2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[Smokeyshowl66]

If there aren’t some serious reforms in this process, there is going to be a mass exodus of coaches and support staff across all of the major revenue sports. This is not sustainable.

Binding contracts between schools and players with enforceable buy-out clauses are the obvious next step. Players can still be protected by defining acts that automatically allow them to opt out (e.g. head coach change).

But at the end of the day, the coaches are getting screwed in the current state of affairs. They can’t focus on coaching if from one day to the next they don’t know who’s on their team.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

You said all of the current players we’re recruiting are divas, but who?

Sometimes this feels like a radio call in show… Adams has been a pain in the ass. Tyson’s belief in himself exceeds reality. All this mirrors Rice and others who initially seem reasonable, but then aren’t.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

No way Indiana is a legit option...talk about a money only move if that's the case.

Indiana has already added these guards

Nick Dorn, Jason Drake, Tayton Conerway, Jasai Miles, Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries, & Conor Enright

At this point they've only added 2 forwards in portal and have 1 HS forward signed.


Seems crazy any SG would want to join a roster with that many higher rated guys ahead of them...

Agree. Hence my comment on minutes. Just sharing his contact list.

 

[Jimmy Football]

Sometimes this feels like a radio call in show… Adams has been a pain in the ass. Tyson’s belief in himself exceeds reality. All this mirrors Rice and others who initially seem reasonable, but then aren’t.

Love your show, I’ll hang up and listen.

 

[CamVol8]

at this point just please get Chaikin and pray Amari Evans is more ready than we expected. Gonna be a big topic of conversation in threads next year if we don’t get this gap in the roster properly filled.

Yup, gonna really suck if it’s one of those I told you so moments where we struggle to score and don’t have a legit option at 2 guard

 

[hUTch2002]

Welllllll......I hate to be the one to tell you the bad news but if you look at your Tinder profile it might answer that question

What is a Tinder profile? We are talking about building a fire, right? That kind of tinder.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I mean honestly just 1 good SG from the portal and I think a lot of hand wringing stops.

But it's weird how many of these players are willing to take bigger paydays to not even play...

Cedric Coward & Duke
Alex Chaikin & Indiana

Hell Cade Tyson to UNC last year did it...and a lot of those programs don't develop players they recruit over them.

Any clue if we've talked to these names?

Taye Fields
Trent McLaughlin
Tyon Grant-Foster
Mister Dean (went to USC Upstate where Gainey was before)
Liutauras Lelevicius

 

[nateernst]

I feel like a spoiled brat complaining about us pursuing Duke Miles when we did, oh how I’d welcome Duke with open arms at this point lol.

 

[wtmvol]

I mean honestly just 1 good SG from the portal and I think a lot of hand wringing stops.

But it's weird how many of these players are willing to take bigger paydays to not even play...

Cedric Coward & Duke
Alex Chaikin & Indiana

Hell Cade Tyson to UNC last year did it...and a lot of those programs don't develop players they recruit over them.

Any clue if we've talked to these names?

Taye Fields
Trent McLaughlin
Tyon Grant-Foster
Mister Dean (went to USC Upstate where Gainey was before)
Liutauras Lelevicius

Those last 2 names surely are made up

 

[therickbol]

This feels like the type of portal cycle that becomes so filled with drama that Barnes takes a second look at everything and just says, “This drama is stupid. I’m done.”

I don’t think he will, but with how things have been going with agents and the ridiculous demands, it’s always something in the back of my mind for someone at the end of their career.

That is why Amentv was so important. He is an elite prospect that ALSO is the exact type of young man and family that Barnes enjoys coaching.

 

[YankeeVol]

I mean honestly just 1 good SG from the portal and I think a lot of hand wringing stops.

But it's weird how many of these players are willing to take bigger paydays to not even play...

Cedric Coward & Duke
Alex Chaikin & Indiana

Hell Cade Tyson to UNC last year did it...and a lot of those programs don't develop players they recruit over them.

Any clue if we've talked to these names?

Taye Fields
Trent McLaughlin
Tyon Grant-Foster
Mister Dean (went to USC Upstate where Gainey was before)
Liutauras Lelevicius

That's not a real name

 

[LittleCat]

I bet if Perry came here he would play like a woman scorned against the Cats

He’s not leaving with any bad blood. He made more money than people realize, and now he just wants to play more.

 

[oldaaucoach]

Pretty sure I will be eligible when all is said and done. As soon as I am fully recovered from that stupid heart attack I will be good to go!

yeah, me too - end of February.

