How former UMass players have fared after entering the portal

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Good luck, Coach McCall!

[Juice Stand]

What former players are in the tournament this year? Tre Mitchell, Javohn Garcia, and Wildens?

[DoctorJ]

CJ Jackson back in the portal

https://www.verbalcommits.com/players/cj-jackson

[WillHerndonFan]

This stood out for me-

Sean East (Missouri)
21 PTS (7/8 FG), 3 REB, 2 AST

Loved Sean East at UMass. Good player

Liked this kid as well. Who did he split time with? He should have played more as it was clear he was a pretty good player.

[69MG]

Just to show you how stupid the NIL/Portal combo can get, St. John's fans are worried about losing RJ Luis.

[fenway617]

This stood out for me-

Sean East (Missouri)
21 PTS (7/8 FG), 3 REB, 2 AST

Loved Sean East at UMass. Good player

Liked this kid as well. Who did he split time with? He should have played more as it was clear he was a pretty good player.

I my memory is correct, Carl Pierre, Keon Clergeot, & T.J. Weeks would have eaten into his minutes.

[Juice Stand]

not a former player, but recent and former coach Matt McCall is reportedly joining Chris Mack on Vanderbilt's staff.

https://x.com/ZackDPT/status/1769445534731833564?s=20

Conflicting this earlier report, Vandy is hiring Mark Byington away from James Madison.
https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status ... 0469710934

Jeff Borzello
@jeffborzello
BREAKING: Vanderbilt is hiring James Madison’s Mark Byington as its next head coach, sources told me and @PeteThamel. Byington just led the Dukes to a record-setting 32-4 season, highlighted by a win at Michigan State and an NCAA tournament victory over Wisconsin.

[Juice Stand]

Tobias Bass of the Athletic says that Tafara Gapare is back in the portal: https://twitter.com/tobias_bass/status/ ... 5267163629

I'm not putting this in the Transfer Portal News thread because I doubt we have any interest in bringing him back.

[69MG]

^ Juice, that's a very interesting question and maybe a difference of opinion between fans and coaches/Collective. As a fan, I would like to see him back. As a third-year player I would like to assume he has matured and figured out what he can do and what he shouldn't do.

However, we need a center and a back-up PG so I don't think there's room for him. I also don't know how the staff and Collective feel about him. Would he come back for free? I doubt it.

[Floyd]

I'd say hard pass on that one.

[Roadtrip]

Floyd knows, be like Floyd.

[Floridafan71]

Regarding Gapare and his portal request,I would not have great interest in bringing him back. Super athletic, but does not have a feel for the game. A player needs to know how to play the game with his teammates. He needs to know where the position himself. He needs to know when to shoot and when not too. Maybe he learns by the time he’s a senior but if he doesn’t, we’re stuck with the same player we had before. Fantastic athlete doesn’t know the game well enough to be a big time college player.

[rt63]

I’d Gapare back in a heartbeat. Lock him in a room with Stephan Lasme game film for the summer and see how he does come fall. He has tremendous upside!

[Floridafan71]

RT 63.. Don’t see your point agree about Gapare. Why isn’t he show his potential Georgia Tech? How many years will he take to show his potential and is it worth the investment I think you dreaming. Some players have a feel for the game others don’t. Why does uconn have such a good team? Not just recruiting but recruiting people who know how to play basketball. Jayden N. is an example on our team of somebody who knows how to play basketball. That’s why he started .. knows how to rebound.Run the floor.pass the ball etc etc..Gapare Doesn’t know any of that

[stevemaz]

RT 63.. Don’t see your point agree about Gapare. Why isn’t he show his potential Georgia Tech? How many years will he take to show his potential and is it worth the investment I think you dreaming. Some players have a feel for the game others don’t. Why does uconn have such a good team? Not just recruiting but recruiting people who know how to play basketball. Jayden N. is an example on our team of somebody who knows how to play basketball. That’s why he started .. knows how to rebound.Run the floor.pass the ball etc etc..Gapare Doesn’t know any of that

This is exactly correct. Jayden knows how to play and will be MAC player of the year in a few years if he stays..