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Topic: RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Topic: RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

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M.D.W.S.T
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/6/2026 11:42:03 AM

FishBates wrote:

Aaron Bradshaw 7-1/220 (Kentucky/Ohio State/Memphis) to Tennessee State.

Not Tennessee...TSU (a mid-major in the OVC)

Yes the former 5 star guy ranked the #1 center in h.s. and #5 player overall.

Averaged 9 and 4 last season.

Reverse Road to Glory

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/6/2026 12:05:38 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Reverse Road to Glory

Yet, TSU which is always cash-strapped got a guy we certainly could have used. If they had a ton of athletic $$$ Eddie George might still be coaching football there. At this point a random person might really question what our staff is doing about adding size to the front line.

**the big juco kid in Florida not withstanding, if we get him

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/7/2026 2:24:53 PM

FJC31 wrote:

Tamiel Green deciding on May 8th.

https://x.com/green_tamiel/status/2049978106895614276?s=4...

Among our offer - LA Tech, Norfolk, Mercer, NC Central, SC State, Alabama A&M, St. Joes.

Can�t really tell if this guy an uncovered gem or just 7 foot. Clearly the biggest guy on the court. At times in the clip below he�s bringing the ball up the court and actually has good ball control. He�s had some big games against top JUCO teams, would think there�d be more interest.

https://x.com/green_tamiel/status/1977122178152722526/vid...

https://x.com/dylan_lutey/status/2040592494514086016?s=46...

I think there was something about him visiting Georgia State the other day and maybe playing in some sort of juco combine thing in Atlanta soon. The longer this drags on, the less of a good feeling it has. Hope Boals and them have a backup plan in mind, just in case.

Cat in NH
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 9:13:04 AM

Having watched Bradshaw closely for a year at Ohio State, we are just fine not having him join the roster. The last physical 7 footer I've ever seen.

Last Edited: 5/8/2026 9:13:25 AM by Cat in NH

Class of 1994 & 1996
Bobcat for Life

FJC31
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 9:30:46 AM

Yea, comments on Bradshaw haven�t been great. Tennessee State might be the place where he can actually dominate.

Tamiel Green � I doubt he lands in Athens. He�s done nothing but promote himself daily on X since our offer. He�s also pushed back in commitment date. He�s looking for more of something imo.

Last Edited: 5/8/2026 9:31:00 AM by FJC31

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 10:42:47 AM

Cat in NH wrote:

Having watched Bradshaw closely for a year at Ohio State, we are just fine not having him join the roster. The last physical 7 footer I've ever seen.

I remember people saying our team was "too good" to be interested in a tOSU tall guy named Austin Parks. He turned around and scored 13 points in 18 minutes against us for Toledo. The next game had a double-double against us.

People were ecstatic about getting Jalen Breath...but we're "too good" for a guy that was the top ranked center in the nation in high school. And no, Cornish has nothing to do with this. And no, Wiz was NOT a five star recruit out of high school, so no need to play the Cornish-Wiz card.

I hope having Kuany as the starting center next season works out. It might happen.
(we need to pick an NBA all-star to compare him to... I nominate Pascal Siakam as the "compare favorably to" since he is a 4x NBA all-star and horrifically overestimating the talent level of our guys being a time-honored tradition on here).

QuantCat
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 11:35:21 AM

FishBates wrote:

Cat in NH wrote:

Having watched Bradshaw closely for a year at Ohio State, we are just fine not having him join the roster. The last physical 7 footer I've ever seen.

I don�t fully agree with multiple things here, so walking through each of them:

�We don�t have a starting center�
Without intel, it seems like the plan is to start Makitan and Simmons as the two players in the frontcourt. I�m not here to argue about whether Bradshaw would have been a better player, but it seems like they have made significant investments in those two being the frontcourt. Makitan is going to be somewhat of a wildcard, but he was just the MVP of an adult league as a 19-year-old. That league he was voted MVP of also happens to be where Sincere Carry (2022 MAC POY) played this season. The league is far from the best in Europe, but there are real players that he was voted to be better than.

Also, if Simmons and Makitan are starters (both of whom aren�t shooters), you can�t throw a 3rd non-shooting center into that mix and expect to have a functional offense. Generally, I think this is part of why we haven�t seen a true center land with the Bobcats yet this offseason. 7-footers come at a premium, most have choices, and the fact that our starting frontcourt is likely solidified creates two issues. Issue 1 is that we likely don�t have budget left to go get an Aaron Bradshaw or even a Tamiel Green (assuming he�s continuing to shop around). Issue 2 is that guys like Bradshaw and Green are going to go to a place where they are guaranteed to start if that option is available.

