Looks like a slightly bigger built Deese replacement. Do we have one more?
Yes. The plan is to add one more. Hopefully a cost effective wing with some length.
Looks like a slightly bigger built Deese replacement. Do we have one more?
Yes. The plan is to add one more. Hopefully a cost effective wing with some length.
Hopefully powell got his negotiating done fast. Portal closes in 24 hours
Unless I'm misunderstanding you, the portal closing is only for those who are entering it. Players can commit anytime afterwards.
Looks like a slightly bigger built Deese replacement. Do we have one more?
Yes. The plan is to add one more. Hopefully a cost effective wing with some length.
Hopefully powell got his negotiating done fast. Portal closes in 24 hours
Unless I'm misunderstanding you, the portal closing is only for those who are entering it. Players can commit anytime afterwards.
Correct. Players can commit at any time after they have entered the portal. A majority of transfer players commit by the summer to join the team by the start of summer workouts.
Looking at Bruno the same way I did for Kai and I think this is a quietly interesting addition that fits what we are building.
He’s a 6’6” wing who played real minutes right away—over 50% of available minutes both seasons at Indiana State, which matters. Coaches trusted him as a freshman and sophomore, and you don’t get that kind of run unless you can function within a system. He has started in the MVC 24 out of his 64 games which will account for 3rd most on our roster next season. I expect him to bring some experience with that trust to Valpo next season.
Stat-wise, the story is pretty clear year to year. As a freshman, he was more of a low-usage connector who shot the ball well from deep (~35% on high volume) and was extremely reliable at the line (over 80% FT). As a sophomore, his role expanded—usage and shot share both jumped—and efficiency dipped a bit, but there was a big positive tradeoff: his two-point percentage exploded into the mid-to-high 50s. That tells me the added strength and court experience (he put on ~15 pounds) translated directly to better finishing and comfort attacking closeouts.
The three-point shooting is the big swing skill here. It dipped last year into the low 30s as volume increased, but this isn’t someone defenses can ignore either. Over two seasons, he’s a legitimate perimeter threat who has shown he can space the floor—and if that percentage stabilizes back toward his freshman year, that’s going to be a nice weapon in our offense that badly needs shooting.
I also really like the assist rates (~12%) for a wing. He’s not a ball hogger, understands reads, and can keep the offense flowing without needing the ball all the time. Turnovers aren’t pristine, but they actually improved when his role grew, which is encouraging. In his third year of Valley play and in Powells offense I expect this to not be an issue.
Defensively, he’s not a stocks guy—low block and steal numbers—but the size, added strength, and ability to stay on the floor suggest a team defender more than an outright liability. He’s not going to lock guys up, but he shouldn’t be someone teams hunt either. He will either play meaningful defense or Sader will get more minutes.
To me, the ideal role is: a high-minute complementary wing who can shoot, attack rotations, and play within structure. Not an alpha, not a usage monster—but someone who makes lineups work better. If the three-point shot rebounds even modestly, he’s got a chance to be one of those “you miss him when he’s off the floor” guys.
Overall, this feels like a smart transfer bet: proven minutes, a developing body, and skills that translate to what our team needs today. Curious to see how others see his fit, especially next to our returning guards and with how Sader came on down the stretch. I personally think he will battle for a starting spot.
Looking at Bruno the same way I did for Kai and I think this is a quietly interesting addition that fits what we are building.
He’s a 6’6” wing who played real minutes right away—over 50% of available minutes both seasons at Indiana State, which matters. Coaches trusted him as a freshman and sophomore, and you don’t get that kind of run unless you can function within a system. He has started in the MVC 24 out of his 64 games which will account for 3rd most on our roster next season. I expect him to bring some experience with that trust to Valpo next season.
