2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[bleedingTNorange]

We also had Gainey scoring punch last year too. Our front court could definitely ease some of the scoring issues but it also will be tougher on them if we don’t have enough guys to stretch the floor and hit from 3

Gainey was 11ppg, not like he was 20, if we can’t get 11ppg from some combo of Evans/Estrella/Phillips/Brown off the bench we probably have bigger problems. As for stretching the floor and hitting from 3, Gillespie and Abram is a better combination than any 2 guards you want to put together off last years roster…and that’s without even mentioning Ament should be a way bigger threat from 3 than what Mashack was.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I love the positivity seriously no shade at all, but if our goal is to win it all (it should be) then realistically Abram, Evans, Boswell, Massamba at the 2 just won’t get it done

Well now you’re moving the goalposts to say we should apparently have the #1 overall roster in the country?

 

[CamVol8]

Well now you’re moving the goalposts to say we should apparently have the #1 overall roster in the country?

Lol if you look at the top 15 projected teams they’re all much deeper at the guard position, js

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Lol if you look at the top 15 projected teams they’re all much deeper at the guard position, js

We’re projected at 12 on Barttorvik which removes any human bias, guessing we’ll be similar on KenPom, that’s Top 15. While there will definitely be teams deeper at guard we are much deeper than many teams in the front court, works both ways, just saying.

 

[CAVPUT]

Brayden Burries decomitting and becoming a Vol would solve a lot of concerns.

Isn't he signed?

 

[omghulkhands]

Gainey was 11ppg, not like he was 20, if we can’t get 11ppg from some combo of Evans/Estrella/Phillips/Brown off the bench we probably have bigger problems. As for stretching the floor and hitting from 3, Gillespie and Abram is a better combination than any 2 guards you want to put together off last years roster…and that’s without even mentioning Ament should be a way bigger threat from 3 than what Mashack was.

I have hope Estrella will make up a lot of offensive slack

 

[CamVol8]

We’re projected at 12 on Barttorvik which removes any human bias, guessing we’ll be similar on KenPom, that’s Top 15. While there will definitely be teams deeper at guard we are much deeper than many teams in the front court, works both ways, just saying.

We just need 1 more quality guard and we’re set

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We just need 1 more quality guard and we’re set

I agree that when you look at the roster and say if we could improve an area/add someone, that is a no brainer, I’ve been vocal about that. What I don’t agree with is this notion that we can’t compete or be among the best with the current roster makeup, I think it’s good enough if we stay healthy to again be Top 15.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

I agree that when you look at the roster and say if we could improve an area/add someone, that is a no brainer, I’ve been vocal about that. What I don’t agree with is this notion that we can’t compete or be among the best with the current roster makeup, I think it’s good enough if we stay healthy to again be Top 15.

Yeah top 20 with roster makeup as now…. Need a Scorer in the back court

 

[TrippieRedd]

We’re projected at 12 on Barttorvik which removes any human bias, guessing we’ll be similar on KenPom, that’s Top 15. While there will definitely be teams deeper at guard we are much deeper than many teams in the front court, works both ways, just saying.

Hopefully deeper means better

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Hopefully deeper means better

TWSS

 

[TheMookieMonster]

With the portal closed, how would Rice even transfer if the “toxic” rumors were true? Wouldn’t he be stuck at USC at this point?

 

[Volprofch05]

With the portal closed, how would Rice even transfer if the “toxic” rumors were true? Wouldn’t he be stuck at USC at this point?

Think he’d have to ask for release, but seems it can be done because isn’t that almost exactly what Ledlum did? He definitely left over the summer.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

With the portal closed, how would Rice even transfer if the “toxic” rumors were true? Wouldn’t he be stuck at USC at this point?

If there was something crazy going on it’s likely players would be released and if not potentially ncaa giving a waiver…I don’t see either as likely, but who knows.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Think he’d have to ask for release, but seems it can be done because isn’t that almost exactly what Ledlum did? He definitely left over the summer.

No, Ledlum was a grad transfer and at the time there were no windows for immediate eligibility for grad transfers

 

[Volprofch05]

No, Ledlum was a grad transfer and at the time there were no windows for immediate eligibility for grad transfers

Ah yeah, grad transfer, gotcha

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

I agree that when you look at the roster and say if we could improve an area/add someone, that is a no brainer, I’ve been vocal about that. What I don’t agree with is this notion that we can’t compete or be among the best with the current roster makeup, I think it’s good enough if we stay healthy to again be Top 15.