Aaron Bradshaw
To start out, Bradshaw is no Wiz, and he�s had some solid production throughout three years of college. By year, his EM metrics were 4.14 (Kentucky 2023/24), 2.81 (Ohio State 2024/25), and 2.83 (Memphis 2025/26). His EvanMiya transfer portal projection sits at 3.31, which would have made him the highest-rated transfer portal player in the MAC. The issue with faulting the staff here is that they have to move very quickly and make decisions in the portal, or else they will loseout and have to resort to scraps. What I think may have happened is Bradshaw was out looking for a major payday, MAC schools saw that and said maybe we can�t afford him and filled their rosters where players were more attainable. Bradshaw ends up not getting the payday he wanted, a lot of schools have their starters set, and he ends up falling to a Tennessee State. If there was a world where Bradshaw is a starting 5 in Athens and Makitan stays in Europe, I would have been fine with it, but I don�t fault the coaching staff. Ultimately, there is likely a reason why he fell to a Tennessee State.

Breath vs. Parks
Jalen Breath was a higher-rated transfer prospect than Austin Parks last year. Parks clearly ended up being the better player, but 1. he didn�t light the world on fire in the MAC and 2. Jalen Breath regressed significantly. Breath had a three-year sample size of being a solid defensive anchor for UNCG, and for whatever reason it didn�t translate and he regressed. You still can�t ignore his prior production and metrics that projected him to be a better portal grab than Parks, who never really got on the floor at Ohio State. All you can do is go with the information you have at the time, and in this case, that changed in hindsight.

Wiznitzer High School Ratings:
247 composite: 0.928 - 3 star (154 National)
Rivals Industry: 0.909 - 3 star (133 National)
I believe the 4-star rating came from the old ESPN platform that I don�t even think is used anymore, but there was a confirmed 4-star rating according to his bio at Louisville and some old articles. I�m not defending the guy as a player, but he is still an example of why high school accolades don�t automatically translate to college success when transferring down. These types of players can be really volatile, and we�ve been on the losing end of it a few times with him and Cornish. There have also been cases like Freitag at Buffalo this year where it ends up being a huge success. Going for these types of players is a high-risk, high-reward move that requires large $$$ and you can�t assume it automatically translates to success.

Last Edited: 5/8/2026 1:03:54 PM by QuantCat

shabamon
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 11:59:00 AM

No, Kuany is not playing center. Even with three scholarships still outstanding it would surprise me if our starting bigs are not Simmons and Makitan. If anything, I hope Kuany can develop to play alongside them at the three.

On the topic of Green, if he is targeting some place to be the starting center, I'll pass on him at Ohio. Really watch his clips. He has some of the clumsiest footwork I've seen. There are obvious travels that were not called so I imagine he had several turnovers that did not make the highlight reel. If he's cool with being a backup, sure give him a shot. Sometimes I think it's good to have at least one competent 6'10"+ guy to not get dominated physically or be a foul magnet. How many seven footers did we see in non-conference? A lot.

FJC31
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 12:32:33 PM

It�s also important to point out that Bradshaw entered the portal on 4/20. By then, we had KDA, Che, and Makutan all committed. Kolton Mitchell announced his commitment on 4/22 but he was likely in the fold anyway.

We�ve allocated a lot of funds already and I�m guessing 4 starting spots are already secured between Javan, Dusan, and backcourt 2K26 (branding opp here?).

Assuming and hopeful we�re just waiting on a Siebe announcement, we probably have that much less in money and PT guaranteed.

QuantCat
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 12:59:38 PM

shabamon wrote:

I second this. Kuany had a tough year and the EM impact metrics reflected that, but there is clearly huge potential there. Of all the guys on the roster right now, he in my opinion has the biggest range of potential outcomes (could be a huge net negative again or could end up being a 3+). Given his fluidity, potential as an on ball defender, finishing ability, and a pretty smooth shooting stroke, there is a world where he could be a 35%+ outside shooter and be a serious matchup issue at the 3. He has the all the physical tools to develop if he can get a better feel for the game. If this team makes a run to the tournament this year, I think a big part of that would be Kuany hitting.

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 1:30:25 PM

QuantCat wrote:

shabamon wrote:

TSU does not have more money than a MAC school. There's that.

Back to Bradshaw vs the rest.