Stat-wise, the story is pretty clear year to year. As a freshman, he was more of a low-usage connector who shot the ball well from deep (~35% on high volume) and was extremely reliable at the line (over 80% FT). As a sophomore, his role expanded—usage and shot share both jumped—and efficiency dipped a bit, but there was a big positive tradeoff: his two-point percentage exploded into the mid-to-high 50s. That tells me the added strength and court experience (he put on ~15 pounds) translated directly to better finishing and comfort attacking closeouts.
The three-point shooting is the big swing skill here. It dipped last year into the low 30s as volume increased, but this isn’t someone defenses can ignore either. Over two seasons, he’s a legitimate perimeter threat who has shown he can space the floor—and if that percentage stabilizes back toward his freshman year, that’s going to be a nice weapon in our offense that badly needs shooting.
I also really like the assist rates (~12%) for a wing. He’s not a ball hogger, understands reads, and can keep the offense flowing without needing the ball all the time. Turnovers aren’t pristine, but they actually improved when his role grew, which is encouraging. In his third year of Valley play and in Powells offense I expect this to not be an issue.
Defensively, he’s not a stocks guy—low block and steal numbers—but the size, added strength, and ability to stay on the floor suggest a team defender more than an outright liability. He’s not going to lock guys up, but he shouldn’t be someone teams hunt either. He will either play meaningful defense or Sader will get more minutes.
To me, the ideal role is: a high-minute complementary wing who can shoot, attack rotations, and play within structure. Not an alpha, not a usage monster—but someone who makes lineups work better. If the three-point shot rebounds even modestly, he’s got a chance to be one of those “you miss him when he’s off the floor” guys.
Overall, this feels like a smart transfer bet: proven minutes, a developing body, and skills that translate to what our team needs today. Curious to see how others see his fit, especially next to our returning guards and with how Sader came on down the stretch. I personally think he will battle for a starting spot.
This is a really good synopsis. The staff loves his familiarity with the league and they know how tough he was when we played him 3 times this season. Of note, he went from not starting to starting I believe the final 10 games this year as ISUs play improved. His trajectory seemed to be pointing in a strong up direction. No doubt he is a role guy on our team but that role should be a big one. I expect him to start and Sader will get plenty of minutes on the court as he is just a winner and can play 2-3-4.
I couldn't recall anything about his defensive efforts against us so I have no idea which Beacons he defended or his overall effectiveness. 
I agree his assist vs turnovers are pretty solid for a wing player so as a fourth option floor stabilizing addition he might be a real sleeper toward general team improvement?
I also had time to take a look at Dylan Moles. Here is my unsolicited 2 cents of broken analysis.
Moles is a proven scorer, and the progression across his three college seasons tells a good story. As a freshman, he was a rotation guy who shot the ball well in limited minutes. As a sophomore, he absolutely broke out—leading Marian in scoring, shooting over 50% from the field, nearly 44% from three, and an absurd 53‑for‑54 at the free‑throw line. That’s not a fluke season; those are real scoring numbers.
Last year as a junior, the raw efficiency dipped a bit, but the role stayed large. He started 25 games, played almost 30 minutes a night, and was still second on the team in scoring at 11.4 PPG. The three‑point percentage fell, but defenses were geared toward him as a primary option, and his free‑throw shooting remained elite (87%). To me, that looks less like regression and more like the cost of carrying a heavier offensive load in some capacity. He won’t have to do this next year which should allow the offense to come to him, similar to how Brody was able approach last year.
What stands out most is that Moles is a legit scorer who doesn’t panic. He can score in bunches (multiple 20+ point games, including a 31‑point night), but he’s also not a pure gunner. The assist numbers are steady, he moves the ball, and he doesn’t need to dominate every possession to contribute at Valpo. He profiles much better as a secondary scoring option than as “the guy,” which should suit him well jumping up a level, again much like Brody.
Defensively and on the glass, he’s pretty modest—this isn’t going to be a lockdown guard or rebounding wing. That’s not really his value. His value is shot‑making, spacing, and having someone on the floor who can score when the offense bogs down and knock down free throws late.
