Portal Season 2025

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A big name starts us off ... Keith Palek / Cal


Palek missed the majority of this season due to injury. He's a very productive SF when healthy. Nice outside shot and he handles the ball well.

[IUPalum]

A big name starts us off ... Keith Palek / Cal


Palek missed the majority of this season due to injury. He's a very productive SF when healthy. Nice outside shot and he handles the ball well.

Crazy because Cal's season isn't over yet.

[Scrub]

Verbal commits has Donovan Hill leaving Ship.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'll be curious how many players simply 'retire' at the end of this season. These upperclassmen are largely the 'covid kids'. Some extreme stragglers have been on campus since 2018 (or longer).

Between the freebie year, the extra year, the regular redshirt, the medical redshirt, etc. ... we could see some dudes pushing 26-28 by next season. You can only hope they are leaving with a couple degrees. Wishful thinking in some instances. There obviously comes a point when playing D2 basketball isn't a priority anymore. And, truthfully, nor should it be. No offense, but if you're 26 and still playing in the PSAC ... it's highly likely there isn't going to be a contract waiting for a 27-year-old.

Lombardi made a comment that one of SRU's players has been in the PSAC since the 90s. Made me laugh.

There are a lot of 'Redshirt Juniors' this season who have been around forever.

[Topper_Hopper]

I'll be curious how many players simply 'retire' at the end of this season. These upperclassmen are largely the 'covid kids'. Some extreme stragglers have been on campus since 2018 (or longer).

Between the freebie year, the extra year, the regular redshirt, the medical redshirt, etc. ... we could see some dudes pushing 26-28 by next season. You can only hope they are leaving with a couple degrees. Wishful thinking in some instances. There obviously comes a point when playing D2 basketball isn't a priority anymore. And, truthfully, nor should it be. No offense, but if you're 26 and still playing in the PSAC ... it's highly likely there isn't going to be a contract waiting for a 27-year-old.

Lombardi made a comment that one of SRU's players has been in the PSAC since the 90s. Made me laugh.

There are a lot of 'Redshirt Juniors' this season who have been around forever.

Reminds me of Miami Hurricanes TE Cam McCormick, who recently completed his 9th season of college football.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...ar-eligibility

[EyeoftheHawk]

A big name starts us off ... Keith Palek / Cal


Palek missed the majority of this season due to injury. He's a very productive SF when healthy. Nice outside shot and he handles the ball well.

He’s also adept at getting under an opponent’s skin. I imagine you love him if he’s on your team but not so much when he’s on the opposite bench. Can’t deny his game though. He’s good.

[Ship69]

Verbal commits has Donovan Hill leaving Ship.

Hill and Ship have parted ways.

[Scrub]

Our old friend and former Hilltopper Aidan Satterfield is on the move again. Leaving Walsh.

[IUPalum]

Our old friend and former Hilltopper Aidan Satterfield is on the move again. Leaving Walsh.

This right here is why the portal is garbage. Zero consequences for transferring every year.

[IUP24]

I'll be curious how many players simply 'retire' at the end of this season. These upperclassmen are largely the 'covid kids'. Some extreme stragglers have been on campus since 2018 (or longer).

Between the freebie year, the extra year, the regular redshirt, the medical redshirt, etc. ... we could see some dudes pushing 26-28 by next season. You can only hope they are leaving with a couple degrees. Wishful thinking in some instances. There obviously comes a point when playing D2 basketball isn't a priority anymore. And, truthfully, nor should it be. No offense, but if you're 26 and still playing in the PSAC ... it's highly likely there isn't going to be a contract waiting for a 27-year-old.

Lombardi made a comment that one of SRU's players has been in the PSAC since the 90s. Made me laugh.

There are a lot of 'Redshirt Juniors' this season who have been around forever.

I truthfully couldn't imagine being in college for that long. On the surface, you can say there's no downside to the lifestyle. It's a great life. But there's zero benefit to holding onto it past the typical 5-year plan for most student athletes (or any student). I get med students, and those in doctoral type educational programs, are in school for a long, long time. But the traditional "college life" ends when they are through with their undergraduate degree.

The whole "play your sport as long as you can" mantra has to die. I'm sorry. I know I've gotten into discussions about this regarding those playing sports, specifically basketball, overseas for peanuts and many disagree with my take. But on the college athletics subject... People need to have harder conversations with their children, their friends, their family members, etc. Enter the workforce and get on with your life. You can't be a college athlete forever.

Past 25 years old, most people are the same. I'm 31 and have great friends who are 26 and 27. One of my best friends is also 38. After school, age really is irrelevant. But the overall maturity gap between a 25 year old in college and some 19 year old you are at a house party with is pretty striking. I have no idea why somebody who should be 3-years into their career has any interest in even associating with the traditional college life. I went back to IUP for the now tamed IUPatties the year after I graduated. I couldn't tell you how out of place I felt just one year removed.

[gman16506]

I truthfully couldn't imagine being in college for that long. On the surface, you can say there's no downside to the lifestyle. It's a great life. But there's zero benefit to holding onto it past the typical 5-year plan for most student athletes (or any student). I get med students, and those in doctoral type educational programs, are in school for a long, long time. But the traditional "college life" ends when they are through with their undergraduate degree.

The whole "play your sport as long as you can" mantra has to die. I'm sorry. I know I've gotten into discussions about this regarding those playing sports, specifically basketball, overseas for peanuts and many disagree with my take. But on the college athletics subject... People need to have harder conversations with their children, their friends, their family members, etc. Enter the workforce and get on with your life. You can't be a college athlete forever.

Past 25 years old, most people are the same. I'm 31 and have great friends who are 26 and 27. One of my best friends is also 38. After school, age really is irrelevant. But the overall maturity gap between a 25 year old in college and some 19 year old you are at a house party with is pretty striking. I have no idea why somebody who should be 3-years into their career has any interest in even associating with the traditional college life. I went back to IUP for the now tamed IUPatties the year after I graduated. I couldn't tell you how out of place I felt just one year removed.

Great post and I have shared your experiences. I even felt the difference when I was in Grad school........just seemed to be a different world.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Bowie / G / Ship

(3) from Kutztown

(1) from Bloo.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Recent additions:


Shippensburg - Max McFarland, Jalen Bowie

IUP - Callum MacNamara

Kutztown - Amir Cunningham, Jaiden Mcghee, Brent Ricketts,

Bloomsburg - Kent Olewiler

[Scrub]

Recent notable additions on the MEC side include

Sean Ealy from Wheeling (an MEC POY candidate; big-time scorer)
Koby Baptiste from Frostburg
Jaden Baker from Frostburg (both Frostburg players are All-MEC selections)

Heck, the entire Frostburg roster is in the portal.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Recent notable additions on the MEC side include

Sean Ealy from Wheeling (an MEC POY candidate; big-time scorer)
Koby Baptiste from Frostburg
Jaden Baker from Frostburg (both Frostburg players are All-MEC selections)

Heck, the entire Frostburg roster is in the portal.

Gee, I wonder where Ealy will sign :)

I doubt he will move very far from downtown Wheeling.