Transfer Portal Thread Recaps

[sooner333]

Week of March 3–9, 2025​

Theme: Portal Window Cracks Open, and So Does the NIL Discourse

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Early Portal Watch​

The Transfer Portal 2025 thread kicks off with low-stakes scouting: D2 and mid-major names pop up thanks to @portal_updates, and the first handful of posts are equal parts data-dump and dry run.

TopherB560 shares names like:

• Keith Palek III (California PA) – 18.8 PPG
• Brendan Rigsbee (Georgia College) – 16.8 PPG
• Seth Grandberry (Arkansas Tech) – 16.4 PPG

These aren’t real targets, but they spark the start of board-wide recon mode.

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Wishlist Posting Begins​

Posters begin floating names from bigger programs — some serious, some pipe dreams.

“Also add: Langston Love (Baylor), Mookie Cook (Oregon), Donovan Dent (New Mexico), Dedan Thomas (UNLV).” — StoopsBros

A few even scout forwards and wings based purely on Twitter lists and Discord dumps. The TrillyDonovan Discord gets several shoutouts, as if it's now a part-time job for some users.

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Strategic Frustration Surfaces​

The NIL gap quickly becomes the emotional backdrop of the thread — the central anxiety that will persist for the next month. Posters argue that OU is already behind without organizational change.

“That list is why Joe C should have hired a GM already… regardless of the coaching situation.” — StoopsBros

And that’s where the NIL conversation takes root: the idea that OU isn’t just underfunded — it's unprepared.

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The Jadon Jones Drama​

The first real debate of the thread: Did Jadon Jones check out midseason?

“He was never really injured. He made a business decision.” — CoachTalk
“That’s speculation. He traveled, practiced, and dressed. I'll take his word over yours.” — WichitaSooner

This spills into a broader conversation about how players navigate injuries and the portal — and whether coaches should expect loyalty in the NIL era.

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Most active posters: StoopsBros, CoachTalk, WichitaSooner, TopherB560
• Quote of the week: “That list is why Joe C should have hired a GM already…”
• Portal vibe: Simmering
• NIL mood: Quiet dread
• Player excitement: Low (mostly speculation)

 

[sooner333]

Week of March 10–16, 2025​

Theme: Coaching Fatigue Meets Portal Reality

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The Moser Debate Intensifies​

With the regular season winding down and Texas looming on the schedule, the conversation shifts from player speculation to a referendum on Porter Moser.

The board splits into two camps:

• Camp Run-It-Back (with NIL reinforcements)
• Camp Enough-Is-Enough

“If we beat Texas tomorrow, then I’m fine running it back next year with a healthier NIL budget. If not, that should be the end of the line.” — TINY

“I’m not fine with another year, regardless… but I recognize the bind Joe C has put the university in with needless extensions.” — hoopsaustin

This week feels like a collective sigh — the fatigue of watching Moser teams underperform combined with the financial reality that OU may not be able to afford a reset.

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Roster Fit Dissected​

The focus turns toward what went wrong with OU’s recent rosters. The names Uzan, Oweh, and Milos dominate the midweek discussion.

“Uzan and Oweh arguably regressed in their second seasons under Moser — then exploded the minute they left him.” — cmdsooner

“We don’t get polished players. We get the young, incomplete versions and develop them… then they leave.” — cmdsooner

It’s not just about stars leaving. It’s about a systemic issue: talent doesn’t grow here. Or at least, it doesn’t stay long enough to.

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NIL as a Talent Filter​

There’s growing consensus that OU’s NIL limitations force it to shop on a different shelf. The program can’t buy complete players — it has to gamble on upside and hope for long-term development.

“A guy like Mark Mitchell at Missouri is a great example — a solid Duke player, but not the guy. Missouri spends NIL to get the more finished version of him. OU? We’d be getting his freshman-year self and praying.” — cmdsooner

This sentiment becomes a drumbeat: the portal isn't about scouting anymore — it’s about who you can afford to finish developing.

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Most active posters: cmdsooner, TINY, hoopsaustin, BoulderSooner
• Quote of the week: “We don’t get polished players. We develop them for someone else.”
• Moser support: Hanging by a thread
• NIL optimism: Diminishing
• Player chatter: Still speculative — no concrete names gaining traction yet

 

[sooner333]

Week of March 17–23, 2025​

Theme: Scheming, Scouting, and Searching for “A Jalon Moore”

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From Philosophy to Personnel​

By mid-March, the thread's tone makes a subtle but important shift: we move from existential griping about Moser and NIL to how the heck are we going to build a roster?

The fanbase accepts what’s likely a foundational truth of this portal cycle: OU won’t get the stars, but it can land the right pieces.

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“The Jalon Moore Type”​

This is the week when a clear portal archetype takes shape: not a program-changer, but a twitchy 3/4 forward who can guard multiple positions, rebound, and maybe grow into more.