From a fit standpoint, I really like him in structure. If he’s not asked to carry the offense every night (and he wont be), I think his efficiency rebounds nicely—especially the three‑point shot. Somewhere in the 33–36% range from deep, double‑figure scoring, and elite FT shooting feels very realistic.
Bottom line for me:
Dylan Moles is a smart transfer bet. He brings real scoring pedigree, elite free‑throw shooting, and experience playing big minutes. He’s probably not the main guy, but as a complementary scorer who can punish rotations and close games at the line, he fills a role we’ve badly needed as Brody departs the roster.
Curious how others see his role—starter, sixth man, or matchup scorer—but this feels like a low‑risk, high‑utility pickup which Powell seems to have very good success with. Without seeing anything I believe at this moment he slots in behind McNair to start the season with potential to contest again for the starting role if the transition happens seamlessly.
As things stand now, it looks like we’re at 12 or 13 roster spots, depending on whether Webster is considered a grandfathered walk‑on. I don’t believe he is, but I don’t know that for certain. That would leave 2–3 roster spots open, and realistically we may not or need to fill all of them.
I know @backagain2024 has mentioned that the staff may be looking to add another wing, and I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all. That said, I do think the type of wing matters. Ideally, that addition would fit more of a “twienner” profile—someone in the 6'7"–6'9" range who can be physically comfortable playing some minutes at the 4.
Right now, in terms of a true power‑forward type, we really only have J.T. If we want to play small, Sader can slide into that role in limited situations. If we want to go bigger, we can pair Kai or Carter at the 5–4 spots or even work Kobe into the mix situationally. Those options exist, but they all feel more like workarounds than ideal long‑term solutions.
Because of that, I think we’d be better served adding one more true PF‑mold player to shore up the depth behind J.T. Maybe the staff has a different vision, but to me that spot feels like a slightly bigger gap compared to the rest of the roster, which otherwise looks fairly well balanced.
Overall though, this is shaping up to be a really solid team and one worth getting excited about. A move or two more in the right direction could really round things out. Man, I can’t wait to be back in the ARC.
I couldn't recall anything about his defensive efforts against us so I have no idea which Beacons he defended or his overall effectiveness.
I agree his assist vs turnovers are pretty solid for a wing player so as a fourth option floor stabilizing addition he might be a real sleeper toward general team improvement?
I think the pieces being added this year is exactly what this team needs, the staff has done a great job of building the roster to reflect general team improvement and depth. This makes sense with retaining most of our top eligible players who are known commodities coming into the new season. Building around J.T. and Rakim to bring in complementary and support pieces is what I think we are seeing.
As things stand now, it looks like we’re at 12 or 13 roster spots, depending on whether Webster is considered a grandfathered walk‑on. I don’t believe he is, but I don’t know that for certain. That would leave 2–3 roster spots open, and realistically we may not or need to fill all of them.
I know @backagain2024 has mentioned that the staff may be looking to add another wing, and I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all. That said, I do think the type of wing matters. Ideally, that addition would fit more of a “twienner” profile—someone in the 6'7"–6'9" range who can be physically comfortable playing some minutes at the 4.
Right now, in terms of a true power‑forward type, we really only have J.T. If we want to play small, Sader can slide into that role in limited situations. If we want to go bigger, we can pair Kai or Carter at the 5–4 spots or even work Kobe into the mix situationally. Those options exist, but they all feel more like workarounds than ideal long‑term solutions.
Because of that, I think we’d be better served adding one more true PF‑mold player to shore up the depth behind J.T. Maybe the staff has a different vision, but to me that spot feels like a slightly bigger gap compared to the rest of the roster, which otherwise looks fairly well balanced.
Overall though, this is shaping up to be a really solid team and one worth getting excited about. A move or two more in the right direction could really round things out. Man, I can’t wait to be back in the ARC.
