It has been another busy week in the wonderful world of basketball. While the NBA was settling on its Final Four, and as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were exchanging love letters, college basketball coaches from across the country were finally able to pivot from Portal Madness and focus on the future. Last weekend was the first evaluation window on the NCAA’s recruiting calendar since the end of the season. That was just a warm-up for the hotter chase to come as there will be three more evaluation windows in June and two in July. 

For those who thought Portal Madness would make high school recruiting a relic of the past, rest assured all the biggest names in the sport, as well as their assistants, were giving chase. These guys are leaving no stones unturned in pursuit of the Next Big Thing.

Our staff writer Alex Squadron was on site in Memphis for Nike’s EYBL session. He has a report on some of the top performers there and where they might be headed. And rest assured, we’ll be on the hunt just like those coaches all throughout the long, hot summer.

Speaking of heat, the NBA Draft temperature is also ticking up a few notches as the league’s scouts and executives continue to process everything that happened during last week’s combine in Chicago. There’s a lot for our draft expert Krysten Peek to sift through — but sift she has. Krysten and Jonathan Wasserman will continue to lead our coverage with the rest of our Hoops HQ players pitching in as well. That includes yours truly, by the way. I know you’re anxious to hear from Finch, but don’t worry, I’ve got him on speed dial.

Throw in the usual Portal Madness, and it’s just another Manic Monday around these parts. I hope you have a great start to your week and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. — Seth

Big Ten Roster Reshuffle: The Current State of Every Team's Lineup, Part 2

By Lindsey Willhite

It’s a 66.2-mile drive from Purdue’s Mackey Arena to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the 2026 Final Four. Why are we being so specific? Well, when you start reading, it’ll become clear.

You’ll also see which Big Ten schools grabbed the most blue-chippers out of the transfer portal, which schools focused on adding blue-chip freshmen and which schools are going to be loaded with great shooters again. (Hint: Wisconsin is in this group.)

So enjoy getting caught on the Big Ten’s back nine. If you missed Part I of this Big Ten breakdown, which featured Illinois through Northwestern, you can find it here.

The Top Performers From Session 2 of the Nike EYBL Circuit

By Alex Squadron

Many of the best high school prospects in the country convened at the Memphis Sports & Events Center this weekend for Session 2 of the Nike EYBL Circuit. College coaches from all of the top programs packed into the 16-court facility to take in the action, including Duke’s Jon Scheyer, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Alabama’s Nate Oats, Arkansas’s John Calipari, Kentucky’s Mark Pope and many more. 

The three-day showcase was one of the premier recruiting events of the offseason. It allowed coaches to evaluate recruits in a highly competitive, pressure-filled environment. Several of the marquee games — most of which featured the Oakland Soldiers, who are headlined by 6-foot-7 forward Tyran Stokes and 6-foot-3 guard Jason Crowe Jr., the No. 1 and No. 5 prospects in the class of 2026, respectively — were standing room only. 

With a lot of buzz surrounding the class of 2025, the players next in line have flown under the radar. Below are some of the standout performers from Memphis, including intel from their recruitments. All of the players spotlighted are rising seniors. 

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