Does Chris Collins Have the Right Transfer Strategy for Northwestern?

As the transfer portal search continues, Northwestern men's basketball has acquired four players: Jake Karasinski, Luke McEldon, Colin Smith and LA Pratt.

With the portal having less than 48 hours to close, Northwestern has nine active players on the roster with six spots left to fill. What the Wildcats eventually finalize remains undecided. But so far, is coach Chris Collins on the right track with his portal search?

No matter the ultimate value of these acquisitions, at least Collins has a plan to revamp the team, who knows what Northwestern needs after wrapping up a struggling campaign. 

The 'Cats maintained a silver-lining foundation to build from after retaining Jake West, Angelo Ciaravino and Phoenix Gill. However, a pile of departures urged Collins to accelerate the rebuilding process in a two-week search. Significant names like Jayden Reid, Arrinten Page and Tre Singleton entering the portal rang alarms.

It’s clear that the ‘Cats need size and frontcourt strength following the departures of Nick Martinelli (graduation), Tyler Kropp and Page. Northwestern appeared shorthanded under the rim, ranking in the bottom three of the Big Ten with 30.5 rebounds per game. So what the program is looking for are bigs who not only possess size to crash the boards but also the ability to score.

The players acquired seem to match what Northwestern needs. McEldon, a 6-foot-10 big man who transferred from Mount St. Mary's, surged with the Mountaineers by averaging 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. Though he might not stretch the floor like Page and others, pairing him with freshman incoming center Symon Ghai (7-foot-3) could collect more rebounds on both ends, while posting threats with outstanding height.

Three-point shooting also plagued Northwestern last season. The 'Cats ranked in the bottom third of the Big Ten at 33.3% from beyond the arc, and Collins wasn’t expecting this slump despite believing his roster had meshed as a good shooting team during the offseason last year. This time, he brought aboard Karasinski and Smith with authentic pedigrees — shooting 41.5% and 40.5% from three-point range, respectively.

Obviously, the ‘Cats had Martinelli last year to dominate, but the team struggled to develop a consistent third scoring option when the senior leader went cold or faced defensive restrictions. Having Smith on board might help, who can capitalize on space as a high-wing shooter who averaged 1.5 threes per game last season, while possessing enough athleticism to attack the rim.

Maybe it's too early to identify who to replace Martinelli's massive production — or perhaps Collins decided to distribute the ball more evenly to maximize the new-look roster's potential. But Karasinski, who averaged 21.7 points last season, and Pratt, who averaged 17.0 points with the Huskies before being sidelined with a foot injury, appear poised for major roles. While Karasinski might replace Martinelli's production, expect Pratt to feature West in the backcourt, both composed of playmaking ability and timely scoring explosions.

Whether Collins has the right plan won't be answered until next season begins. But concerns emerge about whether these recruits can deliver. Obviously, all four come from mid-major schools. Considerable optimism can attach to Karasinski, who dominated scoring in ASUN. High-volume scorers from mid-majors have found success at higher levels like the Big Ten — but it's harder to envision firmly for others who played solid but not dominant roles at their previous mid-major schools.

The Big Ten has elevated into a slugfest of elite talent. Though McEldon and Smith provide frontcourt strength for Northwestern, the speed and rim protection in the Big Ten are different beasts than in the Mountain West or Big West. In Pratt's case, Northwestern will also gamble on a player returning from a season-ending injury and adapting in a fiercer conference.

By signing three players with only one year of eligibility (Karasinski, Smith and Pratt), the scheme forces the staff to spearhead in recruiting every spring rather than developing a cohesive unit for years.

However, in the current NIL landscape, building four-year cornerstones seems increasingly difficult. These veteran transfers could provide a pathway for Northwestern to boost its roster with instant experience. Collins is likely using these transfers as a bridge to keep the team competitive while the young core matures.

There's no doubt Collins, entering his 14th season as Northwestern's head coach next season, has transformed the program. He's the vanguard who allowed a school like Northwestern to believe in higher aspirations, responsible for the program's only three NCAA Tournament appearances.

But what lies ahead is how Collins and the school endure the free-agency-esque NIL era. To preserve his legacy and help the team repeat success in recent history, they must navigate a sustainable way — whether through improved scouting or enhanced financial support.

For now, Collins deserves credit for having a plan. Whether it's the right plan will be decided on the court next season.