The goal is a longer wing, as you said ideally a 3/4 but more of a 3 (ideally). Apparently Kobe was a handful in practice last year and he was able to score regularly against Shon who is considered a solid defender. Kobe will play which gives us flexibility to have him or Carter backup the 4. But yes a long wing who can play the 4 if need be would be ideal.
Regarding your other post, Dylan is the assumed backup to Justus at the 2. We shall see what Dylan provides but as you said, his sophomore season was absurd. He can really shoot the ball.
As things stand now, it looks like we’re at 12 or 13 roster spots, depending on whether Webster is considered a grandfathered walk‑on. I don’t believe he is, but I don’t know that for certain. That would leave 2–3 roster spots open, and realistically we may not or need to fill all of them.
I know @backagain2024 has mentioned that the staff may be looking to add another wing, and I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all. That said, I do think the type of wing matters. Ideally, that addition would fit more of a “twienner” profile—someone in the 6'7"–6'9" range who can be physically comfortable playing some minutes at the 4.
Right now, in terms of a true power‑forward type, we really only have J.T. If we want to play small, Sader can slide into that role in limited situations. If we want to go bigger, we can pair Kai or Carter at the 5–4 spots or even work Kobe into the mix situationally. Those options exist, but they all feel more like workarounds than ideal long‑term solutions.
Because of that, I think we’d be better served adding one more true PF‑mold player to shore up the depth behind J.T. Maybe the staff has a different vision, but to me that spot feels like a slightly bigger gap compared to the rest of the roster, which otherwise looks fairly well balanced.
Overall though, this is shaping up to be a really solid team and one worth getting excited about. A move or two more in the right direction could really round things out. Man, I can’t wait to be back in the ARC.
The goal is a longer wing, as you said ideally a 3/4 but more of a 3 (ideally). Apparently Kobe was a handful in practice last year and he was able to score regularly against Shon who is considered a solid defender. Kobe will play which gives us flexibility to have him or Carter backup the 4. But yes a long wing who can play the 4 if need be would be ideal.
Regarding your other post, Dylan is the assumed backup to Justus at the 2. We shall see what Dylan provides but as you said, his sophomore season was absurd. He can really shoot the ball.
This is some really good stuff. I’m right there with you—I really hope the projections on Kobe materialize in the way you described. Even as someone who follows the team pretty closely, his progression still feels like a bit of a mystery. Realistically, only the people watching practice every day truly know where he’s at.
I’ve glanced into the Hilltop during practice before, but I’ve never had the luxury of sitting down and really watching. You pick up bits and pieces, but not enough to draw firm conclusions. It definitely makes you wonder how much development is happening behind the scenes that we just don’t see.
At this point, I guess the answer is obvious—I need to donate a little more to unlock that level of access 😄. Until then, I’m cautiously optimistic and hoping Kobe takes that next step, because if he does, it changes the outlook of the roster quite a bit regarding potential 4 spot support.
The goal is a longer wing, as you said ideally a 3/4 but more of a 3 (ideally).
Indiana State basically played three guards. Against us in the tournament he was announced as a 6'6" guard. So with Camp Wagner and Xavier Hall playing the one and two, that would make Bruno playing the equivalent of the three. Which makes sense as primarily a three point threat.
I have always been too optimistic about what our past freshman centers could contribute so realistically what can we expect from Kobe Walker? Can he defend and rebound without fouling? What is his shooting range? Can he handle passes cleanly? Will he earn 6 minutes per game in the rotation or will it be lower double digit?
I have always been too optimistic about what our past freshman centers could contribute so realistically what can we expect from Kobe Walker? Can he defend and rebound without fouling? What is his shooting range? Can he handle passes cleanly? Will he earn 6 minutes per game in the rotation or will it be lower double digit?
He was routed as being "better" than shon.....until shon proved himself and showed his experience at the MVC level.
The year of training under shon and this coaching staff as well as the time in the performance lab should allow him to be a capable big man