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2026 and beyond recruits

Kososaur said:
I don't understand the obsession with needing a center. Who was the last center that led their team to an MVC title?
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Avila lead pretty well.

It’s also not about having a center to lead your team, it’s about having the size to be able to guard every position and rounding out offensive options. Building a team for all 5 positions.
 
Crusenswings said:
Avila lead pretty well.

It’s also not about having a center to lead your team, it’s about having the size to be able to guard every position and rounding out offensive options. Building a team for all 5 positions.
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Avila wasn't really a center. He had the size but played like a forward. I think a good power forward is what's needed, especially in the valley where you're just not going to run into many good centers and most teams play 3 guard 2 forward
 
Da Coach said:
This new name that Bradley has been in contact with might surprise some fans-
D1 portal- Connor Turnbull- was rated a 4-star recruit in high school at Fort Zumwalt North HS in O'Fallon, MO. He played his first 2 years at Butler, but he didn't play much his freshman season. His sophomore season was cut short after 9 games with an elbow injury. He left and transferred to Evansville, where he played the last 2 seasons. He had a good junior season and was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year. But his senior season was plagued by injuries, and he only played in 16 games and was never 100%. But despite his injuries, he averaged 11.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg. He should get a redshirt for his sophomore season, and would have one more season of eligibility.
Bio- https://gopurpleaces.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/connor-turnbull/6745
www.14news.com

UE’s Turnbull enters portal after injury-riddled season

Injuries this season kept Turnbull sidelined on and off for much of the year.
www.14news.com www.14news.com
Stats- https://gopurpleaces.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/connor-turnbull/6745
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I can't even tell you how much I'd love this.
 
Da Coach said:
This new name that Bradley has been in contact with might surprise some fans-
D1 portal- Connor Turnbull- was rated a 4-star recruit in high school at Fort Zumwalt North HS in O'Fallon, MO. He played his first 2 years at Butler, but he didn't play much his freshman season. His sophomore season was cut short after 9 games with an elbow injury. He left and transferred to Evansville, where he played the last 2 seasons. He had a good junior season and was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year. But his senior season was plagued by injuries, and he only played in 16 games and was never 100%. But despite his injuries, he averaged 11.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg. He should get a redshirt for his sophomore season, and would have one more season of eligibility.
Bio- https://gopurpleaces.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/connor-turnbull/6745
www.14news.com

UE’s Turnbull enters portal after injury-riddled season

Injuries this season kept Turnbull sidelined on and off for much of the year.
www.14news.com www.14news.com
Stats- https://gopurpleaces.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/connor-turnbull/6745
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I would love this also. I had heard we were recruiting him pretty hard at one time
 
It depends on what you mean as led. Patrick O'Bryant was very important to Bradley's sweet sixteen team in anchoring their defense. Especially in the game against Pittsburgh top rated center and was selected in the 1st round of the NBA draft. Bar was given a lot of credit in Bradley's two MVC tournament titles by the coach when he and Bayo helped limited UNI's star center that went to the Big 10 the next year. I'm not sure if Bradley won the league when Strawder and Tart anchored the team. I believe you will find a center among Bradley's All Americans.
 
O'Bryant was 20 years ago and had a pretty good power forward next to him. Bar was decent but in no ways a leader. There's always exceptions but for me the rule is that a good power forward is better in the Valley - and easier to recruit.
 
LongTimeFan said:
It depends on what you mean as led. Patrick O'Bryant was very important to Bradley's sweet sixteen team in anchoring their defense. Especially in the game against Pittsburgh top rated center and was selected in the 1st round of the NBA draft. Bar was given a lot of credit in Bradley's two MVC tournament titles by the coach when he and Bayo helped limited UNI's star center that went to the Big 10 the next year. I'm not sure if Bradley won the league when Strawder and Tart anchored the team. I believe you will find a center among Bradley's All Americans.
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Spelling correction- Ari Boya was the backup center.
But you lost me on that last part... "he and Bayo helped limited UNI's star center that went to the Big 10 the next year"
What "UNI's star center" are you referring to? UNI did not have a star center.
 
DC, I can't remember the name. (age catching up with me.) All I can remember is the coach gave credit, post-game comments, to the two BU centers for leaning on the player all game long. The player had a good first half but wore out in the 2nd half. He did not have as many rebounds and his shots were consistently short. I know the player transferred after that year. I'm may be wrong on the school but the coach's remarks have stuck with me. As you know old folks remember years ago but not yesterday.

As far as the time limit, there was no time limit in the original statement. I tried to keep it to Bradley. I am not as knowledgable as many on here. With no period or team mentioned I could have said Alcindor and Russel.

I don't know who will be our center next year but players are getting bigger all their time. We will just have to agree to disagree.
 
