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The weekend in college hoops
Does Georgetown have enough talent to finally reach the Cooley Zone? We dive into the roster, and provide the transfer news to know from the weekend, including Michigan State's latest addition. Plus, what programs are spending in NIL, and the latest prep commitments.
Mike Miller
May 19, 2025
Good morning! Hope you had a glorious weekend doing something you love. Kinda like Matt Painter scouting 7-foot prospects.
Let's get to the news.
1. Does Georgetown have enough talent for the Cooley Zone?
Providence finished between 40th and 80th on KenPom in nine of Ed Cooley’s 12 seasons with the school, prompting the guys from Three-Man Weave to label it the “Cooley Zone.” That was a recognition that his teams often were good, not great, and that the Friars’ ceiling was usually lower than most of the Big East.
He has yet to reach that zone in two seasons at Georgetown (the Hoyas finished 90th in Year 2). And it’s unclear if there’s enough talent to make it happen in 2025-26.
Losing an NBA-caliber talent in Thomas Sorber obviously hurts. Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman spoke with Isaac Trotter from 247 Sports/CBS Sports about how it’ll impact the Hoyas.
Beyond Sorber, the roster remains underwhelming.
Point guard Malik Mack will be a junior, but his offense (100.9 ORtg, 35% from 3, and a so-so TORate) will need a significant jump to be among the Big East’s best lead guards.
Caleb Williams (4.3 ppg this season), Kayvaun Mulready (1.4 ppg) and Julius Halaifonua (3 ppg) are both expected to play more significant roles in their second season under Cooley. Halaifonua’s a 7-footer who entered college as a 4-star prospect, but often looked overmatched as a freshman. Mulready also was a 4-star prospect, but looked even less ready for high-major hoops. Williams was the least heralded (a 3-star), but looked the best.
The incoming transfers also are a mixed bag.
Langston Love’s a former 5-star prospect who missed nearly half of Baylor’s games the last four seasons due to injuries. K.J. Lewis is a terrific defender who can’t shoot. Jeremiah Williams posted ORtgs of 96.9, 102.4, 97.7 and 101.4 the last four seasons. Deshawn Harris-Smith’s been even worse in two seasons at Maryland. Vince Iwuchukwu and Isaiah Abraham rode the bench at St. John’s and UConn, respectively.
It’s one thing to put together a team of experienced grinders with decent length and athleticism. But if they can’t score (four of its six guards can’t hit 3s), it’s gonna be quite the grind for the Hoyas. And getting to the Cooley Zone might take another season.
2. FAU, Bethune Cookman add transfer talents + more moves
We’ve certainly hit that time in portal season when teams are waiting on NBA Draft decisions or taking swings on players with upside. We saw two of those moves the last few days.
