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LADY RAIDER BB Transfer Portal Tracker

Meioshe Mason should end up somewhere smaller that can play her! Honestly, it's not the worst idea for players who want to improve their game to take a redshirt year somewhere with a strong program to grow as a player before heading somewhere else. I would imagine she will get a fair amount of looks.
 
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Grabovskaia in the portal again! Wonder if we’d take her back/she’d want to come back here…?

 
Grabovskaia in the portal again! Wonder if we’d take her back/she’d want to come back here…?

She played 449 minutes across 33 games at Michigan. So, she averaged 13.61 minutes per game. Why come back here and ride the pine yet again for a coach who only plays 5 girls per game?
This isn’t in dispute. Unless you make the starting lineup game #1, you are destined to be practice fodder the remainder of the year.
 
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She played 449 minutes across 33 games at Michigan. So, she averaged 13.61 minutes per game. Why come back here and ride the pine yet again for a coach who only plays 5 girls per game?
This isn’t in dispute. Unless you make the starting lineup game #1, you are destined to be practice fodder the remainder of the year.
Realistically, if she returned, she'd be the starter game 1. I don't think she comes back though, but you never know.
 
In CUSA news:

FIU-transfer Mya Kone is transferring to Miami. Surprising to say the least, but Miami is going through a rebuild so it may be the perfect opportunity for her to slide into PT in the ACC.

Jacksonville State has 3 of their top 5 scorers in the portal. Tough for a team that already struggled to score the basketball.

Liberty with 3 players in the portal. Including 6-4, post Emily Howard, Pien Steenbergen and Brooke Moore. Nothing too detrimental to the defending champions since they return a solid young core. Steenbergen does run their frontcourt a little thin, but I know they are actively recruiting C very hard. Moore does fit the defensive mold CRI likes to run, could be another inter-CUSA transfer situation with MT familiarity?

NMSU looks to rebuild with CUSA POY Kaiser graduating and now 6-1, F Fanta Gassama is in the portal. Averaged 9 points, 9 rebounds -- a big hit to an already small Aggies starting 5.

Similar to last offseason UTEP has 4 players in the portal. Keitha Adams has her work cut out for her after a last place season.

WKU's Chatfield and Gilvin in the portal still. The Lady Toppers currently sit with 1 returning starter.
 
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In more CUSA news,

NMSU now has 7 players in the transfer portal and depending on eligibility appeals, they currently have 4 players on roster and 2 incoming HS signees.

WKU's Acacia Hayes entered the portal. She missed some significant time over the last two season with injuries, but a big loss for the Lady Toppers nonetheless. That leaves Collins with just 1 starter and their 6th man gone.
 
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Based on what the ncaa does on April 7 we may get several of our seniors back for another year. If that happens we may have to let some of our current players find another home. That might be a good problem to have,
 
Based on what the ncaa does on April 7 we may get several of our seniors back for another year. If that happens we may have to let some of our current players find another home. That might be a good problem to have,
Let's, in theory, say everyone gets another year next week. I'm happy to have Nas and Gregory back but I'd prefer to let Arike and Blakely move on.
 
  • Lauryn Swann, Arizona G (5-7 FR)
    • Big 12 All-Freshman Team averaging 8 points with 40% 3PT shooting.
  • Kiki Smith, Arkansas G (5-7 SO)
    • Made over 2 3PT/game on 41% from deep. Averaged over 10 ppg, and started 22 games for the Razorbacks.
  • T'yana Todd, Boston College G (6-0 JR)
    • Shot 46% from 3, 4th best in CBB. Averaged 13.2 ppg.
  • Marina Asensio, Western Michigan G (5-8 JR)
    • Played on same club (Segle XXI) as HS signee Nicole Dominguez in Spain. Averaged 14 ppg on 38% 3FG.
Added some sharp shooters to the board. Asensio has some interesting ties back to our 6-10 HS signee, Dominguez. Not on the same roster, but there is some international crossover.

Todd is a reach, will be a key role player for a high-major program. Swann and Smith would do well in CUSA, but I don't know if the staff values age/experience. Smith had plenty at Arkansas LY being the 2nd leading scorer behind Higginbottom.
 
Certainly a lot of excellent players out there for us to go after to fill our 2 open roster spots. Any insights on contact to anyone in the portal?
 
Certainly a lot of excellent players out there for us to go after to fill our 2 open roster spots. Any insights on contact to anyone in the portal?
I know they've reached out to a good bit of the players on the list. However, I don't have the insight to know where their priority is. As of today, to oversimplify, they need a high-volume, scoring guard, and an experienced post that can give them 20-25 minutes and 7-10 points/game.
 
  • Cori Allen, Illinois G (5-10 SO)
    • Originally targeted out of Hillsboro HS in Nashville before transferring to Montverde Academy her JR year. Top 100 recruit in the '23 class. Played in 30 games LY averaging 10 minutes/game.
  • Avery Strickland, Tennessee G (5-10 JR)
    • Another HS target from Farragut HS. Has played 3 seasons at P5 (1 at Pitt, 2 at UTK), but hasn't gotten the minutes returning to UTK with HC Caldwell.
A pair of HS targets to keep an eye on. As previously mentioned, Allen from Nashville was a target out of HS.

Strickland enters the portal for the third straight season. She went back home after freshman season with Kellie Harper. After Harper was let go, she re-entered. Kim Caldwell re-extended an offer and she stayed again. Surprisingly, she enters this offseason. Could be a reach for MT, but given she isn't receiving the minutes at the P5 level, in-state would be a great landing spot. Very talented wing that does everything.
 