 

[OrangeInKy]

If that's the case, pick up Chaikin and Perry and call it a day. Depend on them to provide elite shooting in modest minutes and teach them to play defense like he taught Vescovi. In the meantime, run with Evans who I'm getting to like more and more the more I look at him. 6'5", 211 lbs., 6-10 wingspan, decent handle, just needs a little more consistency on his 3 ball (overall 30% -- a mix of great nights and bad ones).

This is exactly where I’m at, especially if Gainey is coming back too. No idea how they make that work, but that’s why they have the jobs they have.

 

[CatFan4Life!]

Spot on!

No lie, you may be my favorite UK fan to ever grace this board (no offense, Bat). No sense of entitlement, you know your place as a guest, and you've been nothing but respectful and complimentary since your arrival. And you've done it all without sacrificing your loyalty and admiration for UK, which I respect.

Kudos, to you, sir/ma'am.

Thank you. That is exceedingly kind and I understand I am a guest here and my opinions and thoughts count less than the Vol fans' opinions (as it should-- this is a UT board, after all). I only hope I can offer some insight that is helpful when certain topics come up where I can provide a different viewpoint, being from a rival fanbase. I found this board on accident but I've really enjoyed interacting with the Vol fans and seeing roster construction occur real-time through your eyes. I don't think I could do this with many programs but I've (begrudgingly) came around to respecting Barnes and the way he runs his program. In the those last years with Cal, the stark difference between the effort each team played with, and the level of discipline instilled in the teams, was obvious-- two programs going in different directions. Very different approaches to the way a program should be built and sustained. It is safe to say Cal's method was unbeatable for a few years but in the long run ended up being unsustainable, while building a program via culture (the Barnes way) proved to have more consistent results and better longevity.

Now I'm thrilled with Coach Pope. I only hope he attends some defensive camps this summer hosted by Coach Barnes and he'd be a really good coach!

 

[Derek Reese's jumpshot]

If that's the case, pick up Chaikin and Perry and call it a day. Depend on them to provide elite shooting in modest minutes and teach them to play defense like he taught Vescovi. In the meantime, run with Evans who I'm getting to like more and more the more I look at him. 6'5", 211 lbs., 6-10 wingspan, decent handle, just needs a little more consistency on his 3 ball (overall 30% -- a mix of great nights and bad ones).

30% is mostly bad nights. I think he’ll be another Mashack.

 

[VolGee4]

Some (and I say some) of these kids are getting bad advice. I will say it again, and I said it when NIL started: the bigger bag now is not always the way to go to maximize your future earnings. It’s just the truth. You might give up several thousand now to get better coaching, a better fit, and better exposure to earn more later.

 

[omghulkhands]

Now I'm thrilled with Coach Pope. I only hope he attends some defensive camps this summer hosted by Coach Barnes and he'd be a really good coach!

KY’s defense wasn’t that bad. Their offense pace was just so high that they end up in a lot of high possession games.

 

[Vol49er]

Remember when people were saying they wouldn’t even want Z, Jordan, and Jahmai back if it were possible

 

[MoCo_Vol]

30% is mostly bad nights. I think he’ll be another Mashack.

Shack shot 35% from deep so I hope you're right baby!!!!

 

[TechnoVol]

If that's the case, pick up Chaikin and Perry and call it a day. Depend on them to provide elite shooting in modest minutes and teach them to play defense like he taught Vescovi. In the meantime, run with Evans who I'm getting to like more and more the more I look at him. 6'5", 211 lbs., 6-10 wingspan, decent handle, just needs a little more consistency on his 3 ball (overall 30% -- a mix of great nights and bad ones).

I agree, we may be sleeping on Evans.

 

[i2amavol]

yeah, me too - end of February.

First of February, STEMI 100% blockage, but virtually no residual damage. I’ll be cleared to go in time for Summer workouts!

 

[TrippieRedd]

At some point you just have to throw your hands up and pay the kids.

You want a final 4? Pay for it.


“yOu pAy fOr it”
“dO yOu hAvE 1 MiL”

Put the ice in the cooler.

 

[nateernst]

At some point you just have to throw your hands up and pay the kids.

You want a final 4? Pay for it.


“yOu pAy fOr it”
“dO yOu hAvE 1 MiL”

Put the ice in the cooler.

Exactly if we sit on our hands with 1.5-2.5 million leftover it’s on nobody but us if the season doesn’t go the way we wanted it to.

 

[Vol49er]

At some point you just have to throw your hands up and pay the kids.

You want a final 4? Pay for it.


“yOu pAy fOr it”
“dO yOu hAvE 1 MiL”

Put the ice in the cooler.

You say this like there is infinite resources, or like Barnes can just turn a dial and we’ll suddenly have more money. All the schools have money and are trying to pay for a final 4