Marquette's recruiting roll

Shaka Smart keeps making news on Tuesdays in August. What’s he have in store next week?

1. Marquette’s sticking with the build approach

While others schools are recovering from transfer portal moves, Marquette’s been focused on the future — and trying to avoid hitting the portal. You can tell because Shaka Smart’s program just added its third 2025 commit in as many weeks.

Tuesday brought in 4-star prospect and Top 100 recruit Adrien Stevens. He chose Marquette over Georgetown, Villanova and Notre Dame. Stevens liked the fit and didn’t need to visit any other schools.

"I just felt like it was the right time," he told 247 Sports. “There were a couple of things in a row that confirmed and made me feel that this was 100% what I wanted to do. I didn't want to wait any longer. I told coach Smart and that was it."

A 6-4 combo-guard from the Bullis School (Maryland), Stevens has a college-ready build with a defensive DNA that should be an ideal fit for Smart’s program.

Pairing Stevens and a senior-year Chase Ross together sounds like a nightmare for opposing Big East guards in 2025-26.

Stevens gives Marquette another stud in their loaded recruiting class —placing them as the eighth-best class in 2025.

Smart continues focusing on high school recruiting rather than portal recruiting, and who could blame him? He didn’t add any transfers the last two seasons and the results were a Big East title and 56 wins.

It’s all about culture and development for Smart.

Rob Dauster and Terrence Oglesby discuss that and the 2024-25 outlook in the latest Offseason Grades video. Should Marquette have added anyone from the portal? Or do they think the plan will work for continued success?

2. Can anyone push Grand Canyon in the WAC?

Grand Canyon might leave the WAC on top.

The Lopes are on the prowl for a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and third-straight WAC regular-season title. And once again, they’ll need to dominate the WAC to guard against a tourney stumble and have a chance at an at-large bid. Is that possible?

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