The news all of Pirate Nation feared would be true has finally arrived.
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported that junior guard Adam “Budd” Clark will enter the transfer portal, which opened on April 7 and will remain open until April 21.
A former undersized guard himself, many believed head coach Shaheen Holloway’s pairing with the 5-foot-10 Clark was the best situation for the latter’s development.
But as things have tended to go in the NIL era, Clark’s decision ultimately came down to a contractual disagreement.
Coinciding with the news was Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino article suggesting that, although confidence seemed high that Clark would remain in South Orange, “the sides could not reach an agreement for 2026-2027 after his agent set the bar at a number that Seton Hall believed to be well outside of market rate, according to people familiar with the situation.”
Unfortunately for Clark, it may be difficult for him to find a number he or his agent likes more: already undersized, his 22% from beyond the arc this season might further “limit his value for programs that want their point guards to stretch the floor and rely on length defensively more so than ball pressure,” Carino also said in the article.
While Pirate Nation was holding out that Clark’s decision would be to stay, the writing was sadly on the wall the same day the portal opened given the number of recent entrants SHU were linked to—many of which seem like potential Clark-replacements.
According to further reports on X, this includes Tijan Saine, a 5-foot-10 point guard—like Clark—from Weber State, who averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Wildcats this season.
Leading the Big Sky in scoring in league games with 21.2 points per game in regular season and conference tournament games, Saine is ranked No. 87 in On3’s top transfer portal player rankings, as of this article.
Other guards SHU have been linked to include Furman’s Alex Wilkins (17.8 points, 4.7 assists per game), Chattanooga’s Jordan Frison (16.5 points, 4 assists and 45.5% from beyond the arc) and VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. (15 points, 2.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player), among others.
After declining non-NCAA postseason tournament invitations for the year, Holloway told New Jersey Advance Media’s Adam Zagoria his offseason priorities are to “retain as many players as possible.”
But with Clark’s decision, he became the fourth Pirate who played consistent rotational minutes last season to enter the portal, joining junior guard Tajuan Simpkins, freshman forward Najai Hines and sophomore forward Godswill Erheriene.
Starting all 33 of SHU’s games this season, Clark averaged team-highs of 12.7 points and 4.9 assists per game, while shooting 43.7% from the field. Leading the Pirates in scoring 11 times, including a team-best 31 points on Feb. 11, Clark’s 418 total points and 156 made field goals were the most on the team.
The junior guard was the recipient of several conference honors for his regular season performance, including a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team, as well as the conference’s inaugural All-Defensive Team.
Helping The Hall reach the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament, where they fell to eventual champions St. John’s, Clark also landed on the conference’s All-Tournament Team, becoming the first Pirate to do so since Jared Rhoden in 2021.
“What I liked about Budd was that he played with a chip on his shoulder,” Holloway said postgame about what he noticed about Clark before recruiting him to SHU. “He played with the passion, and the heart, and the determination that, you know, I kind of played with.”
“And I love the fact that people counted him out because of his size,” Holloway added. “I knew if he got with me and learned—because he got some things that you just can’t teach, and for him the good thing is that he’s still learning. I think once he continues to keep growing and learning, I think his game can go even higher.”
Clark also spoke postgame, where he expressed his intent to return to The Hall next season.
“And I'm definitely looking to keep playing at Seton Hall,” Clark said. “And whatever happens, happens.”
Zachary Mawby is the head editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at zachary.mawby@student.shu.edu.
