We are in the middle of transfer portal season and Liberty currently has three scholarships available for next year’s team. There are some obvious needs for the current roster makeup and others that would be bonus additions.
If Liberty can add 2-3 players out of the portal that can be immediate contributors, we shouldn’t see much of a drop off in production if any at all from this past season.
I have put together my current wish list of players currently in the transfer portal that I believe could help the Flames immediately compete for a championship in Conference USA next season. This list is not based upon inside information, but solely based upon players I have come across in the portal that appear to be fits and would be able to make immediate contributions towards the team’s success.
Also, keep in mind that there are over 1,000 names currently in the transfer portal. This is like finding three needles in a haystack, but it’s still a fun exercise. Who of these would be on your wish list? Any others that you would add?
G PJ HAGGERTY, TCU
Haggerty is a 6’3″ guard who spent this past season at TCU. As a true freshman, he played in just five games and has three years of eligibility remaining. Haggerty is from Crosby High School in the Houston area and was ranked as a top 150 player in his class and a three-star recruit.
He is a scoring combo guard who can also handle the ball. He averaged over 30 points per game in both his junior and senior years of high school. He is a good three-point shooter but also has the ability to attack the basket and finish at the rim. Out of high school he had a number of offers including DePaul, LSU, Arizona, Ole Miss, Rice, Arizona State, Houston, and Texas A&M.
G/F JALEN COOPER, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC
Cooper is a 6’6″, 195 pound forward that attends Division II Palm Beach Atlantic with two years of eligibility remaining. Originally from Holiday, Florida, Cooper was named conference defensive player of the year and second team all conference this past season. This past year, Cooper started all 27 games while leading the team with 17.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field and 43% from three.
He’s got the size to play on the wing for the Flames, is a strong defender, and can also shoot from distance. He can be an Elijah Cuffee type three-and-D player for Liberty. There is a need on the roster for someone like that to help compliment Joseph Venzant and perhaps even play alongside him on the perimeter.
F WILL SHAVER, NORTH CAROLINA
The 6’10”, 260-pound forward from Birmingham, Alabama played in three games as a redshirt freshman for the Tar Heels before suffering a broken bone in his left foot during practice on Dec. 20 that sidelined him for the rest of the 2022-23 season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining that could turn into four if he applies for and receives a medical redshirt for this past season.
Shaver was the first high school recruit to commit to Hubert Davis after he took over the UNC job, choosing the Tar Heels over offers from Wake Forest, Purdue, Kansas, Virginia Tech, and Iowa. He was a three-star prospect and ranked the No. 142 overall prospect and No. 21 center in the 2021 class by the 247Sports Composite.
Liberty needs a big man in the post to help compete at Conference USA, and Shaver could be a Blake Preston upgrade. He is a legit post presence on both ends of the floor and would be a great compliment to the other forwards on Liberty’s roster.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Coaches don’t always hit on their priority targets for a variety of reasons, so here are three additional prospects that could serve as a backup plan to those mentioned above.
G DANIEL ORTIZ, NORTH ALABAMA
Ortiz is a 6’0″, 167 pound guard from Shreveport, Louisiana who has played the past two seasons at North Alabama in the ASUN. So, we know plenty about him. He’s played in 63 games while starting 49 in those two seasons. This past year, Ortiz averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. He shot 40.9% from three while making 105 three-pointers on the season and was named second team all-ASUN.
He could be an extra ball-handler to help Porter as well as slide into the starting lineup and provide another scoring punch in the absence of Darius McGhee.
G/F MARKO MALETIC, LIU
Maletic is a 6’6″, 208 pound guard from Long Island University. Originally from London, Ontario, Maletic averaged 15.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this past season as he started in 11 games and played 24. He shot 43.2% from the field and 38.8% from three while making 69 triples on the season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He provides an option on the wing that can knock down the three-pointer while also adding length.
F FRANCISCO CAFFARO, VIRGINIA
If things with Shaver fall through, a good alternative option could be the 7’1″, 250-pound Caffaro. Coach McKay obviously has a connection to the Virginia staff and Caffaro and would know if he would be a good fit.
Caffaro has one year of eligibility remaining and would be playing in his 6th season this coming year. He has started several games for the Cavaliers over his career and seems to have fallen out of the rotation as his career has continued. He could certainly be a good defender and knows the Packline.