Against Big Ten etc based on 2024-25 season data for Ohio State, Aaron Bradshaw averaged a 40-minute rate of approximately 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per 40 minutes. Rim protection is important seeing as we were not in the top 200 in defense in the nation last season while starting 3 seniors and the most expensive transfer in the MAC. Thus some sort of 7-1 guy near the rim would prove a good deterrent to guys blowing right past our guards to high % shots in close or dishing off for layups/dunks. Cal Irvine, a fellow mid finished in the top ten of the nation in defensive efficiency per team rankings . com but had a 7-footer and two 6-10 guys.

I'm not really bummed out that we won't get Green but there are still other bigs available and the price should be dropping on some who overestimated where they would end up. If our $$ is totally dried up with some definite holes left to fill on the roster, that is certainly an issue.

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 1:45:19 PM

shabamon wrote:

How many seven footers did we see in non-conference? A lot.

McKeever 7-2 (St Marys) vs Ohio = 10 rebounds & 2 blocks
Allenspach 6-11 (George Mason) 14 & 8 vs Ohio in 23 minutes
Shelley 6-9 but very athletic (LMU) 13 boards vs Ohio
Sawnton-Rodger 7-0 for prohibited underdog ODU 14 & 7

shabamon
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 2:04:33 PM

FishBates wrote:

shabamon wrote:

How many seven footers did we see in non-conference? A lot.

Fru 6-11 (Louisville) 14 and 5 in 20 minutes
Tilly (7-0) and Njegovan (7-2)Ohio State - combined 24 and 11 in 28 minutes
Van Kommen 7-4 (Marshall) - 9 and 8 with 5 blocks in 24 minutes

Last Edited: 5/8/2026 2:04:50 PM by shabamon

QuantCat
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 7:48:54 PM

FishBates wrote:

QuantCat wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Both things can be true that Bradshaw would have been a very good MAC center and doesn�t fit with the guys they already had signed when he entered the portal. Going and getting him at that point doesn�t help vs spending that money on a proven wing. You have to build around what you already have and he wasn�t going to compliment the existing guys. FWIW I think Makitan and Simmons will be one of the best front courts in the MAC.

If the other MAC schools had budget, then why is Bradshaw not in the MAC and instead at Tennessee State? The portal era isn�t as simple as that guy is good, we have money, let�s go sign him. The team has to make sense.

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/8/2026 8:26:21 PM

One thing that seems like a reason he picked a school in a big city, is maybe he likes being kind of a big city guy. From Newark NJ. Played at schools in metropolitan areas like Columbus and Memphis. United has 4 non-stops a day from Newark to Nashville. Even though TSU is sort of overlooked in Nashville, they did win their conference and make the big dance. (even though the people in Nashville were busy watching Vandy and debating who the Titans would draft and holding their breath the hockey team would make the NHL playoff...which (just like Cbus) didn't happen.

So, UMass and Buffalo might have been the only MAC schools that made sense for him? I hope we can still get one really tall guy who doesn't stink totally.

FJC31
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/9/2026 8:49:31 AM

I think our staff has done a great job retooling to date. The roster isn�t complete but I like the pieces brought in so far so I�m not understanding the Bradshaw obsession all things considered. It�s being talked about like he had interest in coming to Athens this whole time and we said no.

We�re probably lower in funds since we�ve already brought in 4 guys and retained Javan. Hence, why it�s taking longer for more additions after landing someone weekly.

Between Siebe and Matthew Mayes rumors, the staff is still targeting wings. Between the new follow of Mo Daio and now Moustapha Loum, the staff is still looking for size depth. I�m less concerned about what name is across the chest/level and more interested in fit. We�ve brought in scorers, I�d like defense to be an emphasis now.

Loum is a Northwestern State transfer. 6�10, averaged 2ppg and 2rpg in 11mpg in his first season of D1 ball after playing JUCO. 100 possessions stats show 11rpg and 4bg, while is is DW and DBPM are net positives.

It might seem underwhelming, but this is likely where we�re able to shop for reserve size. But his strengths of interior defense (much like Daio) fit the current roster.

https://x.com/risinghoopafrik/status/2031524226633433191?...

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/moustapha-lo...

Last Edited: 5/9/2026 8:57:48 AM by FJC31

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/9/2026 3:58:19 PM

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2 that the portal was full of for a while. Nobody was counting on getting him in particular but the fact that he ended up at a fellow mid-major does mean something.

