Maxed out

Marquette now seems likely to lose O-Max Prosper, a hit to their 2024 title hopes. (Probably). Plus, Texas' backcourt is secure and which leagues thrived in the portal.

Author

Tristan Freeman
May 19, 2023

The transfer portal dominated the news the few weeks, but now we’re seeing equally important decisions play out in the NBA Draft process. Just yesterday, two notable players withdrew from the draft to return to school and play key roles for Top 25 teams. Another played so well this week, it might turn a title contender into a longshot.

Let's get to the news.

1. Marquette might not reach its (O)Max potential

A few players have boosted their draft stock at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. But few have done as much as Marquette forward Oliver-Maxence Prosper.

After scoring 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds as a standout performer in a Wednesday scrimmage, the junior sat out Thursday’s scrimmage. Historically, this usually means that a player’s stock has risen to the point where they’re comfortable with their chances of getting drafted.

If that’s true, then Marquette will be losing Prosper for next season.

The 6-8 forward averaged 12.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg and started all 36 games. He can both play above the rim and space the floor as a shooter (34 percent from deep). There’s a really good rundown of his rise this week from Paint Touches.

It’s also the first big unexpected roster hit for a team that could’ve returned its entire rotation from a 29-win team that won both the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles.

The good news for the Golden Eagles is that they already have his replacement. David Joplin was the Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 9.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg in just 19 minutes. He’s also a 40 percent 3-point shooter.

Marquette has been a consensus Way Too Early top-5 team for the upcoming season up until this point. If they lose Maxence-Prosper, it won’t be a devastating blow, but one that will hurt their depth and overall chemistry.

Other NBA Draft prospect news:

  • Miami got a big boost with Norchad Omier expected to withdraw from the NBA Draft. The 6-7 center was a monster in the middle for the Canes, averaging 13.1 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. His return ensures Miami remains a Top 25 team.

  • Johni Broome was the biggest star of the G League Combine to get to participate in the Draft Combine. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in one scrimmage. Auburn fans should be worried about his elevated stock.

  • Oscar Tshiebwe made it clear that he’s not a grad transfer candidate, but he’s going through the entire NBA Draft process and making a decision towards the May 31 deadline to withdraw. He had 16 points and nine rebounds in a scrimmage on Thursday.

  • Andre Jackson is one of the bigger draft decisions to watch, as the do-it-all playmaker occupied a crucial role in UConn winning the national title. It’s starting to look more and more like he’s not coming back next season.

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2. Does Texas have the best backcourt for ‘23-24?

A few weeks ago, Texas got arguably the best guard transfer from the portal in Max Abmas, who averaged 21.9 ppg this past season at Oral Roberts. It couldn’t have been a bigger move for the Horns, who already lost Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, and Arterio Morris this offseason.

Well, there’s more good news coming.

The question as to who will play next to Abmas is settled, with Tyrese Hunter coming back for his junior season. The former Big 12 Freshman of the Year (when he was with Iowa State) averaged 10.3 ppg and 2.5 apg last season as a starter, playing a secondary role next to both Rice and Carr in the backcourt.

Hunter had some big games, including 20 points against Kansas, 26 against Gonzaga, and a season-high 29 vs Kansas State. Another positive note was that he improved his 3-point shooting numbers from 27 percent to 34 percent. He’s a capable scorer and will ease some of the perimeter defensive concerns from Abmas, as Hunter is one of the sport’s top defenders.

With six combined years of experience between them, few teams can match Texas’ experience in the backcourt. How it plays out next season as the Longhorns try to build out their frontcourt depth remains to be seen.

Thursday’s notable transfer portal activity:

3. Big 12 vs SEC in the transfer portal

With the transfer portal having closed for those who aren’t grad transfers, it’s safe to say that we’re closer to analyzing which teams and players did best with their decisions. 247 Sports published a guide with the top 150 players that entered the portal this offseason and there’s plenty to take away.

The first thing is that the Big 12 stands out immediately, having five of the top 10 overall transfers. That includes No. 1 pickup Hunter Dickinson (Kansas) and No. 4 Jesse Edwards (West Virginia). Overall, they finished with a conference-high 28 players in the top 150.

But while they were ranked as high, the SEC also thrived. They were second, just one shy with 27. The highest-ranked was Brandon Murray (Ole Miss) at No. 12, followed by Tennessee commit, Dalton Knecht at 13.

There’s a gap between these two leagues and the rest, with the ACC third with 21. The Big East had 16, while the Big Ten finished with 14. The Pac-12 finished with just nine, with Cal having 33 percent of those transfers.

On a side note, Gonzaga had three players ranked in the top 60, with Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike ranked in the top 20.

It’s interesting to see the Big East, which had a strong finish to the 2022-23 season behind the national champ and another Elite Eight team in Creighton, so far behind the Big 12 and SEC. How that plays through 2023-24 will be a storyline to watch.

Devil of a frontcourt

If Ernest Udeh transfers to Duke, can the Blue Devils play him with Kyle Filipowski at the same time? And what would the former Kansas big man bring to Durham? Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman discuss.

Links as you realized that Carlos Boozer has not one, but two 5-star caliber sons.

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