“Need a Jalon Moore replacement. Could do worse.” — cmdsooner

“He might be ok as a rotation backup… but I don’t think he is a starting 4 at this level.” — BoulderSooner

Jalon Moore becomes shorthand for “athletic, raw, probably inconsistent — but if you hit, you really hit.” The conversation isn’t about getting All-SEC guys. It’s about stacking traits and hoping for development.

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Role Over Resume​

Several posters begin leaning into a more mature lens on portal evaluation: experience, toughness, fit > name value.

One profile that gets traction:

• Finished the year strong
• Athletic
• Inconsistent shooter
• Still has 2+ years left

They’re not talking about anyone specific — not yet — but this is the shape of things to come. The Tae Davis-type is being envisioned here, even if not named.

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Portal Breadcrumbs​

Board detectives return in force, tracking follows and retweets for clues.

“Fairly certain Endurance Management got a follow from Armon Gates…” — cmdsooner

The mention doesn’t draw huge attention at the time, but it's an early hint that staff is in active contact with players fitting the above profile.

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Strategic Threads Form​

Beyond player evals, a bigger-picture theme surfaces: you can’t build a whole roster through NIL unless you’re filthy rich. So OU needs to go lean and efficient.

“You can get guys, but you can’t get finished guys. You’ve got to pick your projects carefully.” — (paraphrased thread sentiment)

This marks a turning point — not in who OU is chasing, but how posters evaluate the pursuit.

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Tone: Curious, tactical, still skeptical
• NIL mentions: Lurking, but not dominating
• Player movement: Mostly theoretical, but role clarity emerges
• Most active voices: cmdsooner, BoulderSooner, CoachTalk
• Portal mood: Thoughtful, waiting for names

 

[sooner333]

Week of March 24–30, 2025​

Theme: A Name Appears, and NIL Numbers Explode

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The Tae Davis Rumor Surfaces​

The thread finally gets a specific, name-level rumor: Tae Davis, a 6’7” wing from Notre Dame.

“Tae Davis – Notre Dame.” — rickjames, attributed to Lusk
Repeated by austing7, TINY, pnkranger within minutes

This is the first moment the board starts reacting to a realistic, confirmed target — not a wishlist or a “maybe.” Davis isn’t labeled a future starter or program-changer. Rather, he’s seen as a piece — a long, athletic wing who can defend, finish, and potentially grow into a key role.

There’s no sweeping hype. But there is interest.

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Strategy Over Splash​

While Davis becomes a talking point, most of the week’s posts focus on how OU should distribute resources.

“Let’s pour what money we have into 12 players and not stretch it over 15.” — CoachTalk

This is the week where the conversation goes from "Who can we get?" to "How can we afford to build a functional team?"

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The NIL Bombshell​

allday92 shares an On3 post quoting Jamie Shaw:

“Texas Tech, Ohio State, Kansas State expected to spend $8–10 million on portal players.”

This leads to a meltdown.

“Articles like this really make me wanna puke.” — cvangild
“Replacing Porter won’t fix this.” — also cvangild

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Vibe Summary​

• Tae Davis: Mentioned by name for the first time
• Tone: Turning tactical
• NIL concern: Peaking
• Roster talk: Focused on pieces and budgets, not stars

 

[sooner333]

Week of March 31 – April 6, 2025​

Theme: The Pack Era (Maybe) Begins

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The Big Name Appears​

After weeks of watching other teams flash cash and flip commits, OU fans finally get their splash headline: Nijel Pack is in play.

• Former Kansas State standout
• Most recently at Miami
• Legit high-major scorer
• And yes, the guy who reportedly got $800K from LifeWallet two years ago

“Played in only 9 games this year. Nijel Pack can absolutely help us. Big swing.” — StoopsBros

Just like that, the vibe shifts. This isn’t a project. This is a guy with a track record in March and a jumper that travels.

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Initial Reactions: Guarded Excitement​

“If Pack is really in, I’m raising expectations significantly.” — general sentiment across multiple replies

“Just takes one trip to Miami…” — pnkranger, reflecting every OU fan’s PTSD about losing battles they thought were won

Posters immediately begin trying to define Pack’s market value, what OU would need to offer, and whether the injury that limited him at Miami makes him more affordable — or more risky.

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NIL Panic Sets In (Again)​

As the Pack buzz builds, allday92 drops a quote from On3’s Jamie Shaw:

“Programs like Texas Tech, Ohio State, and Kansas State will all be between $8–10 million overall in portal spend.”

The response? Predictably grim.

“Articles like this really make me wanna puke.” — cvangild

“Some players are getting paid way over their value simply because some schools have stupid $ to throw at NIL budgets.” — cvangild, again, wielding sarcasm and realism in equal measure

This week becomes a collision of excitement and existentialism:

• If OU lands Pack, it’s a big-time coup.
• If it misses, it might be because it never had the NIL firepower to truly play the game.

