Ball State's MAC Freshman of the Year Post Player Payton Sparks has put his name into the Transfer Portal. This follows the firing earlier this week of Cardinal Head Coach James Whitford. After a great Freshman Season, he will have plenty of interest from "Major" Programs this off season. Payton's teammate Wing Player Miryne Thomas who averaged 11ppg. has also entered the Portal. Two major losses for Ball St going forward unless the new coach can convince them to stay!
Now that transfers don't have to sit out a year, I assume it will become standard for a team to have to reload almost completely after a coaching change, with the possible exception being when an assistant is elevated to head coach. When they are being recruited out of high school, players picking a coaching staff more than they pick a university. Ball State is giving up a chance to be decent next year in exchange for what they hope will be a long-term benefit.
Sparks said on Twitter that he will consider returning to Ball St once a new coach has been hired but said he needs to explore all future options. Toledo did offer Sparks back in April, 2020 so there is some relationship between the two sides. While there is a precedent for players transferring from one MAC school to another, it will interesting to see if TK wants to go down that road or not!
I imagine the only thing kept him mid-major was that small school he went to.
I hope he answers the phone when coach K calls him.
(03-16-2022 08:20 PM)rocketpaul Wrote: [ -> ]I hope he answers the phone when coach K calls him.
I hope TK even calls him.
Would be quite the get for the rockets, unfortunately I think it is likely he has some bigger names than ours calling him as well, that being said certainly still hope we go after him.
It hasn’t taken long for Schools to contact Payton Sparks as he has already heard from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Cincinnati, Cornell, College of Charleton, Hofstra, Illnois, Indiana, Iowa St, Jacksonville, Liberty, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Wichita St.
(03-17-2022 01:36 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote: [ -> ]It hasn’t taken long for Schools to contact Payton Sparks as he has already heard from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Cincinnati, Cornell, College of Charleton, Hofstra, Illnois, Indiana, Iowa St, Jacksonville, Liberty, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Wichita St.
The others can stop now. Small town Indiana is going to Indiana or Purdue if they call.
(03-17-2022 03:12 PM)eastisbest Wrote: [ -> ] (03-17-2022 01:36 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote: [ -> ]It hasn’t taken long for Schools to contact Payton Sparks as he has already heard from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Cincinnati, Cornell, College of Charleton, Hofstra, Illnois, Indiana, Iowa St, Jacksonville, Liberty, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Wichita St.
The others can stop now. Small town Indiana is going to Indiana or Purdue if they call.
If he is a Purdue fan he is not going to IU because.....IU SUCKS
My kids have taught me well
(03-18-2022 08:38 AM)indianasniff Wrote: [ -> ] (03-17-2022 03:12 PM)eastisbest Wrote: [ -> ] (03-17-2022 01:36 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote: [ -> ]It hasn’t taken long for Schools to contact Payton Sparks as he has already heard from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Cincinnati, Cornell, College of Charleton, Hofstra, Illnois, Indiana, Iowa St, Jacksonville, Liberty, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Wichita St.
The others can stop now. Small town Indiana is going to Indiana or Purdue if they call.
If he is a Purdue fan he is not going to IU because.....IU SUCKS
My kids have taught me well
lol, they did. IU struggled last night but their cheerleaders stole the show. Between their engineering last night and Purdue's doing belly flops in the rain at football games, I think we might have each other's squads.