The drastic transformation of college basketball over the past five years cannot be emphasized enough.
Previously, the predominant approach was to recruit solely from high school ranks, encompassing both standout players and supporting roles, with occasional transfers used to address specific needs. While some institutions still adhere to this method, an alternative strategy has emerged, one that prioritizes building teams through the transfer portal rather than merely supplementing rosters with it. Several coaches have begun exploring this avenue, including Mike Woodson, who made a notable statement with his 2024 portal class.
The concept of constructing teams primarily through the portal remains relatively novel, resulting in a scarcity of examples. However, notable instances from the previous year include teams such as Kansas, NC State, Villanova, Illinois, Alabama, and Arkansas.
The term “built” might not accurately characterize the process for many teams. Instead, it often involves augmenting existing talent pools by integrating players recruited and developed over time with portal acquisitions, as exemplified by Indiana’s approach. Notably, Indiana’s reliance on the portal is heightened due to having just one high school signee on the horizon.
The outcomes of this approach vary. While Arkansas’s performance fell short of expectations, prompting a coaching change, Illinois experienced its most successful postseason run in over a decade, and Alabama reached the Final Four.
Assessing the merits of adding numerous portal players proves challenging. Teams acquiring six or more transfers often do so due to coaching changes, with Indiana set to incorporate a more moderate number, likely around five, in contrast to the comprehensive overhauls witnessed at institutions like Penn State and St. John’s.
In the landscape of modern college basketball, established talent, particularly at the high-major level, is typically preferred over incoming freshmen unless they rank among the top ten nationally and are poised to make an immediate impact.
Indiana initially pursued top-tier freshmen recruits but ultimately faced challenges in securing their commitments.
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