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Fit Talk Emerges​

There’s a short but sharp thread discussing Pack’s fit, especially in a backcourt with Milos Uzan now gone.

“He’s a lead guard. He can space it. But he needs help on defense.” — paraphrased from comments mid-thread

Nobody doubts the scoring. The concern is whether OU has enough complementary pieces — especially defensively — to make Pack a “net win” in a P5 environment.

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Meanwhile… the Board Still Wants More​

Even amid Pack hysteria, the portal wishlists roll on:

• More frontcourt help needed
• Rebounding, rim protection, and a “grown man” big are still top asks
• Tae Davis chatter simmers in the background, but Pack dominates the dialogue

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Quote of the week: “Just takes one trip to Miami…”
• Portal mood: Hopeful, anxious, loud
• Poster tone: 60% giddy, 40% preparing for heartbreak
• NIL commentary: Peaking again
• Most discussed player: Nijel Pack, by a mile

 

[sooner333]

Week of April 7–13, 2025​

Theme: Brown Arrives, and the Board Buys In

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Xzavier Brown Enters the Thread​

Out of St. Joe’s comes Xzavier Brown, and unlike some of the earlier names, this one doesn’t take time to win people over. He’s tough. He plays hard. And he feels exactly like the kind of player OU fans think they never land — but always need.

“Xzavier Brown – Saint Joseph’s. Grew up in Philly. Won’t back down. This is a dog.” — cmdsooner

“Game reminds me of Jordan Goldwire with more juice.” — cvangild

“If you get a kid who grew up in Philly, he plays hard. It’s just what they do.” — Speedy17

“xzavier brown = duke miles?” — CoachTalk, in a rare comparison that actually feels like a compliment

This isn’t about upside or flash. This is about mentality. And after years of finesse guards and soft second halves, the board is openly thirsty for someone who brings an edge.

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The Fit Conversation Evolves​

Where early weeks were about what OU can afford, this week’s posts show fans starting to believe these guys might actually fit together:

• Pack brings scoring
• Brown brings grit and defense
• Tae Davis brings length and athleticism on the wing

None are surefire All-SEC picks. But the balance is what excites people.

“We may not have stars, but we’re building a team.” — general board vibe

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Still Wanting More (but Smarter)​

Even with Brown and Pack buzz rising, posters stay locked on:

• Finding a rim protector
• Getting a true backup big
• Shoring up shooting if Pack isn’t 100%

The board isn’t dreaming of 5-stars anymore. They’re dreaming of an 8-man rotation that actually works.

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Most discussed player: Xzavier Brown
• Biggest swing in fan tone: From “Can we land Pack?” to “What if we have something here?”
• Poster highlight: cmdsooner, for the best Brown comp and early enthusiasm
• Most confident moment yet: This might be the first week that felt good

 

[sooner333]

Week of April 14–17, 2025​

Theme: ESPN Says We’re Not Crazy

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National Recognition Hits​

After weeks of analysis, debate, and subtle dread, the board gets a boost: ESPN releases its transfer rankings — and OU’s new additions are all there.

Shared by austing7, repeated by pnkranger, jdizzle34, and others:

• Xzavier Brown – Ranked No. 25
• Nijel Pack – Ranked No. 27
• Tae Davis – Ranked No. 65

“That’s a damn good start.” — pnkranger

For the first time in the thread, no one hedges. No one questions the fit. It’s a collective nod: “We did something right.”

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Pack Discourse Evolves​

With the commitment assumed and ESPN confirmation in hand, the conversation shifts away from if Pack is a good get — and into how best to use him.

“I understand the concern with Nijel Pack’s defense, but the dude is a proven scorer. That alone changes how teams guard us.” — pnkranger

The defensive issues haven’t disappeared, but posters now talk about them in terms of fit and mitigation, not dealbreakers. That’s progress.

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Roster Structure Takes Center Stage​

There’s less chatter about who’s left to land and more about how to organize what OU already has:

• Should Brown and Pack play together?
• Is Davis a 3 or a small-ball 4?
• What kind of big can round this out?

The vibe isn’t “we need to fix this.” It’s “we need to finish this.”

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Board Sentiment Summary​

• Quote of the week: “That’s a damn good start.” — pnkranger
• Mood: Confident, measured, borderline optimistic
• Portal outlook: Positive, but with a focus on rounding out the frontcourt
• Posters of note: austing7 (info sharer), pnkranger (voice of calm)
• Team vibes: Starting to feel real

 

[cmdsooner]

I think some of those quotes aren’t mine, but all attention is good attention, right?

 

[TEvans4Three]

I clearly don't post enough hot takes, lol

 

[sooner333]

I clearly don't post enough hot takes, lol

The AI model clearly has it out for you. Lol