Just stop. We’re in a very tough spot to take advantage of this first wave of top caliber options in the portal. Despite some of your criticisms, we actually don’t have a guaranteed starter slot available. No matter what you personally think of how good any one individual returning player is or is not - here’s the reality. We’re expected to return 4 kids who started at least half the games they played (22+ mpg) on a tournament team, along with our returning top recruit in decades (Cliff) who is clearly slated to start at the 5 (no big transfer is going to assume they will beat him out for a spot in the starting line up and not once last season did Pike go with a 2 big line up). That’s not going to be an attractive situation for a Harrar type kid. Let’s take Jones out of it since he hasn’t logged a meaningful minute yet. Forget even the possibility of him beating out Harrar - it’s not even a guarantee that Pike wouldn’t prefer the RHJ / Caleb 3 / 4 punch over Harrar - at least from the kid’s perspective coming in. As I said - tough position for recruiting a transfer.
I have one gripe, but it’s minor. When Duke entered the portal, I think we should’ve prioritized finding a JUCO BIG to take a chance on immediately given we have 4 slots open. I understand Pike was hoping for Pauly (and there’s still time to find a JUCO back up) but right now we really do need another back up 5.