Agreed. SG nice addition, current team also nice enough to do damage.

 

[berryvol]

I don’t see any way we wouldn’t

Assumed so, just didn’t know what bridges could have been burned there. Always seemed to me that Rice was just taking life changing money and he’d been dumb to turn down USC, from what all our insiders said, so hopefully there’d be no ill will over that on our end.

 

[volhall16]

Says who?

Ummm…. Says me?? Lol

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Wasn’t that the case with Zeigler & Chaz last year though? If you’re being honest, offensively:
Gillespie > Zeigler
Abram < Chaz
Ament > Mashack
Carey > Milicic
Okpara > Okpara (even if just a smidge)

To take is a step further, our starting 5 last year averaged: 54.1ppg.

4/5 projected starters this year averaged:
42.1ppg

So can Ament give you 12+ppg? I would think that’s a low bar, similarly, that’s not accounting for any improvement from Okpara, which again seems like there should be at least a small step forward.

I think we’ll be a bit better offensively and worse defensively. Wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be a wash. Wouldn’t be shocked if we lost more on defense than we gained on offense either

 

[volinexile17]

Wasn’t that the case with Zeigler & Chaz last year though? If you’re being honest, offensively:
Gillespie > Zeigler
Abram < Chaz
Ament > Mashack
Carey > Milicic
Okpara > Okpara (even if just a smidge)

To take is a step further, our starting 5 last year averaged: 54.1ppg.

4/5 projected starters this year averaged:
42.1ppg

So can Ament give you 12+ppg? I would think that’s a low bar, similarly, that’s not accounting for any improvement from Okpara, which again seems like there should be at least a small step forward.

Generally agree but think Milicic brought way more to the table than Carey. Carey looks about like Okpara to me. Hopefully Ament can offset the drop off from Chaz and Milicic.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Generally agree but think Milicic brought way more to the table than Carey. Carey looks about like Okpara to me. Hopefully Ament can offset the drop off from Chaz and Milicic.

Igor was MIA during the tournament.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Generally agree but think Milicic brought way more to the table than Carey. Carey looks about like Okpara to me. Hopefully Ament can offset the drop off from Chaz and Milicic.

Milicic: 25.4mpg 9.4ppg 6.7rpg 46.2%FG 60.2%2ptFG
Carey: 20.2mpg 8.0ppg 5.7rpg 48.8%FG 54.5%2ptFG

If you give Carey 5 more MPG does he score 1 more basket and grab 1 more rebound? Probably. He was also a sophomore versus a senior, so the potential for continued growth and progression is also there.

 

[StepCross]

Generally agree but think Milicic brought way more to the table than Carey. Carey looks about like Okpara to me. Hopefully Ament can offset the drop off from Chaz and Milicic.

Igor was the better scorer for sure, shooting 74% from the FT line and 60% from 2. He was also the better playmaker, having the best assist rate after ZZ among regular rotation players.

Carey is the better offensive rebounder, though, by a good margin. He also gets to the FT line better and is generally more comfortable playing through heavy contact in the paint. He brings an element there that we didn't have.

But Estrella, who you didn't mention, is the wild card at that position. At his ceiling he might be able to shoot like Igor (he shot 71% from both the FT line and the floor his freshman year), while also being comfortable in contact like Carey (while also being 3 inches taller than Carey). His floor, on the other hand, is "injured; did not play." Anything at all in between is probably still on the table until we see more from him.

 

[volinexile17]

Milicic: 25.4mpg 9.4ppg 6.7rpg 46.2%FG 60.2%2ptFG
Carey: 20.2mpg 8.0ppg 5.7rpg 48.8%FG 54.5%2ptFG

If you give Carey 5 more MPG does he score 1 more basket and grab 1 more rebound? Probably. He was also a sophomore versus a senior, so the potential for continued growth and progression is also there.

Igor could play on the perimeter. Even though he regressed a good bit from 3, his ability to handle the ball, drive and pass was pretty good for a guy his size. Haven’t seen that from Carey.