Macon Emory

[rooneyguy]

First Blue Hen enters the portal.

[finpxz1]

Here we go…the merry-go-round continues.

[rooneyguy]

I find this to be disappointing and have to wonder about his reasoning. Is it simply money? It certainly can’t be playing time and, while he is a nice player at this level, it is doubtful that he can be a difference maker at a higher level. Am I wrong?


I really hope that MI doesn’t repeat the mistake he made last year with Reilly by allowing him to return on scholarship after “testing” the portal. I would say “Want to come back? Ok, but you are now a walk-on”.

[Fightinghens2025]

And we only recruited one true freshman because Martin said we didnt have room for more… probably anyone with any eligibility is going to the portal what a dumpster fire

[DaveB]

Emory was a solid player who can be replaced in the portal . MO, outside of Bliss, everyone else can be replaced.

You aren’t going to win with freshman so perfectly fine with only one HS recruit

[dovetail]

Poor and getting poorer.

[Fightinghens2025]

Emory was a solid player who can be replaced in the portal . MO, outside of Bliss, everyone else can be replaced.

You aren’t going to win with freshman so perfectly fine with only one HS recruit

I agree to some extent but having a few core players to contribute and develop would be nice. Also, they are choosing to come here from the get go because they want to be here not the grass is greener approach right away.
Taylor improved as the year went on. Maybe not going to leave this year? Would say all bets are off after next if continues to improve. Hopefully we can find some healthy bodies in the portal that won’t quit.

[Udforever1]

Emory was a solid player who can be replaced in the portal . MO, outside of Bliss, everyone else can be replaced.

You aren’t going to win with freshman so perfectly fine with only one HS recruit

Agreed. Bliss and Fernandez are the only ones I really want to keep. Not really losing sleep if anyone else enters the portal. Injuries or not this past season, this team needs a decent amount of more talent.

[DaveB]

Emory was a solid player who can be replaced in the portal . MO, outside of Bliss, everyone else can be replaced.

You aren’t going to win with freshman so perfectly fine with only one HS recruit

Agreed. Bliss and Fernandez are the only ones I really want to keep. Not really losing sleep if anyone else enters the portal. Injuries or not this past season, this team needs a decent amount of more talent.

If we are going to have a pick and pop center LIKE houser then our 4 man needs to be a physical interior guy and Emory was not that. I like him as a player but without a strong interior center , having a wing oriented 4 man like Emory didn’t seem to work IMO .

I should have included Fernandez in the retention list but IMO ias far as keeping guys it’s Biiss as the clear front runner

[Hens79]

Emory was a solid player who can be replaced in the portal . MO, outside of Bliss, everyone else can be replaced.

You aren’t going to win with freshman so perfectly fine with only one HS recruit

Agreed. Bliss and Fernandez are the only ones I really want to keep. Not really losing sleep if anyone else enters the portal. Injuries or not this past season, this team needs a decent amount of more talent.

If we are going to have a pick and pop center LIKE houser then our 4 man needs to be a physical interior guy and Emory was not that. I like him as a player but without a strong interior center , having a wing oriented 4 man like Emory didn’t seem to work IMO .

I should have included Fernandez in the retention list but IMO ias far as keeping guys it’s Biiss as the clear front runner

Actually, Houser played much better around the basket, at least offensively than I thought he would. Emory isn’t physical enough to be a 4 and he isn’t athletic enough to be a 3, especially on defense. But if he could shoot lights out at 6’8 there would be a spot for him at bigger schools. But he doesn’t.

The lack of athleticism was this teams biggest problem, especially on defense and that included Bliss and Fernandez.

I hope Bliss and Fernandez both stay. They are playing at the level that allows them to maximize their skills and not expose as much of their liabilities. But if someone pays them big bucks, they will be gone. We’ll see.

[finpxz1]

Hope I’m wrong, but I can’t see any scenario where Bliss is back. I’d be surprised if Fernandez is back, as well. Hopefully we find the money to keep them around, but if both Pasha and Camden got the kind of money that was reported, I have to think both Bliss and Fernandez will be at Power conference schools next season. Agree with the comments about Emory…a nice player at our level, but I think he’ll struggle to find his way amongst the big boys…unless he develops a consistent 3-point shot. Both Taylor and Kazanecki showed flashes and hopefully take a step up in their sophomore years. I too was pleasantly surprised by Houser this season…just a shame he got hurt and now appears to be a question mark next year. Not sure if any of the “injured” guys will be given the opportunity to return…maybe Ellison??? Regardless, the 2026-27 season will very likely largely be dependent upon players who are not on the current roster. If MI hopes to be around after next year, he has to get this off-season right. He is simply running out of time.

[football]

Not surprised by any movement at this point. Stale look all the way around.

[mpwerrell]

Ideally:

Ellison, Taylor, Piper, Kazanecki, T. Houser
Bliss, Brown ( removed Fernandez as he entered the portal, see the next post)

Recruit Houser’s seven foot brother who is at Penn State. Played behind two big Euro players who are freshmen. Justin averaged 6.3 minutes a game over 18 games.

Five additional transfers.

[UDHoops]

The timing here is unfortunate, but Fernandez will be entering the portal: https://x.com/FeathersFGsPod/status/203 ... 14368?s=20

[DaveB]

https://x.com/theportalreport/status/20 ... 26215?s=46

A little surprised by the list although former hen assistant Butler is now at K State.