Monmouth basketball offseason tracker: Hawks add second point guard, power forward

The NCAA Transfer portal is officially closed now, with the game of musical chairs beginning in earnest as teams and players look to find the right fit for the 2024-25 season.

There's a lot of work left to do for the Monmouth men’s basketball team, coming off an 18-15 season in which the Hawks were the eighth seed at the CAA Tournament.

In the latest news, Monmouth has started replenishing its backcourt, getting a pair of point guards out of the transfer portal. But they still have some gaping holes in the front court, without any post players on the roster right now after the departure of three centers. In addition, the Hawks landed a power forward expected to be part of the rotation.

Check out more on who's departing and who's heading to the Jersey Shore:

WHO’S COMING

Chris Morgan, power forward

The 6-8 native of DeSoto, Texas comes to Monmouth after three injury-plagued seasons, including a redshirt season, at North Texas. In all, Morgan has played just 15 career games, including five last season. He came out of high school having averaged a double-double as a senior, averaging 14.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and four blocks, so there is potential if he's healthy.

What it means: Morgan joins a frontcourt that includes 6-9 forward Jaret Valencia, an All-CAA Rookie Team pick last season, and 6-6 forward Cornelius Robinson, who logged important minutes as a freshman.

Aric Demings, point guard

The Hawks landed a second point guard when the Utah Tech transfer announced he's coming to West Long Branch, three days after visiting the Jersey Shore.

Playing in the Western Athletic Conference, Demings, 6-0, has three years of eligibility remaining, having started 25 games as a rookie, averaging 7.5 points, 2.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds. He shot 38.1 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.

What it means: This effectively fills the spot left by Jakari Spence's departure, with the former Toms River North start signing with the University of Jacksonville.

Madison Durr, point guard

The Hawks’ first portal pickup of the offseason is a 6-4 combo guard from the Citadel who has two years of eligibility remaining and has proven his ability to score. A native of Atlanta, Durr was on the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. Last season, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists for a team that went 11-21, and 3-15 in league play last season.

What it means: Durr is the first piece in rebuilding a backcourt that’s list a lot of key pieces, and projects as a starter alongside Jack Collins and Abdi Bashir Jr., with the Hawks still needing another point guard. Durr has shot just 28.2 percent from 3-point range for his career, while shooting 42.7 percent from the field.

WHO’S LEAVING?

Nikita Kostantynovskyi, center

While Xander Rice was the biggest reason Monmouth showed marked improvement last season, the second biggest reason was the 6-10 transfer from Tulsa. He was a consistent presence inside who could score and was a good rebounder. And he gave you a great effort every night.,

What it means: Monmouth's frontcourt is getting threadbare with the departure of all three post players in Konstantynovskyi, Klemen Vuga and Amaan Sandhu. The Hawks desperately need a big man capable of making a difference in the paint.

Xander Rice, guard

A first-team All-CAA performer as a graduate transfer in his one season playing for his father, Monmouth head coach King Rice, it will be difficult to replace his scoring, defense and leadership. He averaged 20.4 points and 3.6 assists, and won several games for Monmouth in the final minutes.

What it means: If it’s just Rice leaving, sharpshooter Abdi Bashir Jr. simply slips into the starting lineup and you move forward. But with Rice, Jakari Spence and Jayden Doyle leaving, you need some serious reinforcements in the backcourt.

Jakari Spence, guard

A graduate transfer with a year of eligibility remaining, Spence, who started all 33 games last season and started the second half of the 2022-23 season, when the Hawks were much better, was a walk-on for three seasons, with King Rice indicating Spence would get a scholarship next season. But the former Toms River North star entered the transfer portal this week, leaving and hole to fill in the backcourt.

What it means: Even with the addition of Durr, Monmouth still needs another point guard. Spence did enter he transfer portal a year ago and ultimately opted to return, so that could be a possibility. A year ago the Hawks lost starting guard Tahron Allen, who had two years of eligibility remaining and went to the NCAA Tournament this season with Wagner.

Jayden Doyle, guard

A 6-4 guard from Knoxville, Tennessee, with two years of eligibility remaining, Doyle never found his niche with the program.  He played in 48 games over two seasons – he redshirted as a freshman – making one start, with his minutes falling below six minutes-per-game last season.

What it means: Doyle did provide some depth off the bench, and was a good defender, although he never established himself as a scorer.

Gabe Spinelli, guard

Injuries kept the transfer guard from Evansville off the court for most of his only season with the team, playing just 55 minutes total over 10 games.

What it means: It's a much-needed scholarship, with at least four open scholarships right now, with two to be taken by incoming freshmen.

Klemen Vuga, center

The 6-9 Vuga was not the same player last season as he was at the end of the 2022-2023 season due to a back injury that kept him out of offseason workouts and limited his playing time and effectiveness during the season.

Amaan Sandhu, center

The 7-1 big man entered the transfer portal on the final day, having played sparingly in two seasons with the Hawks. The first male player from India to receive a Division 1 basketball scholarship in the U.S., Sandhu was foul-prone and never showed enough athletic ability to get on the court as a regular part of the rotation, averaging less than five minutes per game last season.

What it means: With Sandu's departure, Monmouth has lost all three of its post players, with starting center Nikita Konstantynovskyi and Klemen Vuga already in the portal.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth NJ basketball offseason tracker: Hawks add point guard, forward