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I'm still confused. The only UNI star player that I can find that ever transferred to a major program was Noah Carter, who was not a big man, he was a 6'6" wing. Plus, Noah Carter was not at UNI until the 2019-20 season, so he would not have been on the the UNI team that Bradley played for the 2019 MVC Tournament championship, and Bradley didn't play UNI in the 2020 MVC Tournament.
Noah Carter transferred to Missouri after his junior year. If there was another UNI kid, I can't find who it is.
www.espn.com

Noah Carter Career Stats - NCAAM - ESPN

Complete career NCAAM stats for the Missouri Tigers Forward Noah Carter on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

The only big man who played for UNI in the 2019 tournament championship game when Bradley came back from the 18 point 2nd half deficit to win was a big stiff named Luke McDonnell. Every other player was a guard (see the box score linked below).
And Luke McDonnell was the guy who committed the flagrant foul, was charged with a technical and a turnover, and gave Bradley 4 free throws (DLO made all 4) and the ball back, and helped push Bradley into the lead inside the final 2 minutes to ensure the win.

Bradley 57, Northern Iowa 54 (PDF) - Bradley University Athletics

Bradley 57, Northern Iowa 54 (PDF)
bradleybraves.com bradleybraves.com
1776390789621.png
 
DC, as I mentioned, the one thing I can remember for sure was Wardle's statement crediting his two centers. This stuck out as many had complained about Bar's value to the team during Bar's first two years. Also remember the opponent he was talking about was considered by many as the top player to return the next year. I think many were relieved to see him transfer from the conference.
 
LongTimeFan said:
DC, as I mentioned, the one thing I can remember for sure was Wardle's statement crediting his two centers. This stuck out as many had complained about Bar's value to the team during Bar's first two years. Also remember the opponent he was talking about was considered by many as the top player to return the next year. I think many were relieved to see him transfer from the conference.
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Are you thinking of Liam Robbins at Drake
 
egib52 said:
Are you thinking of Liam Robbins at Drake
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I think that's probably what he's remembering. He was good. He transferred to Minnesota for a year, then to Vanderbilt. He played in the NBA last year with the Milwaukee Bucks, and this year was with the G-League affiliate of the Portland Trailblazers.
 
New names today-
D2 portal- Osmar Garcia-Araujo- 6'7" junior forward at Anderson University in Anderson, SC. He helped lead his team to a 29-3 record this season. He averaged 16.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and shot 65.7%. He did not attempt a 3 pointer. He is from Sugar Hill GA, and spent his first two college seasons at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.
Bio- https://autrojans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/osmar-garcia-araujo/4555
Stats- https://autrojans.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
Video- www.x.com/osmar31458102/status/2038960507546153191
X.com- https://x.com/osmar31458102


D2 portal- Marko Pavlović- 6'9" freshman forward at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO. He played high school ball at Sunrise Christian School, the same prep school Almar Atlason played at near Wichita, KS. In his final year there, he averaged 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. This past season as a freshman at MoWest, he started all 33 games, and averaged 12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2 apg, and he shot 63% from the field. He is originally from Bar, Montenegro. He also played for the Montenegrin U18 National Team.
Bio- https://gogriffons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marko-pavlovic/8312
Stats- https://gogriffons.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2025-26
2025-26 highlights- www.x.com/marko21pavlovic/status/2040496411851022370
Other videos- www.youtube.com/@marko21pavlovic

D2 portal- Josiah Sanders- 6'7", 220 pound sophomore forward at Cal State Dominguez Hills University in Carson, California, near Los Angeles. He is originally from Phoenix, AZ. He played his freshman season at Cal State Polytechnic, a D2 school in Humboldt, CA. This season as a sophomore, he averaged 14.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, and he shot 52.3% overall and 36.5% from three.
Bio- https://gotoros.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/josiah-sanders/6412
www.x.com/the1jaysanders/status/2040510510769356891
Stats- https://gotoros.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats

D1 portal- Jalik Dunkley- 6'7", 200 lb guard at D1 Nicholls State. He is originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He played his freshman season at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, AZ. This season, as a sophomore, he lead his team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg). He shot 56.0% overall and 34.2% from three.
Bio- https://geauxcolonels.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jalik-dunkley/7134
Stats- https://geauxcolonels.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
Highlights- www.x.com/JalikDunkley/status/2044155741314134222
X.com (contains more highlights)- https://x.com/JalikDunkley/with_replies
 
Da Coach said:
D2 portal- Marko Pavlović- 6'9" freshman forward at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO. He played high school ball at Sunrise Christian School, the same prep school Almar Atlason played at near Wichita, KS. In his final year there, he averaged 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. This past season as a freshman at MoWest, he started all 33 games, and averaged 12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2 apg, and he shot 63% from the field. He is originally from Bar, Montenegro. He also played for the Montenegrin U18 National Team.
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Marko Pavlovic played all the way up thru youth ball to the U18 National team both against and with his friend & teammate David Mirkovic who is currently with the Illini. - LINK
He's from a city on the beach of the Adriatic Sea a couple hours drive thru the mountains where Mirkovic grew up.
I have family that lives in Podgorica, Montenegro, I'll have to ask them to put in a good word with Pavlovic's family ;)
 
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Ty Rodgers was a starter for all 38 games in 2023-24, but didn't play at all in 2024-25 or 2025-26 because of injuries. The coaches needed to "recruit over him" if they knew he wasn't able to play.
 
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