Seton Hall suffers another key loss as Najai Hines hits the portal
By ADAM ZAGORIA
INDIANAPOLIS — When Seton Hall’s season ended, head coach Shaheen Holloway said his main goal was retaining his top players for the 2026-27 season.
Freshman big man Najai Hines and junior guards Budd Clark and Tajuan Simpkins were three key pieces to this year’s team, and presumably players Holloway wanted to keep.
“The goal is to retain as many of them as possible,” Holloway said per NJ.com of his current team. “That’s going to be the No. 1 priority when the season’s over.”
Unfortunately for the Pirates, two of those players — Hines and Simpkins — have elected to hit the transfer portal.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the game I love,” the 6-foot-10 Hines, who averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, wrote on X/Twitter. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal. I believe it is the best step for me.”
Hines earned mid-to-high six figures in NIL money from Seton Hall and should easily be able to command more than that, probably seven figures, on the open market.
Simpkins also entered the portal after averaging 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Pirates, who finished 21-12, 10-10 in the Big East after being picked last.
Clark, a second-team All-Big East selection, has yet to announce his plans, and it would be a major boost for the Pirates if he remains for his senior season. He averaged 12.7 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds and was The Hall’s best player.
The Hall will lose wing AJ Staton-McCray, the team’s second-leading scorer, to graduation and Holloway said his main goal was to add shooting in the portal.
“My priority is going to be shooting the basketball,” Holloway said. “Get some shooters, just bring guys in that fit me and fit the program, but definitely shooting is going to be a big priority.”
Graphic: 247Sports
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