Mike Bibby built Sac State’s roster with transfers. He’s in the ‘war room’ again
Mike Bibby and his Sacramento State men’s basketball coaching staff have a wish list of sorts as they set out to replenish a roster thinned by the NCAA transfer portal.
“We’re looking for everything,” said Bibby, the one-time Sacramento Kings star guard preparing for his second season as the Hornets coach. “We’re looking for tough kids, shot blocking, guy who can rebound, point guards, shooters. Everything.”
Bibby a year ago was in the midst of cobbling together a roster of 15, all first-time teammates, in his first go-around in navigating the unpredictable waters of the portal. The college game has in recent years become one of change as players more frequently come and go every year, some seeking a fresh start, or a chance to cash in on name, image and likeness, otherwise known as NIL.
Bibby said he is all for player movement, but to a point. He said he likes the idea of a player having one transfer over a 4-5 year collegiate career — otherwise, everyone is scrambling to retain players or to get new ones. The Hornets entertained in home games in the sparkling new on-campus Pavilion in 2025-26 regularly overflowing the 3,000-seat venue, but the leading acts for the Hornets have all moved on.
Sac State went 10-21, each of the victories at home. The Hornets endured a crunch of injuries and were down to seven healthy players in the final stretch of the season. None of the starters from the 2025-26 Hornets lineup will return. Shaqir O’Neal, Bibby’s first signing and the 6-foot-8 son of Hall of Fame great Shaquille O’Neal, is set to graduate this spring.
The other senior honored on Sac State’s Senior Night was 6-3 guard Prophet Johnson, who averaged 18.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He is in the portal as he seeks an additional year of eligibility with the NCAA. Starting point guard Mikey Williams arrived via the portal and has left via the portal. He averaged 17 points, often electrifying home crowds.
Freshman forward Mark Lavrenov started 21 games after a stellar prep career at Rocklin High School in Placer County. He is in the portal, stressing that he had no issues with the Sac State coaches, players or school. He told The Sacramento Bee that he is simply exploring more options. He said Bibby and the Hornets staff expressed interest in retaining him.
“A lot of our guys wanted to stay here, but they’re getting offers, and we don’t have enough of that kind of money to keep everyone,” Bibby said. “That’s the way college basketball is. No stability, and all of this stuff we were teaching, we now have to do it for 10 new goes. We’re looking, and we’re thorough because we don’t want to just grab-up guys.”
Bibby continued, “Since the portal opened on April 7, we as a staff have spent three hours a day in a war room, looking at film, seeing what’s out there.”
Another player who wanted to remain, Bibby said, was Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry, a 6-11 forward/center with skills. A transfer from UNLV, Cherry stood as the Hornets’ best player, but he competed in just the first six games before being sidelined with a knee injury. Cherry averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. He signed with San Diego State, a full-circle return as a native of the city.
Bibby said he wishes his former players well, adding: “We’re here to help these guys.”
The other Hornets starter who is in the portal is 6-6 wing Jahni Summers, a transfer from Indiana State who averaged nine points in his single Sac State season. Other one-season Hornets in the portal are guards Isaiah Bronson and Jaden Teat and front-court players Davis Ambuehl and Jeremiah Nyarko.
Hornets players who will return include guards Zach Anderson, Taj Glover and Romari Robinson and forward Arman Madi.
New Hornets
Sac State has signed Ridvan Tutic out of the portal, a 6-11 center from Serbia who previously played at Stonehill College, the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire. He averaged 7.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season at Stonehill College, located in Massachusetts.
Bibby and staff have signed two big guards with Arizona root in Mason Hunt and Melvin Stubbs Jr.
Hunt at 6-7 averaged 18.2 points in helping Pima Junior College of Arizona go 70-2 over two seasons. Hunt was a two-time all-state player in high school in Arizona. At 6-5, Stubbs Jr. averaged 20.1 points for Sandra Day O’Connor High School.
Bibby: ‘I still love it’
More signings are coming, Bibby said, adding that he hasn’t lost his zest for coaching, mentoring and building a program. His challenge is formidable, to say the least. Sac State since moving up from Division II to Division I in 1991 has had just two winning seasons. The Hornets after 29 years competing in the Big Sky Conference will enter the California-heavy Big West Conference at the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
“I still love it,” Bibby said of his job. “I came here to change the program. I’m not saying that it’ll take a year or tow. It takes time. We can do great things here. We’ve got the best staff in the country in terms of caring for kids, teaching the game and developing them. We’ll get players.”