What's next for Michigan State, St. John's, Alabama and Iowa State: Recruits, transfer portal, more
Why it matters: Early tournament exits force top programs to immediately strategize for next season's roster via recruits and the transfer portal.
- Michigan State faces the departure of key players Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper but boasts a strong 2026 recruiting class, including top-25 recruit Jasiah Jervis, and expects the return of Wooden Award contender Jeremy Fears Jr. (Medcalf)
- Tom Izzo traditionally avoids heavy reliance on the transfer portal, preferring to develop his recruits, and his current freshman class, along with redshirt Jesse McCulloch, is expected to fill the void left by departing big men. (Medcalf)
- St. John's is set to lose five players, including top scorers Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, and has no incoming recruits, signaling a significant reliance on the transfer portal for roster reconstruction under coach Rick Pitino. (Borzello)
- Rick Pitino's strategy for St. John's since his arrival has prioritized the transfer portal over high school recruiting for building the team. (Borzello)
Following a men's NCAA tournament filled with upsets and heartbreaking losses for storied programs like Michigan State and St. John's, ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf analyze the crucial next steps for these teams, focusing on player departures, returnees, and transfer portal strategies. While Michigan State, led by coach Tom Izzo, is expected to rely on a strong incoming freshman class and returning talent, St. John's under Rick Pitino is anticipated to heavily utilize the transfer portal to rebuild its roster.
