Marist men’s basketball All-MAAC Third Team and All-MAAC Tournament Team selection Justin Menard is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to Travis Branham of 247Sports.
https://x.com/TravisBranham_/status/2036503129735193023
The sophomore guard transferred to Marist from fellow MAAC school Iona just a year ago. He saw his numbers jump precipitously in Poughkeepsie; after averaging 5.5 points and 2.6 assists while mainly coming off the bench for the Gaels, Menard averaged 12.9 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc in a starting role for the Red Foxes.
Menard played his best basketball down the stretch for Marist. After senior guard Elijah Lewis went down with a season-ending injury on Feb. 7, Menard averaged 19 points in the season’s final seven games, including Marist’s two games in the MAAC Tournament. For a team that struggled offensively at times throughout the season, Menard kept the team afloat without one of their better scorers in Lewis.
In Marist’s MAAC Quarterfinal win against Quinnipiac, Menard scored 26 points and made five 3-pointers, including a pair of triples in the final 2:06 to squeak past the Bobcats by two points. He also made a game-winning 3-pointer against Sacred Heart on Feb. 22 with under 20 seconds to play.
The transfer portal has become a harsh reality for mid-major programs like Marist. The Red Foxes lost Josh Pascarelli to Colorado State last year, and now are set to potentially lose another key contributor this year.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo by Cara Lacey
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