2024 Offseason Portal Rumors

[clenz]

I heard that story from a former player's parent who's still close to the team - there may be details missing, but I believe the gist of it. I looked back and he went in the portal on Friday 3/26 and left the portal on Monday 3/29. He clearly didn't sniff around anywhere for long. I don't know how all the portal things work (or how they worked 3 years ago amidst COVID), but something weird happened there.

From what I was told at the time by connected people

He (his dad) was 10000% convinced he had a spot at Marquette with Shaka right after Shaka was hired. Remember, Shaka was hired that Friday the 26th. There were rumblings about it leading up to it, and rumblings about Noah leading up to it. Shaka was announced and Noah hit the portal.

Here is where I can't 100% prove is what was said and/or happened but they contacted Marquette and Shaka and essentially told them their savior was ready and waiting to enroll instantly as his first recruit. Shaka's response was essentially "who the hell are you and why are you bothering me?" and that following Monday Noah pulled his name from the portal and asked Jake to come back.

The two of them - specifically dad - spent the next 12 months fishing for any and every lead they though was "worthy of his presence". His father was openly begging multiple coaches and talking about how he has a son that is the missing piece and would change their program. Specifically K State, because his daughter was there playing volleyball. He was all over every tweet from Tang, and in his replies, about Noah for months.

Dad can't put you in, but that dad is known to be super controlling and narcissistic. I'm not taking any of the actions Noah did/didn't do over that time period and the next year away from him, but that case legitimately feels like the epitome of "kid being fed bad advice" and "dad living vicariously through his kid and making things happen that he felt was best, and making the kid believe it was also best"

[enkamania]

Born in the portal.

https://twitter.com/JamieShaw5/status/1780330346241728917

[DownGoesKansas]

Wow. What happened this off-season. We better be bringing in some guys

[Born-a-Panther]

Wow. What happened this off-season. We better be bringing in some guys

The same things that's happening everywhere. The entire landscape has changed. $$$ talks... loyalty isn't a thing anymore... and the grass is always greener elsewhere.

Bo and Heisei both stated that they stayed their committed four years here -- so that's their take on it. They gave us four years, which is all they expected to give.

I'm exhausted by it.

[Wxcpanther]

The same things that's happening everywhere. The entire landscape has changed. $$$ talks... loyalty isn't a thing anymore... and the grass is always greener elsewhere.

Bo and Heisei both stated that they stayed their committed four years here -- so that's their take on it. They gave us four years, which is all they expected to give.

I'm exhausted by it.

And I gotta be honest, it's hard for me to fault them on that. In this modern era we often fault athletes, and in some cases deservedly so, for not fulfilling their "obligation" to the school. Both these guys did that. Sure, it really truly sucks that each of the last two years were marred by injuries to each of them, but they're graduating from UNI. What more can we reasonably expect from them?

[orangetennis]

So much for playing a season of college ball with your little brother.

[sivert]

I might be alone, but I’m not near as bothered by losing Born as Heise.
Born needed to score very efficiently to make up for his defense. And last year he just didn’t. I could be wrong. Maybe his injury was the cause and when he heals 100%, he’ll really be good.

RJ is a better assist guy and a pest on D. I’m ready for him to take the reins.

[orangetennis]

I might be alone, but I’m not near as bothered by losing Born as Heise.
Born needed to score very efficiently to make up for his defense. And last year he just didn’t. I could be wrong. Maybe his injury was the cause and when he heals 100%, he’ll really be good.

RJ is a better assist guy and a pest on D. I’m ready for him to take the reins.

This is the optimistic way to view this. Replace Born with a bigger guard who can play defense and get to the rim.

[Blue42]

Interesting the way the college sports landscape is shaping up.

There was a time I thought football at UNI had a real uphill battle...and perhaps a focus on hoops might be the path.

It now is starting to look like mid-major college basketball is in a really difficult spot. Nearly impossible to build any continuity with your program. And hard to replace talent through the portal without the ability to compete on NIL funds which is really tough.

Football will lose a few players to portal/NIL but it seems like there's still a significant pipeline of talent looking for a place like UNI to play...including FBS transfers looking for playing time without the need for a big NIL check.

Rosters will be more fluid in both sports but it may be more practical to build a talent base in football. Not the way I thought this would work out.

[PantherAlum09]

Losing Bowen hurts in the sense that that's one more shooter we don't have on the outside. Time for our coaches to go find some dudes. We really need just about everything besides size. And even that wouldn't hurt. We need athleticism, shooting, and defense. I'm excited to see what our staff can put together.

[panther1]

Born was a sub 40% shooter from the field and 32% from 3 last year. He is undersized and not a great defender. He could always be counted on to play hard, but Heise leaving hurts much more. Will be interesting to see what a sub 40%, undersized mid-major guard can pull in NIL.

[in_the_stands]

Born was a sub 40% shooter from the field and 32% from 3 last year. He is undersized and not a great defender. He could always be counted on to play hard, but Heise leaving hurts much more. Will be interesting to see what a sub 40%, undersized mid-major guard can pull in NIL.

I loved watching Born play, but yeah, I don't see how he helps any of the big NIL programs in his diminished state.

[UNIAlum95]

I loved watching Born play, but yeah, I don't see how he helps any of the big NIL programs in his diminished state.

As hard as he works in the off-season, it wouldn't surprise me to see him significantly improve those stats next year.

[Blue42]

Born was a sub 40% shooter from the field and 32% from 3 last year. He is undersized and not a great defender. He could always be counted on to play hard, but Heise leaving hurts much more. Will be interesting to see what a sub 40%, undersized mid-major guard can pull in NIL.

6th highest 3 point percentage on the team last season.

[Born-a-Panther]

And I gotta be honest, it's hard for me to fault them on that. In this modern era we often fault athletes, and in some cases deservedly so, for not fulfilling their "obligation" to the school. Both these guys did that. Sure, it really truly sucks that each of the last two years were marred by injuries to each of them, but they're graduating from UNI. What more can we reasonably expect from them?

I mean... you're right. And I posted yesterday while I was in a really grumpy mood and I probably should have stepped away from the keyboard for a bit. I don't fault the players. I'm a mom of teenage boys that are starting to have to make decisions about their futures as well. I'd obviously only want what's best for them and ultimately for them to be happy. I don't fault the players. But I do hate the system, and I'm worried about the future of a program I love so much.