The 2026 Offseason!
 
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The 2026 Offseason!

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 Rez
(@rezynezy)
Posts: 1806
Varsity
 

School just released video of the returners practicing. Only person to add to the list is walker from what I have seen that places it at 

 

McNair, hopoi, Servilius, pettigrew, Chaney, and walker as the confirmed returning players aside from walk kns (could be missing a few whom were either not featured in kr I just plain didn't see in the video


 
Posted : 03/30/2026 8:52 PM
(@tjjvalpo)
Posts: 162
Freshman
 

I guess I didn’t pay enough attention throughout the season on how much Walker has transformed his body. It looks like he will be a beast next year!


 
Posted : 03/30/2026 9:37 PM
(@burnee77)
Posts: 257
Junior Varsity
 

Refresh my memory. Why didn’t Walker play last year and is Shon only likely leaving for more money. He seemed to like playing here?!


 
Posted : 03/30/2026 10:45 PM
 Rez
(@rezynezy)
Posts: 1806
Varsity
 

Posted by: @burnee77

Refresh my memory. Why didn’t Walker play last year and is Shon only likely leaving for more money. He seemed to like playing here?!

 

Walker was a red shirt last year (likely because shon was the perceived better center (and more experienced) and walker could learn from him and develop his game under a proven center while also bulking up his size to valley standards)..

 

There is no confirmed reason as to why shon is leaving, but he and his former coach were absent from the group photo taken following jt pettigrew receiving the season grit award. The photo featured all the confirmed returners in addition to walker and the walk ons.

 


This post was modified 2 months ago by Rez
 
Posted : 03/30/2026 11:08 PM
 MJ08
(@mj08)
Posts: 182
Freshman
 

Wisconsin Lutheran star Zavier Zens has reopened his recruiting after Ben Jacobsen left Northern Iowa. He’s a 6’7” power forward.

 

 


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 7:23 AM
(@backagain2024)
Posts: 64
Freshman
 

Posted by: @rezynezy

School just released video of the returners practicing. Only person to add to the list is walker from what I have seen that places it at 

 

McNair, hopoi, Servilius, pettigrew, Chaney, and walker as the confirmed returning players aside from walk kns (could be missing a few whom were either not featured in kr I just plain didn't see in the video

This is correct and what I hinted at before.  Walker is back but no need for him to make an announcement.  So we have these 6 guys returning (which is incredible in this NIL climate), 3 freshman coming in, Dylan now committed as a transfer.  That is 10.  We will add a center and ideally 2 wings as I understand it.

To touch on a few other recent posts in this chain.......  Shon really wanted to stay.  I won't get into detail but the college landscape today is totally different than it was even a few years ago.  It is what it is in the game today.  Jesse McClung (the coach that Rez referred to) is staying at Valpo, no issue at all there.  

Lastly, Zavier Zens (the kid mentioned who decommitted from UNI) is really good.  He won Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin and supposedly can really play.  I presume he will end up at a high major.  

 


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 8:46 AM
👍
1
(@valpo64)
Posts: 77
Freshman
 

Is Z Zens from Wisconsin Lutheran still on  our list or have we been recruiting before he chose UNI?


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 12:34 PM
(@valpo64)
Posts: 77
Freshman
 

Does anyone know who we may yet be pursuing to finish off  personnel for 2026-27?


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 12:38 PM
(@regionrat03)
Posts: 135
Freshman
 

Here is a list of guys that Valpo has expressed interest in via X:

- Kaden Johnson - Huntington - 6’11 - 17.2 PPG

- Matt Gray - Davis & Elkins - 6’8 - 17.3 PPG

- Max Booher - Quincy - 6’4 - 13 PPG

- Jaxon Fugate - Indiana Tech - 6’6 - 20.7 PPG

- Trey Harris - WV State - 6’7 - 16.6 PPG

All players listed have interest from many schools and are all non-D1 players. The transfer portal opens on April 7th. I would expect more D1 player recruitment news after that date.


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 2:02 PM
(@beaconup)
Posts: 7
Freshman
 

Keeping all 6 freshman is an impressive feat. Freshman firepower!


 
Posted : 03/31/2026 6:56 PM
👍
1
(@valpotx)
Posts: 473
Junior Varsity
 

I agree that Kobe Walker looks to be in much better shape than I thought previously.  Maybe it was the shirt that he wore at games, but he looks pretty strong now


 
Posted : 04/03/2026 4:52 AM
(@beaconup)
Posts: 7
Freshman
 

Tornatta to portal. From what I’ve heard this was expected 


 
Posted : 04/03/2026 10:40 AM
(@justducky)
Posts: 241
Junior Varsity
 

Posted by: @beaconup

Tornatta to portal. From what I’ve heard this was expected 

Not a surprise. Tucker played 241 minutes in 26 games but his late season role was greatly diminished. With the large returning group and incoming freshmen, playing time for him would be very limited and our remaining scholarships should be highly focused.

 


 
Posted : 04/03/2026 1:57 PM
(@fwalum)
Posts: 31
Freshman
 

Posted by: @cautioushorse1

But, three-point shooting still concerns me. We always lack in this area since Bryce left.

I think you are forgetting Ryan Fazekas’ senior year. I realize he only played about a third of the season because of injuries, but he shot 49.5% that season and if he had been healthy that entire season things would have been much different. 

 


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 1:26 PM
 vu72
(@vu72)
Posts: 762
Junior Varsity
 

In addition to Ryan, Seth Colclasure, Shawn Huff and of course Alec Peters all had a higher shooting percentage than Bryce.


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 2:53 PM
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