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Portal Commitment Watch: 4/4/24

By Sam Federman

Zach Martini: Princeton -> Rutgers


With the exodus of the talent from Rutgers' 23-24 roster, Steve Pikiell needs to surround his star-studded recruiting class with a great supporting cast. Martini, who played nearly 80% of the minutes for a 24-5 Princeton team, is already an excellent start. He was among the best three-point shooters in the Ivy League, with his role in the offense being clear as day. He only attempted 35 two-point field goals and 18 free throws all season, but was a key cog in the machine for the Tigers. While he isn't the quickest on the defensive end, he showed spurts of high-level defense on the ball in certain spots. Pikiell wouldn't take a player that he didn't think could guard, regardless of how well he shoots, knowing how big of a weakness that was for RU last season. The Scarlet Knights' offense figures to be much more dynamic in the coming season, with Harper and Bailey leading the way, and Martini's sharp-shooting. The next step for Pike is to find a big man who can roam the paint and protect the rim the way that Cliff Omoruyi has done.


Joe Charles: Louisiana -> McNeese


Whether Charles' commitment is to Will Wade or if its to McNeese, it's a great pickup nonetheless. Since Wade hasn't gotten another job at this point (even though his name is in consideration at Arkansas, and will be in consideration at Ole Miss if Beard gets Arkansas), I'll look at Charles for what he brings to McNeese. He's a perfect scheme fit for the switching defense that Wade has made into the identity of multiple programs. He can guard multiple positions with his rangy and mobile 6-foot-7 frame, and has requisite strength to bang for rebounds and post physicality down low. McNeese's offense was terrific this year on merit of simply being more athletic than everybody else in the conference, and that doesn't change with the addition of the athletic Charles.


PJ Haggerty: Tulsa -> Memphis


This is the type of get that will begin to stabilize the Memphis program for the rest of the offseason. Haggerty, who was on my ballot for USBWA national Freshman of the Year, scored over 20 points per game for Tulsa, doing it in many different ways. While his <30% three-point percentage may not indicate it, he is a very good outside shooter off the catch, knocking in 38.8% of those looks. On a team where he won't have to do quite as much offensively, he'll have fewer off-the-dribble three-pointers, and his percentage will improve. Additionally, for a 6-3 guard, his ability to get downhill and finish at the rim (62.6 FG% at rim) will make him an instant star in Memphis. In the same way that the Tigers poached Kendric Davis from SMU, Penny Hardaway pulled in another star from the AAC, only this one has three years of eligibility remaining. Even if David Jones doesn't come back, Memphis will likely have the frontrunner for American Conference Player of the Year.



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