Where Marquette men’s basketball 2026-27 roster stands before transfer portal
Marquette head coach Shaka Smart has several needs to address in the transfer portal this off-season. Here's where the roster stands.
Marquette men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart is about to get a crash course in the NCAA transfer portal. After avoiding the chaos of player movement the last few seasons, it was clear to Smart and his staff after a 12-20 season that they needed to upgrade the talent on their roster. So there could be a flurry of activity during the NCAA's notification of transfer window from April 7-21.
The Golden Eagles still had good retention, getting public commitments to return from five players who are a good nucleus. Now MU has to build around that core. As of April 6, Smart has three open roster spots for the 2026-27 season.
But that can always change quickly. Here is a look at what the Golden Eagles have and what they need: Marquette’s guards Exhausted eligibility: Chase Ross In the transfer portal: Sean Jones, Tre Norman, Zaide Lowery Announced intentions to return: Nigel James Jr. , Adrien Stevens, Michael Phillips II Redshirted last season: Nash Walker The backcourt is set for the foreseeable future , with James and Stevens locking down starting spots as freshmen and showing their star potential.
Phillips is a high-upside prospect who will get more minutes as he gains strength. Walker has potential as a combo guard with ball-handling and shooting, but he hurt his shoulder late in the season and could miss a large chunk of the off-season while recovering. More: How Marquette's Nigel James Jr.