MAC Transfer Update:

Gabe O’Neal - Transferring from Kent State - Undecided on transfer destination - Junior - 6’7” - PF - 2* recruit from Princeton HS (Cincinnati, OH) - O’Neal started his collegiate career at Mineral Area CC (Park Hills, MO) where he played two seasons before transferring to Kent State. At KSU, O’Neal played one season where he played in 22 games (1 start) averaging 11 mpg and 4.7 ppg/3 rpg shooting 64.2% from the field and 81% FT (17 of 21). Kind of a late transfer declaration. Coming out of HS, O’Neal received no additional offers but coming out of CC, he received one additional offer from Southeast Missouri State.

MAC Transfer Update:

Kamari Williams - Transferring from Boston College to Miami - Sophomore - 6’7” - SF - 2* recruit from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (Potomac, MD - born in Sandy Spring, MD) - Williams has played two seasons at Boston College and as a sophomore, Williams played in 15 games (3 starts) averaging 12.4 mpg and 2.6 ppg/1.2 rpg shooting 35% from the field (30% 3PT - 9 of 30) and 50% FT (2 of 4). I’m always in favor of these guys who transfer to mid-majors from P5/6/7 conference schools and figure their experience coming from those programs can only be a plus. He’s a tall kid who can maybe shoot enough from the outside to make some defenses uncomfortable. Coming out of HS, Williams received additional offers from UNC Greensboro, James Madison, UAB, Siena, Towson, St. Bonaventure, George Mason, Saint Joseph’s, Hofstra, Binghamton, Fairfield, Elon, Western Carolina, High Point, Quinnipiac, Massachusetts, and Monmouth.

NIU Recruiting Update:

Maxime Ekono - Committed to Bradley - 6’7” - PG - WHAT????? - 210 pounds?????? That can’t be correct. Anyway… - 2* recruit from Scotland Campus Sports (Scotland, PA...not Great Britain) born in Nanterre, France - Okay...right off the bat, there’s a lot to take in here. A 6’7”, 210 pound point guard? I gotta find some video...which...hasn’t been easy. The only video I’ve found is a 21 second clip of him dunking during a layup line with an overlay graphic that read “Maxime Ekono is going to be a problem”. But, another tweet I found did confirm the 6’7” height but just said “guard”.

I’m sorry, but I have absolutely nothing to go on here. I can’t find anything. If anyone has ANY info on this dude, please share it. I’m intrigued. Anyway, Ekono has received additional offers from LaSalle, Montana State, Bradley, Southern Utah, Gardner Webb, Chicago State, and South Florida.

Well, at this point, Coach Burno has some work to get to. Personally, I was hoping he'd get this guy. I found him intriguing in a lot of ways. NIU was the last school to make an offer to him and it's very possible he had already been leaning heavily on going to Bradley well before NIUs offer.

But, like I said, Coach has some work to do. We currently have two spots to fill and 2 outstanding offers. One is to JUCO transfer D.J. Sinkler, Jr. who I'm not all that excited about. The other is to Keon Thompson who was a Montgomery offer a long time ago.

Montgomery made the offer to Thompson back on 8/20/20. He's actually a nice player. I'd much rather have him than Sinkler, tbh.

Just to update. NIU is the only school that has made an offer to Sinkler and Thompson has received additional offers from Mount St. Mary's, FGCU, Akron, Robert Morris, Indiana State, Drake, Cleveland State, Ball State, New Orleans, Miami (OH), and Valparaiso. Since the NIU offer back in August, Mount St. Mary's (January), FGCU (November), and Akron (August - a week after NIU) are the only schools to have offered him a scholarship.

Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

MAC Transfer Update:

Evan Bainbridge - Transferring from Kent State to Ashland University (D-II - Ashland, OH) - Sophomore - 6’9” - PF - 2* recruit from Stow-Monroe Falls HS (Stow, OH) - Bainbridge has played, and been a spot starter and regular, at Kent State for 2 seasons. As a sophomore, Bainbridge played in 13 games (3 starts) averaging 8 minutes per game and 2ppg/1.2 rpg shooting 23.5% from the field (12.5% 3PT - 3 of 24) and 87.5% FT (7 of 8). I’m sure Kent State was hoping for more development from the 6’9” PF but I don’t think he’s put on all that much bulk since joining the team and his shooting hasn’t developed to the point where he’s much of a threat to defenses. I’m guessing he’s going to transfer down a level where he might be much more impactful. Coming out of HS, Bainbridge received one other offer from Furman.

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

(04-26-2021 09:39 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

i promise you pac 12 bench players are better than just about anyone on the roster lol

(04-26-2021 10:26 PM)7 Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:39 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

i promise you pac 12 bench players are better than just about anyone on the roster lol

Yeah...I wasn't implying there were any better and I hope I didn't convey that message.

I'm just looking at the roster construction and, if I could pick an ideal D-I transfer to come it, it wouldn't be another 6'1"ish guard. But I'm fully aware that a guy like Christopher would probably (hopefully) start right away but how much closer does that get this program to being a conference contender?

I don't think it does much and I'm not certain him being on the team for 2 years does either.

