As one of the leading players in the men’s college basketball scene, PJ Haggerty is shaking the portal dynamics. While the former Memphis Tiger aspires to crack a $4 million NIL deal in the transfers, following the footsteps of his predecessor, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that all college teams are cautiously eyeing Haggerty and his offer. It’s a risk too large for the player and the teams alike, with a grave possibility of leaving him stranded in the portal.
Amidst the heat surrounding the hefty sum, Ole Miss came forward to offer a $3.5 million deal to Haggerty. But the aspirational player denied the sum. After all, the standout guard has fetched an average of over 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for the Tigers last year and was the third-leading scorer in the Division I men’s basketball. But it wasn’t the only team ready to pull Haggerty into the roster.
Despite an existing $3 million counter from the Memphis, the NC State University too has the 21-year-old. NC head coach Will Wade had Haggerty on his mind for quite some time and wanted to induct him into the team, even if he came with a huge price tag. The primary reason being, Wade is looking to rebuild NC State after the March Madness upset.
Addressing this latest development on ESPN’s 99.9 The Fan podcast, host Tim Donnelly emphasised what some of the NC State fans feel regarding Haggerty’s transfer. “Part of the fan base is- ‘don’t give anyone that much money.’” But for the host, that isn’t a view he shares. He isn’t hesitating from pushing the coach to go at it.
“Part of me is- ‘if you got it, flaunt it’. If you can get a player because you have the cash that some of your competitors can’t acquire, you will be better for it.”
Well, Wade certainly could use that remark. Because the program seems to have the funds in place, with a reported $5.9 million in NIL collectives. Plus, he could use the talent to turn things around after the disastrous 12-19 season. He is determined, too. “Our time is right now. This is the first time in a while, I think, the fans, the administration and the program are all on one accord,” the coach has said. “When that happens, at NC State, there’s going to be a reckoning for the ACC. It’s coming. And it’s coming soon.”
Wade has now brought in 8 new faces in transfers and high school recruits. He is aiming to top the conference. And if he manages to land the most coveted player from the transfer portal, you know things are going to propel. Donnelly is giving the assurance he needs.
“There’s no salary cap when it comes to everything that happens allegedly. This is the guess and the hypothesis, everything spent before July is not a condition to any revenue sharing cap or anything like that. So, you can spend now and it won’t hurt you in the future as long as you have the cash,” the host added.
Once in the roster, Haggerty will prove to be crucial in shaping the Wolfpack. Needless to say, the team is counting on Haggerty to turn things around. And who knows? He may even successfully pull the team out of the dry spell and into the Final Four!
Is PJ Haggerty the most expensive player on the roster’s history?
Since PJ was the only player to have entered the 2025 transfer portal demanding an enormous sum of $4 million, he isn’t the first one to do so. While his team spilled that Haggerty had initially asked $5 mil, he settled for the current sum, citing an increased value from his performance at the Tigers.
Prior to Haggerty, the NCAA witnessed the standout forward J.T. Toppin come forth with a lucrative $4 million deal. Luckily, he transferred from the University of New Mexico to the Texas Tech Red Raiders after the 2023-24 season. With an average of 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in his freshman year, Toppin is set to forgo the draft to begin junior year with the Texas.
Meanwhile, when Rodney Rice blurted an amount worth $3 million in April 2025, USC was quick to splurge it on the former Maryland guard before he chose Villanova. Similarly, Chad Baker-Mazara’s announcement sent shockwaves across the portals before heading to USC Trojans. Well, it is safe to say that Haggerty isn’t the only aspirational player with a big check!
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