In the ever-evolving world of college basketball, roster building doesn’t stop when the season starts-and Rutgers is looking to take full advantage of that. Coming off a 65-50 win over Delaware State, head coach Steve Pikiell made it clear: the Scarlet Knights are in the market for midseason help.
“You have to,” Pikiell said postgame when asked about the possibility of adding a player. “Whoever’s out there, you try to pursue. It’s a weird world.”
That “weird world” he’s talking about? It’s the new normal in college hoops, where the transfer portal is always open for business and teams are now dipping into professional pipelines midseason to bolster their rosters. For Rutgers, the focus is on finding someone who can help right now-and that search might lead them to Kyree Walker.
Walker, a 25-year-old guard, has taken a winding path through the basketball world. After going undrafted in 2021, he’s played everywhere from the G League to overseas stints in Greece, Canada, and even Mongolia. He’s experienced, physically mature, and battle-tested-exactly the type of player who could step in and make an immediate impact.
Pikiell joked about wanting “a 36-year-old with four kids and hungry for a job,” but the message behind the humor was serious. The Scarlet Knights are leaving no stone unturned.
“You’ve got to pursue any lead that you have on anybody,” he said. “Then you’ve got to go through all the steps to try to make it happen.
It’s very complex.”
If Rutgers does land a midseason addition, they’ll be far from alone. Around the country, several programs have already dipped into the market.
Baylor made headlines by signing James Nnaji, a 21-year-old big man who spent the last five years with FC Barcelona and was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. While Nnaji hasn’t logged any NBA regular-season minutes, he’s played in 11 Summer League games-six with the Hornets in 2023 and five with the Knicks in 2025. His addition sparked debate across the sport, with some questioning the fairness of adding a player with that level of professional experience midseason.
But Baylor isn’t the only school making moves.
Dayton brought in Belgian guard Sean Pouedet in late November. Washington added Serbian forward Nikola Dzepina in early December.
Ole Miss recently signed former G-League guard T.J. Clark.
And USC, who will face Rutgers in late January, picked up Robert Morris transfer Kam Woods earlier this month.
It’s a trend that’s reshaping the college basketball landscape. Programs are no longer just recruiting high schoolers or waiting for the offseason to hit the portal. They’re actively scouting the globe for talent that can help them win now.
For Rutgers, the goal is simple: find someone who can contribute immediately and help push this team forward in a competitive Big Ten. Whether that’s Walker or someone else remains to be seen. But Pikiell’s message is clear-he’s not sitting still.
“I hope,” he said. “Keep your fingers crossed.”
In today’s college basketball, hope-and hustle-might just land you the next game-changer.