The ODU game where there was no way in Hades we were supposed to lose, their 7 foot center had 14 & 7... we lost by 6. Dude only averaged 8 and 5. That could also be indicative of something. If we have 3 spots left to fill, there needs to be some serious size added. At least one guy. If we can't get one big guy who is not a total joke, a problem exists. The guy doesn't need to be Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokić...just decent enough to play some defense, set a few screens, grab a few boards and maybe not foul out or fall down trying to walk and chew gum at the same time.

---------------------------------
UPDATE:
Former UConn commit Rrezon Elezaj 7-2/250 is now headed to Appy State

Last Edited: 5/10/2026 7:02:32 AM by FishBates

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/10/2026 1:57:23 PM

FishBates wrote:

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2

These are completely arbitrary numbers. Does a big in the MAC have to be between 6-10 and 7-2 to be effective?

Who is the last good big OU has had that was between 6-10 and 7-2? Here's the full list of guys:

Ayden Evans may now be 6-10.
Wiz
Nolan Foster
Ogbonda
Nate Springs
Wadley Mompremier
Ethan Jacobs
Kenneth Van Kampen
Zach Naztgaam

The guys with that sort of size that fall to the MAC aren't always the guys you actually want playing minutes.

FJC31
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/10/2026 3:13:46 PM

New follows for Casey Crawford -

Yoro Diallo of UVA-Wise (D2). Listed as 6�9/6�10 G/F. Averaged 15ppg and 8rpg while shooting 49% overall. 3PT % on 72 attempts is 28%. Went to Moeller in Cincy and started career at Winthrop. Didn�t play much but had favorable Ortg and Drtg numbers. Same agency as Javan.

https://x.com/theportalreport/status/2041594407074275817?...

Henri Mennander of Queens College (D2). 6�9, averaged 11ppg, 9rpg, and 1.4bpg.

https://x.com/henrimennander/status/2028215074167390568?s...

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/10/2026 4:13:44 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2

To your point, yes a 6-10 scrub with no athletic skills is still a scrub.

Let's say hypothetically there is a 6-10 backup center at GulfShoreView Community College in Tella-Hoochie Florida that averages 2 points per game. He might as well be 9 feet tall. It won't matter if he is a hopeless scrub.

And if we get interested in hopeless scrubs...that should be a concern, no matter what their height and weight is.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/10/2026 4:30:25 PM

FishBates wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2

That wasn't actually my point. My point was that basically no productive big at Ohio in the last 15 years has matched the description you outlined.

FishBates
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/10/2026 4:43:47 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2

That wasn't actually my point. My point was that basically no productive big at Ohio in the last 15 years has matched the description you outlined.

Then we are REALLY overdue to hit on one. But it won't be a 2ppg backup center from Tella-Hoochie Community College.

Vic Searles at 6-9/240 was a fairly big and decent player.

100%Cat
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/11/2026 8:59:13 AM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Bradshaw is symbolic of all those guys between 6-10 and 7-2

I'd take Ogbonda 2.0 right now in a heart beat. Sylvester played his role. I remember him being solid defensively, was an interior presence, scored when given the chance, wasn't a disaster at the charity stripe.

M.D.W.S.T
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/11/2026 9:20:32 AM

FishBates wrote:

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

FishBates wrote:

Reverse Road to Glory

I mean... OU has signed...

- One of the Horizon leagues best players (What is that worth? Likely close to $100K?)
- An Australian prospect who was in the NBL pipeline (Had he stayed that course, he could be looking at the $300-$500K range within the next few years) (Developmental league pay is fairly low, but I still saw anywhere from $50K-$75K for someone as young and highly thought of over there as he is)
- a Bosnian pro (Likely making between $75K - $100K over there)
- A guy who helped lead Idaho to their first conference title in four decades, and an NCAA tournament birth (Maybe somewhere in the $50K+ range)

I don't know shit about our NIL situation, but that alone is probably close to $250-350K. I would be shocked if Che and Dusan took paycuts to come here, so that would sit them in the $100K range. Add in Simmons. $400-$450K for five players.

It's not that they dont have money, or that TSU has more, it's that OU already has five players making high fives to low six figures.

And throw in Kuany. Who I really thought might join his brother in the NBL. And stayed.

Last Edited: 5/11/2026 9:26:26 AM by M.D.W.S.T

greencat
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RE: 2026 Transfer Portal Prospects

Posted: 5/11/2026 11:32:04 AM

Those look like good additions on paper.

Are there not three more open roster spots?

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