Where Marquette men’s basketball 2026-27 roster stands before transfer portal

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. learned to be elite at getting to rim

Marquette’s forwards

Exhausted eligibility: Ben Gold

Announced intentions to return: Royce Parham, Damarius Owens

Eligible to return: Caedin Hamilton, Josh Clark

Redshirted last season: Ian Miletic, Sheek Pearson

Incoming freshmen: Ethan Johnston, Alex Egbuonu

Parham improved over his sophomore season to become a key member of MU’s core. Owens, another sophomore, has yet to unlock his full potential but the coaching staff is hopeful that a healthy off-season helps in that regard.

Pearson and Miletic each gained a lot of strength this season while redshirting, so that helps ease their transition.

Johnston might be a redshirt candidate for next season with not many minutes likely available for the 6-foot-7 wing player who profiles as a defensive stopper. Egbuonu’s blend of power and skill make him a unique prospect, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him fight for minutes as a freshman.

Hamilton and Clark haven't made any declarations about their intentions, but can be seen in clips of off-season workouts posted by MU. Hamilton went from starting 17 games to barely playing at the end of the season in his third year in the program, and the 7-foot-1 Clark never got more than spot minutes. But it never hurts to keep big bodies around just in case of emergency.

More: Take a glimpse at what it’s like for Marquette’s 3 redshirts on game day

Where does Marquette need help the most in transfer portal?

The answer is pretty clear. The Golden Eagles need a big man who is capable of starting. Pearson is the hope for the future, but probably isn’t ready for heavy minutes after skipping his senior year in high school and redshirting. Hamilton and Clark haven’t shown that they are capable of holding down the position.

Shaka Smart could fill Marquette's roster needs through the transfer portal. The Golden Eagles need a big man who is capable of starting, as well as depth at guard.

After that, MU probably needs depth at guard. Due to Sean Jones’ multiple injuries, the Golden Eagles have been caught without a capable backup point guard for the past three seasons and that has hurt the team’s prospects. Anyone who can help raise the 31.8% shooting from 3-point range last season would be welcome.

There could be a case for adding a versatile wing, but MU likes what it has between Owens, Miletic and Egbuonu.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where Marquette men's 2026-27 roster stands before transfer portal