Portal 2026

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,002
20,308
113
Not just hot water lost his job and then a bowl ban which was a 12-0 Ohio State season. Pretty crazy. Even at time felt like too much

Remember Will Wade? In his first LSU stint from 2017-22, Wade was 105-51 with an SEC regular-season championship and three NCAA tournament appearances.

LSU fired him in March 2022 for his involvement in NCAA Level I and Level II recruiting violations (cash payments, improper recruiting, and a lack of institutional control).

He was also caught up in an FBI probe that caught Wade on a wiretap discussing a "strong-a.ss offer" to a recruit.

After sitting out a season, followed by 2 years as head coach for McNeese and NC State this past season, he's back at LSU.

The Tigers fired Matt McMahon, Wade's predecessor, after he went 60-70 overall and 17-55 in the SEC in four seasons.

 

Hawkeye54545

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
689
2,216
93
Portal doesn't open until the 6th and as of this morning there are 342 players in it.

I can't wrap my head around that.
 

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,002
20,308
113
For the 2025-26 season, Kentucky spent $22 million on its roster. They lost in the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

On3 reported that Iowa, which made the Elite 8, spent between $8 million and $10 million on its roster.

Link to that story:


 

HawkBot

Redshirt
Jul 9, 2025
17
37
13
Remember Will Wade? In his first LSU stint from 2017-22, Wade was 105-51 with an SEC regular-season championship and three NCAA tournament appearances.

LSU fired him in March 2022 for his involvement in NCAA Level I and Level II recruiting violations (cash payments, improper recruiting, and a lack of institutional control).

He was also caught up in an FBI probe that caught Wade on a wiretap discussing a "strong-a.ss offer" to a recruit.

After sitting out a season, followed by 2 years as head coach for McNeese and NC State this past season, he's back at LSU.

The Tigers fired Matt McMahon, Wade's predecessor, after he went 60-70 overall and 17-55 in the SEC in four seasons.

That's kinda like putting your dishes through a quick dishwasher cycle instead of a normal cycle.
 

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,439
3,230
113
478 names so far. Portal doesn't officially open until the 7th. Are teams allowed to interact with portal players other than grad transfers before that date?

Can they talk to agents or family members before that date?

I get the vibe that is going on a lot. The day the portal opens there are commitments. How does that happen without a visit?
 

Max Rebo

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2022
571
1,451
93

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
957
1,950
93
342 in the portal as of this morning.
And many more coming. I'm gonna wait to care when I hear who Iowa actually targets and there is something outside of Fantasy that we have a shot.

Most of these guys who's pictures are already posted are guys nobody knows and likely never will. But to each their own.
 

doughuddl2_rivals

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2009
824
1,168
93

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,439
3,230
113
Well the fun begins on Tuesday. It is obvious what a rim protector brings to a team. Mara was a beast last night. PG and Big, hope we can get one of each.
 
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Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,616
3,104
113
Of those 4 waukee title players Omaha was the highest rated recruit but at this point he is behind the sandforts, and devries in college success.
Just never can tell...as the song goes
 
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2432Hawk

Heisman
Jun 22, 2002
5,689
10,431
113
Of those 4 waukee title players Omaha was the highest rated recruit but at this point he is behind the sandforts, and devries in college success.
Just never can tell...as the song goes

Just goes to show you these ranking services are always over-valuing flash vs fundamentals. Omaha has the physical tools. also feel changing schools so frequently also hurts his development.
 

HawkInDenver

Senior
Apr 16, 2024
439
829
93
Just goes to show you these ranking services are always over-valuing flash vs fundamentals. Omaha has the physical tools. also feel changing schools so frequently also hurts his development.
I agree that changing schools a lot hurts development. It also means that programs who are looking for someone to come in with multiple years left will pass.
 

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,439
3,230
113
528 in the portal as of this morning

41 centers - a hard position to fill, smaller numbers

105 point guards - a lot of talent with a large pool to choose from.
 
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HawkInDenver

Senior
Apr 16, 2024
439
829
93
528 in the portal as of this morning

41 centers - a hard position to fill, smaller numbers

105 point guards - a lot of talent with a large pool to choose from.
41 centers seems awfully low. I wonder how many of them have the size to be B1G centers?
There will be a lot of tall guys getting big payouts.
 

nu2u

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2006
10,185
2,122
113
Just goes to show you these ranking services are always over-valuing flash vs fundamentals. Omaha has the physical tools. also feel changing schools so frequently also hurts his development.
The commercial ranking services are certainly biased towards urban/suburban schools and you have identified a fundamental flaw in their player ratings - the so- called “intangibles”.

These services do not have the inclination or the resources to conduct a more thorough player analysis or a background inquiry beyond surface observations.

IMO consideration of a prospect’s intangibles are even more important since the recent advent of compensation and unrestricted movement.

McCollum emphasizes intangibles. At various times I’ve heard Coach McCollum identify several different intangibles he looks for in a recruit I.e. in a nutshell: “winners” who have exhibited a team mentality, who work hard (especially on defense), and a willingness to learn ….with special consideration given to those players who have been overlooked or under-rated - the proverbial “chip on the shoulder” intangible signifying a personal motivation facet in addition to talent.
 

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,439
3,230
113
41 centers seems awfully low. I wonder how many of them have the size to be B1G centers?
There will be a lot of tall guys getting big payouts.
Only 10 are 7', number has jumped up to 538. Blackwell from Wiscy entered also Certa from ND, someone Fran tried to recruit.
 

Max Rebo

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2022
571
1,451
93
41 centers seems awfully low. I wonder how many of them have the size to be B1G centers?
There will be a lot of tall guys getting big payouts.
There are also a number of guys in the portal who are 6-11+ who are listed as forwards.

I don't know if that means they are really just stretch forwards, similar to Alvaro (listed at 6-10), or if they have the skillset to provide what we need in the post.
 

CRHAWK

Senior
Sep 7, 2025
231
627
93
Kansas 7ft big man Paul Mbiya just entered the portal. He didn't play much this year but has a 7'8 wingspan so he would fill our size need.
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
597
1,564
83
JP Estrella starting 6’11 big for Tenn entered portal. Highly ranked recruit Iowa was in final 3 for him when Fran was here. Was a rs soph last year.

also no tears shed seeing G Blackwell for Wisconsin entering portal testing nba draft process too.
 
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Tumorboy

All-American
Sep 24, 2002
3,132
5,796
113
For the 2025-26 season, Kentucky spent $22 million on its roster. They lost in the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

On3 reported that Iowa, which made the Elite 8, spent between $8 million and $10 million on its roster.

Link to that story:



About 600K per turnover.