I don't believe Milanovic would have received much playing time in her tenure here assuming Rick were to stay for 3 more years. Kabernick is the same class and receiving the most PT of the returning bench players. Monson, Phifer and/or Baugus are an upgrade if you played her at forward. Ana lacked serious size to compete for the 5 spot against Dominguez and McClendon.
 
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Lady Raider Depth Chart as of 4/9:
12345
Jada Harrison (rSO)
Kirston Verhulst (FR)
Savannah Davis (SO)
Carsyn Swaney (FR)
Gracie Dodgen (rSR)
Blair Baugus (FR)
Gracie Hamby (rJR)
Macie Phifer (FR)
Emily Monson (JR)
Nicole Dominguez (FR)
Stacy Kabernick (rSO)
Jenna McClendon (FR)
In my opinion, this is where the depth chart stands as of today. The incoming freshman are graded as site unseen, but I think we're looking at starting 3 freshman (as of now) in 2025.
 
In my opinion, this is where the depth chart stands as of today. The incoming freshman are graded as site unseen, but I think we're looking at starting 3 freshman (as of now) in 2025.
I'd just point out that Stacy is more likely a 4 given her skillset and where she's fitting into the system and has played thus far. That said, honestly, looking at the team coming in next year, it's not too shabby. Having 3 scholarships to add some transfers is nice and we could really beef up the 1, 3, and 5 with experience for example.
 
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What is your best estimate of how WBB looks in CUSA next season?
From top to bottom, as we sit today early in the Portal. I'm also not entirely sure where other team's "seniors" are with eligibility but assuming all seniors graduate from their 24-25 rosters:

Liberty - graduates 4 including 3 starters and a 4th starter is in the portal. They had 2 good depth pieces in their front court enter the portal too. By my estimates that's nearly 90% of the scoring production is either graduated or transferred out. They only have one HS signee that I'm aware of and she is a scorer (Sierra Maxwell, scored nearly 30 ppg from So Cal). We will be highly competitive in the portal with Liberty, and I'd assume they have the budget to keep up. They stood their ground last offseason and made no moves. Time will tell if they improve next year, but they will need a big portal season to repeat.

WKU - graduating 4 including 2 starters and 2 more starters are in the portal. 6-3 Kansas transfer Telegdy is the only remaining piece that played significant time last year. With no HS signees currently, Greg Collins is in a full scramble mode with Gilvin committing to Kentucky.

NMSU - graduated 4 (including CUSA POY Molly Kaiser) and have 7 transfer out. Also unaware of any HS signees, so another complete rebuild.

LA Tech - graduate 3 and 3 in the portal. LA Tech is in the best shape of all CUSA teams with returning talent. They signed a huge HS class in 24 and a lot contributed. With the players that did enter, they are thin in the front court depth. If they can find a complimentary forward/center with Mackenzie Wurm returning and with All-CUSA Freshmen Bradley (FOY) and Marshall they could be a top 3 team in CUSA next year.

Kennesaw State - graduate 4 starters including Prencis Harden and Carly Hooks. They didn't play much of their bench so they need help everywhere in 25.

FIU - graduate 3 and transfer 3 including Preseason POY Mya Kone (to Miami FL). Returning Fantasia James will help, but very little talent (currently) resides in Miami.

Sam Houston - graduate 4 with none in the portal. This team has a large rising senior class led by UTRGV transfer and 2nd teamer Ogayemi. They have their top 3 scoring options back so if they can find a way to score the basketball consistently, and get a decent point guard, they could make a rise in 25-26.

UTEP - Keitha Adams is in a complete rebuild for the second straight offseason with 2 graduating (including her top scorer) and 4 players in the portal. The Miners are desperate for scorers.

Jacksonville St - Graduating 4, transferring 3. Returning just 1 of their top 5 scorers (none of which averaged double digits). They will be an older team next year but not much redeeming for the worst scoring offense in CUSA.

Missouri St - Very similar in minute distribution to MTSU. They started the same 5 every night and had 2-3 rotational players. With that said, they graduate 4 starters and the remaining starter is in the portal. Beth Cunningham has been exceptional in her short tenure as Missouri St winning 20+ for three straight seasons, but this may be her toughest offseason yet. I still expect this program to be competitive in 25-26.

Delaware - Graduated 5 players, 2 in the portal. Struggled this last year, but was the best shooting team in the CAA. However, they were a heavy graduate/senior team last year. Outside of returning their starting center, the Blue Hens lose 6 of their top 7 scorers. Another team looking to supplement their loses in the portal.
 
Blair Baugus has looked like a 4 more than a 3 to me. Great rebounder and doesn't shoot too many shots outside of 10-12 ft.
Monson played the 3 in practice more so than the 4. I would concede that Monson could likely be the starting 3 because of her three point shooting. Fortunately, I believe a lot of these girls are multi-positional.

One thing CRI has emphasized in years past (especially last year) was the commitment to defense. Maybe the lack of scoring this last year may change his tune, but I’d believe he would err on the side of “defense first”. Davis is a prime example. She had a huge improvement over the course of the season and received more PT by the postseason.

I haven’t seen this class in a college setting but I’d believe who ever falls in line with the defensive principles they’re coaching — they’ll earn the 3 spot.
 
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