I'm trying not to focus on next year too much as opposed to 2 and 3 years from now as being when I realistically think this program could be making strides to compete. It's just real hard (impossible, really) to take a team as bad as last year's team and hope for anything more than 10 to 12 wins next season.

https://twitter.com/coachmooret/status/1...43425?s=21

Oh we cookin

(04-27-2021 09:44 AM)7 Wrote:  https://twitter.com/coachmooret/status/1...43425?s=21

Oh we cookin

Helluva pickup by Burno!!!!!

https://247sports.com/Player/Martice-Mitchell-46057210/

(04-27-2021 09:44 AM)7 Wrote:  https://twitter.com/coachmooret/status/1...43425?s=21

Oh we cookin

Thank you for the heads up!!!

Martice Mitchell - Transferring from Minnesota to NIU - Freshman - 6’10” - C - 4* recruit from Bloom Township HS (Chicago Heights, IL - born in Chicago) - Okay...this is something. Between Mitchell and Osten (to go along with Makuoi and Okanu) we have a front court...and a big one. Mitchell has played one season at Minnesota where he played in 7 games (0 starts) averaging 3.3 minutes and 1.3 ppg/0.3 rpg shooting 50% from the field (3 of 6 but, interestingly, 4 of those were shot from behind the arc..he made 1) and was 2 for 2 FT. His stats are pedestrian but he was a freshman playing in the B1G. He was HIGHLY regarded coming out of Bloom. To get him with 3 years remaining on his eligibility is a really great thing. If I’m not mistaken, Burno has now gotten the two highest regarded recruits into the basketball program than any coach (or something along those lines) with Mitchell and Williams who also played together at Bloom. Btw, there aren’t many high schools in the Chicago area that are better to have a working relationship with than Bloom Township. Coming out of HS, Mitchell received additional offers from Saint Louis, Milwaukee, UIC, Detroit Mercy, Illinois State, Miami (OH), Massachusetts, Rutgers, George Mason, Missouri State, Colorado State, VCU, Tulsa, Murray State, South Florida, New Mexico, Xavier, Maryland, Iowa, Oregon, and Ole Miss.

Obviously, Minnesota was in transition with the firing of Pitino and this comes on a wave of NCAA free agency (if you will) but moving down a level where he’s going to get regular playing time and have a front court partner to develop with in Osten is all positive.

He will do extremely well in the MAC. Coach Burno has filled out the roster quite well in short period of time.

(04-26-2021 09:39 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

That would be following the Ricardo Patton recruiting.

Why did we wait 10 years to fire Monty. Burno has some drive that it seemed Monty did not on the recruiting trail.

Matrice Mitchell is a big time recruit! He was rated as the 3rd best player in Illinois in 2019/ 2020.
He was a 3/4* rating by 2 different scouting services.

(04-27-2021 11:43 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:39 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

That would be following the Ricardo Patton recruiting.

I'm not following the point you're making.

Anyone got a handle on what the roster looks like at this point with all the transfers both in and out. If so anyone care to post it?

(04-27-2021 12:35 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-27-2021 11:43 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:39 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 07:41 PM)NIU89 Wrote:  Another AZ state player electing to transfer. Caleb Christopher 6-1 guard
Will be interesting if Coach Burno brings him to Dekalb

This is a conundrum. On one had, we need players and Burno knows him well and probably recruited him to ASU. Also, he has 2 years of P5/6/7 experience and I do like that as a positive for transfers.

With that said, he barely played and didn't play all that well in the 2 years he was there. Also, we have 6'1" guards. We have plenty of them.

Then again, over the course of a season you never know exactly what you're going to need plus, we have lost 2/3 of our best players. So, its not like a guy like this would be in the way of someone.

Look at that.

I just talked myself into it.

And I have to laugh. I've seen a lot of negative comments about Burno letting Cochran go and how it's a massive loss to a program that won 3 damn games last year. No one has a lock on a starting position.

Okay...Hankerson probably does and probably deserves it. But other than him, no one has a lock on anything. Obviously, Keshawn Williams has a "you job to lose" spot in the starting 5. But that's it.

That would be following the Ricardo Patton recruiting.

I'm not following the point you're making.

Silas and two others from Colorado followed him. We were ok until they graduated

(04-27-2021 01:10 PM)golf4501 Wrote:  Anyone got a handle on what the roster looks like at this point with all the transfers both in and out. If so anyone care to post it?

Same goes for info on assistant coaches.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(04-27-2021 02:11 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  

(04-27-2021 01:10 PM)golf4501 Wrote:  Anyone got a handle on what the roster looks like at this point with all the transfers both in and out. If so anyone care to post it?

Same goes for info on assistant coaches.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No word on assistant coaches. The website still has Chapman as the interim HC...

As for the roster up to this point:

Guards:
Kaleb Thornton (J)
Keshawn Williams (So)
Noah Kon (F)
Zion Russell (F)
Trendon Hankerson (Sr)
Darweshi Hunter (J)
Anthony Crump (J or Sr...I'm not sure)
Kamron Battle (So)

Small Forwards:
Zool Kueth (Sr)
Montavius Myrick (F)

Post:
Adong Makuoi (Sr)
Kingsley Okanu (Sr)
Chris Osten (Sr)
Matrice Mitchell (So)

If my math is correct, they still have one scholarship to fill because Hankerson and Battle are walk-ons.