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How cool is this?!

We got another one.

Outstanding use of the Open Cup to make his case for more playing time!

I think it's interesting that none of the HS recruits decommitted (yet). Pretty excited for all 3 of them and wouldn't be surprised if at least 1 or 2 get some PT next year. I said a week or 2 ago after Young & Mahaffey hit the Portal that the 2 key guys to retain would be MMK & Halligan due to their experience within the culture. Each guy has had 3(?) years of experience doing things the Akron Way and both seem like GREAT teammates. I don't care what we get out of them on the court as much as I do in the locker room/off the court. I think MMK can continue to take giant leaps in his abilities to become a legitimate threat on the offensive side of the ball, as he is already a pretty solid defender. Halligan just needs to work on his shot & decision making on offense and we have a legitimate contributor out of him. Barre could be All MAC next year. As long as he's healthy, an entire off-season in the Dustin Ford School of Big Men should do him wonders. No idea why he didn't get more run last year, but I think we've learned that Groce likes to stick to a core of guys he trusts more than others, especially as the season goes on. Very excited about Head. I think it speaks volumes to his desire to play for Akron that there wasn't even a hint of him going into the Portal. Health and fit and Arkansas St. made for a not great sophomore year. I expect him to return to his Lipscomb form. Very excited for Perkins & Henderson - especially Henderson. I've heard nothing but good things about him and love his size. We never had the bonafide build-around guy returning on this roster regardless of who the HC was going to be. However, so far we've been able to at least not lose the vast majority of a potentially very solid supporting cast/depth. Several more open spots to add some top tier production.

Obviously not many people are going to the spring game but does anyone know what time it is? Had previously heard that it was in the evening but not sure if that has changed?

If MMK has one fan that’s me, if MMK has no fans I’m dead

Oh I see what this is. Welcome to Akron, Javari Tohnson

This is a player I'd be all for targeting. Local kid - Wadsworth graduate. High character. Scored 18 against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. Averaged 10 per game and shot just under 40% from 3PT.

I love when mediocrity in the MAC gets passed around among the dregs. Decent piece, though, for the new coach. He at least has experience with MAC competition and can be a leader.

We had no proven guys to build around anyways. Relax - it'll be ok haha.

Not everyone we bring in from the portal is necessarily expected to be a 25+ minute a night guy. It might just be someone we expect to be 10-12 minute incoming sophomore that we hope to develop. I do think we do need 1 more wing and big at minimum that can be solid MAC starters.

Local guys: who will be the next Josh Egner? A weary and wary Zips Nation awaits.

Following @Zippy87's strategy, here are a few not mentioned that Ford follows on X... Luke McEldon (6'10" F from Mount Saint Mary's) Kelvin Amoako (6'11" F from UIndy) Davion Hill (6'2" G from Balls) Derek Goodman (6'4" G from Ohio Dominican)

Brayden Gross is a local guy. 6'7" post player it looks like. Not sure he makes any sense without a 3P shot. Sean Register is from Cleveland. 6'7" freshman who averaged 24.8 ppg on 66.3% FG and 40.6% 3P shooting. also had 8.7 rpg. Could definitely see us offering him. The rest don't make sense.

I wouldn't mind a few of these guys - but at some point, we need to land proven high-end portal talent or legitimate P4 bouncE backs—not just under the radar guys. That’s how you show the roster has a higher ceiling rather than simply filling holes. Right now, we don’t really have anyone to build around, and a roster made up mostly of depth pieces and stopgaps isn’t going to win the MAC or ultimately a tourney game. A class built mostly on names like these feels low-energy, and it’s hard to generate much hype around it, even if some do pan out. I think Ford can do better.

I looked through the accounts Coach Ford follows on Twitter and found these players he follows who I believe are all in the portal. It may give us some clues on some players we may be pursuing. Brayden Gross (Walsh) Iyran Francis Jr (Gulf Coast State) Sean Register Jr (Eastern Florida State) Donovan Hill (Saint Leo) Cooper Kesler (College of Southern Idaho)

You can't even have him in during crunch time of close games because he's a 33.3% FT shooter. They must plan to start Atlason.

Really not impressed with what Miami OH is doing thus far in the Portal.

I agree with everything you said, and I also think MMK showed a ton of hustle on defense and rebounding ability both offensively and defensively.