2026-27 (but with the addition of some freshmen they actually recruited this past year out of HS). So it's hard to set the bar too high in year 2 with a new roster again -- but, at the same time, you cannot really afford to miss the tournament again.

So you'd hope that Jerrod Calhoun can construct a good roster (and really is a great coach) and find a way to dance in 2027, but you can't assume it / it's okay to give a pass in year 1. But if they don't succeed in year 1 (it's another year of UC not dancing), you're likely to see a bunch of roster turnover heading into year 2 -- and then you really need to win in year 2 or you may as well have kept Wes Miller ...

Plenty of first year coaches have done it, so hopefully there is a fruitful portal haul coming to Clifton this summer.

[leo from jersey]

I have not seen one player except Thiam & Tillery that I would even make an offer on.

The majority so far, have very little to none experience, or would suggest they could make an impact.

Any Blue Blood Program should snatch up Thiam immediately.

Blue Blood? Any program with $$$ is what he and his private coach wants.

[leo from jersey]

It is understandable with a new coach that you would have to rebuild, potentially from scratch

What will be fascinating in this era is to track programs like Xavier and Indiana. They had entirely new teams in 2025-26 and neither made the tournament, and both will have almost entirely new teams again in 2026-27 (but with the addition of some freshmen they actually recruited this past year out of HS). So it's hard to set the bar too high in year 2 with a new roster again -- but, at the same time, you cannot really afford to miss the tournament again.

So you'd hope that Jerrod Calhoun can construct a good roster (and really is a great coach) and find a way to dance in 2027, but you can't assume it / it's okay to give a pass in year 1. But if they don't succeed in year 1 (it's another year of UC not dancing), you're likely to see a bunch of roster turnover heading into year 2 -- and then you really need to win in year 2 or you may as well have kept Wes Miller ...

Plenty of first year coaches have done it, so hopefully there is a fruitful portal haul coming to Clifton this summer.

we know a second year coach can will it all. Look for the establishing of his presence and the team playing as a team. Then a great season.

[BearKatz]

First player I would make an offer on, just hit the Portal.

Denzel Aberdeen

0.8900
HS
CG
6-5 / 195
Entered

[BearKatz]

Another player I would look at.

Mike Nwoko

0.9000
HS
C
6-10 / 261
Entered

[longtimefan]

It is understandable with a new coach that you would have to rebuild, potentially from scratch

What will be fascinating in this era is to track programs like Xavier and Indiana. They had entirely new teams in 2025-26 and neither made the tournament, and both will have almost entirely new teams again in 2026-27 (but with the addition of some freshmen they actually recruited this past year out of HS). So it's hard to set the bar too high in year 2 with a new roster again -- but, at the same time, you cannot really afford to miss the tournament again.

So you'd hope that Jerrod Calhoun can construct a good roster (and really is a great coach) and find a way to dance in 2027, but you can't assume it / it's okay to give a pass in year 1. But if they don't succeed in year 1 (it's another year of UC not dancing), you're likely to see a bunch of roster turnover heading into year 2 -- and then you really need to win in year 2 or you may as well have kept Wes Miller ...

Plenty of first year coaches have done it, so hopefully there is a fruitful portal haul coming to Clifton this summer.

I’m optimistic, but if I had to bet my house I’d say bottom of the Big 12 and no tournament. CJC took over a really good situation at USU, but a far more difficult task here.

[BearKatz]

Unless CJC can persuade some high impact players to commit to UC, will finish in the bottom 3 this year.

And if CJC has to re-build from scratch like Mick did, it's gonna take at least 3yrs before we're tournament ready.

Unless CJC can pull a rabbit out of his hat, we're starting all over again.

[BearKatz]

I would take a hard look at this SG.

Harun Zrno

0.8800
HS
SG
6-7 / 220
Entered


Everyone from Syracuse, Wake Forest, UNC appears to be hitting the portal.

[D.A.H.]

Unless CJC can persuade some high impact players to commit to UC, will finish in the bottom 3 this year.

And if CJC has to re-build from scratch like Mick did, it's gonna take at least 3yrs before we're tournament ready.

Unless CJC can pull a rabbit out of his hat, we're starting all over again.

i'd still rather see and go through that, than to continue wes' malaise, ad nauseum. at least now there's some hope

[GoBearcats31]

Tracking Utah State players with eligibility (listing their class for next year):
- Mason Falslev, senior (16.0 ppg) - staying with USU
- Karson Templin, senior (8.8 ppg) - staying with USU
- Adlan Elamin, sophomore (6.7 ppg) -- hit the portal with a "do not contact" tag
- Elijah Perryman, sophomore (4.4 ppg) -- believe Chad Brendel said he may be a candidate to stay at USU
- Tucker Anderson, senior (3.4 ppg) -- transferring back to Central Arkansas where he started his career
- Luke Kearney, senior (1.7 ppg) -- ???
- Jordy Barnes, junior (0.9 ppg) -- hit the portal yesterday
- Kingston Tosi, freshman -- 6'8 redshirt this year is staying with USU
- Brayden Boe, freshman -- 6'4 redshirt ???
- David Iweze, freshman -- 6'10 redshirt was previously announced as intending to hit the portal

Not a lot of talent that could still come from Utah State, unfortunately.

[BearKatz]

i'd still rather see and go through that, than to continue wes' malaise, ad nauseum. at least now there's some hope

Couldn't agree more!